American Buckle Magazine 2022 World Finals Edition

WELCOME

Hello, rodeo fans! We’re glad you’ve gotten your hands on our 2022 American Buckle Magazine “World Finals” edition. It is hard to believe we’re already approaching the year’s end. Rodeo athletes, if you’ve made it this far, know that all your hard work, effort, and a little luck have put you in range of winning that Gold Buckle.

The Wrangler NFR brings the largest jackpots to Las Vegas in December, but Pendleton Whisky brings the spirit of western culture. Rodeo is the lifeblood of Pendleton Whisky, and Pendleton is committed to honoring western tradition and western athletics. The Run to the NFR: Presented by Pendleton Whisky, dives into each rodeo category and looks at who’s poised to win a buckle.

The inaugural PBR Teams Series Championship, held in November, gave rodeo fans a championship to remember. Eight teams competed for glory at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas from Nov. 4-6 during the first-ever event of its kind. But country-western folks love a good underdog story, and the Nashville Stampede didn’t hesitate to deliver when it came to giving fans a playoff run to remember.

The World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) hosts three rodeo majors and the Women’s Rodeo World Championship. Win your event in three back-to-back majors, the organization promises, and you can also claim an extra million-dollar prize. We sit down with bareback rider RC Landingham, who is one major win away from a million-dollar payday, and ask him how he is

preparing for what could be a life-changing ride.

Master Distiller Steve Beam’s family has been making premium spirits for a century and a half. This year, Beam and Limestone Branch Distillery’s Yellowstone Bourbon spirit are celebrating 150 years of bourbon history while giving back to one of the most majestic landscapes in America, Yellowstone National Park.

If you ask the cowboys and cowgirls competing on a professional level where they first fell in love with the sport of rodeo, many of them will say, “National Little Britches Rodeo Association” (NLBRA). The NLBRA has become the fastestgrowing youth rodeo association, now in 33 states and host to more than 400 events annually. We talk to Executive Director Annie Walker, who tells us how NLBRA is impacting our youth and how the future of rodeo has never looked brighter.

Finally, as the 2022 rodeo season ends, thank you to all our sponsors and rodeo fans who support this publication. Without you, there would be no American Buckle Magazine. Also, thank you to our great staff who helped bring it all together. We’re already looking forward to the 2023 rodeo season, so keep an eye out for our 2023 Spring edition.

God Bless, Chris Dize

Publisher

From the Frontier to the Arena

Our Heritage Rides on in these Unbridled Stories of American Cowboys

Trail-hardened wranglers to collect their due, old cowboys only —and bolder

Reformed outlaw Carson Stone rides a hard trail as a wanted man seeking redemption in the and bloody Idaho Territory

TheOldCowboysNeverDieSeries

Kick off the action-packed new series from Ralph Compton writer John Shirley, as gunfighter and Civil War vet Cleveland Trewe aims to rich—and get his girl gold fields of

TheCleveTreweWesternSeries

When greed overtakes men’s souls, it falls to legendary pioneer Preacher, first Mountain Man, to brimstone from the barrels of his guns…

The Carson Stone Western Series

The Preacher/First Mountain Man Series

Dings,

NATIONAL FINALS RODEO PREVIEW

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo runs Dec. 1-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, and this year’s event will be one to remember. More than $10.9 million is up for grabs, making this year’s event the biggest payout in NFR history.

But it’s about more than just rodeo. Attendees can also visit Cowboy Christmas, the official gift show of the NFR featuring more than 350 vendors, presented by Pendleton Whisky. Pendleton Whisky was developed to honor the ropers and riders in the Pendleton RoundUp, which takes place each year in Pendleton, Oregon, and has grown to embody more than 100 years of rodeo tradition.

“Rodeo is the lifeblood of Pendleton Whisky, and Pendleton is committed to honoring western tradition, as well as supporting western athletics. Continuing to support PRCA, NFR, and the rodeo community is an opportunity to support everyone who believes in the Code of the West and wants to keep the true western tradition alive,” a representative says on behalf of Pendleton Whisky.

Pendleton is the Official Whisky of the PRCA, PBR, and the Western Sports Foundation. Vegas

visitors are encouraged to pick up tickets to the 2022 Pendleton Whisky’s Let’er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year awards on Nov. 30, NFR Go Round Buckle Presentations in which Pendleton will gift nightly winners a bottle of whisky, The brand is also an Official Partner of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunter Outdoor Expo, which takes place upstairs from Cowboy Christmas, and the title sponsor for the Rump Chat Podcast, broadcast from the Rump Chat stage at the Hunter Outdoor Expo daily. Pendleton Whisky is title sponsor for Outside the Barrel with Flint Rasmussen, which is open daily to the public throughout the NFR, and is the Official Whisky of Bull Fighters Only, a ticketed event that takes place Dec. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 at 1:30 p.m.

