The Roping Pen - January 2017 by Ryan Davis

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Check out these features... WNFR WSTR Finale NTRL: Finals Time The Patriot... It's getting closer!

Vol. 26 No. 1

2 • THE ROPING PEN • JANUARY 2017

2017

IS HERE and like many of you I am looking forward to another year filled with who knows what. I have to admit I feel blessed. I have a great family, I enjoy what I do and for the most part wake up each day ready to take it on and enjoy what God has in store for me. However, maybe it is because of obstacles I have had to face in the past I always seem to have this lingering shadow in the back of my mind, sitting there waiting to strike out. It seems I am always waiting for something bad to happen. I hate that feeling. I believe many of us have that sense, waiting for that next difficult time to come, the next shoe to drop. I believe it is part of life, because no matter who you are and what you do, we have all faced adversity in our lives and we know how hard life can become. When I start to feel that negative emotion coming over m I fight it off with prayer and acknowledgement that I have been through the fire before and there is nothing I can’t handle or get past. I am a true believer that God puts barriers in our lives to make us stronger. So, with a smile and a good attitude I am off to 2017 with a vengeance. This is going to be a great year and I can’t wait to get into it. The team roping and rodeo industry is the strongest I have ever seen it and the money available to win is unbelievable. It actually starts this month. The NTRL Finals are here and that means ropers will have a chance to kick off the New Year with pockets full of cash. It just takes a little luck and a trip to Jacksonville, Florida to give yourself that chance. I am excited to see what John Johnson has up his sleeve this year at the event that is by far the biggest event East of the Mississippi River. It is always a great time and the team roping action is the best. Great cattle, plenty of fun, competition and a prize line that is suitable for a National Finals event, it is no wonder ropers from all across the country attend the NTRL Finals. From there, we can look forward to RFD-TV’s The American Rodeo in Dallas, Texas. With several years under its belt, this event has captivated the industry every time it has hit the stage with truly amazing, life-changing payouts. Least to say it is also a great event to watch with some of the best and the best up and coming superstars of the sport all competing. Along with the American is The Patriot, which has also quickly become one of the largest events in the state of Texas and the country. With team roping, barrel racing, mounted shooting and Jr. calf roping all going on, The Patriot event is filled with cowboy and cowgirl action from sun-up to sundown throughout the last week of February. Many new ropings have been added to this year’s Patriot schedule, meaning more winners will emerge from the event! From there, the industry will roll into summer where rodeos and team ropings will fill the weekends. From the youth rodeos to the Professional ranks, the highways all across the country will be filled with cowboys and cowgirls in search of their dreams. On the roping side of things, there are more and more events popping up with truly great formats to fill your pockets with cash. Outside to the USTRC and WSTR events, which have continued to set the standards in the industry, there are events that push the limits and open the doors for ropers of every ability a chance to win and win big. It will be an exciting year of cowboy action! I can’t wait to get started! So, good Luck and remember...

Until next month... Dirt. Keep it under your feet!.

~Ryan Davis

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLES & FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE

Dirt, by Ryan Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The American..............................28 • Patriot Event Calendar...............29 • • • PATRIOT EVENT ADS... • Will Rogers Championships, Tulsa, OK........................30 • • Tie Down Roping, Ft. Worth, Tx.....................................31 • The Patriot in February........................................... 32-33 • • • EVENTS & ADS - COMING UP... • News & Calendar.................... 40-41, 45 • NTRL Big Ticket.................................44 • • NTRL Calendar/Events................40, 45 • NTRL Florida Championships..........39 • NTRL Muddy River............................38 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Let us help your Association GROW!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Bayou Championships Upcoming Event, Jan 20-22 . . . . . . . 12 Bob Feist Teams With Wrangler, Upcoming Event. . . . . . . . 13 Fiddler’s Turkey Run, Barrel Race, Event Recap. . . . . . . . . 13 What Was I Thinking? by Crystal Lyons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Ropers of the Round Table, by Stuart Mtichell. . . . . . . . . . . 17 PRCA Nat’l Finals Rodeo, Event Recap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 WSTR Celebrates Season XI in Big Fashion! Event Recap. 22 Rodeo’s $2 Mil “US Open” Returns... Upcoming Event. . . . 28 Patriot News/Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 In the Loop, with JR Wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Sweat & Balin’ Twine, by John Rhudy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 The Way, by Charles Powers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Top Tips!, Advice from Bret Beach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 The Other Half, by Gracie Mae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 January USTRC Announcements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Index, Advertisers & Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Classifieds, Buy/Sell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The Roping Pen is published monthly. Subscription rates are $20 per year for standard mail. First class and out of country subscriptions are $36 per year. New advertising should be received by the 10th of the preceding month to appear in next issue. Please call for advertising rates. Material may not be reproduced without permission from publisher. The opinions and views expressed in all editorial materials are those of the writer or person interviewed and are not necessarily those of The Roping Pen. Send all correspondence, change of address, etc. to: The Roping Pen • P O Box 328 • Tijeras, NM 87059

