Pro Rodeo
CANADA
INSIDER
WILLY PHOTO BY MIKE COPEMAN
Easily one of the most decorated steer wrestling horses in professional rodeo is Cassidy’s Willy. Now, the big bay is being inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Lee Graves of Calgary, Alta., rode Willy to his 2005 World Steer Wrestling title. PRCA Photo by Mike Copeman
RODEOCANADA.COM cowboycountrymagazine.com
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider
Sponsorship Package As 2020 rolls along and considering the challenges Canadian Pro Rodeo has faced this year, we are looking ahead to next spring and, hopefully, a full rodeo season. CPRA staff, though working in a reduced capacity, continue to be available to members, committees, partners, prospective sponsors and the public as needed. Please watch our website and social media accounts for updates and information as we move further into the fall. One area staff are focusing on is CPRA sponsorship — both existing partnerships and new possibilities. The Association just completed its 2021 Sponsorship Package. Check out the options at rodeocanada.com. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the CPRA as we would be happy to sit down with you and tailor a sponsorship package to your organization. As well, in addition to welcoming back our long-standing and muchvalued Pro Rodeo Canada events, we are excited to see some new rodeos working to come onboard. Thank you to all of our member committees and
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the host of volunteers and sponsors who help with these events. Conversations with rodeo associations at all levels are moving onward and upward as several groups are working to find ways and areas we can work together to promote, preserve and grow our sport. All ideas and interest are welcome. Thank you to the organizers of the Canadian Cowboy Classic Golf Tournament. Held once again at the Valley Ridge Golf Club in Calgary, entrants enjoyed a great day of camaraderie, food, prizes and golf, with proceeds going to a cause that is near and dear to all of us — the Pro Rodeo Canada Sport Medicine Team. Thank you for your support. While CPRA members have not had the option to rodeo in Canada this year due to COVID-19, a number of competitors are enjoying success south of the border in their efforts to secure a 2020 WNFR spot. At press time, among the athletes solidly in the top 15 are Bareback Champions Orin Larsen and Richmond Champion; two-time World and Canadian Saddle Bronc titlest Zeke Thurston; two-time CFR qualifier Dawson Hay; six-time World Bull Riding Champ (and 2019 CFR qualifier) Sage Kimzey; Canadian Champion Team Roping Headers Levi Simpson, Kolton Schmidt and Matt Sherwood; Champion Heelers Paul Eaves and Hunter Koch; and four-time Canadian Barrel Racing Champ Lisa Lockhart. NFRbound tie-down ropers who have enjoyed Canadian success include
Tuf Cooper, Haven Meged, Shane Hanchey and Timber Moore. Check RodeoCanada.com for a final 2020 WNFR roster. Thank you to the members who have supported us through these challenges, to the directors who have come to meetings on their own dime and to the staff who have taken reductions in pay to keep us alive. We wish everyone a safe and happy fall season. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, or a member of the CPRA Board of Directors and/or management. See you down the trail!
Terry Cooke, President, CPRA
For up-to-date information about the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, check out our website at RodeoCanada.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @prorodeocanada. We’re also on YouTube under RodeoCanada.
Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2020
C.P.R.A.
Ben Robinson pulling his slack and stepping off his rope horse before the loop tightened at the 2019 Hand Hills Stampede. The rodeo, which would have been celebrating its 104th anniversary, was postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic.
ROAD TO THE CFR
LUCAS, ROBINSON & HAY FAR-FLUNG RODEOS By TIM ELLIS
T
HE ROAD TO THE CFR IN 2020 WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PAVED WITH YOUNG, EMERGING TALENT
HUNGRY TO SHOW OFF THE BRIGHT FUTURE OF RODEO IN CANADA.