But with rodeo as the main event, fans should plan to raise a glass of Pendleton to all the talented cowboys and cowgirls competing in the NFR. Here, we present a rundown of the top contenders in every discipline, all vying for coveted World Champion titles at rodeo’s premiere event.

Photo: Rod Connor

Photo: Phill Kitts

PRESENTED BY

PRCA RECAP

ALL-AROUND

It’s no surprise to see America’s favorite saddle bronc and bull rider Stetson Wright at the top of the All-Around standings this year. With $378,399.88 in qualified earnings, the superstar athlete from rodeo’s favorite legacy family would have to make a disappointing showing not to earn this year’s AllAround title. Wright holds the No. 1 spot in bull riding with earnings of 320,598.78 and the No. 2 spot in saddle bronc with $193,119.85 total payouts, though not all of that counts toward the All-Around title. However, his qualified earnings put him more than $220,000 ahead of No. 2 All-Around contender Taylor Santos, whose No. 7 rank in steer roping and No. 17 rank in tie-down roping have netted him a total of $159,179.29 in qualified money this year.

BULL RIDING

It’s hard to contest the fact that Wright is one of the best bull riders in the world. He enters the NFR with seasonal earnings of more than $90,000 ahead of second-place contender Josh Frost, who has $228,556.82 in qualified money. Though Frost won the NFR’s bull riding event in 2021, it still wasn’t enough to carry him to the World Champion title. That distinction went to Sage Kimzey, who claimed his seventh World Champion buckle last year. But with Kimzey out due to a shoulder injury since June, it may be Frost’s time in the spotlight. Still, he’ll have to have a solid NFR run if he wants to defeat Wright.

Photo: Phill Kitts

Photo: Phill Kitts

SADDLE BRONC

While saddle bronc may be a Wright family tradition, Sage Newman holds the No. 1 position in the event going into the NFR. Big wins at RODEOHOUSTON and the St. Paul Rodeo have helped land him in the number one spot with a staggering $253,190.84 in earnings. The RODEOHOUSTON win alone netted Newman $60,000, allowing him to pull ahead early in the season and continue that stellar run throughout the year. Of course, with so much money at stake in the NFR, it’s still anyone’s to take should Newman fail to bring the heat. He could easily find himself bested by Wright or third-place saddle bronc rider Brody Cress, whose seasonal earnings total $182,644.59.

BAREBACK

This year’s bareback title will almost certainly come down to whichever contender makes the best showing at the NFR. The top three bareback riders will enter the Thomas and Mack with less than $13,000 separating the three of them, which is less than the payout for a single-round third-place placement ($17,255). Consistency will be key here as Cole Reiner, at the top of the standings with $160,970.51, fights to keep down second-place Jess Pope, with $159,259.04 in qualified money, and Caleb Benett, who has $147,290.04 in seasonal earnings.

STEER WRESTLING

This year may be Stetson Jorgenson’s time to shine as he enters the NFR as the world’s top-ranked steer wrestler with $134,660.59 in payouts this year. Jorgenson has qualified for the NFR every year since 2019 but has yet to win a world title. It’s no surprise to see Tyler Waguespack holding No. 2 in the standings and $123,872.85 in earnings as the three-time World Champion and eight-time NFR qualifier is nothing if not consistent. Last year, he placed second at the NFR, which was enough to cement the World Champion title, adding to the titles won in 2016 and 2018. Wins at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and the San Angelo Cinch Shoot-Out bolstered his season earnings.

Photo: Rod Connor

Photo: Rod Connor

Photo: Phill Kitts

TEAM ROPING

Team Roping duo Kaleb Driggers (header) and Junior Nogueira (heeler) continue their run as the team roping dream team going into the NFR, each going into the NFR with $227,877.85 in earnings for the 2022 season. A big win at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo gave them an early-season lift, and they maintained that momentum consistently throughout the season. The two are last year’s World Champions, but Clay Tryan (header) and Jake Long (heeler), who hold second in the team roping standings in each of their positions, are determined not to let Driggers and Nogueira win again without a fight. Still, the duo will have to work hard, as Tryan sits more than $80,000 behind Driggers at the end of the season, and Long has about $100,000 of catching up to do.

Photo: Rod Connor

TIE-DOWN ROPING

With four NFR qualifications under him, 2020’s tie-down roping World Champion Shad Mayfield sits atop the leaderboard once again after big wins at the Washing State Fair Pro Rodeo and Rodeo Austin, to name a few. With $203,508.08 in earnings, more than $36,000 separate him and second-ranked John Douch. But, with mainstays like Haven Meged, Caleb Smidt, Shane Hanchey, and Tuf Cooper all in contention, all of whom hold at least one World Champion title, Mayfield will have his work cut out for him if he wants to claim that gold buckle once again.