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ASSOCIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE PROUD TO BE THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS!

SRA, Southern Rodeo Assocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9 NCHSRA/NCJHRA, N Carolina HS & JH Rodeo Assoc’s . . 50 AHSRA, Alabama HS Rodeo Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 FYRA, Foothills Youth Rodeo Association . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37 SCHSRA/SCJHD/SCYRA, S Carolina Rodeo Assoc’s . . . . . 14 ON THE COVER: Luke Brown at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Photo Courtesy of PRCA Editor: Ryan Davis

505-407-2151 • rdavis@theropingpen.com

THE MAGAZINE FOR AMERICA’S ROPER • 5

REACHING GOALS... A

New Year brings resolutions and for rodeo cowboys and cowgirls their goals often include working harder at their events, winning more and feeding that ever-present desire to compete. This is true for one of the SRA’s (Southern Rodeo Association) top bull riders who has steadily moved through the ranks and has become one of the fan favorites all across the Southeast. Bradney Tart, at the age of 23, is no rookie and has seen and climbed on his share of bucking bovine for close to eight years and is not looking to back down any time soon. Like many, Bradney has his goals set for 2017 and ready to take on anything in his path to get there. “I have big plans for 2017,” said Bradney. “I went to a Gary Leffew school and he said you have to have goals and work hard to get there. I want to make the SRA Finals again this year and qualify for the IFR (International Finals Rodeo).” Bradney who lives in Benson, North Carolina finished seventh at the 2016 SRA Finals this past Fall, even after missing threemonths of competition early in the year. He suffered a torn MCL and TCL in his knee. Bradney explained that recovering from this injury was very difficult. He has broken his ribs, nose and wrist riding bulls in the past, but the physical therapy he had to go through for his knee injury was demanding and painful. However, he hopes to stay healthy and hit as many SRA rodeos as he can this season. He is also planning to head to Canada where he can

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BRADNEY

compete at the IRA (International Rodeo Association) rodeos and help qualify for the IFR. Bradney started his bull riding career much the same as many others who have climbed over the chute and strapped their rope on a bull. He remembers clearly that first bull. He was 15 years old, it was Valentines day, and he and several friends went to a small bull riding just to watch. However, there was an open hole in the novice bull riding and Bradney was invited to compete. After talking his parents into signing the release he was behind the chutes and ready. When it was his turn he climbed atop his bull, took his wrap and nodded his head. “I think I lasted about half a jump,” Bradney said, but that half a jump started his career and he has not looked back. The very next day he was at a local practice pen where he climbed on four-head, the last of which stomped him, tore his britches and gave him some pretty good lumps and bumps. He said, “my mom and dad said I didn’t have to keep going, but I told them I was not going to let it beat me.” Hook, line and sinker, Bradney was a bull rider from that day forward. Bull riding was not necessarily new to Bradney, his father Doug had owned a pen of bucking bulls when Bradney was very young, but was never truly introduced to it until he wanted to try it out himself. Since his early years, he has had lots of help from folks to help him progress in the sport, including Chris Dudley, former

