$4.00
Feb 2016
Vol. 25 No. 2
25
Check out these features... USTRC: South Georgia Championships Mississippi Classic
2 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 3
Dirt... there is a lot of it I could kick around this month. The USTRC made quite a stir at the turn of the year with several new rules changes. The media storm was flowing for a few days on the specific nature of kids roping together. Of course whenever you mess with kids, parents seem to lose their mind, understandably, but after a few days and the reasoning settled back into their heads, many seemed to understand the nature behind the change and the positive outcome it will have on the sport. What also came out of the USTRC office that many may have missed in the course of debate over the new team age requirements to compete was the implementation of the USTRC Scholarship plan. The USTRC is awarding $100,000 annually to the youth of the sport. If you missed it, you can check it out at the USTRC website. It is pretty cool and will be a valuable aid for many kids down the road.
More than dirt is now being flung in the professional rodeo arena. The saga between the PRCA and ERA continues after a judge did not open nor close the door on the PRCA from banning those contestants on the ERA for-front from purchasing and competing at PRCA events. A Texas Judge instead just pushed the envelope forward into mid February. So the clash continues.
Also in the mix and something I suspected about the rule change that the PRCA implemented at the end of last year. It concerned those who are on a board or have ownership stake in any other rodeo association not being able to purchase a PRCA card. The “amateur” contestant who sits on a board, often without any pay, and also compete in their local PRCA Circuit fell into this space of elimination. It was announced a week or so ago that board members in the CPRA (Colorado Professional Rodeo Association) were not able to buy a current PRCA card for 2016 based on this rule change. It trickled down so to speak.
One final note before I head off this month is of big concern for team ropers. Cattle or the lack there of. I know every year the cry of the lack of roping cattle is prevalent, but that concern is even more resounded this year. I have talked to folks from coast to coast and you can bet they are all apprehensive about the lack of roping cattle that is available this year. This is not a doomsday report for team roping, it just means cattle are going to be hard to find and events will reflect it. There is also, from the way I look at it no quick fix and it will take a few years before the quantity catches back up to the market. Signing off, I want to remind all of you out there that this is the month of love. Valentine’s day is just around the corner. That is my reminder to you. Be gracious to the one you love, enjoy your time together and hold on to the moments that create memories! Remember ... Dirt: keep it under your feet...
~Ryan Davis
4 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
Celebrating 25 Years!
Table of Contents Articles & Features 4 Dirt: There’s a lot of it I could kick around. . . . . Ryan Davis 12 Ropers of the Round Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stuart Mitchell
T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F. . .
13 Down the Line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stran Smith
SRA
14 S. Georgia Championships, Event Recap. . . . . Ben Clements
Southern Rodeo Association AHSRA
15 Mississippi Classic, Event Recap. . . . . . . . . . . . Ben Clements
Alabama High School Rodeo Association
22 Pushing The Barrier: The Future of Rodeo. Speed Williams
FYRA
28 Photo of the Month. . . . Harrison & Roof from Foothills Finals
Foothills Youth Rodeo Association GHSRA & GJHRA
Georgia High School Rodeo Association & Georgia Junior High Division NTRL
38 In The Loop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patrick Smith, Lone Star Ropes 45 Sweat & Balin’ Twine: Goat Roping. . . . . . . . . . John Rhudy 46 TOP TIPS!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . insights from Cesar De La Cruz
National Team Roping League
48 Protecting Your Investment!. . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Strickland
NEAFRA
49 Ready or Not.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crystal Lyons
Northeast Arkansas Family Rodeo Association NCHSRA • NCJHRA
North Carolina High School Rodeo Association North Carolina Junior High Rodeo Association SCHSRA • SCJHD • SCYRA
South Carolina High School Rodeo Association S. Carolina Jr High Div & Youth Rodeo Assoc SWTRA - LA
Southwest Team Roping Association of Louisiana
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49 Power Team Roping Q&A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rickey Green 52 The Other Half: “Just Go Rope”. . . . . . . . . . . Gracie Mae 53 Events & Advertisers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index 53 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For Sale & Want Ads
Associations 6+ Southern Rodeo Association ~ SRA 20 Northeast Arkansas Family Rodeo Assoc ~ NEAFRA 20 Southwest Team Roping Assoc of Louisiana ~ SWTRA 24 Foothills Youth Rodeo Association ~ FYRA 26 Georgia High School Rodeo Assoc ~ GJHRA 30 Alabama High School Rodeo Assoc ~ AHSRA 34 South Carolina HS Rodeo Assoc ~ SCHSRA 40 National Team Roping League ~ NTRL 50 N Carolina High School Rodeo Assoc ~ NCHSRA
Editor: Ryan Davis 505-407-2151 rdavis@theropingpen.com
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The Magazine for America’s Roper • 5
SRA Finals 2015
THE BEST SHINE BRIGHT! T
he SRA is in full swing, gaining momentum as they push into the 2016 season. The association is no doubt growing as many new cowboys and cowgirls are filling the SRA arenas all across the southeast. New rodeos are on the schedule this year and the SRA is looking forward to a banner year filled with great rodeo action! For many, January set the stage for the season as many of the SRA’s best from last season headed to Oklahoma City after qualifying for the International professional Rodeo Associations season-ending event, the International Finals Rodeo (IFR). The SRA co-sanctions many events with the IPRA leading the way for their contestants to move into the spotlight of one of the country’s largest rodeos. IFR46 was once again hosted at the Oklahoma City State Fair Arena where thousands of rodeo fans lined up to take in the action of the best contestants from across the world doing what they do best on the arena floor. SRA members and were well represented as they competed through four rounds for rich payouts and the chance to win the IPRA titles. Out of the dust of the arena came a name that is commonly announced over the SRA arena floor. Carrie Putnam from Charlotte, North Carolina made a dash at fame this year and wrapped it up in a nice little bow at IFR46. Carrie was the 2015 SRA barrel racing champion and carried that momentum into the IFR as the leader of the pack. Although she admits she did not have the finals she wanted, her
6 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
season-long determination, great horse and addiction to the speed around the clover-leaf pattern earned her the Championship. Carrie walked away with the honors of the fastest racer of the season. Another great, this one who is a multi-event champion among the SRA earned perhaps the biggest honor at IFR46. Justin Thigpen is a dominant figure anytime he enters a rodeo. From wrestling steer, roping calves and heading, Justin is a man with many talents. He has proven himself as a champion among the SRA and the IPRA in the past. However, the January rodeo in Oklahoma set him on a different level as he earned his first IFR All-Around Championship, along with the steer wrestling championship. Justin hails from Waycross, Georgia and continues place his name among the great cowboys and wrote his name in the rodeo history books. Champions all packed into one truck heading home from Oklahoma, Carrie Putnam was not alone with her championship as she headed back to the Southeast. Her boyfriend and team roper, Caleb Anderson earned the Heeling championship at IFR46. The pair of championship saddles looked good together as the duo made their way out of Oklahoma City and back home across the Mississippi River. Dustin Egusquiza from Florida earned the other half of the team roping championship at IFR46. He roped with Stephen Brittnell from Knoxville, Tennessee who finished second in the season standings. The duo of Dustin and Stephen took home the Average of the event winning several rounds at the rodeo. SRA team ropers Jacob Dagenhart and Zach Mabry who just came off a huge win at the World Series of Team Roping Finale in Las Vegas, as well as Jason Tucker, Morgan Jones, Justin Thigpen, Cory Kidd, J.D Young, Tyler Flurry, Kelsey Parchman, Lane Mitchell, Chris Chandler and Josh Clayton were all in the hunt at the IPRA Championship rodeo. Along With Justin Thigpen, several cowboys were among those who represented the SRA steer wrestling contention at IFR46. Chet Kidd, Brian Barefoot and Brad Stewart we among those who ran across the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds arena, competing for some of the 2015 season IPRA fame and fortune. Amanda Stewart who was the 2014 IPRA breakaway roping champion was back again for a chance at the money this year. Although she could not squeak out another championship, she did place in several rounds and won second in the Average. She roped alongside several of her SRA competitors including the young, talented, Bailey Livingood, Hayley Jo Knox and Brittany Adams. Each of these cowgirls swung ‘em fast at IFR46! When it came to the rough stock events, the SRA was represented by Josh Crager in the bareback riding. Josh placed in a few rounds and the Average picking up just over $3,500 in payout at IFR46. Eddie Parlier who was the 2015 SRA champion had some trouble at the Oklahoma rodeo but did manage to earn a little bit of traveling cash and finished the IPRA season in the top 5. All in all, the SRA cowboys and cowgirls represented the Southeast in great fashion at IFR46. The rodeo is by far one of the biggest and best in the country as contestants come from several countries to compete for the great payouts and a chance to go into the history books in the sport of rodeo. We congratulate all of the contestants at this year’s IFR. Photos Courtesy of Emily Gethke Photography: 519-279-1110
CALEB ANDERSON
Team Roping, Heeler, Champion
Breakaway, 2nd Place
CARRIE PUTNAM Barrel Racing Champion
Photos Courtesy of Emily Gethke Photography: 519-279-1110
AMANDA STEWART
JUSTIN THIGPEN
All-Around Champion Steer Wrestling Champion The Magazine for America’s Roper • 7
SRA 2016 RODEO SCHEDULE • SRA 2016
8 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
2016 POINT STANDINGS
6 RODEO SCHEDULE
AS OF 1/12/16 • EXCLUDING SALEM, VA RANK & NAME................POINTS
RANK & NAME................POINTS
ALL AROUND COWBOY 1 Josh Killian...........................609.96 BAREBACK RIDING 1 Harold Miller.........................542.30 2 Robert Messer.......................382.50 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1 Travis Deal............................209.76 2 Hayden Phipps......................139.84 BULL RIDING 1 Wesley Buckner.....................967.50 2 Bradney Tart.........................387.00
3 Clint Moore...........................526.24 4 Langdon Pleasant..................324.00 5 Jason Tisdale.........................296.24 6 Daryl Matthews.....................263.12 7 Jason Tucker.........................258.75 TEAM ROPING (HEELER) 1 Deny Ashley..........................796.72 2 Jordan Southern...................526.24 3 Brett Sears............................324.00 4 Tyler Kile..............................263.12 5 Adam Toole...........................258.75 6 Josh Killian...........................131.56 7 Casey Hilley..........................112.50 BARREL RACING 1 Rebecca Owens...................1406.70 2 Lacey Thompson....................722.98 3 Bronwyn Ashley....................646.50 4 Lauren Smith........................583.20 5 Megan Lyerly........................351.00 6 Susie Justus-Hill....................340.20 7 Sommer Walker....................285.20 BREAKAWAY ROPING 1 Lucinda Fletcher....................830.80 2 Callie Garrison......................608.60 3 Jamie Ellsworth.....................409.50 4 Karla Dagenhart...................351.00 5 Hannah Kirk........................331.20 6 Kristin Mulkey.......................248.40 7 Bailey Livengood...................117.00 8 Kaycee MacGibbon..................82.40
CALF ROPING 1 Cory Kirk............................1251.28 2 Josh Killian...........................478.40 3 Ben Carroll............................439.12 4 Robbie Murdock....................360.00 5 Jared Garrett........................237.36 6 Greg McCrary........................158.24 7 Garrett Keeter.......................144.00 STEER WRESTLING 1 Robbie Vanholten..................405.00 2 Chet Kidd..............................270.00 3 Hunter Styles........................256.50 4 Tyler Willis............................171.00 TEAM ROPING (HEADER) 1 JD Young............................1104.00 2 Dillon Harrison......................596.25
NOTES TO KNOW… • ALL FINES AND TURN-OUT FEES MUST BE PAID BEFORE ENTERING A RODEO. • SRA memberships must be purchased prior to rodeo in order for points to count. Membership applications can be printed from the SRA website and are available for purchase through the SRA office and at SRA first-sanctioned rodeos. You may not be able to purchase a membership at rodeos that are not SRA firstsanctioned rodeos. • JrSRA, NHSRA & NIRA cards are accepted for rodeo entry. Unless otherwise noted, Permits are accepted as needed at a cost of $10 per rodeo.