STEER ROPING

The National Finals Steer Roping took place at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas, from Nov. 4-5. While Cody Lee took first at the event with 123.3 seconds on ten head for a total of $30,349 in prize money, it wasn’t enough to steal the World Champion title from J. Tom Fisher, who placed third in the event and earned $19,884 at the event for a total of $123,476.77 in season earnings.

BARREL RACING

Jordon Briggs won her first WPRA World Barrel Racing in 2021, and her momentum hasn’t slowed her in 2022. She’s the front-runner going to the Thomas & Mack, where she also won the Wrangler NFR average title last year and set a new 10-run record inside the arena with a total time of 136.83 seconds. Now ranked first with $177,779.15 in earnings, she proves she has what it takes to dominate once again. If she can repeat her performance from last year, she’ll most certainly take the title, beating out longtime barrel racing pros

like Dona Kay Rule, Hailey Kinsel, and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi

Photo: Phill Kitts

Photo: Phill Kitts

BREAKAWAY

The Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping will take place ahead of the NFR, running from Nov. 29-30 at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Vegas. The WPRCA’s top 15 breakaway ropers will compete for $250,000 in prizes. All eyes are on Martha Angelone, who leads the pack in regular season earnings with $109,096.71. However, if Angelone fails to maintain consistency throughout the finale event, it could be up to second-ranked Erin Johnson or third-ranked Lari Dee Guy, who trail Angelone in regular season earnings by about $37,000 and $41,000, respectively, to claim the title.

As you celebrate the NFR festivities and the holiday season, enjoy it all with a glass of Pendleton Midnight.

“Midnight is a whisky blend that is aged for over six years in American brandy barrels. Each batch of ninetyproof oak barrel-aged whisky is crafted from premium ingredients and includes notes of leather and warm spices that provide a full-bodied, authentic flavor,” Pendleton Whisky’s rep says.

Fans are also encouraged to try a Rodeo ‘Rita, which anyone can make by swapping tequila for Pendleton Original in margaritas. To learn more about Pendleton Midnight and for more great cocktail recipes from Pendleton Whisky, visit pendletonwhisky.com.

“Pendleton Whisky supports and appreciates all rodeo participants. Our brand is honored to be able to support this great sport and events across the country that give people the opportunity to showcase their skills,” the Pendleton Whisky representative says. “Pendleton Whisky wishes everyone participating at the NFR this year the best of luck!”

RODEO IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF PENDLETON WHISKY, AND PENDLETON IS COMMITTED TO HONORING WESTERN TRADITION...

Photo: Joe Duty

Proud sponsor of NFR Playo Series, National Finals Rodeo, and Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale

Photo: Josh Homer / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andre Silva / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andre Silva / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andre Silva / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Josh Homer / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

THE NASHVILLE STAMPEDE SHAKE OFF A TOUGH SEASON TO CLAIM THE PBR TEAM SERIES TITLE

The Nashville Stampede has a heck of an underdog story, coming through to win the inaugural Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Team Series after entering the playoffs seeded in last place.

Led by Head Coach Justin McBride, the Stampede had little momentum going into the series finale event. Many wrote the team off after ending the regular season with seven wins, 20 losses, and a draw. But country-western folks love a good underdog story, and the Stampede didn’t hesitate to deliver when it came to giving fans a playoff run to remember.

Eight teams competed for glory at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas from Nov. 4-6 during the first-ever PBR Team Series Championship. The eighth-seeded Stampede seemed unlikely to take the event, with all eyes on the Austin Gamblers presented by Ariat, the Texas Rattlers, and the Oklahoma Freedom. Those three teams were tied for the top number of wins during the regular season, with 16 wins and 12 losses each. The Carolina Cowboys followed close behind with 15 wins and 12 losses.

But anything can happen when it comes to rodeo, and it was only fate that the team with the lowest seasonal win percentage — a mere 26.8% — would take down four teams with seasonal win rates that were double that.

“It’s crazy,” McBride said via a PBR press release. “I got to win two individual titles as a bull rider in this sport, and it’s nothing compared to this. The buckle is awesome, but for me, it’s about these guys who never gave up and finished on top.”

That’s the stuff of a cowboy legend right there. It’s a story in which the underdog rises to the top against all odds.

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

THE STAMPEDE TAKE CHARGE

Rodeo enthusiasts knew that the squad featured Kaique Pacheco, Ryan Dirteater, Joao Henrique Lucas, Silvano Alves, and Cladson Rodolfo had the talent to make it to the top. But unfortunately, the regular season proved unkind.

With only a 33% riding average entering the main event, few expected the Stampede to take it all. It was Sept. 11 before the team even reached four wins. But around that time, the team began to show its true power.

However, by the time Team Series playoffs wrapped, the Stampede had gone 11-for-20 rides to end up with a 55% riding average for the event.

While regular-season victories would have been fruitful in terms of earnings, the Stampede understood that the finals were what truly mattered in an event like this. The Team Series event is akin to the rodeo Superbowl, where, no matter how the players performed throughout the season, it’s not over until one team earns the right to claim that World Champion team title.