TART

PBR bull rider who helped him when he first began. Outside of the arena fence, Bradney keeps busy working at a local horse facility that boards about 50 head of horses. Owner Jeff Nullins also has a pen of mini-bucking bulls that Bradney helps care for. He is also a student at NC State where he is studying Livestock and Poultry management, and is also looking at getting a second degree in Ag Business. His older sister, Brittani also attends NC state and is close to getting her degree in Ag Business as well. Other than that, Bradney is very close to his mother Teresa and at 23-years-old enjoys the fruitfulness of his youth, spending time with friends and family and on the road heading to rodeos. “I have been to a lot of open bull ridings, but I really enjoy the rodeo atmosphere more,” said Bradney. “Rodeos seem to be more laid back and fun. The SRA rodeos are really good. They are always a good show and the funny man is always good. Regular bull ridings seem to be more about being bigger and better and the riders are not treated very well. At rodeos it is more of a family atmosphere where everyone is looking out for each other.” The SRA has a great representative in the bull riding event as Bradney continues to chase his dreams. He has set his goals for this year and it will be great to watch him and all of the SRA cowboys and cowgirls compete to see who can become SRA finals Champions later this year.

THE MAGAZINE FOR AMERICA’S ROPER • 7

VISIT US AT WWW.SRARODEO.COM FOR COMPLETE LISTING OF POINT STANDIN

SRA RODEO SCHEDULE

8 • THE ROPING PEN • JANUARY 2017

*Cotton Eyed Joe Buckle Series = must compete in 5 rodeos in series to be eligible.

NGS, RODEO RESULTS & MORE NEWS. **See www.srarodeo.com/membership for details on rodeos not selling SRA MEMBERSHIPS.

2016 POINT STANDINGS

AS OF 12/21/16 RANK & NAME ............................... POINTS RANK & NAME ...............................POINTS

THE MAGAZINE FOR AMERICA’S ROPER • 9

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Upcoming Event: Bayou Championships

KINDER, LA • JAN 20-22, 2017

he lone fiddle ground out an old Cajun hoe down tune and the men at the small bar spoke French. Segregated on one side were two cow punchers, perhaps from Texas or may the Oklahoma Panhandle. They had no clue what was being said but experimented with the strange food called shrimp gumbo with corn salad and savored a drink they had never tasted before. There was a blend of cultures here they didn’t exactly understand and both punchers wondered how Indians, Cajuns, Frenchmen and the Piney woods farmers could all live and fit together. On the surface it seemed a bit odd and something they didn’t quite understand. But, one thing was obvious. These were happy people and the cohabitation was phenomenal. Despite the flow of liquor and mismatched languages it was a happy lot and the punchers savored the experience. They called the settlement Kinder and the punchers would relish the memory of a warm, welcoming village. It was an experience they would take back to cow country and no one would believe a word they said. Kinder is the “CROSSROADS TO EVERYWHERE,” strategically located at the southern end of Allen Parish at the intersection of two major U. S. Highways. U. S. Hwy. 190 traverse the state in an east- west direction and U. S. Hwy. 165 traverse the state in a north- south direction. In addition, the Union Pacific Railroad east-west line intersects the Missouri Pacific Railroad north-south line in Kinder. Add to that the fact that Kinder is only 18 miles north of the interstate. Kinder, Louisiana will welcome team ropers the weekend of January 27th thru the 29th 2017 to the Bayou Championships. Kinder is a great blend of Cajun culture, Native American culture and Piney Woods culture. Kinder is a friendly community, a very welcoming community and

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it’s a great place to pay a visit. Timber, wood products, cattle, rice and crawfish farming dominate the economy. Among stately pines and huge live oaks you will find the perfect scenario and setting for some great team roping. Team Roping in Kinder will be a fun experience and ropers need to mark their calendars to attend this event. Kick off the New Year with a USTRC Team roping and make Kinder one of your priorities. Kinder is roper friendly with lots to do after the roping winds down each evening. Allen Parish is home to the Coushatta Grand Casino, the largest casino in Louisiana, with casino gaming, fantastic dining and first class convention facilities. Located 5 miles north of Kinder on US Hwy. 165, there are over 3,200 slots, 80 tables, 6 restaurants, more than 500 luxurious rooms, an RV resort with 108 pads and 100 chalets, a special events area, an on site fuel facility and a championship golf course. There are also over 1,200 hotel rooms. The 100 square mile West Bay Wildlife Management Area, located west of the Calcasieu River, is a forested refuge for migratory birds, deer and abundant fish and ducks. The Ouiska Chitto River is a well known canoe course and an officially designated Scenic and Natural River. Come to Kinder to rope. Come for the food and the gambling. Come for an opportunity to visit and enjoy a look at a community that welcomes, no matter where you come from or where you are going. Mark your calendars with a big red star for the USTRC Bayou Championships. What a great way to start off the New Year. Make 2017 a joyous occasion as you come enjoy the laid-back Cajun community. It will be well worth the effort and will set the stage for a fun and exciting kick off to 2017. Don’t miss it. Be There!