ADD’L RODEO FEES: (unless otherwise noted in listing) • SRA FIRST-SANCTIONED RODEOS: • Office Fee: $2 per contestant • Finals Fee: $5 per entry: • Stock Contractor Fee: Amount as listed on rodeo info is per entry (per team in team roping)
• IPRA/SRA RODEOS:
Finals Fee: $2 per contestant
CES: $8 per contestant
ABBREVIATIONS USED:
CST CENTRAL STD TIME
ADM ADDED MONEY
EF ENTRY FEE
BB BAREBACK RIDING
EST EASTERN STD TIME
BR BULL RIDING
SB SADDLE BRONC RIDING
CBA COWGIRLS BKWAY ROPING
SC STOCK CHARGE
CBR COWGIRLS BARREL RACING SCF STOCK CONTRACTOR FEE CES CENTRAL ENTRY SYSTEM
SW STEER WRESTLING
TR TEAM ROPING
CR CALF ROPING
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 9
10
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 11
BY STUART MITCHELL
Cowboys I’ve known & know… H
e was an old paddle-footed yellow horse of unknown breeding. His speed was far from fast. He was short and stocky, just right for catching cows, and as dependable in the pasture as any horse could be. He took care of himself and his rider, and his rider is one of great story. Old Hawk was as tough as they come. Any injury that turpentine or mud packs wouldn’t cure had to be life-threatening. He worked day jobs with farmers, hauled cattle for local stockyards, and did custom cow work for the public. He turned a dollar where he could. He raised his family the best he could with what he had, and when it came time to die, he fought hard and left no regrets. I was fortunate to meet Hawk while he was still going fairly strong. He had slowed some in quantity but not in quality. My first meeting with him was on a cow catching at the Cove. We arrived early, before sunup, and he was already there. He had set up the pens and saddled old Paddlefoot (that was his real name). He was ready. All we needed was daylight. He laid out the game plan for the rest of us. We would try to gather as many as we could before lunch and then we would go back and pick ‘em off one at a time with ropes and dogs. We started out that morning with about 15 riders and 2 track dogs. The morning went fairly smooth considering it was 500 acres of woods that few of us had ever seen and 4 of our group were under the age of 16. We pushed cows and calves out of woods, briar patches, creek bottoms, and off the tops of hills. There were some hitches - we lost a couple of the young riders for about an hour. They claimed they were looking for strays. (Funny thing, when we found them, they were on the dirt road headed back to the highway.) We gathered a fairly large group of cows and calves by lunchtime and pushed them to the pens. After sorting off the cows, we broke for lunch. If you remember, I told of a couple of young’uns on this expedition. There also was an “adult kid” on this trip. As most of us were eating lunch, we could see dust flying and hear calves bellering in the catch pen. This went on for about 15 minutes before Hawk told one of the boys to go see what Scott had them young’uns doing. He strolled over to the pens and I tagged along for the “gentile cussin’” I figured he’d give. When we got there, all we could see was Shawn about to dive off onto the necks of two 400-pound calves. He jumped, grabbed their necks over the top with his body between them, facing the same way as the calves, and off he went. By this time, Hawk had walked over to assess the situation. When he saw what Scott had those boys doing, he just laughed and said it had been a long time since he’d rode his first “calf chariot.” After a few more trips each, they quit. Actually, they had to! A pair of 500 pounders ran ‘ol Scott slam into the end of the catch pen and Hawk declared the games over while they were all still alive. We mounted up to go collect the strays and outlaws. As we gathered to leave, someone noticed that one of us was missing. Shank wasn’t with us and hadn’t been in for lunch. A sense of urgency came over us all, as he had been riding a young gray bronc. (1st mistake) We all started out at a fast trot to find him. Just as we got to the edge of the woods, Shank comes walking out, leading the gray. He’s been lost half the morning, gray bucked him off, and he’d walked 10 miles through the woods leading that horse. (2nd mistake - Gray would have died or come home alone). He proceeded to tell his story to some of the others, leaving out some low points. (3rd mistake- never admit to being lost or bucked off... causes misery from prodding & laughing friends.) We finally started out to finish the gather, with Shank dragging up the rear. Hawk pairs us up and says “drive ‘em if you can, catch ‘em if you have to.” Everyone starts out and I’m not sure who my partner is. Hawk had forgot to tell me... or I thought he had. He rides by, says “follow me,” and hits a lope straight for the woods. I fell in right behind and no sooner had we gotten to the edge of the pasture, two big calves turn tail and run. Hawk takes off and I’m right there with him, sort of. He’s about 20 yards in front on that old, slow, paddle-footed, good-for-nothing yellow horse that I could outrun on foot. Only problem, Old Yeller must be a runaway ‘cause the faster them calves ran the further behind Paddlefoot I get. Hawk hits the woods with the calves and never checks up. Just in the nick of time, I arrive
12 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
- not to help Hawk, but to witness one of the greatest double cow catchings I ever saw. Hawk roped the first one in full stride, and without stopping, Paddlefoot hangs a right and does a 360 around a pine tree. Hawk ducks the rope, throws a knot around the tree, and is gone before the steer hits the end of the rope. I see all this, but I don’t believe it. Hawk is in hot pursuit of the second one and I’m still behind him. (I wouldn’t miss this for the world!) Paddlefoot had to be the best tree-dodging, stump-jumping, limb-ducking horse I’d ever seen. He ran right up on this calf like we were in an open field. Hawk throws the rope (he was carrying 3 or 4) and just as it settles over his head, the calf breaks hard right. This ain’t too bad, except when he went right it left a 2’ thick pine between him and Paddlefoot. I thought this was it - something had to give. The rope, the calf, or Paddlefoot and Hawk were about to be in a wreck. What I didn’t know was that this wasn’t the first big squeeze they had been in. Paddlefoot went straight and just as he went by that tree, the rope got short. That calf jerked in a 90° angle towards the tree and instantly wedged Hawk and Paddlefoot against that pine. It might have jerked Paddlefoot, but what happened to the calf wasn’t pretty. He pancaked as near straight back as he could, hit the ground with a thud, and the angels gathered. When he hit the ground Hawk hollered “tie ‘em up!” I asked, “What for? You’ve killed him!” “Better tie ‘em up ‘fore he gets his air back!” Hawk yelled. I thought he was crazy, but I did as he said. Just about the time I finished tying him, up the angels left and I found out why! This calf had been to hell and back and sure didn’t want another trip. He kicked, bellered , pawed, and nearly killed me before I could get out of reach, and he was tied down! We went back and secured the first calf and headed to find more strays. We caught a few more, but nothing like those first two. Hawk and I had spread out to look for more when I jumped a cow and calf. Not wanting to tote this calf all the way back to the pens, I decided to drive him and his momma back together. I started toward the pens when I heard a rumbling noise coming from the other side of the hill I was on. I cleared the top of the hill in time to see J.R. and Scott blow by me in hot pursuit of my pair. I found out later they had been watching me and waited for me to clear the brush and get out in the open so they could practice their roping skills. At first I was mad, but at this point, I decided I really didn’t care. I watched their performance and compare them with Hawk. The first super looper, J.R., roped the old cow with the third loop. At the same time, Scott disappeared over the hill toward the bluff. (I forgot to mention this property was bordered on two sides by 100-foot cliffs.) I rode on by J.R. toward where Scott was last seen. J.R. didn’t need any help anyway... expert cowboy that he was. True to form, Scott had disappeared without a trace. I rode down on the edge of the bluff when I heard it... the scariest, funniest, weirdest sound I’ve ever heard in the woods. I found the source of the noise, and Shawn had rode up to check out the wailing. We got off our horses and peeked over the edge of the bluff. There he was, flat on his back, feet to the bottom, a small sapling between his legs, and holding that calf by one leg, singing “nobody knows my sorrow, nobody knows my pain.” This might not have been so interesting except that sapling was all that was keeping him and the calf from falling off the bluff and into the creek. After we caught our breath from laughing, we pitched him a rope and drug him and the calf up the bluff. We tied the calf and then began to listen to Scott’s explanation. He had rode up behind the calf and reached down and grabbed his tail. This caused the calf to jump away and pull him off his horse. This all happened at the edge of the woods, and after being dragged 20 yards through the woods, both went over the edge. We had to ask, “Why didn’t you let go?” Scott looked at both of us and smiled. “That calf might have got away and grew up thinking us cowboys couldn’t hang with bovine.” The 3 of us made it back to the pens with “our” calf, just as the last captured critters had been loaded in the trailer and hauled to the pens. After working all the calves and loading the culls, we cut the rest loose. As they spread out over the pasture, one of the young’uns said it was a shame we had to work so hard to catch ‘em only to let ‘em go so easy. Hawk had one final thought on this. “If they were all in pens, what would I do next week?”
www.STSRanch.com
I
really don’t like New Years Resolutions because to me it’s just a fad and people nearly always break their resolutions. Every year my routine is to set aside a little bit of time to reflect on the past year and review and grade things that I’ve tried to accomplish in the previous year. For the past few years I start the new year off with a fast. I do this for three different reasons: mind, body, and spirit. Its good physically for you. You can use it as a body detox. Its good mentally for you. It shows you that you can do something that your body is telling you that you cant. Third and most important its good spiritually. It lets my heavenly Father know that he has control of every part of my life. When I started doing this years ago it seemed like the main thing I was focused on was my personal career goals. As I’ve gotten older its seems like my goals of course have changed, but there are not as many short term goals as there is long. In fact they’ve gotten broader and with less attention to time. This year I didn’t just focus
on goals. This year I broke it down into 4 things. Goals is still at the top of my list, but the second thing that was at the top was ideas. Small minded people talk about people. Average minded people talk about events. Great minded people talk about ideas. The third thing that I wanted to focus on was “things that are working”. In order to look at the things that are working you have to acknowledge the things that are NOT working and be disciplined enough to eliminate those things. The 4th is “Things that must get done”. Im a big “list” person. Everyday I have a list. Some days I get nothing checked off. Some days I check off everything, but I always have a list going. If I don’t write it down it seems like I don’t get it done. Im not saying that my system would work for everybody, but thats just it. I do think you have to have a system. I encourage you to figure out something that works for you. When you aim at nothing you hit nothing. God Bless and see you down the line...