As playoff events began, the Stampede earned momentum with qualifying rides in its first three games. That granted the Nashville team a lead against Oklahoma, Texas, and Austin, which may have otherwise appeared to be the team to beat.

Joao Henrique Lucas, who’d competed in the starting position only twice throughout the entire season, made a strong showing, riding 2-for-3 when placed as the team’s first contender.

Kaique Pacheco then took on the closer role throughout the event. He hadn’t ridden in the closer position for the final 15 games of the regular season, but McBride chose to switch it up for the finals. In that position, Pacheco went 4-for-4,

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

faring far better than the 1-for-5 he’d gone as closer in the regular season. Although Pacheco had ridden seven bulls in a row earlier in the year, it had been some time since he’d managed to ride four in a row. Luckily, it was during the finale weekend when that streak finally came.

It seems Pacheco has a second home at T-Mobile arena, as he’s now ridden eight consecutive bulls in that arena. What’s more, three of those in a row were 90-point rides. It feels like Pacheco’s time to shine, as the 2018 World Champion was second in the overall Team Series draft pick, just behind Leme. Pacheco and Leme had gone toe-to-toe for years, most recently during the 2021 PBR World finals when Pacheco went 5-for-6 to endure defeat by Leme’s 6-for-6 run.

Dirteater is no stranger to the T-Mobile arena, either. Exactly six years before his team won the Team Series World Champion title, he’d earned the World Champion title in the

same space, the first year the PBR World Finals were held inside the T-Mobile Arena.

Whether it was comfort within the famed arena or merely McBride’s motivation, something moved the players to compete at the top level of their skill during the most critical event of the season.

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Josh Homer/ Bull Stock Media

The Stampede’s rise to the top began with a matchup against the Oklahoma Freedom. Scores from Dirteater, Rodolfo, and Pacheco led them to the lead. Oklahoma could have won the game with a walk-off ride, but McBride used a challenge, which showed that Freedom contender Derek Kolbaba had slapped his bull, Problem Child, at 7.83 seconds. That replay ended the game, giving Nashville its first playoff win.

That same evening, the Kansas City Outlaws and the Missouri Thunder were eliminated from the pool after they sustained losses to the Carolina Cowboys and the Arizona Ridge Riders, respectively, and faced Oklahoma in a Last Chance Game. Oklahoma won that game with four qualified rides, allowing the team to stay in contention for the World Champion title.

Austin got a first-round bye after entering the Team Series playoffs as the number one seed after a three-way tiebreaker against Texas and Oklahoma. The Texas Rattlers also earned a buy as the second-seeded team, and as a result, neither team competed until Saturday.

Nashville, who ended the season in last place, found themselves facing off against Austin, the number one team.

To anyone who follows the PBR, it was little surprise that two-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme stole the spotlight as the overall Team Series MVP, accumulating 1683.25 points throughout the season. Leme took home an extra $50,000 for the MPV title after 19-for-25 through the regular season, enough to make any cowboy sweat.

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Still, it was Nashville’s fortune that Leme and the other Austinites couldn’t match that regular season consistency during the Team Series Championships.

It could have quickly gone another way. During Round 2 of the playoffs against Nashville, Austin’s Leme was looking at what would have possibly been a 90-point qualified ride on Show Me Homie. Unfortunately, Leme found himself bucked off at 7.62 seconds, only 0.38 seconds away from securing the ride.

That one score was the one that would make or break the team, and Leme’s failure to stay on solidified the win for Nashville.

The win carried Nashville into the semifinals against the Texas Rattlers.

With rides from Lucas and Pacheco, including Pacheco’s 90.75 points on Moonlight Party, the Rattlers’ closer Daniel Keeping was under significant pressure to perform in Game 8 of the series. The winner came down to Keeping’s ride

aboard Choc Tease in a dramatic, anything-could-happen showdown. Choc Tease stumbled, which caused Keeping to slap, which would have disqualified any score he’d have earned. However, officials allowed a re-ride, renewing hope among the Rattlers. Unfortunately, Keeping’s re-ride was unsuccessful, thereby granting Nashville the win.

That meant Nashville was confirmed to compete in the Grand Finals event. The matchup would put them against the Arizona Ridge Riders, who’d earned its way into the finale by knocking out the Oklahoma Freedom in Game 10. In the Arizona versus Oklahoma matchup, an early ride

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

from Oklahoma’s Chase Outlaw, scoring 89.25 atop Bubba G, wasn’t enough to keep the Ridge Riders down as the team came through with rides from Eduardo Aparecido and Luciano De Castro to win the semifinal round.

Excitement fueled the arena during Game 12 as the team that entered the playoffs in last place was now contending for the World Champion title. And, with that, Nashville was ready to show the team it had what it takes to earn the distinction of being the best the PBR has to offer.