40 Bob Feist Invitational TO TEAM WITH WRANGLER th

ranglerNetwork.com will live-stream the BFI and affiliated ropings for the first time as part of the Wrangler title sponsorship in 2017. Ullman-Peterson Events, the owner of the richest one-day Open and Amateur ropings in America, has rebranded the amateur events for 2017 and added a title sponsorship from Wrangler, the iconic and leading western American denim brand. Not only does the change make one of the richest weeks in western sports even richer, but it also allows fans worldwide to watch the world’s richest one-day Open roping live for the first time in 40 years, only via the Wrangler Network (wranglernetwork.com). “We are proud to expand our partnership with the BFI,” said Wrangler’s Jeff Chadwick. “Putting these events on the Wrangler Network allows viewers across the world to see the high quality of competition.” The new Wrangler BFI Week at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Evens Center in Reno, Nev., will include the following events:

• MONDAY, JUNE 19: The 40th Annual Bob Feist Invitational, featuring 100 of the world’s best Open teams competing over six rounds for more than $800,000 in cash and prizes. • TUESDAY, JUNE 20: The 21st edition of the #11 Reno Million-Dollar Invitational, keeping its traditional format of a $1,000,000 payout to ropers whose classifications don’t exceed #11 as a team. • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21: The brand-new #12 High Desert Showdown, with $10,000 added to the purse by Wrangler. Contestants must be at least 21 years old, and the event features four go-rounds and fees of $1,000 per roper. • THURSDAY, JUNE 22: The All-Girl Challenge starts with the traditional enter-twice, four-round Ladies Only team roping and adds a #8 Incentive paying at least $5,000 and a Youth Incentive paying at least $2,500. New this year is a three-round breakaway jackpot, and All-Girl all-around championship.

The Reno Million-Dollar Invitational and All-Girl Challenge, held since 1996 in conjunction with the half-million-dollar Reno Rodeo and BFI, continue to make the week a huge draw for fans and ropers alike. Including the payoff at the week’s additional amateur World Series competitions off-site, the collective athlete purse in Reno that week now nears $3.6 million. “For years, people have enjoyed an extended stay in Reno to kick off their summer with these great jackpots, and we wanted to make it a week of roping for virtually every gender and classification,” said Daren Peterson, who will co-produce the event with Corky Ullman. More information on Wrangler BFI Week will be available soon at www.BFIWeek.com, and for details on the BFI itself, visit www.BobFeistInvitational.com. Hotel reservations with special roper rates starting at $54 are available at the Silver Legacy Resort, the Eldorado, and Circus by using rate code BFI17.