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 13
SOUTH GEORGIA CHAMPIONSHIPS
GEORGIA NAT’L FAIRGROUNDS -- PERRY, GA JANUARY 1-3, 2016 •PRODUCED BY JX2 STORY BY BEN CLEMENTS • PHOTOS BY C BAR C
T
he South Georgia Classic in Perry, Georgia is always one of the first events of the new USTRC season. The event produced by John Johnson and Jx2 Productions is held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and this year took place January 2-4, 2015. The event began with the #15 Division. Zeb Chapman from Lipan, Texas and Justin Yost from Rices Landing, Pennsylvania were the champions. They were 27.12 seconds on 4 steers and won $3220, trophy Gist knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place in the average was Jaxson Tucker and Caleb Anderson, while third
Friday Saddle Winner: Billy Lam
place went to Dean Wilson and Shane Edmondson. In the #13 Division the win of the average went to the team of Will Batchelor from Lagrange, Georgia and Billy Lam from Canton, Georgia. The duo roped 4 steers in a total time of 29.35 seconds. They won $5110, trophy Gist knives, and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place in the average was the team of Karter Kagel from Wildwood, Florida and Justin Yost. The third place finishers were Tyler Boatwright and Lam. Cody Long from Bonifay, Florida and Ben Whiddon from Havana, #10: Bob Herrington and Nick Hart
#10 Gold Plus: David Lewis and Ryan Lee
#12 Gold Plus: Colt Tritt and Billy Lam
#11: Bucky Nastri and Tyler Tatum
Saturday Saddle Winner: Tyler Tatum
#13 Handicap: Will Batchelor and Billy Lam #12: Coty Long and Ben Whiddon
#15 Handicap: Zeb Chapman and Justin Yost
Sunday Saddle Winner: Garrett Ketter
#9: Garrett Keeter and Blake Walker
14 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
#8 PickDraw: Jacob Daniell and Tyler Boatwright
Open: Cory Kidd V and Caleb Anderson
Florida teamed up to win first place in the #12 Division. They were 32.49 seconds on 4 steers and thus took home $5600, trophy Gist knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place in the average went to the team of Elliott Hooper and Daniel Raynor. Third place in the average was David Gaddis and Billy Lam. Ryan Lee from Edgemoor, South Carolina and Blake Walker from Forest City, North Carolina won the incentive average. They took home $960 and Trophy Gist Buckles. The first roping of the second day of team roping was the #12 Gold Plus. Colt Tritt from Jasper, Ga and Billy Lam finished the roping with a time of 32.71 sec. on 4 steers and took home $5340 per team, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Carmine Nastri and Guy Graden. Third place went to the Alabama team of Warren Casey and Glenn Davis. The win of the incentive average went to Brother Campbell and Glen Terrell. Bucky Nastri from Screven, Georgia and Tyler Tatum from Douglas, Georgia took first place in the average of the #11 Division. They were 33.41 seconds on 4 steers and won $6150, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Mason Johnson and Billy Lam while third place in the average went to Jessica Gray and Ben Whiddon. Dustin Hooper and William McCraw won the incentive average. The next roping was the #10 Division. Bob Herrington from San Mateo, Florida and Nick Hart from Keystone Heights, Florida teamed up to win first place in the average. They were 32.84 seconds on 4 steers and took home $7390, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was TJ Allen from
Dadeville, Alabama and Tate Thomas from Ranger, Georgia. The third place team was Tyler Boatwright and Matt Thomas. Justin Sailors and Matt Thomas won the incentive average. David Lewis from Mount Ulla, North Carolina and Ryan Lee from Edgemoor, South Carolina won the #10 Gold Plus with a time of 42.41 seconds on 4 steers. They earned $5890, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place went to Jonathan Gillespie and Charles Shook. Third place was Mitch Rogers and Shook. The incentive win went to Dillon Lawless and Denver Ivester. In the #9 Division the win of the average went to Garrett Keeter from Blackspur, South Carolina and Blake Walker from Forest City, North Carolina. They were 38.33 seconds on 4 steers and took home $9370, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place in the average went Keeter and Ryan Lee and third place was Andi Stewart and Dawson Boswell. Crystal Stoker and Josh Owens won the incentive average. The final roping of the weekend was the #8 Pick/Draw. Jacob Daniell from Monroe, Georgia and Tyler Boatwright from Marble, North Carolina teamed up to win the average. They were 22.69 seconds on three steers and won $6460, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place went to Amanda Coleman and Cooper Malone, while third place was Riley Kittle and Jason Stewart. The South Georgia Classic came to a close as the first USTRC Event of the New Year. The USTRC is excited about the upcoming season and all that is in store for the world of team roping..
SOUTH GEORGIA CLASSIC, TOP FINISHERS... OPEN: AVG 1. Cory Kidd V (Statesville, NC) / Caleb Anderson (Charlotte, NC), 35.81, $1,360; 2. Casey Hilley (Winder, GA) / Adam Toole (Rydal, GA), 38.97, $920
#15 HANDICAP: AVG 1. Zeb Chapman (Lipan, TX) / Justin Yost (Rices Landing, PA), 27.12, $3,220; 2. Jaxson Tucker (Mount Ulla, NC) / Caleb Anderson (Charlotte, NC), 29.89, $2,420; 3. Dean Wilson (Louin, MS) / Shane Edmondson (Dawson, AL), 31.32, $1,620; 4. Casey Hilley (Winder, GA) / Billy Lam (Canton, GA), 32.33, $800 #13 HANDICAP: AVG 1. Will Batchelor (Lagrange, GA) / Billy Lam (Canton, GA), 29.35, $5,110; 2. Karter Kagel (Wildwood, FL) / Justin Yost (Rices Landing, PA), 30.65, $3,830; 3. Tyler Boatwright (Marble, NC) / Billy Lam (Canton, GA), 30.82, $2,560; 4. Rodney Nelson (Milton, FL) / Mark Gentry (Vincent, AL), 32.97, $1,280 #12: AVG 1. Coty Long (Bonifay, FL) / Ben Whiddon (Havana, FL), 32.49, $5,600; 2. Eliott
Hooper (Whittier, NC) / Daniel Raynor (4 Oaks, NC), 34.54, $3,720; 3. David Gaddis (Canton, GA) / Billy Lam (Canton, GA), 34.87, $2,950; 4. David Gaddis (Canton, GA) / Scott Davis (Dacula, GA), 35.26, $2,180; 5. Zack Cargle (Armuchee, GA) / Casey Hilley (Winder, GA), 35.45, $1,080; 6. Ryan Stone (Douglas, GA) / Tyler Tatum (Douglas, GA), 35.98, $480; 7. Tyler Boatwright (Marble, NC) / Billy Lam (Canton, GA), 36.43, $480
#11: AVG 1. Bucky Nastri (Screven, GA) / Tyler Tatum (Douglas, GA), 33.41, $6,150; 2.
Mason Johnson (Piney Flats, TN) / Billy Lam (Canton, GA), 33.97, $4,100; 3. Jessica Gray (Sparr, FL) / Ben Whiddon (Havana, FL), 33.99, $3,240; 4. Tony Carter (Alma, GA) / Tyler Tatum (Douglas, GA), 34.69, $2,390; 5. Dustin Hooper (Hayesville, NC) / William McCraw (East Bend, NC), 35.23, $1,200; 6. Mike Bramlett (White, GA) / Ed Allen (Dadeville, AL), 36.47, $720; 7. Garrett Keeter (Blackspur, SC) / Tyler Tatum (Douglas, GA), 37.07, $720; 8. T J Allen (Dadeville, AL) / Braxton Culpepper (Poulan, GA), 37.12, $480; 9. Jimmy Wood (Rochelle, GA) / Casey Rice (Paradise, TX), 37.9, $480; 10. Ryan Stone (Douglas, GA) / Braxton Culpepper (Poulan, GA), 38.84, $480
#10: AVG 1. Bob Herrington (San Mateo, FL) / Nick Hart (Keystone Heights, FL), 32.84,
$7,390; 2. T J Allen (Dadeville, AL) / Tate Thomas (Ranger, GA), 34.43, $4,920; 3. Tyler Boatwright (Marble, NC) / Matt Thomas (Ranger, GA), 34.65, $3,810; 4. Tony Carter (Alma, GA) / Cooper Nastri (Screven, GA), 35.39, $2,680; 5. Jimmy Peele (Macclenny, FL) / Charlie Barefoot (Dinwiddie, VA), 36.61, $2,020; 6. Justin Sailors (Maryville, TN) / Matt Thomas (Ranger, GA), 36.77, $1,570; 7. Beck Hyslop (Loxahatchee, FL) / Ryan Lee (Edgemoor, SC), 38.56, $720; 8. J R Spencer (Leesburg, FL) / Brett Taylor (Citra, FL), 39.9, $720; 9. Wyatt Allen (Dadeville, AL) / Ed Allen (Dadeville, AL), 40.06, $480; 10. Dillon Lawless (Fountain Inn, SC) / Jeremy Gault (Fountain Inn, SC), 40.9, $480; 11. Josh LeMaster (Gaffney, SC) / Cody Taylor (Taylorsville, NC), 40.94, $480; 12. Laci Rucker (Perry, GA) / Jeremy Gault (Fountain Inn, SC), 40.94, $480; 13. Tyler Boatwright (Marble, NC) / Denver Ivester (Clarkesville, GA), 42.73, $480; 14. Carol Knight (Mcdonough, GA) / Glen Terrell (Notasulga, AL), 44.97, $480; 15. Mitch Rogers (Claxton, GA) / Casey Rice (Paradise, TX), 48.48, $480
#9: AVG 1. Garrett Keeter (Blackspur, SC) / Blake Walker (Forest City, NC), 38.33, $9,370;
2. Garrett Keeter (Blackspur, SC) / Ryan Lee (Edgemoor, SC), 39.16, $6,250; 3. Ancil Stewart (Fairmount, GA) / Dawson Boswell (Adairsville, GA), 39.22, $4,830; 4. Crystal Stoker (Canton, GA) / Josh Owens (Royston, GA), 41.89, $3,400; 5. Mike Bratton (Phenix City, AL) / Chad Green (Roanoke, AL), 41.99, $2,560; 6. John Shockley (Madison, GA) / Steve Horne (Opelika, AL), 42.04, $1,990; 7. Terry Nipper (Reynolds, GA) / Tim Daniels (Zebulon, GA), 43.67, $720; 8. Debbie Wood (Rochelle, GA) / Willie Clement (Wray, GA), 44.51, $720; 9. Beck Hyslop (Loxahatchee, FL) / Will Springer (Ocala, FL), 45.65, $480; 10. Mitch Rogers (Claxton, GA) / Jason Wamba (Statesboro, GA), 46.03, $480; 11. Chris Sercer (Rochelle, GA) / Jerry Sercer (Rochelle, GA), 47.09, $480; 12. Scott Stoker (Canton, GA) / Greg Mitchell (Adairsville, GA), 48.93, $480; 13. Randy King (Forsyth, GA) / Tim Daniels (Zebulon, GA), 51.24, $480; 14. A J Zurzolo (Gainesville, GA) / Heath Hanlon (Gainesville, GA), 53.27, $480; 15. Kirk Rice (Mcdonough, GA) / Anthony Stafford (Southport, FL), 53.85, $480
#8 PICKDRAW: AVG 1. Jacob Daniell (Monroe, GA) / Tyler Boatwright (Marble, NC),
22.69, $6,460; 2. Amanda Coleman (West Melbourne, FL) / Cooper Malone (Summerville, GA), 24.69, $4,100; 3. Riley Kittle (Woodland, AL) / Jason Stewart (Anthony, FL), 26.56, $2,800; 4. Coleman McNaughton (Headland, AL) / Heath Hanlon (Gainesville, GA), 27.59, $2,370; 5. Rhine Brady (Cleveland, GA) / Joby Cole Garrison (Fountain Inn, SC), 28.82, $1,940; 6. Cole LeMaster (Gaffney, SC) / Trevor Boatwright (Marble, NC), 29.31, $1,720; 7. Jesse Mayhew (Catawba, NC) / Ben Jordan (Woodbine, GA), 29.55, $1,300; 8. Greg Lord (Ocala, FL) / Donnie Hix (Bronson, FL), 31.78, $860; 9. Amanda Coleman (West Melbourne, FL) / Will Springer (Ocala, FL), 32.35, $450; 10. Jodi Gray (Sparr, FL) / Jimmy Peele (Macclenny, FL), 33.77, $450; 11. Wyatt B Winstead (Tamassee, SC) / Robbie Nestlerode (Blacksburg, SC), 36.22, $300; 12. John Brody Malone (Summerville, GA) / Lee Jarriel (Lizella, GA), 39.32, $300; 13. Holly Childers (Fairmont, GA) / Luke Denney (Carrollton, GA), 39.53, $300; 14. Cole LeMaster (Gaffney, SC) / Luke LeMaster (Gaffney, SC), 42.38, $300; 15. Tommy Garren (Sycamore, GA) / Will Springer (Ocala, FL), 11.97, $300; 16. Riley Green (Roanoke, AL) / Jackson Green (Roanoke, AL), 17.71, $300; 17. Nathan Gray (Tifton, GA) / Justin Hancock (Sandersville, GA), 18.34, $300; 18. Debbie Wood (Rochelle, GA) / Tyler Lasseter (Sycamore, GA), 18.68, $300