Even a 91.5-point ride from the Ridge Riders’ Aparecido and a 91.25-point ride from Luciano De Castro weren’t enough to pull the Arizona team to the forefront. De Castro’s ride was too little, too late. By the time he rode, the Nashville team had already cinched victory with Pacheco’s 90-point ride at the top of the final round, securing the victory with three total rides for Nashville to win the event.

Rides from Dirteater and three-time World Champion Alves also contributed to the win. The Stampede won 264182.75, claiming the World Champion title.

A TALE FOR THE AGES

Suffice it to say it was an eventful year culminating in an underdog success story. Further, fans were surprised to hear that Dirteater, who came out of retirement to compete, announced that he planned to return to retirement after the event. But winning the biggest event of the year is a heck of a note to go out on.

The inaugural PBR Team Series was a wild year of ups and downs. With all the season’s excitement, fans are ready for the teams to start thinking about rosters for the 2023 season.

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

HOW

No words can accurately describe the majesty of Yellowstone National Park. A beautiful landscape that sprawls over three states and fosters a diverse wildlife ecosystem that includes wolves, bears, elk, and bison, park conservation efforts will preserve its legacy for centuries to come.

It’s no coincidence that Yellowstone bourbon, a product of Limestone Branch Distillery in Kentucky, also embodies that fundamental desire to preserve the beauty of the past. Limestone Branch carefully distills Yellowstone to honor the traditions of yesteryear, resulting in bourbon replicating the post-prohibition flavors that contributed to economic recovery near the end of America’s Great Depression.

Limestone Branch’s master distiller is Steve Beam, who founded the distillery with his brother in 2015. The brothers represent the newest generation of bourbon experts from a long line of bourbon-distilling families. Many may recognize the last name Beam, also the name of one of the most popular mainstream bourbon brands on the market. On the other side of the family are the Dants, whose namesake is another favorite among bourbon enthusiasts.

This year, the distillery celebrated the Yellowstone brand’s 150th anniversary, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone bourbon dates back to the Beams’ great-greatgrandfather, who named the whiskey after a salesperson who had traveled out west and suggested that calling it Yellowstone could tap into the enthusiasm surrounding what was then a newly-established national park.

“Yellowstone was a brand that touched both sides of my family. It’s what was in our house when I was growing up as a kid. So, I definitely had a connection to Yellowstone,” Beam says.

It was just a twist of fortune that the brothers revitalized the Yellowstone brand only a few years before a show of the same name would emerge as one of the country’s most popular

television shows. The association is coincidental, but the show’s success has almost certainly attracted more attention to the whiskey as well.

As a brand, Yellowstone was fully operational for over 100 years. However, in the 1990s, the distillery shut down due to a struggling bourbon market. Luxco purchased the Yellowstone brand, choosing to bottle and sell the whiskey as a non-distiller producer. Yellowstone continued without a distillery until 2015, which was when the Beams sought to bring the Yellowstone brand home to its roots as an authentic Kentucky bourbon.

“We worked out the deal with Luxco, who owned the brand at that time, and they bought part of our distillery. Then, with that

Photo: Allie Filley

transaction, the Yellowstone brand was transferred to Limestone Branch,” Beam says.

But that was only part of what the brothers wanted to do with the namesake.

“We wanted to be as authentic to where our family left off as possible,” he says.

It took some ingenuity, but Beam found a clever way to tap into both the art and the science of distilling to replicate those flavors of decades past.

It involved tracking down a source for yeast, an ingredient integral to bourbon-making. There are numerous strains of yeast, and matching a modern yeast to an older one would be like finding a needle in a haystack. But that knowledge didn’t deter Beam. A little luck led him to the yeast his greatgrandfather and grandfather used to make Yellowstone.

The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History in Bardstown, Kentucky, owned a yeast jug that Beam’s family members had passed down through the generations before donating it to the museum in the 1980s. Beam recalled hearing how scientists had recently sprouted palm trees from seeds found in the pyramids. He wondered if similar technology might help him tap into that yeast to make the Yellowstone bourbon recipe authentic to the bourbon his ancestors made generations before.

He contacted Ferm Solutions in Danville, Kentucky, which specializes in yeasts, enzymes, and antimicrobials. The company used advanced biology to source the yeast DNA, which they matched to the strains. Each distillery has its own microflora and stills, meaning any product made today can never 100% accurately reproduce something as old as Yellowstone. However, the yeast allowed Limestone to produce bourbon that’s strikingly close to the flavors and processes the company used 150 years ago.

“The whole industry is a blend of modern technology and craft, and at Limestone, we wanted to make sure we stayed connected as a craft,” he says.

To add to the authenticity, Limestone Branch uses very little automation. Instead, Beam opts for a hands-on approach that prioritizes smells, tastes, and sights rather than readings from machines.