BARREL RACERS FILL JACKSONVILLE EQUESTRIAN CENTER FOR THE

14th Annual Fiddler’s Turkey Run

Horses and riders from as near as the southeast United States and as far as Canada descended on Jacksonville, Florida for the 14th Annual Fiddler’s Turkey Run, held at the end of November at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. More than 600 entries vied for over $106,000 throughout the three days of barrel racing competition. The Fiddler’s Turkey Run has been held for the past seven years at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, and has continued to grow every year. Paul Stanley, who assists Sabra O’Quinn in managing the Fiddler’s Turkey Run, said, “This is a great facility with plenty of stalls and RV hookups. We’ll be back next year!” Many riders are already looking forward to a return trip in 2017 to the facility, which boasts a 3,500-seat 150’ x 300’ indoor arena, several outdoor arenas, and over 400 permanent stalls. Longtime Fiddler’s Turkey Run entries as well as new faces to the competition enjoyed the experience at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center this year. “This was my first time here at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, and I love it. This is a beautiful facility,” said Kaitlin Chieca of Vero Beach, Florida. “The grounds are wonderful. The people have been fantastic – this is a class act!” Chieca competed two horses at the Fiddler’s Turkey Run – her own “Jacob,” and Heidi Thompson’s “Pinkie.” She was happy with her results, especially as this was only her third show ever on Pinkie. Although for Chieca, the highlight of the weekend wasn’t the scores, but the trip around the barrels. “The adrenaline rush when you shoot out of the alley way – there’s nothing like it,” Chieca explained. “It can be a little scary, but it’s worth it every time. There’s something about riding something this big and be-

ing in control of it – it’s just the craziest feeling. It’s awesome!” Eleven-year-old Kaitlyn Sims of Elkton, Florida, shares Chieca’s passion for barrel racing. Sims was the big winner Sunday in the Fiddler’s Turkey Run Open, turning in a blazing time of 15.08 aboard her Quarter Horse, Specta Goodtime. The pint-sized jockey has been riding since she was two years old and competes in junior rodeos as well as the barrel racing shows. Why spend so much time in the saddle? “I like being able to go fast,” Sims explained. Sims and her mother, Jennifer Lee-Sims, are no strangers to the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. “We love this facility because it’s close to home,” said Lee-Sims. “We try to come to all the big events that they have here.” The Jacksonville Equestrian Center was thrilled to once again host the Fiddler’s Turkey Run and all of its talented barrel racers. Sponsors for the Fiddler’s Turkey Run included Equine Medical Center of Ocala, Santa Fe Horse Transport, Wrangler, Formula 1 Noni, Sebelle Dymmek, Triple Crown Feed, Formula 707, 5L Performance Horses, and Seminole Equine Products. The Jacksonville Equestrian Center’s 2016 calendar has several more exciting events planned before the end of the year, including the USDAA Pals & Pals Agility Trials on December 9-11, and Community Night Schooling on December 20. Parking and admission for spectators is free for all events. For more about the Jacksonville Equestrian Center and to find out how to host your event at this multifaceted facility, visit www.jaxequestriancenter.com or call (904)-255-4254.

THE MAGAZINE FOR AMERICA’S ROPER • 13

14 • THE ROPING PEN • JANUARY 2017

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Sparky III $8,395 • Special $7,555 • Sparky Lead Steer $3,495 • Special $3,145 •

1.800.211.8575 • www.smartsteer.com •

THE MAGAZINE FOR AMERICA’S ROPER • 15

What Was I Thinking? BY CRYSTAL LYONS

once had a GOOD blue heeler dog that we used regularly at certain bull buckouts to run the bulls out of the pen. He’d take the bull right to the let out gate and then return to wherever I was in the arena and sit down beside my horse quietly until the next cowboy was off his bull and I gave permission to go run him out. It was a PRCA rodeo in East Texas. They were bucking bulls and this one bad to the bone, bull was at the far end of the arena refusing to go out. UN-INVITED….I decided to do the “hot shot thing” and send my dog into the arena. It’s amazing how pride can totally blind us. Not to mention, how it seems to drain our brains of all common sense….. About the time I stepped into the arena with my dog, I “sorta heard” somebody say, “that’s a no climb fence there lady”. Did I stop for even a SECOND to consider what that tiny piece of information meant?? Oh no! I was on a bender to be the obvious hero of the rodeo! Made totally stupid by my own self-importance…..I sent my dog out to “sic em”. Off he went bouncing and running a big circle which landed him in front of the bull and then bouncing back to ME……with bull in tow!! I ran to jump up on the fence and climb over, only to experience just what “no climb” meant! I smacked the fence and sorta slid down it while the crowd was SCREAMING. I never looked behind me…..I knew it was BAD by the faces and screams from the crowd. Men jumped out of their seats and leaped to the top of the fence as others got under them to help them reach over and grab my hands to pull me out. I was totally at the mercy (and