PHOTO BY BILLIE-JEAN DUFF
INSTEAD, THE CANCELLATION OF THE CPRA SEASON DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS HAD THOSE TALENTED COWBOYS FOLLOWING A MUCH DIFFERENT PATH SOUTH OF THE 49TH PARALLEL. cowboycountrymagazine.com
“As long as they kept having rodeos down there, it was an opportunity to get the truck payments covered,” offers five-time CFR qualifier, Kyle Lucas, who was among several Canadians to take advantage of being able to compete in the U.S. “I sure hope we can come back strong in Canada next year and get some good rodeos going again in the spring.” By mid-August, the 26-year-old Lucas had shot up to 30th in the PRCA world tiedown roping standings. While that wasn’t an unfamiliar position for the Carstairs, Alta., cowboy, it was perhaps a better accomplishment given event entries were nearly double from past years. “For the most part, it was just like anything else,” suggests the 2018 Canadian Pro Rodeo reserve champion. “You dang sure had to draw a good calf, make a good run and stay out of your head and your own way. That’s been my problem, beating myself instead of just doing what I practise day in and day out.” With Lucas in the truck was Ben Robinson. “I was planning on competing in Canada obviously,” says Robinson, whose best attempt at qualifying for the Canadian Finals Rodeo was in 2017 when he finished 14th in the CPRA tie-down roping
standings. “For sure, it was disappointing. I would have liked to have been around home more.” What wasn’t disappointing was the 25-year-old’s performance south of the border. He enjoyed his biggest weekend ever on the PRCA trail with a $6,500 hit in early August while jumping inside the top 45 of the world standings. “I just tried to keep my head up and kept running at them.” A trio of young saddle bronc riders, all coming off standout performances at their first CFR appearances last fall, also headed south. “It was a crazy year,” chuckles Logan Hay, whose highlight of the season was an 88.5point ride on C5 Rodeo’s #80 Rockstar to win a rodeo in Baker, Mont. “There was lots of driving because there were only a handful of rodeos each weekend.” The 23-year-old Hay was joined in the truck by 20-year-old Ben Andersen and 24-year-old Kole Ashbacher. “There would be a hundred entries, but most committees only took 30 or 40 guys,” begins the Wildwood, Alta., cowboy. “So, you’d have the top 30 bronc riders in the world at a $1,500-added rodeo. You had to be 84 or 85 just to place when most times an 80 would win that rodeo.” “I had my truck and camper, and we went wherever. We went to lots of good rodeos we’d never gone to before and might not get the chance to go to again, so it was cool that way.” c
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider
ANNOUNCING THE 2020
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Due to COVID, the awards will be presented to these worthy inductees in 2021.
Contestant
Todd Boggust
Contestant
Contestant
Raised in Fort St John, B.C., Robert Bowers personified both toughness and hard luck in his rodeo career. This amazing cowboy first made his mark on the rodeo scene in 1993 when he won the CPRA Permit Award. Then based in Brooks, Alta., Robert earned eight rough stock CFR qualifications: four in bull riding (1997, 1998, 2002, 2004) and four in bareback riding (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). He earned three bull riding NFR qualifications (1997–1999) and two PBR World Finals qualifications. In 2004, he won $85,677 bull riding at the Calgary Stampede. This dual-event cowboy is also famous for riding and winning with either hand and is one of the few men in history to qualify for the PBR World Finals, Wrangler NFR and the CFR. Robert won his Canadian Bull Riding title in 1997 and later was the 2002 High Point Champion. Known as a world-class competitor, this decorated individual is a humble cowboy who has inspired many young rough stock riders. We’re privileged to induct Robert as one of our 2020 Class into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Guy Shapka of Alix, Alta., has a list of accomplishments as long as a bronc rein. His rodeo career in saddle bronc riding spanned from 1974 through 2002, with 17 CFR qualifications and three NFR qualifications. He was crowned the Canadian Novice Saddle Bronc Champion in 1982, and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Saddle Bronc Champion in 1983. He was named the Rookie of the Year in both the CPRA and PRCA in 1984. Guy went on to win the Canadian Saddle Bronc Championship in 1987. In both the 1988 and 2002 Olympics he represented Canada. Guy was the season leader in 1995 and the CFR Saddle Bronc Average winner in 2000. Named CPRA Cowboy of the Year in 2002, Guy retired after his final ride at the CFR that year. For these accomplishments and so many more, Guy has earned his seat in the Hall of Fame.