#12 GOLD PLUS: AVG 1. Colt Tritt (Jasper, GA) / Billy Lam (Canton, GA), 32.71, $5,340; 2. Carmine Nastri (Screven, GA) / Guy Graden (Jacksonville, FL), 32.89, $4,000; 3. Warren Casey (Hope Hull, AL) / Glenn Davis (Salem, AL), 33.52, $2,660; 4. David Gaddis (Canton, GA) / Billy Lam (Canton, GA), 34.55, $1,330; #10 GOLD PLUS: AVG 1. David Lewis (Mount Ulla, NC) / Ryan Lee (Edgemoor, SC), 42.41, $5,890; 2. Jonathan Gillespie (Leicester, NC) / Charles Shook (Leicester, NC), 43.12, $3,930; 3. Mitch Rogers (Claxton, GA) / Charles Shook (Leicester, NC), 43.84, $3,110; 4. Ashley Riner (Williamson, GA) / Scott Heath (Bowdon, GA), 44.78, $2,290; 5. Lewis Perry (New Smyrna Beach, FL) / Mike Harper (New Smyrna Beach, FL), 45.53, $1,150 The Magazine for America’s Roper • 15
T
he Mississippi Classic held at the Tunica Arena and Expo in Tunica, Mississippi is a popular event for team ropers around the region. The roping took place on December 11-13, 2015 and was produced by Rope the Ozarks. The event began with the Open Division. Kelsey Parchman from Stephenville, Texas and Lane Mitchell from Bolivar, Tennessee teamed up to win first place in the average. The duo turned in a time of 41.42 seconds on five steers and won $1200. The second place finishers were Cory Kidd and Mitchell. The incentive average win went to Clint Wallace and Douglas Rich. Jacob Dagenhart from Statesville, North Carolina and Morgan Jones from Leighton, Alabama partnered up to win first place in the average of the #15 Division. They were 29.85 seconds on 4 steers and earned $2760, trophy Gist knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Cory Clark from Texas and Clay Futrell of North Carolina with a time of 31.52 seconds on 4 steers. The third place finishers were Jeremy Hemmann and Douglas Rich. The #13 Division was the next roping and Luke Tyree, from West Plains, Missouri teamed up with heeler Hadley DeShazo for the win. They finished with a time of 31.01 seconds on 4 steers and earned $3780, trophy Gist knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Blair Kelley from Florence, Alabama and Jason Stroup from Cape Giradeau, Missouri and third place was Austin Pitts and Dustin Griffith. The final roping of the first day of competition at the Mississippi Classic was the #12 Division. The team of Keith Bentley from Rose Hill, Mississippi and Jordan Reynolds from Elsinore, Missouri partnered up to win first place in the average. They were 34.68 seconds on 4 steers and won $4000, trophy Gist knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place went to Tyler Kidd and Clay Futrell both from North Carolina. Third place was Ty Green and Hadley DeShazo, while 4th place was Daniel Dorris and Wade Harris. They also won the incentive average. Blair Kelley and Mike Jones from Town Creek, Alabama teamed up to win first place in the average of the #12 Gold Plus Division. The pair roped 4 steers in 36.83 seconds to win $2220, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place in the average was Steve Hinson and Dusty Carr both from Arkansas with a time of 40.06 seconds on 4 steers. The third place team was Daniel Dorris and Wade Harris. Don LaRue and Glenn Girard won the incentive average. The win of the #11 Division went to the team of Savannah Warner from Martin, Tennessee and Allen Swedenburg from Columbus, Mississippi with a time of 35.43 seconds on 4 steers. They won $4740, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place went to the team of Kaleb Boos and Hadley DeShazo. Jimmy Dale White and Jake Pollard won third place. The incentive win went to Steve Hinson and Tyler Holder. Mike Huckabee and Luke Hinson both from Arkansas took home the win of the #10 Division. They were 30.87 seconds on 4 steers and earned $6120, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Xavier Ivory and Tyler Holder. The third place team was Randy Mills and Morgan Mills. Ivory and
16 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
Holder also won the incentive average. The final day of team roping kicked off with the #10 Gold Plus Division. Shane Holder teamed up with Steve Reed to win first place in the average. They were 44.46 seconds on 4 steers and earned $2560, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Jimmy Dale White and Glenn Girard and the third place finishers were Lauren Myers and Tim Glasco. The incentive was won by Daniel Dorris and Dustin Keena. Blane Maxwell from Bertrand, Missouri and Dustin Keena from Puxico, Missouri finished first place in the average of the #9 Division. They were 26.84 seconds on 4 steers and won $5260, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place went to Price Blaylock and Blane Willingham and third place went to Blaylock and Conner Frost. The incentive average went to Greg Lockhart and Morgan Mills. The final roping of the weekend was the #8 Pick/Draw and it provided the perfect conclusion to a great weekend of USTRC team roping. Jason Burch from Hamburg, Arkansas and Bruce Dean from Beebe, Arkansas finished first place in the average. They won $3800, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Connie Grindstaff and Jeremy Ball with a time of 30.69 seconds on three steers. Third place was Trevor Emmons and Craig Hankins.
MS CLASSIC RESULTS...
OPEN, AVG: 1. Kelsey Parchman (Lipan, TX) / Lane Mitchell (Bolivar, TN), 41.42, $1,200; 2. Cory Kidd V (Statesville, NC) / Lane Mitchell (Bolivar, TN), 42.37, $800; 3. Cory Kidd V (Statesville, NC) / Morgan Jones (Leighton, AL), 45.04, $0 #15 HANDICAP, AVG: 1. Jacob Dagenhart (Statesville, NC) / Morgan Jones (Leighton, AL), 29.85, $2,760; 2. Cory Clark (Stephenville, TX) / Clay Futrell (Union Grove, NC), 31.52, $2,070; 3. Jeremy Hemmann (Farmington, MO) / Douglas Rich (Herrick, IL), 32.44, $1,380; 4. Ty Hickerson (Trenton, TN) / Douglas Rich (Herrick, IL), 32.75, $690; 5. Keith Bentley (Rose Hill, MS) / Dustin Purvis (Independence, LA), 33.63, $0 #13 HANDICAP, AVG: 1. Luke Tyree (West Plains, MO) / Hadley DeShazo (Salem, AR), 31.01, $3,780; 2. Blair Kelley (Florence, AL) / Jason Stroup (Cape Girardeau, MO), 32.42, $2,830; 3. Branch Pitts (Cullman, AL) / Dustin Griffith (Danville, AL), 33.67, $1,880; 4. Coy Rahlmann (Ellsinore, MO) / Ty Ferrell (Sikeston, MO), 35.68, $940; 5. Nick Gonzales III (Carriere, MS) / Jordan S Hanna (Greenwell Springs, LA), 37.34, $0 #12, AVG: 1. Keith Bentley (Rose Hill, MS) / Jordan Reynolds (Ellsinore, MO), 34.68,
$4,000; 2. Tyler Kidd (Statesville, NC) / Clay Futrell (Union Grove, NC), 37.91, $3,000; 3. Ty Green (Caulfield, MO) / Hadley DeShazo (Salem, AR), 38.35, $2,000; 4. Daniel Dorris (Harviell, MO) / Wade Harris (Piggott, AR), 39.2, $1,000; 5. Michaela Williamson (Magee, MS) / Mike Jones (Town Creek, AL), 40.62, $0
#11, AVG: 1. Savannah Warner (Martin, TN) / Allen Swedenburg (Columbus, MS), 35.43,
$4,740; 2. Kaleb Boos (Summersville, MO) / Hadley DeShazo (Salem, AR), 35.72, $3,160; 3. Jimmy Dale White (Hazlehurst, MS) / Jake Pollard (West Point, MS), 38.7, $2,500; 4. Dean Wilson (Louin, MS) / Hadley DeShazo (Salem, AR), 40.15, $1,850; 5. Rodney Shaw (Liberty, MS) / Zack Summerall (Liberty, MS), 41.44, $920; 6. Nathan Smith (Poplarville, MS) / Zack Summerall (Liberty, MS), 41.61, $400; 7. Mike Woolven (Nettleton, MS) / Jake Pollard (West Point, MS), 42.43, $400; 8. Nick Gonzales III (Carriere, MS) / Tommy Hand (College Grove, TN), 46.3, $0
#10, AVG: 1. Mike Huckabee (Poughkeepsie, AR) / Luke Hinson (Jonesboro, AR), 30.87, $6,120; 2. Xavier Ivory (Mountain Home, AR) / Tyler Holder (Strawberry, AR), 33.17, $4,080; 3. Randy Mills (Duck Hill, MS) / Morgan Mills (Winona, MS), 38.85, $3,240; 4. Tom Bridges (Viola, AR) / Hadley DeShazo (Salem, AR), 41.52, $2,380; 5. Jessie Hall (Neelyville, MO) / Bart Stallings (Charleston, MO), 43.54, $1,190; 6. Cody Forrest (Jonesboro, AR) / Shane Holder (Strawberry, AR), 45.79, $600; 7. Mike Woolven (Nettleton, MS) / Glenn Kelly (Hope Hull, AL), 47, $600; 8. Blane Maxwell (Bertrand, MO) / Ben Duncan (Frederick Town,
MO), 23.86, $400; 9. Rayne Cagle (Bernie, MO) / Dustin Keena (Puxico, MO), 29.21, $400; 10. Mark Corzine (Dongola, IL) / Brice Long (Springfield, TN), 29.94, $400
#9, AVG: 1. Blane Maxwell (Bertrand, MO) / Dustin Keena (Puxico, MO), 26.84, $5,260;
2. Price Blaylock (Cullman, AL) / Blane Willingham (Vinemont, AL), 38.83, $3,500; 3. Price Blaylock (Cullman, AL) / Connor Frost (Greenbriar, AR), 39.13, $2,780; 4. Jimmy Dale White (Hazlehurst, MS) / Tal Priest (Centreville, MS), 42.93, $2,050; 5. Don LaRue (Republic, MO) / Steve Hinson (Jonesboro, AR), 44.1, $1,020; 6. Jeremy Ball (Wynne, AR) / Luke Massengill (Harrisburg, AR), 49.93, $600; 7. Jacky Barnett (Phil Campbell, AL) / Paul Moore (Jasper, AL), 51.13, $600; 8. Jay McCaskill (Lexington, MS) / Brandon Pete Tomlinson (Maben, MS), 52.75, $400; 9. Guss Mosley (Pheba, MS) / Steve Hinson (Jonesboro, AR), 55.57, $400; 10. Emmett Burke (Charleston, MO) / Pete Glenn Harrelson (Shannon, MS), 67.53, $400
#8 PICKDRAW, AVG: 1. Jason Burch (Hamburg, AR) / Bruce Dean (Beebe, AR), 23.87, $3,800; 2. Connie Grindstaff (Marble Hill, MO) / Jeremy Ball (Wynne, AR), 30.69, $2,520; 3. Trevor Emmons (Vilonia, AR) / Craig Hankins (Merigold, MS), 33.94, $2,000; 4. Joey Ault (Hot Springs Village, AR) / Sidney Pittman (Pearcy, AR), 41.7, $1,480; 5. Mark Wedel (Centerville, AR) / Mario Gonzales (Little Rock, AR), 42.55, $740 #11 ALL GIRL, AVG: 1. Lauren Myers (Cobden, IL) / Savannah Warner (Martin, TN), 35.19, $460; 2. Brandi Hines (Folsom, LA) / Savannah Warner (Martin, TN), 39.93, $300
#12 GOLD PLUS, AVG: 1. Blair Kelley (Florence, AL) / Mike Jones (Town Creek, AL),
36.83, $2,220; 2. Steve Hinson (Jonesboro, AR) / Dusty Carr (Imboden, AR), 40.06, $1,660; 3. Daniel Dorris (Harviell, MO) / Wade Harris (Piggott, AR), 40.22, $1,100; 4. Don LaRue (Republic, MO) / Glenn Girard (Branson, MO), 40.47, $560; 5. Shawn McCallum (Stringer, MS) / Rickey Smith (Sumrall, MS), 42.78, $0
#10 GOLD PLUS, AVG: 1. Shane Holder (Strawberry, AR) / Steve Reed (Jonesboro,
AR), 44.46, $2,560; 2. Jimmy Dale White (Hazlehurst, MS) / Glenn Girard (Branson, MO), 45.02, $1,920; 3. Lauren Myers (Cobden, IL) / Tim Glasco (Anna, IL), 46.53, $1,260; 4. Mark Wedel (Centerville, AR) / Ben Duncan (Frederick Town, MO), 48.32, $640; 5. Randy Mills (Duck Hill, MS) / Bubba Barlow (Valley Park, MS), 57.73, $0
#11 CENTURY, AVG: 1. Don LaRue (Republic, MO) / Glenn Girard (Branson, MO),
33.1, $920; 2. Claude Lowery (Wesson, MS) / Glenn Girard (Branson, MO), 18.79, $600; 3. Mike Woolven (Nettleton, MS) / Glenn Kelly (Hope Hull, AL), 20.42, $0
THE MISSISSIPPI CLASSIC IS A USTRC SANCTIONED QUALIFIER EVENT The Magazine for America’s Roper • 17
18 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 19
Trace Tilton, winner of Steer Riding, with Dustin Scott
The North East Arkansas Family Rodeo Association is hosting their
2015 SEASON BANQUET
•• February 20, 2016 •• Higher Trails Cowboy Church TICKETS ARE $10 & $20 $20 Menu: Steak, Baked Potato, Rice, Corn, Tx Toast, & Dessert $10 Menu: Hamburger or 2 Hot Dogs, Fixings, Chips, Baked Potato, Corn, & Dessert JOIN US FOR THE 2015 RODEO AWARDS & DANCE TO FOLLOW! Please RSVP so we can get a count on meals...