As the master distiller, Beam takes care of everything from grain mashing to acting as a brand ambassador, educating people about the whiskey and the unique processes that distinguish it from competing brands. When he began his journey toward opening a distillery, there were no college classes or tutorials to show him the ins and outs of the discipline. Even though both sides of his family have

bourbon distilling backgrounds, he had plenty to learn about the complex processes involved in distilling the perfect bourbon.

But when bourbon distilling is in your blood, you’re a willing student. Although many distillers have degrees in chemical engineering, Beam leveraged his background in landscape architecture to tap into the more creative aspects of the distilling process.

The distilling process at Limestone Branch involves milling grain and fermenting it for two and a half days. It then goes into pot stilling, which separates it by boiling points. That process will separate the alcohol from the water and grain, the latter of which they sell to local farmers as cattle feed. Then, the mixture goes through a second distillation, after which it ends up in the barrels.

Beam’s job is to ensure all of this goes according to plan. He’s also responsible for blending, such as the blending processes involved with developing Yellowstone Select, a blend of four- and seven-year-aged bourbon.

“The four-year gives you some of the grain notes and sweetness from the corn that comes through, and the seven-year gets a little bit more of the richness from the barrels, so you get caramels and vanilla. That provides a nice mouthfeel and a really nice finish as well,” he says.

In addition to Yellowstone, the distillery also produces a rye whiskey called Minor Case, named for the brothers’ grandfather and preprohibition distiller Minor Case Beam. It’s a light rye, right on the cusp of a rye and a bourbon finished in American cream sherry casks.

Beam also crafts the distillery’s annual limited edition spirit, which provides an opportunity for experimentation.

More than just an homage to years past, the Yellowstone name has come to represent the Limestone Branch’s values. The distiller regularly donates to conservation efforts and finds ways to support the Yellowstone

YELLOWSTONE WAS A BRAND THAT TOUCHED BOTH SIDES OF

community, such as donating more than $100,000 for repair efforts and cleanup in Yellowstone and the surrounding communities after the region experienced unprecedented flooding earlier this year.

But ultimately, it comes down to making classic spirits, perhaps even ones that his family will still enjoy 150 years from today.

“We have always sought to make an authentic American spirit, drawing from our past, but with a modern twist,” Beam says.

To find a Yellowstone distributor near you, use the product locator tool at www.limestonebranch.com

PRESENTED BY

Photo: Josh Homer / Bull Stock Media

RC LANDINGHAM IS GUNNING TO MAKE HISTORY WITH THE WCRA

Ia rodeo major, but two majors in a row is quite a feat. And, if that person can make it a trifecta, they deserve praise reserved for heroes and legends.

Bareback rider RC Landingham understands this firsthand. This year, the 32-year-old cowboy residing in Hat Creek, California, won back-toback major titles at Rodeo Corpus Christi in Texas and Utah Days of ’47 in Salt Lake City.

If luck is on his side, he’ll also take home a third major title at the forthcoming Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, which takes place from Dec. 14-17 — along with an extra million-dollar payday.

“The mental game is 75% of it,” he says of his recent successes. “If you don’t have in your mind that things are gonna go good, there’s no way they’re gonna go good.”

His head seems to be in the right space. Although he’s already satisfied with the up to $43,000 he’s earned from the WRCA in addition to his $130,524 in earnings this year from the PRCA, another million certainly won’t hurt.

And, with the four-time NFR qualifier on a roll this year, he’s never been in a better position to earn the distinction of becoming the WCRA’s first-ever million-dollar man

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

WINNING MORE WITH THE WCRA

This million-dollar prize is a special incentive from the World Champion Rodeo Alliance (WCRA), which hosts those three rodeo majors and the Women’s Rodeo World Championship. Win your event in three back-to-back majors, the organization promises, and you can also claim an extra million-dollar prize.

All rodeo contestants, regardless of affiliation, can earn money through the WCRA. To qualify for the majors, participants must nominate the rodeos they attend as WCRA events. For example, riders competing in PRCA events will still win money and points as members of the PRCA, but those points will also count toward the WCRA. The major events throughout the year are extra opportunities to earn money in addition to any regular circuit or NFR earnings.

Because of this, Landingham and other rodeo participants have embraced the mission of the WRCA by nominating rodeos and collecting points.

For these cowboys, the million-dollar bonus is just icing on the cake… at least until the possibility of earning it becomes a reality like it now is for Landingham.

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Josh Homer / Bull Stock Media

A WILD RIDE FOR THE COMEBACK KID

Few know the challenges of the cowboy lifestyle as well as Landingham, whose sponsors include Cinch Jeans, A&K Earth Movers, Barstow Pro Rodeo Equipment, Capri Camper, Skiver Boots, Gilk Custom Silver, and Pitter Metal Product.