Robert Bowers
Guy Shapka
His 12 CFR steer wrestling (SW) qualifications and five NFR SW qualifications speak for themselves where Todd is concerned. The cowboy from Paynton, Sask., was an outstanding steer wrestler and an ambassador of the event, and was liked by absolutely everyone. Todd won the Canadian Steer Wrestling Championship title in 1995 and the $50,000 at Calgary Stampede in 1996. Sadly, we lost Todd in August 2001 to cancer. He was awarded the CPRA Douglas Lake Ranch “Cowboy of the Year” in 2001 posthumously. Many of today’s steer wrestling competitors credit Todd with much of their success, stating, “He was there influencing me when I got started.” Todd was a rancher and a cowboy at heart. For these reasons and more, we recognize and welcome Todd Boggust to his rightful seat in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
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Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2020
ILLUSTRATIONS: STOCK ADOBE/NOBELART
(1964–2001)
C.P.R.A.
Builder
Dallas Mackie A name synonymous with the Cranbrook Pro Rodeo, in 1987, Dallas Mackie was a founding member of the Cranbrook Pro Rodeo committee. For many years, that rodeo board was one of the few all-women committees in the world. Dallas’ love of horses and rodeo comes straight down the line from her father, Fred Bradford. Today, over 34 years of commitment and dedication as a volunteer is something few can list as an accomplishment in the rodeo arena. In 2005, Dallas was voted as the CPRA Committee Person of the Year and is worthy of the Builder accolade for many reasons. This well-regarded horsewoman and her late husband, Ron, spent a lifetime breeding Quarter Horses and Paints. We proudly honour Dallas Mackie as one of our 2020 class of inductees into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Animal
RTR Little Willy a.k.a. “Willy” Born in 1986, this phenomenal, recordsetting Quarter Horse goes back to the Thoroughbred racehorse, War Admiral on his dam’s side. (War Admiral was the fourth winner of the American Triple Crown and Horse of the Year in 1937, and the rival of Seabiscuit in the ‘Match Race of the Century’ in 1938.) Owned by Greg Cassidy, Willy has earned well over $3 million and carried four cowboys to World Steer Wrestling titles in Las Vegas: Rope Myers (2001), Lee Graves (2005), Jason Miller (2007) and Luke Branquinho (2008). He also earned six Canadian Steer Wrestling titles for competitors Greg Cassidy (2000), Curtis Cassidy (2006), Lee Graves (2003, 2005) Cody Cassidy (2008, 2009), plus a 2002 Olympic Gold medal with Myers.. Bleed: 7.625” In 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and Trim: 7.125” 2009 he was voted as the CPRA Steer 6.325” Wrestling HorseSafety: of the Year. In 2004, he
earned second place in the voting for the AQHA-PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, and in 2008 he was voted the AQHA-PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. Willy was retired following the 2010 Wrangler NFR. Quite possibly one of the most decorated animals in Canadian rodeo history, Willy is a very worthy addition to the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. c
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider WHAT DOES IT TAKE?
RODEO PHOTOGRAPHERS ONE SHOT AT A TIME By TIM ELLIS
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How To Go Pro New shooters are strongly encouraged to hone their craft by shooting at amateur rodeos for a full season. The new shooter contacts the CPRA and is vetted by a senior carded photographer. They must present their portfolio of unedited photos to the senior CPRA photographer. The new shooter must pass an arena review to prove they can safely operate in an arena. The CPRA makes the final decision on arena access granted to photographers.
Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2020
C.P.R.A.