Jack Robbins, winner of Mutton Busting, Mason Stark, winner of Mini Bulls, & Colter Hunt, winner of Goats, in background
20 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
•• Call (870) 243-3724 •• ••• for Reservations •••
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 21
The Future of Rodeo I
have chosen not to enter any of the PRCA winter rodeos due to the fact when I sent off for my PRCA card, of which I’ve been a member since 1988, they replied with a letter stating I couldn’t own stock in the ERA (Elite Rodeo Association) and participate in the PRCA. As a result of negotiations between the PRCA and ERA, some guys are able to rodeo on their 2015 PRCA cards/memberships until something is settled. When I was going to rodeos full time, I spent every waking moment running steers in my mind, preparing, and thinking how I could do things better. We used to film all of the slacks so I could study the steers we drew. I loved going back and watching other guys’ runs and try to understand what was beneficial and why. You can learn so much with a video camera studying what other people do. You never know when someone will come up with a different way to do something and to compete at the highest level, you always need to look for an edge. Ever since my kids were born I made the decision to pull back from full time rodeo. My focus and priority became more about providing for my family and becoming financially secure. There is no pension plan in rodeo. When I was first contacted about the ERA, I was very hesitant. I’ve been to many meetings where the subject was about changing the way we rodeo to become more cowboy friendly and none of them ever made it off the ground. When I heard that sixty guys planned to attend the meeting I still wasn’t very interested. But out of respect
22 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
for the sport and my fellow cowboys I agreed to attend, listen and give my opinion if asked. I was pleasantly surprised. They had a vision, a plan, money, and the right people in position to get things done. I was blown away with the presentation, the idea, and the concept. I told them I didn’t want to be a full-time rodeo cowboy, but if we’re talking about 10 or 15 events per year, that may be a different story. We have an opportunity to change things and create a future for our kids who want to rodeo. Throughout my career, there was always discussion about an elite tour with handpicked stock and creating an even playing ground. Too see this opportunity and possibly a dream come true, I’m excited about the future of the ERA. The PRCA has done a good job of increasing the payouts at the NFR. This year there were guys that won $100,000 without having their best finals. Bareback Rider, Steven Peeples, won over $200,000. That is exciting to see, but if you’ve never traveled the road and made the journey it takes to get there, you cannot appreciate what they did to qualify for the NFR. There is so much untold time, dedication, miles and work done by all the contestants before the first round of the NFR even starts. Hopefully, everyone can work together and move forward in a way that will benefit the sport of rodeo and the cowboys who participate.
WHAT’S NEW WITH ME: Due to a disc shifting in my neck during the USTRC Finals, I was in a lot of pain. My friend and sports therapy expert, Shawn Scott, had me doing rehab and grounded me for about five weeks. I’m happy to say that after starting back slow I’ve been roping and riding now without any pain. During this time I relied on my kids to help out with the schools I was teaching and they both have done a great job. It’s always been my dream that my son would want to rope. He has definitely caught the bug and now my dream is wearing me out. We rope steers and the Hot Heels in the arena; we come in the house and rope the Fast Lane. It’s wonderful but when that’s what they want to do for fifteen or sixteen hours a day… I try to get him to rest and it’s always “one more, one more.” I do want to thank my kids for helping me. They both really stepped up and helped Dad out.
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 23
www.rodeofyra.com • 2016 Membership Discount if you join on or before March 1!
SALLY POTEAT FROM SPARTANBURG, SC AGE 12 • JR. DIVISION BARREL RACING, POLE BENDING, GOAT TYING, & FLAG TEAM HORSE’S NAME: DASH PARENTS: WARREN & ELIZABETH POTEAT
What is your favorite event, and why? Barrel racing. I enjoy the teamwork with my horse, speed, & adrenaline rush that comes from running the barrels. What is your most memorable (or embarrassing) moment in FYRA? My most memorable moment was at Cole Creek Arena. As I was running towards the 2nd barrel, I sat to turn the barrel & my horse went one way & I went the other! After falling off & getting right back up, I told my friends that that run was about to be smoking hot! What is your most successful moment in FYRA? I believe all my moments at FYRA are successful. No matter what my time is, I always feel like I learn something that helps me improve for the next run. What are your future plans after FYRA? I plan to continue in the rodeo world & my dream would be to run at the NFR.
24 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FYRA & DONNA FARMER
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 25
GHSRA & GJHSRA 2016 HS SCHEDULE
ANDALUSIA, AL ~ FEB. 5TH - 7TH FRANKLIN ~ MARCH 12TH - 13TH CHATSWORTH ~ TBD BLAIRSVILLE ~ APRIL 1ST - 2ND GAY ~ APRIL 15TH - 16TH RINGGOLD ~ MAY 6TH - 7TH PERRY ~ MAY 27TH - 29TH
2016 JR. HS SCHEDULE FRANKLIN ~ MARCH 12TH - 13TH CHATSWORTH ~ TBD BLAIRSVILLE ~ APRIL 1ST - 2ND GAY ~ APRIL 15TH - 16TH RINGGOLD ~ MAY 6TH - 7TH PERRY ~ MAY 26TH - 27TH
GHSRA TOP 10 ALL-AROUND BOYS 1. Zach Cargle 2. Hadley Sanders 3. Tyler Boatwright 4. Tate Thomas 5. Tyler Mobbs 6. Hunter Shahan 7. Jacob Daniell 8. Jake Wells 9. Alec Edmondson 10. Riley Sims ALL-AROUND GIRLS 1. Taylor Harmon 2. Jesse Denney 3. Mckayla Alliston 4. Annie Grace Mc Elhannon 5. Sloan Thornton
6. Julia Johnson 7. Morgan Larkin 8. Caleebell Duncan 9. Claire Waldrop 10. Holli Covey
6. Ashley Hawkins 7. Anna Cowen 8. Lexi Ragsdale 9. Taylor Harmon 10. Julia Johnson
BULL RIDING 1. Justin Ethridge 2. Josh Ethridge 3. Jacob Little 4. Holden Moss 5. Jacob Goodson 6. Tyler Mobbs
BKAWAY ROPING 1. Julia Johnson 2. Mckayla Alliston 3. Morgan Larkin 4. Jesse Denney 5. Annie Grace Mc Elhannon 6. Cheyenne Griffin 7. Beth Kinard 8. Morgan Massa 9. Tabitha Bohannon 10. Maylnn Berger
BARREL RACING 1. Holli Covey 2. Savannah Hulings 3. Sloan Thornton 4. Emma Roberts 5. Haley Jones
CALF ROPING 1. Zach Cargle
GJHSRA TOP 10 ALL-AROUND GIRLS BARREL RACING ALL-AROUND BOYS 1. Riley Kittle 2. Joey Denney 3. Trevor Boatwright 4. Cooper Malone 5. Jackson Green 6. Ty Hamilton 7. Seth Bennett 8. Cash Goble 9. Garrett Alliston
1. Lynnsey Toole 2. Hannah Riner 3. Caitlyn Heath 4. Emma Orozco 5. Sarah Gilbert 6. Mallorie Johnson 7. Bayleigh Choate 8. Elizabeth (Liz) Wilson 9. Brooklyn Hilliard 10. Ali Kate Kelleher
BAREBACK RIDING BKWY ROPING (Boys) 1. Riley Kittle 1. Joey Denney 2. Garrett Alliston 2. Cooper Malone 3. Seth Bennett BULL RIDING 4. Jackson Green 1. Riley Kittle 5. Ty Hamilton 2. Garrett Alliston
1. Lynnsey Toole 2. Ali Kate Kelleher 3. Bayleigh Choate 4. Caitlyn Heath 5. Emma Orozco 6. Mallorie Johnson 7. Hannah Riner 8. Sarah Gilbert 9. Jamie Parker 10. Rachel Bartlett
2. Tyler Boatwright 3. Tate Thomas 4. Hunter Shahan 5. Zane Williams 6. Riley Sims 7. Chase Goble 8. Will Watkins 9. Ben Ruffin 10. Jacob Daniell BAREBACK RIDING 1. Tyler Mobbs 2. Clint Burge 3. Blake Leamon GOAT TYING 1. Annie Grace Mc Elhannon 2. Emily Young 3. Tabitha Bohannon 4. Morgan Larkin BKWY ROPING (Girls) 1. Lynnsey Toole 2. Hannah Riner 3. Caitlyn Heath 4. Sarah Gilbert 5. Emma Orozco 6. Rachel Bartlett
GOAT TYING (Girls) 1. Caitlyn Heath 2. Lynnsey Toole 3. Hannah Riner GOAT TYING (BOYS) 4. Emma Orozco 1. Cooper Malone 5. Sarah Gilbert 2. Trevor Boatwright 6. Mallorie Johnson 3. Joey Denney 7. Brooklyn Hilliard 4. Riley Kittle 8. Elizabeth (Liz) Wilson 5. Seth Bennett 9. Savanna Jo Taylor 6. Ty Hamilton 10. Rachel Bartlett
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5. Morgan Massa 6. Amber Tatham 7. Jesse Denney 8. Taylor Harmon 9. Maggie Wirchball 10. Morgan Pike SADDLE BRONC 1. Tyler Mobbs 2. Colby Daniell POLE BENDING 1. Taylor Harmon 2. Claire Waldrop 3. Sloan Thornton 4. Mckayla Alliston 5. Caleebell Duncan 6. Amber Tatham 7. Maggie Wirchball 8. Anna Cowen CHUTE DOGGING 1. Trevor Boatwright 2. Jackson Green 3. Joey Denney 4. Cooper Malone 5. Riley Kittle 6. Ty Hamilton 7. Garrett Alliston 8. Paul Shockley 9. Jordan Hendrix RIBBON ROPING 1. Trevor Boatwright 2. Lynnsey Toole 3. Riley Kittle 4. Hannah Riner 5. Joey Denney 6. Caitlyn Heath 7. Elizabeth (Liz) Wilson
9. Ashley Hawkins 10. Savannah Standifer STEER WRESTLING 1. Hadley Sanders 2. Evan Adcox 3. Lucas Jones 4. Jonathan Edwards 5. Zach Cargle 6. Colby Daniell 7. Jacob Davis
5. Jesse Denney Hunter Shahan 6. Zach Cargle Tate Thomas 7. Riley Sims Ben Ruffin 8. Chase Goble Gunnar Williams 9. Colby Daniell Connor Bourn 10. Caleebell Duncan Morgan Pike