Landingham was introduced to bareback by his stepfather Ty Skiver, who competed in PRCA rodeos in the 90s. There was a time when Landingham also rode bulls, but after sustaining severe injuries after a bull riding incident in 2010, he committed to only riding horses.

Landingham would continue to face challenges. In 2011 he sustained another round of injuries from a car accident that would keep him away from the rodeo. As he was getting

back into the swing of things, his mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2013.

Although he continued to compete, he narrowly missed NFR qualifications until 2016, when he finished sixth in the bareback world standings. It would be a particularly meaningful accomplishment for the cowboy since his seriously ill mother was able to watch him live out his dream of competing at the NFR. He took seventh in the event, and his mother passed just a few months later.

He qualified for the NFR again in 2017, taking 15th in the bareback world rankings that year. However, 2018 through 2020 would prove slower years for the cowboy, during which he took a substantial amount of time off to recover from injuries.

It’s enough to cause most people to hang up their boots and move on. But Landinham is a different breed.

He bounced back, and in 2021, he continued with the momentum he had at his peak in 2016. After qualifying for the NFR for the first time since 2017, he put on an admirable show, coming in fifth place in the event and placing 11th overall in the world standings.

2022 stands to be even better. Currently holding the number six spot in the bareback rankings, a solid NFR run could easily earn him that gold buckle.

MAJOR BACK-TO-BACK PAYDAYS

Landingham says it was a battle for him to win in Corpus Christi. He didn’t get to pick his horse first in the short round, and a less-than-ideal pick can often determine how well a cowboy stands to place. But that was a blessing for Landingham. The horse he was going to choose didn’t have normal treads, and the horse he chose did, solidifying his win at the event.

On the other hand, the win in Salt Lake City took place during a period when his confidence was riding high.

“There was no doubt in my mind that I wasn’t going to win that one,” he says.

He admits he’d forgotten about the million-dollar bonus he could earn from winning all three majors. However, fellow contestants and WCRA organizers certainly hadn’t.

“That’s the first thing everybody starts talking about after you win the second event,” he says. “So, my interviews weren’t really about winning. They were about winning the Triple Crown.”

Photo: Todd Brewer / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Josh Homer / Bull Stock Media

THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT I WASN’T GOING TO WIN THAT ONE.

LANDINGHAM

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MINDSET

Landingham cites his marriage to his wife, Bliss, as a significant reason he shifted into a different mindset that helped him focus and continues to drive him toward success. The two married in 2019 and now have a young son, who gives him even more reason to push himself in the arena.

“Marriage has been a big impact on my whole reason for rodeoing. I used to rodeo for myself, and it wasn’t as important to win as it is now, when you have a family relying on you,” he says.

He also prioritizes fitness and regularly works with a trainer.

“Physical fitness also helps you mentally. Just being fit and spending your time wisely working towards your goals, it’s good for your physical condition and your mental condition as well,” Landingham says.

Improvements in both his mental and physical health have dramatically impacted his performance. He says challenges start once something begins to shake that mindset. Anything that can alter that confidence even a little bit can affect performance. So, he’ll need to be on his A-game through the end of the year.

December will be a busy month for the cowboy. Between the NFR, the final competition, the holidays, and more events in the New Year, he will have a little time to rest. But these busy streaks keep him on his toes.

For most PRCA riders and ropers, the NFR is the big payday. However, with the million on the line at the final major, his season finale will take place at Cowtown Coliseum. His goal until then is to maintain consistency at the NFR and keep that flow going into the final major event.

“I think that this multi-million dollar Triple Crown thing, it’s taken a lot of pressure off me at the NFR,” he says. “I’m looking at it as going one ride at a time through the whole month.” Visit www.wcrarodeo.com to learn more about the WCRA

I USED TO RODEO FOR MYSELF, AND IT WASN’T AS IMPORTANT TO WIN AS IT IS NOW. -RC

Photo: Todd Brewer / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Josh Homer / Bull Stock Media

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MAKING RODEO A FAMILY TRADITION

Each year, youth and their families gather in Guthrie, Oklahoma, for the National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA) Finals at the Lazy E Arena. Throughout a weeklong course of events and celebrations, more than 1,400 young men and women come together to celebrate their love of roping and riding.

It’s for the love of the sport that adults bring their children from far and wide to offer them a chance to compete alongside their peers and earn money for college. Rodeo is as much a family tradition as a Hank Williams, Jr. song. So, it’s no surprise the NLBRA attracts families who want to introduce their children to fun activities that often grow into a lifelong passion for the arena and the country western lifestyle.

Founded in 1952 in Colorado Springs, which was also where NLBRA’s finals event took place for many years, the event moved to Pueblo, Colorado, and eventually to the Lazy E in 2016. While the finals events always had a healthy turnout, the latest change of venue would prove fruitful as the organization’s membership doubled after the move. The new home in Oklahoma opened the floodgates for Midwest and Southern families to join NLBRA festivities.