OPPOSITE PAGE:
Billie-Jean Duff RoughstockStudio.ca
A spectacular action photo of Quentin Taylor and his picture-perfect turned-out boot on Calgary’s A-34 Armitta Rocket in the novice bronc riding at 2019 Innisfail Rodeo
V
ERSATILITY, PASSION, AGILITY, PERSEVERANCE, INGENUITY AND TIMING — THESE ARE
ALL NECESSARY ATTRIBUTES FOR A RODEO PHOTOGRAPHER. IT WAS THOSE ELEMENTS THAT HELPED MIKE COPEMAN REACH THE
PINNACLE OF SUCCESS DURING HIS 28-YEAR CAREER. “I was bouncing off the walls,” remembers Copeman of a call from Clay Gaillard of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1998. “He said, ‘It’s just preliminary, but would you be interested in serving as our arena photographer at the NFR?’” “Two weeks later, he called again to say I had the job. He said, ‘We’re thinking we can pay you this much or that much.’ I said, ‘I’ll take that much, being the much higher number,’ and that was our negotiation.’” It was the start of a 17-year run of shooting at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Add in two decades inside the arena capturing the action at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, 17 years at the Calgary Stampede and countless gigs at various amateur association finals, and you have an impressive resume. “My first time taking pictures at a rodeo was in 1989 at the St. Albert Rainmaker,” recalls Copeman, who took up photography as a hobby three years earlier. “When I looked at my pictures after, I thought I had bit off more than I could chew. I didn’t have any timing; I was terrible.” “But I got the bug. Sales were still terrible, but I kept going to rodeos and working at my regular job. At about my third rodeo, I learned how to climb the fence and stay out of the way.” cowboycountrymagazine.com
ABOVE:
Covy Moore CovyMoore.ca
Sun flare at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo during the tiedown portion of the evening’s events in 2016
RIGHT:
Mike Copeman
MikeCopeman.com Steer wrestler Trigger Roy, 2006 Alberta High School Rodeo Finals
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider Covy Moore
WHAT DOES IT TAKE?
CovyMoore.ca
Jayne Thurston celebrates a quiet moment with husband and World Champion Saddle Bronc rider Zeke after claiming his first PRCA World Championship in 2016 at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That leads into this piece of advice for any fledgling rodeo photographer. “Climb early and climb often,” suggests Copeman. “You should be invisible in the arena. Just keep doing your job and enjoy what you’re doing.” “Don’t just jump into it; learn all about the sport. Work your regular job until you’re making the same amount at both. You need to want it so bad, you’ll do anything. That’s how you get good.” It was about 13 years after first picking up a camera that Billie-Jean Duff quit her regular job to make the leap to full-time photographer. “It’s not easy,” affirms Duff of making a living with rodeo photography. “You never know if you’re going to make enough on a weekend to pay your gas bill or hotel room.” “You’re selling on spec. You need to sell X amount of pictures to X amount of contestants each weekend to make a viable 44
income. Plus, you’ve got your expenses like fuel, insurance and equipment maintenance and upgrades — which are inevitable.” Unlike Copeman and Duff, the journey to full-time rodeo photography didn’t begin as a hobby for Covy Moore. He graduated from photo-journalism school, worked in the newspaper industry for several years and had a stint shooting for U.S.-based motorsport.com. “I tried to apply the marketing aspect of what I was doing with auto racing and newspapers to rodeo,” says Moore. “Those moments outside the rodeo arena are just as marketable for the sport.” “I’ve always had the attitude that I’m working for the sport first and myself second. The better the sport does, the better I’ll do down the road. It can create a new earning structure outside of just selling to the athletes themselves. Do the sport justice, be in it for the sport.”
While shooting up to 1,000 frames during a rodeo performance, a photographer’s work isn’t finished when the action is done. “For instance, I’ve been shooting at junior rodeos this summer,” begins Duff. “After the performance, I’ll spend another 5–6 hours editing the pictures.” And lastly, be prepared to take your lumps — literally. “I’ve been clipped by several horses,” confirms Copeman. “Yes, they’re heavy, and yes it hurts.” “I got run over at the CFR one year. It was more embarrassing than anything, although the horse did step on me in a bunch of different places — even had a perfect horseshoe on my butt. I went left instead of right and all of a sudden, I’m on the ground. I take a step, get hit, take a step, get hit, bang, bang, bang. I’m holding my camera trying not to get killed, and finally, it ended.” c
Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2020