TEAM ROPING 1. Jake Wells Alec Edmondson 2. Jacob Daniell Hadley Sanders 3. Nick West Tyler Boatwright 4. Wil Payton Gabe Lewis POLE BENDING 1. Lynnsey Toole 2. Bayleigh Choate 3. Caitlyn Heath 4. Emma Orozco 5. Rachel Bartlett 6. Hannah Riner 7. Mallorie Johnson 8. Ali Kate Kelleher 9. Elizabeth (Liz) Wilson 10. Brooklyn Hilliard CALF ROPING 1. Riley Kittle 2. Trevor Boatwright 3. Cash Goble
TEAM ROPING 1. Joey Denney Riley Kittle 2. Jackson Green Trevor Boatwright 3. Ty Hamilton Cooper Malone 4. Hannah Riner Lynnsey Toole 5. Tristan Grace Sarah Gilbert 6. Caitlyn Heath Seth Bennett
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Dillon Harrison • Saluda, SC Hunter Roof • Fountain Inn, SC FYRA 2015 Finals Rodeo Double J Arena, Pendleton, SC Photo © Donna Farmer 28
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2016 Schedule FEBRUARY 5-7 @ ANDALUSIA, AL Bama Challenge - Multi State w/ GHSRA 3 Day - 2 Go Rodeo FEBRUARY 27 & 28 @ PENSACOLA, FL 2 Day 2 Go w/ shooting MARCH 5-6 @ GENEVA, AL Cutting 2 Day 3 Go MARCH 12-13 @ MONTGOMERY, AL 2 Day - 2 Go MARCH 19-20 @ GENEVA, AL RCH 2 Day 3 Go APRIL 9-10 @ PRICEVILLE, AL 2 Day - 2 Go APRIL 30 - MAY 1 @ BAY MINETTE, AL 2 Day 2 Go w/Shooting MAY - Cutting & RCH Finals - Date Pending JUNE 8-12 @ ANDALUSIA, AL State Finals National Finals July 17 – 23 @ Gillette, Wyoming
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hope everyone has had a good start to their new year! The Alabama High School Rodeo Association is kicking ours off in Andalusia, Alabama with the annual Bama Challenge. Each year at the Bama Challenge, our association invites the GHSRA to come compete with us not only for state points but also for average buckles. Bama Challenge begins February 5th and runs through the 7th with four performances throughout the weekend. We will even have abus there to give blood, since February is blood donor month. Whoever gives blood will have their name put in a raffle for a prize! Head over to ahsra.org for moreinformation! I can’t wait to see how well everyone does! Safe travels and good luck to all! Love always, Miss Lizzy Sexton
W
ow, has the first half of the rodeo season already come and gone?! it’s amazing how time flies! I’d like to say thank you to all of our sponsors, national and local, who help put on our rodeos. also thank you to all the parents. without the parents and grandparents, we would not have a rodeo association as wonderful as we do. Since half of the season has already gone by, it’s time to buckle down and zone in on our events to get ready for the finals in hopes to make it out to Gillette, Wyoming for the NHSFR this year in July! I wish everyone the best of luck to every contestant as we get ready to compete at our spring rodeos and state finals in June! God Bless! AHSRA Student President, Casey Cox
TEAM CINCH 2015-2016 • Queen – Lizzy Sexton • TEAM CAPTAINS: Lauryn Hoagland & Grant Hodges •
Girls Cutting – Sara Hubbard • Bareback – Jared Rollins • Saddlebronc – James Farren Breakaway – Kaitlyn Pugh • Tie-Down Roping – River Houck • Goat Tying – Lauryn Hoagland Steer Wrestling – Zach Varner • Pole Bending – Heather Varner Team Roping: Header – Grant Hodges • TR Heeler – Alli Tate • Barrels – Taylor Oglesby Bulls – Garrett Hartzog • Shooting: Trap – Prairie Smith • Shooting: Rifle - Owen Carter
CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS! 30 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
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& Junior and Youth Divisions NEWS & INFORMATION: Report Cards will be checked at the Conway rodeo for Junior and High School. The youth will be checked at the Sandy Ridge rodeo in March. Please bring your most current report card. We are looking for semester grades from the first semester. If you are in a non-tradition-
• • • • High
School Rodeo Schedule • • • •
February 28 @ Cassatt, SC Cutting ONLY, 2 go’s • 11:00 am Bring drinks and desserts *Rain Date - March 5th*
March 11 & 12 @ Conway, SC
*Report Cards Checked* ~ All Calendar Money Due
March 25 & 26 @ Saluda, SC
April 22 & 23 @ Aiken, SC All other Program Sponsorships Due
May 6 & 7 @ Iva, SC May 13 & 14 @ Marietta, SC May 20 & 21 @ Lumberton, NC
$150 in Program Sponsorships Due
Cutting Finals Fri Night ~ RCH Finals on Sat Queen/Princess Contest on Saturday
April 8 & 9 @ Lowrys, SC
May 26-28 @ Clemson, SC
April 16 @ Lumberton, NC
July 17 @ Gillette, Wyoming
Hosted by the Chester County Sheriff’s Foundation
RCH 2 rounds only
•
al school (ie. homeschool, online, adult ed) you will need to present your grades as well as a small portfolio of work. This portfolio should have work samples from each course that you took in the fall or are currently taking. The work should have dates on it and should show academic progress.
STATE FINALS
NATIONAL HS FINALS
Junior High School Rodeo Schedule • March 12 @ Conway, SC
11 am ~ *Report Cards Checked* ~ All Calendar $ Due
March 19 @Sandy Run Community *New Arena* Stabler Hill Road - Swansea, SC
March 26 @Saluda, SC
12 Noon ~ $150 in Program Sponsorships Due
April 23 @Aiken, SC
11:00 am ~ All Other Program Sponsorships Due
••••••
May 14 @ Marietta, SC 11:00 am
May 21 @ Lumberton, NC Princess contest only
May 27-28 @ Clemson, SC STATE FINALS
June 19-25 @ Lebannon, TN NATIONAL JR HS FINALS
Youth Rodeo Schedule • • • • • •
Rodeo Call-In Will be the Monday night before the
rodeo, 7 – 9 pm to Tara Howell Crisp 803-504-4106
April 9 @ Lowrys, SC
No late call-Ins accepted
Lowrys Park @ 12 Noon All Program Sponsorships Due
March 19 @Sandy Run Community
May 7 @ Iva, SC
*New Arena* Stabler Hill Roadwansea, SC 11:00 am ~ *Report Cards Checked*
34 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
Crescent High School FFA 12 Noon
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T
wo-time world champion heeler Patrick Smith, of Lipan, Texas, just finished up his twelfth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The 2003 Rookie of the Year ended last year third in the world standings with almost $192,000 in earnings. We caught up with Patrick between hunting trips and West Texas jackpots to get a little insight on sled practice and heeling tips.
When roping a sled or machine, do you recommend coming out of the box or just relaxed, repetitive practice? I like to mix it up, depending on the situation. If I have a horse that is nervous in the box, I’ll make him come out of the box just to show him it’s not all that bad. If I have a horse that is fine in the box, I may just do repetitive drills in the middle of the arena. Sometimes, I’ll leave the box, then stay in the arena and rope a couple of circles...it just depends on the horse and what we need to work on.
Suppose a guy doesn’t have access to live cattle all the time but has a sled or machine and a really good place to ride at home. What kind of drills do you recommend for both roper and horse to help improve and stay in tune without Do you believe all horses can be “fixed” like this? traveling to an arena? Not at all. Some horses just can’t get over the pressure. I’ve Well, first of all, let me say that you should spend just had some really nice horses, but I’ve been through a lot of as much time on your horse as you do on yourself when them. I just believe that you have to give them all a chance and practicing. Horses are creatures of habit, so that’s why you get sometimes you move on. When a horse becomes a hindrance a ducking head horse or a heel horse that cuts in on the corner. to your roping, like when you have to spend ten or fifteen days You want to work on drills that focus on the opposite of what in training mode just to get a few good days out of him, it’s they want to do. When heading, rope the machine and hold probably time to look at your other options. your horse in...stop your horse with a little pressure on the There are a lot of good drills to use when practicing on a horn, don’t just go left every time. The same theory applies to machine or sled but the main thing to remember is common heeling...don’t just duck in there and rope every time. When sense. If your horse is getting strong, slow him down. If he the machine turns, stop your heel horse or make them turn the is nervous, work on making him relaxed. If he is ducking or opposite direction. cutting the corner, make him stay in position. Whatever your Control is the key ingredient to consistency. Your horse problem is, work on that scenario. Just ask yourself if you are needs to react to your cues and not to the cattle. That is the in control of your horse or is he taking cues from the cattle? great thing about sleds and roping machines... you can create Start slow on the sled or machine, then speed things up until just about any scenario and work your horse through it. Your they will react to whatever your left hand asks of them. reins should be like a joystick and you’re at the controls... Patrick prefers “The Shark” from Lone Star Ropes in a hard your horse should react to that. The guys who have complete If you’ve a question or comment for “Inare The Loop”,medium. submitIf it tohave lonestarintheloop@gmail.com. you a question or comment for “In The Loop,” control of their got horses and their minds are the guys who successful. you may submit it to lonestarintheloop@gmail.com.