Over the past 60 years, Little Britches has grown to include franchises in 33 states and more than 400 events annually. The franchises hold rodeos throughout the year, where kids compete for a chance to qualify for the national event in July. Those local events offer scholarships and other opportunities, contributing to growth in the local rodeo community.

“They’re the ones that introduce the kids to it and get them ready for competing and advance them along until they’re ready to compete at the nationals,” Annie Walter, the NLBRA’s Executive Director, says of the franchises.

And, with so many qualifying events, families can limit their travel to ones that fit their availability and lifestyle as the kids work toward qualifying for the main event.

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

With the amount of money at stake, it’s no wonder the NLBRA is growing in popularity. Overall prize money, scholarships, and awards this year totaled $500,000, including a jackpot payout of $274,800. As a result, more than 1,400 contestants between the ages of 5 and 18 made their way to the Lazy E to bond over roping and riding and build lifelong friendships.

There are three divisions within those age ranges. The Little Wrangler division is for children ages 5 to 8, the Junior Division is for those ages 9 to 13, and the Senior Division for cowboys and cowgirls ages 14 to 18. While the Little Wrangler division is co-ed, the Junior and Senior divisions offer separate events for boys and girls.

Contestants can compete in any of 33 events, including rough stock divisions for Juniors and Seniors and other popular rodeo activities such

IT’S ALWAYS AMAZING TO ME HOW THE BIG ONES JUST KIND OF TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE ONES...

-ANNIE WALTER

as barrels and roping events. Some events are unique to the NLBRA, such as the trail course for Junior and Senior girls, which is an obstacle course with bridges, jumps, and gates.

Some young rodeo athletes have individually earned more than $20,000 toward their college education. After each finals, the NLBRA rewards contestants that place in the top three and grants additional scholarships based on school accomplishments. That money goes directly into

a scholarship fund, which the organization pays to the school once the student enrolls in college. This is in addition to the jackpot money they earn for placing in the NLBRA finals.

But ultimately, families return year after year because of that deep-seated sense of community. As youth from all over the country gather to celebrate their love of rodeo, they naturally become friends, much like children who bond at summer camp. After the event, they stay connected through

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

social media and look forward to the following year’s event, when they can see their friends again.

“It’s pretty amazing how people just jump in the truck and go, especially with these times, and the fuel prices and everything that’s going on in the country right now,” Walter says. “They still seem to go, and I think a big part of it is the family aspect. It gives the family someplace to go where they feel safe, and the kids can still be kids.”

While the focus is the rodeo events, the NLBRA’s weeklong celebration also features other activities. For example, the team will host dances and cookouts. The family-oriented environment ensures everyone behaves appropriately and takes care of one another.

“It’s always amazing to me how the big ones just kind of take care of the little ones,” Walter says.

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

The finals also feature a rodeo royalty contest, which crowns a Little Wrangler Princess, a Junior Princess, and a Queen. The winning young ladies then have the opportunity to travel to several events representing the NLBRA throughout the year.

“The girls go through the royalty program and then come back and either help Little Britches through internships or work for us during the finals. Some may also work with other rodeo associations or even go on to run for pageants within their states and even Miss Rodeo America. So, they stay very involved with the kids, even after they grow up and move out of the program,” Walter says.

Franchises even offer opportunities for children who are too young or not advanced enough to compete, designating their roles as “trail hands.” The program introduces kids to the rodeo, which can help them with early-age leadership skills and help them combat issues like shyness. In turn, it ends up being about kids helping kids.

“The Little Britches has a rule that a parent cannot cross the plane of the gate, but another contestant can help them,” she says. “It’s really designed to have the contestants help the contestants. For the kids who are nervous, it’s sometimes easier to have another one helping them and be involved, but push them along a little bit.”

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Those stories of grit and determination show why the NLBRA does what it does.

Walter shares the story of a child with a disability impacting one of her hands, who was part of a family where her sibling competed in team roping and breakaway. She wanted to participate in roping events as well. Although some might suggest that doing so would be impossible due to her disability, it didn’t deter her. Instead, she worked with the NLBRA, which allowed her to use a special mechanism to compete in events.

The young cowgirl learned how to rope and moved into the Junior Division this year.

“Just to be able to overcome such an obstacle of that nature and compete says a lot about her grit, determination, and work ethic,” Walter says.

The organization relies on 18 volunteer board members and three youth board members, all of whom work together to keep the organization thriving. The adult volunteers often

help with their own local franchises and, on behalf of the NLBRA, travel around the country for quarterly board meetings on their own dime. Their dedication proves they’re invested in the organization’s overall success.

“The goal is to get the kids involved in something from a young age and give them something that they can compete at and work toward all through their school years and up to college,” Walter says. “It’s a good, safe environment for the kids, and it keeps them out of trouble.”

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

Photo: James Phifer / RodeoBum.com

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WORLD CHAMPION TEAM ROPER

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