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GOAT ROPING
received a phone call recently, with a very nice, feminine voice on the other end. She began with, “Yes, Dr Anne at the veterinarian clinic, said you could help me.” “Umm, could you elaborate, please ma’am? “ “I have 4 goats I can’t get up. They’ve been harassing the neighbors. At 4 am this morning they broke a basement window. I have to do something with them immediately. Can you come get them?” A few days earlier, I had posted a request for cow catching gigs, to leg up my horses and dogs, and get extra income. Now, I did not include goats, but, I did not specifically exclude them, either. I decided if I wanted side jobs, I would have to take some I didn’t particularly like. So, I asked for directions, and agreed to meet the lady after she got her son from school. I had a young man helping that day who was going to start working on the stocker outfit I run in a couple of weeks. Ben has the desire to learn and make a good hand. He wanted to go along, figuring this would be an educational and entertaining endeavor. I caught Joe, my wife’s big paint, loaded Ned, my border collie, neither of which had ever seen a goat, and headed out. We turned off the 4 lane at the given address and drove across a steel and concrete, one-lane bridge, standing twenty feet over the Clinch River. On the other side was a huge lawn rolling down to the river from a nice gray house, with a huge boarded up window on the basement. Within a few minutes, the goat lady arrived with her teenaged son. After introductions, she told me the few known details of the renegade flock. They liked to bed on a wooded hillside above and behind the house, close to the pasture from where they originated. Tightening my cinch, away went Ned and I. Sure enough, the 4 goats stood up and stared as soon as we rode up to the wood lot. The staring didn’t last long. They broke and ran downhill, toward the gray house. As I rounded the corner, I saw them running across the bridge. Not slowing to see the depth of the river at this point, I sent Ned after them and started Joe over the bridge. I realized, rather quickly, Joe had never crossed anything like this. Two pipe rails stood on either side of the narrow concrete slab. As Joe minced along, I tried to relax so he wouldn’t sense my anxiety. I didn’t get that accomplished. As I glanced up, Ned had cut out one goat, and they both were coming hell for leather toward us, still a good fifty feet from getting across. I was yelling frantically at Ned, trying to get him called off, all to no avail. The fat doe was a white flash as she barreled toward us. Joe’s head came up, he tensed, I tensed, expecting him to shy into, and over the rail and plunge us down into the rocky river below. I finally breathed, as Joe held his ground when the goat brushed his leg going by. We wasted no time crossing the final distance. The other three rogues headed back to their home pasture, crossing the river at a low water concrete bridge. Joe liked it less than the high one, but we made it, opened the gate, and hit a high lope. I rode the pasture, staying on high ground where I could watch for spots of white. I found them holed up in a patch of pines. I circled across a wet hollow to get between them and a river bluff leading back to the disgruntled neighbors; one I had to ride to the top of to navigate horseback. While in the hollow, I rode upon two small brown kid goats. I made note of the location and rode on to the pines. I sent Ned in and out they came. Once again, he split off with one, but I stayed on the two closest to me, pushed them into the hollow, and roped the tan one before it hit more brush. I bailed off, tying its feet, and calling for Ben to come with the trailer. The highway was only a couple hundred yards away, so my next thought was to get my dog back before he ended up either dead, or hauled away. Ben got across the low water bridge (with a couple of inches of tire hanging
off each side), found the goat, and got her in the safe confines of the gooseneck. Now it was a game of hide and seek. I found a gate at the top of the bluff that took me back to where we started and I circled back and crossed the high bridge once more. I found Goat Lady and her son in the driveway with an ATV, and informed her of the two kids. “Oh, we thought the coyotes had gotten them. We need to catch those, too.” Ben has nervously recrossed the low water bridge and pulled up with the trailer. I asked if her son would take Ben back after the kids while I searched with the remaining light for the others. I circled around the houses and went back through the bluff gate. I saw the guys searching for the kids and rode over to help, when Ben yelled; “There’s a goat above you!” Up the ridge we went and I rode up on it before it could get back in the thick stuff. It was smart enough to stay along the wooded fence line. The low hanging branches kept me from getting a shot at it, but I stayed hot after it to try to stop it from darting back through the fence. That didn’t work. Like a flash, it shot through a hole, back to the woods, forcing me to ride back to the gate... again. The neighbors had a path on their side, which gave me the chance to make up time getting back up the ridge. Rounding a tree, there’s the goat on a log, coming toward us. She saw me as I saw her and jumped the fence back into the pasture. Yes, back down to the gate we go. Unlike cattle, it seemed the goats would run a bit then stop in the first bit of cover. We found her in an old fence line, where I put Ned on her again. I cut ahead to beat her to the bluff, turned her at a big oak, but lost her as she plunged off the bluff and disappeared. Riding back around and crossing that infernal bridge yet again, I spied the single goat under the porch of the gray house. I built to her and tried to flush her into the open, but she hugged the house and crossed a patio, went up some steps causing Ned to over run her, and went out of sight. We rounded the house to see her on the bridge. Ben had made it back with the kids, so I started yelling. He grabbed a rope and came running. She caught sight of him and went down the bank at the end of the bridge. I stayed on my end and directed him to her, now under the bridge at the river’s edge. Knowing goats’ dislike of water, I told Ben to ease down and rope her. After his third miss, she waded out into the middle of the river. With Ben on the other side, I put Joe in the water and caught her first throw, dallied, and water-skied her out. On the bank, Ned encouraged her from behind and we worked her to the trailer, loaded, and conferred once more. Darkness was closing in. I told Goat Lady I would make one last look, then we had to get out of there. This time I waded the river. I looked downstream, only to see a white shape standing on a flat rock at the water’s edge. I crossed quickly, cut across a bottom, and waded up to it. It nervously stood on its perch, wanting to bolt, but scared to try. I side armed a loop to miss the branches and watched it fall harmlessly in front of the goat. I fished my loop up slowly, and as it came up on the rock, it brushed her foot. She lifted the foot, I tugged lightly, placing the loop under, she stepped down, and into the snare. I jerked my slack, dallied, and hit the bank going nine 0. I didn’t let up until Ben had ahold of her at the trailer. I was hired to catch 4 goats; I caught five, yet one I was supposed to get was still out. Goat Lady said someone was waiting at the stockyard for me and what did she owe. I said half the check. She never flinched, said ok, and thanked us immensely. The next morning, Ben and I tried to get the last one, but all we found was three half wild jackasses. I told a neighbor the last said get it, dead or alive, so if he saw it, shoot it. He was a hunter, and smiled at the prospect of getting some after deer season action. I received a text two days later from Goat Lady, saying he had shot it in the front lawn of the gray house to which it kept returning. She thanked me for the help and said she had to go remove it. It was a rainy day, work was caught up, so I told her I would get it. Talk about a relieved woman. Tino, my coworker, and I love cabrito. Three loops and the goats caught made me feel pretty good, Joe worked great, and Ned, who is really gritty and has a lot of bite on cattle, worked well considering the circumstances. I think I came out ahead on this deal, even though I’m now an official goat roper. The Magazine for America’s Roper • 45
SEASON AHEAD – HORSEPOWER: INSIGHTS FROM CESAR DE LA CRUZ
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he Holidays are behind us, a New Year has begun and for team ropers that means the season ahead offers a new chance to win big. It does not matter if you are new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, the road through 2016 all begins right now! With the thought of planning the 2016 season fresh in everyone’s mind, we headed to Cesar De La Cruz to catch up and pick his brain on what he is doing to prepare for this year. Cesar has already began his season in the professional ranks, roped at a few big events and has a solid plan to be among those who have a chance at some of this year’s tremendous payouts. That is a great place to begin and like he said, “everyone has to have a plan if they want to succeed.” Cesar has begun the year roping with Brandon Beers and his partner has given him a place to start his plan of attack. “Right now I am trying to maintain my horses,” Cesar said. “Brandon has 9 horses he brought down this year and several more in Oregon. They are all great horses and I will need to have 2 to 3 good heel horses to keep up with him. I have one good horse I just bought and he works real well. I also have my bay mare that I roped on last year and I am trying another one as we speak. I want to keep a couple really good ones ready to use this year.” Like Cesar, all ropers need to evaluate the partners they are going to rope with this year, know their horses and how they handle cattle. This can help you create a plan, guide your practice routines and or know what to look for in way of a new mount should you need. Cesar continued to talk about horsepower and said, “There are a lot of phenomenal horses out there and it is key to have your own string that you can rely on. Those ropers who do well have great horses. They are the ones lasting out here.” We pushed a bit more with Cesar to see what else he has in mind
46 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
to make a successful season ahead and what can relate to ropers everywhere. He added, “Mapping out a schedule and knowing how to enter is very important. I talked a lot to Brady Minor this past year and he is one of the best at knowing when to enter, how to enter and the payouts at events. This is key as you want to compete at the big money events and be entered towards the end of the rodeo so you have an advantage. The guys who are able to accomplish this usually do well.” Ropers can take advantage of their schedules and enter events where they can be the most competitive at. There are hundreds of events to choose from throughout the season and having a plan that involves your partner will help you achieve success. You can work together on entering and scheduling when to enter and maybe even more important incorporate your next event into your practice session. Cesar also added, “Team Roping is becoming so much more like calf roping where the draw is so important. We all want to draw good, but be it luck or whatever, I have found that drawing in the middle of the pen gives me the best opportunity at a solid time. Then I can really take advantage of the good draw when they come along.” The season ahead if full of payouts and we hear at The Roping Pen, as well as the pros at TotalTeamRoping.com wish you all of the best. Remember to tune into TTR’s website and catch them on their TV show for quick tips and instructions to help you along the way!
Get a great deal on an introductory membership at
WWW.THEROPINGPEN.COM Search under Total Team Roping page!
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 47
H
ello again everyone! I cannot believe I have written articles for The Roping Pen for an entire year! Time truly does fly it seems.
It’s the time of year when we all try and start off the new year with a fresh start. I want to share some life experiences and things that have happen to me along the way. These are a few things that I want to do better this year. Some of these things I challenge you all to look at carefully as well. Some of you know the horses my family has been blessed with. For some, they are just horses. Maybe even most, but to our family, some of them cannot and will never be able to be replaced. They have earned the right to be permanent yard ornaments, if they wish.
We have a paint horse at my place, I won’t call any names, but he is one that has earned the right. He was bought as a young horse for my daughter, sill a stud and full of himself. From the get-go many thought he was just a horse. For us he was my daughter’s horse. He took care of her even from a youngster, each of them growing together. She went from trotting to loping. From there they both went to winning at the Jr. Rodeo level. He did whatever you asked,
sometimes even before you asked. He is still a Houdini of sorts as well. They both made it to nationals even finishing 4th one year in the average. A feat many just dream of, including our family as well. With all of this going on you would think one would have him insured. Well for a long time I did not.
The first year at nationals (well after he was a multiple saddle winner) we finally insured him. The main reason for that is we found out what we had. We had a horse that could compete on a national level. So we insured him - Just a plain old grade gelding. A paint at that! Several wanted him for high school finals that year but we said no. After that summer run and we were back at home early fall part of the year. My nephews and daughter had been trail riding. The paint included. My daughter kept telling me he acted funny but we brushed it off. Later that evening and into the night sure enough he colic’d. We rushed him to the university thinking the worse. He was surgery bound. Our horse – the one that could compete. Dreams crushed it seemed at the time. We asked them to fix him no matter what the cost due to him being such a special friend. They were great, the surgery went well and life continued. Thank you lord for waking me up in time to get insurance on my horse! I should have had it before that but I procrastinated like many times before. This horse was always the most accident prone we have ever owned. His problems included - White line, colic surgery, eye problems, and finally removing a problematic eye for relief. He had been cut, bit, bruised, kicked, and sore. So many that he was nearly canceled from insurance due to so many claims. Yes he is high risk! He caused me to insure my other horses and taught me the importance of having some coverage.
One other horse we owned will never be replaced. A horse who’s heart was 1000 lbs and of slick red hair. Any time you swung a leg over her, she was yours - all 1000 lbs of it. We had her insured, of course after the paint horse fiasco. This mare was of very giving but quick to let you know she didn’t like a few things. Many may remember her bucking at some USTRC events. While it was a phase she won our hearts. Many of you also know she is no longer with us - taken all of a sudden in the blink of an eye. It’s been a year and we still grieve for her. My daughter especially. She was a friend but also a huge athlete. Beating many because she had so much try. While having her insured hasn’t filled her shoes. It hasn’t healed our hearts. It has helped though in getting my daughter ready for college rodeo. Even though these tragedies happen we have to keep on, for life never seems to slow down. This is what insurance is for. Right now we are back to competing. On our equine friends we have included medical and mortality coverage. We learned the hard way and we don’t want anyone to follow in our footsteps. Take a moment weigh your situation and consider protecting your investments.
Give me a shout anytime for Equine Insurance questions. As always see you guys at the next roping! 48 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
LACEY’S QUESTION: How can I stop cattle from coming in behind me? RICKEY’S ANSWER: When you rope a steer make sure and keep your steers head bent to the inside a little to keep control. Make sure you’re slowing down enough to keep him between you and the catch pen in the corner of the turn.
M
Ready or Not...
by Crystal Lyons
y son, Tyger, by God’s grace, earned a spot… one of only 12 spots at the time… out of 100 young men trying out for a chance to go to Ranger School. We were ecstatic! He ended up spending over 100 days in Ranger School re-cycling each of the 3 phases only to NOT get his Ranger tab. I cried. He cried. It was heart wrenching, to say the least. NOTHING made sense! Even some of the guys in his squad were at a loss as to why he was failed, having completed his missions successfully. He spent the next year mentally and emotionally set back by the heart-breaking incident. As he says, he KNEW that God didn’t fail him, but try as he would, it FELT like God failed him!! He could see NOTHING GOOD coming from this. We had multiple talks over the next two years about it. Though I, too, had no understanding as to why or what God was doing, I DID HAVE enough years and experience with the Lord to know that NOTHING is purposeless if we respond correctly! I remember telling him, “One day you will look back on this and SEE the wisdom of God working for your benefit.” Though he did listen, he probably didn’t believe those words would ever ring true. Two years passed, and another opportunity arose to go to Ranger School. As Tyger said, it was “unfinished business.” Although he was NOT looking forward to the 60+ days of harsh and grueling mental, emotional, and physical training, he knew it was time to kick this thing in the butt! This time, he went through all 3 phases without re-cycling once, and he found himself totally different from how he was 2 years before. The first time, he was only concerned about making it through the ordeal himself. This time, he was watching over everyone in his squad to help THEM succeed. He had become a better leader. When one young man was about to be sent home, Tyger stepped in to help soften the blow. The young man had failed 2 missions already, and Tyger said “the guy was already going to be facing failure… to be peered out, as well, is too heart crushing”. So Tyger gave him a higher peer rating than he actually deserved and talked a friend into doing the same. My son had become a better man. There is a saying, “Don’t let talent take you where character cannot keep you”. The first time through, Tyger proved that he had the physical and mental ability to succeed as a Ranger, but his character was not yet equal to the challenge. He told me later that he shared with some of the guys how failing the first time through was THE best thing that could’ve happened to him! Two years before, he couldn’t have imagined saying something like that. But now, looking back, he can see he wasn’t ready. Just because you or I have the talent to step up to the plate doesn’t mean we are ready for the position. Sometimes, the best thing that can happen to us is to experience failure. We don’t improve from our successes, we succeed because we have improved through our failures!
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50 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
The Magazine for America’s Roper • 51
THE
Other Half
Just Go Rope J
© 2016 The Other Half , Melinda Clements melinda@clements.net
ust so you know I don’t rope. It isn’t my plan to rope and I don’t claim to know everything. I don’t rope but I WATCH a lot. I don’t rope but I PARTICIPANT a lot. I see it every day, sometimes hours at a time, and my weekends are filled up with roping, hauling, watching and replaying the runs all the way home. We practice this stuff all the time, day in and day out, over and over again and again. I know I cannot imagine all the mental things that go into team roping. I don’t even try. I do believe team roping is ten percent talent and ninety percent mental. My observation is that most team ropers beat themselves. I can just see Boss’ face and his expression if he were listening to this. Needless, to say he and I have had this discussion over and over again and he never understands and I guess I don’t either. The point of my story being we spent the weekend at a big roping. A lot of money was on the line and there were a lot of ropers. From my point of view it really didn’t matter what it was going to pay to win it. From my point of view it didn’t really matter with whom he was roping and it didn’t really matter how many teams there were or how many were going back in the short go round. From my point of view all that mattered was this was just one more steer at one more roping and he was doing what we do every single day so don’t beat yourself, just go rope. Boss wasn’t buying into it and I didn’t want to argue with him to add to his case of nerves and pressure. Boss and his partner had already made the short go round. They had roped well all day. They didn’t need to change anything and they didn’t need to worry about it. They just needed to go rope, do what they did best and let the winning, the money, the number of teams, the barrier and the heel shot and all that other stuff take care of itself. I hear a lot of ropers say, “I just wanted to catch.” Of course, they do. That is the point of the whole thing; to go catch, to go make a good run and to do well. However, when it all boils down, it is two ropers, two horses, one steer involved in a game we practice at twenty 4 hours a day. I’m not lecturing here but if you let the mental game get in your way then you are beat already. Boss and his partners rope all the time. They play the game, they spend the time, they spend the money, they work out and at it and they know how it all comes down and what the ultimate goal is. So, I just say, “Just go rope.” Anything can happen and it usually does. Out of hundreds of teams and millions of runs the odds are there is only going to be a few winners. The rest came, had a good time and enjoyed just roping. They go home empty handed but most generally glad they went and glad they had the opportunity to participate. Of course, winning is fun. Of course, winning is the goal but if you are roping well, doing the best you can and still didn’t win your time is coming. Just go rope and enjoy it. Boss was fighting his head not to long ago to the point he was going to quit. He’d had enough. It wasn’t worth it and when he unsaddled his horse he was done. He sat down on the tailgate of the pickup and fingered his rope. He was so down you couldn’t scrape him out of the dirt. “You want my two cents worth?” I asked him. He looked at me
52 • The Roping Pen • February 2016
Thoughts of a Team Roping Spouse... by Gracie Mae
with that “you are going to tell my anyway” so why not? “You aren’t having fun at it anymore,” I said. “The thrill and challenge is gone and you are trying to hard.” He looked at me as if to say, “What do you know? You don’t rope.” I admitted as much and told him I remembered a time when we actually had fun doing this and now it was drudgery and a pain. Everyone was mad and stressed and it wasn’t worth it. Boss shook his head and didn’t say anything. “Maybe, you do need to walk away from it for awhile,” I continued. “The question is would you rope if they never had another team roping anywhere or anyplace in the whole world?” He looked me straight in the eye and grinned. “You know I would,” he said. “It’s in my blood, it’s addictive, it’s fun and I love it.” Yep, point exact! It’s supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to be challenging. Roping is supposed to be what you want to do because you love the sport. It doesn’t matter how much money is up, how many ropers there are, what it pays or whom you rope with. You rope because you love it, it is your lifestyle and you would do it if you never hooked on a trailer and pulled away from the house. Ideally, you want to win every time…it isn’t going to happen. Ideally, you want to make a living doing it…that is a select few. Ideally, you want keep on keeping on and you can do that as long as you have the time, enjoy what you are doing and do it because it fulfills a longing deep in your soul. For my part, and don’t tell him I said this, but I’d miss it if we quit roping. Heaven forbid, lightning strike me dead. I’d certainly have more time to do my own thing if we didn’t rope so much but if I wasn’t doing this well….you get my drift!! Part of me says we should go to all those ropings where it is cheaper to rope so you get more runs than one big roping for lots and lots of money. Seems to me you increase your odds to win but regardless roping is roping. My crew does it because it is fun, it takes discipline and it takes facing the challenge. Anything worthwhile is going to take commitment, hard work and the perseverance to understand that it may take awhile for you to reap the rewards of your hard work and commitment. That is the case with anything meaningful. Boss got off the tailgate. He hugged me and it caught me off guard. That was his way of telling me he appreciated what I said. Apparently, he could grasp a little of what I said. Maybe a little sunk into his head. I don’t rope. I don’t want to rope. Have no plans of learning to rope. I just know that I watch a lot, I see a lot of ropers and observe team after team on an average weekend. I turn out a lot of cattle, warm up a lot of horses and console my kids and Boss when they aren’t winning or doing well. At some point, it just makes sense that you can’t help but learn a little along the way. Now, to say I could implement all that…well, being there and experiencing all that is certainly different that just watching it happen. That is a given. However, I’m the one that has to live with this crew when things are good and when things are not so good. I’m all for doing what I can to assure their success even if it means being a team-roping philosopher. Best advice from one that doesn’t have a clue—Have fun and Just go rope.
Keep Ropin’ ... Love Gracie
HORSES/STALLS/TRAINING 12/14 14 year old, roan, gelding head horse. Good beginner horse. Good in the box. Has been hauled to KRA roping’s. Asking $3000. Call Tom @ 270-402-7191 10/15 Specialize in starting young horses & finishing rope horses. Contact facility owner, Dr. Taylor 336-918-1083 or Trainer, Dustin Sheppard 336-202-5873 for more information. 10/15 For Sale - Priefert stalls expo, hunter green powder coated, we have a huge covered stall barn and want to sell all stalls. Circle M Ranch - Pelzer, South Carolina – Selling stall panels and stall fronts, glad to send pics. Great deal on these. For more info, call Frankie McCleer 864-630-9340 or email kellimccleer@aol.com
PROPERTY 12/14 For Sale – Alabama Premier Horse Property – 78 Ac, fenced & cross fenced w 2 ac pond, creeks & magnificent 4,200 Ft2 Home. 3 Barns, RV hookups & more. It is a must see! – Asking $1,100,000. Call The Joel Gill Team, Joel or Susan Gill – 334-277-8204!
CATTLE 8/15 Breeding Roping or Bucking Cattle? Our lab offers pregnancy testing, BVD, and Johne’s testing. Call 307-742-9072 or visit our website to find out more at www.eagletalonent.com 6/15 - 20 FRESH LONGHORN/CORRIENTE steers & heifers, weaned, bunkbroke, vaccinated, dewormed, 325-425 lbs. $875 & up. Contact Kelly Cattle Company: 706-319-5930 7/15 - 14 fresh corriente/longhorn steers and heifers. Ready to rope. Vaccinated, dewormed, bunk broke - 400 lb. avg - $900 each if all taken. Call Colt Kelly at 706-319-5930
ROPING DUMMIES 6/15 Used Hot Heels roping dummy w/ Springer Sled. Please email for additional info: kbrown@tsys.com 2/15 Heel-O-Matic For Sale! Brand New - Straight from the factory. Heel-O-Matic with all the upgrades. The Ultimate Ground-Driven Trainer includes the Spring-Loaded Tongue and Deluxe Leg Package. Top of the line roping practice machine. See one at heelomtic.com. Selling for $3100 ($500 off retail). Call 505-259-7975 7/15 - Used Hot Heels for sale or trade for newer version. For info, call 417-214-2063 and ask for Billy.
WANTED 12/15 Looking for used roping dummy - Hot-Heels or comparable. Call Frank at 719-661-3077
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Advertisers & Events Index EVENTS: Big Ticket, Tunica, MS......................... 42 Crossfire Team Roping........................ 37 Fire It Up............................................ 18 Florida Championships........................ 51 Muddy River Classic............................ 36 NTRL.................................................. 40 Sarasota Pays for Days....................... 32 Tennessee Championships................... 47 The Patriot......................................... 21 ADVERTISERS Adam Toole Horses............................. 49 AlabamaRoping.com........................... 23 Albracht Insurance.............................. 48 Allen’s Rodeo Photos............................. 4 BTuff Jeans.......................................... 6 C Bar C Photography............................. 4 Corriente Saddle Co............................ 23 Cowboy Cordage/Rocky Mtn Ropes..... 11 Dare to be Cowboy............................. 53 Emily Gethke Photography.................... 4 FastBack.............................................. 3 Flatland Ropes.................................... 23 FSR Cattle Company............................ 31 Gist.................................................... 31
Haslerig Saddlery............................... 16 Heel-O-Matic...................................... 10 Hot Heels........................................... 19 JD Photography.................................... 4 Jim Davis Photo.................................... 4 Lone Star Ropes.................................. 38 Lubrisyn............................................. 56 Maynard Buckles................................ 17 NRS................................................... 35 Perfect Bit............................................ 7 Power Team Roping............................ 49 Priefert.............................................. 54 Rope Smart.......................................... 2 Sparky Lead Steer.............................. 27 SpeedRoping.com............................... 22 Str8 Time Rope................................... 31 STS Ranchwear................................... 13 Team Equine Saddle Pad..................... 31 Tom Bourne........................................ 13 Total Equine Feed............................... 55 TotalTeamRoping.com......................... 46 Tres Rios Silver................................... 19 Twisted Spur....................................... 23 Usher Brand Silver & Saddlery............ 11 Voila! Auto Group............................... 25 Willard Rope Co.................................. 27
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