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strength) of those men! Somehow, (THANKFULLY) they were able to pull me up over the fence! But what I DIDN’T see behind me, (frankly because if I was gonna die that day, I’d just as soon NOT watch it!) was the pick up man had ONE SHOT ONLY to rope that bull in time and he did! Emory Weekly….(if you happen to read this Emory….you are STILL MY HERO!!) roped him and dallied off just in time to stop him hard only about 3-5 feet from my backside! The cocky cowgirl that had strutted INTO the arena, walked away quite humbled and flat out EMBARASSED at my own stupidity! THANKFUL that others were there to save me, because I was powerless to save myself! Had it not been for the expert ability with a rope by Emory and the quick thinking of men in the stands…..I was gonna have a mud hole hooked in me and then stomped dry by that bull. I have forgotten MANY events and happenings over the years….but this one is CARVED in my memory! Why oh WHY if we’re gonna be incredibly STUPID do we seem to never do it out by our lonesome?? Oh no! We have to have an entire AUDIENCE when we show our ignorance!! Pride makes us STUPID. We can be so blinded by our own pride until we get ourselves into a jam where our meat is cooked…unless God has mercy! And thankfully…..He DOES! In this life….it’s like we’re surrounded by “no climb fences”….and we can’t save ourselves! We must REACH UP. He’s there…..ready to dally off and stop the inevitable wreck cold…and LIFT you out, if you’ll simply call on Jesus for HELP!

John Hudson Rope Horses Training Available Rope Horses for Sale! Finished and Prospects For information: Visit Johnhudsonhorses.com

BY STUART MITCHELL

Anticipation A

nticipation will kill you, or cure you. It all depends on how you use it. Sometimes the wait is worse than the actual event. When you are at the NFR you can’t let anticipation get in the way of the job at hand. It happens ten nights in a row. There are thousands of people watching live plus more at home. You’ve got lots of advice from people that mean well, lots of responsibilities, autographs to sign, sponsors to see, family in town to help out with, tickets to disperse, and finally to rope ten steers as fast as possible in a little arena that does not forgive the unsure. Turning that anticipation into an advantage is hard. The best will get it done. The money counts, but it can’t be the main focus. The next steer is most important. The one that can block it out and focus on the task at hand is the one that gets the job done.

Steady all week is better than flashing one or two nights. Get a check every night and look for the big one in the average at the end. Through ten rounds Clay Smith and Paul Eaves have positioned themselves to get it done. World titles, average titles, maybe an all around title for one. With one round to go it’s no time to change. Rope fast and let the chips fall. Hopefully they fall in your favor. This is a dream for many. For a few it’s reality. For years they brought him and his brothers to the dummy roping In Las Vegas. It cost them $2000 to get here. If they won they got a saddle and a buckle and were tickled to death. This year it will be more money, titles, excitement, and opportunity. If it all works out it will be great. If not, hey they give you ten thousand for making the finals; anything more will be gravy. If the titles come or not we will still be tickled. Now I’m here watching the tenth round begin, anticipation is starting to build. If you’re reading this and don’t know the results of the NFR then, til next month don’t let anticipation get the best of you! I’ll let you know how it came out.

Turning that anticipation into an advantage is hard. The best will get it done. The money counts, but it can’t be the main focus. The next steer is most important. The one that can block it out and focus on the task at hand is the one that gets the job done.

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Wrangler

National Finals Rodeo

Wraps Up

Photos Courtesy of PRCA Hubbell, WestPhall, Scofield

Burger Wins Second World Championship in Dramatic Fashion

he came into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo ranked No.1, and through 10 rounds of fierce competition, Mary Burger remained No. 1. However, a tipped barrel in Round 10 had Burger uncertain of the results. “I had went back to the stall and was unsaddling my horse because I hit a barrel, and I had no idea on numbers – I had no idea I had won it. They had to come back to get me at the barn,” she said with a laugh. Burger placed in six rounds and placed eighth in the average to win $86,577 at the Wrangler NFR. She finished the year with $277,554 on the season to become the WPRA Barrel Racing World Champion for the second time in her career BY AMY WILSON - WPRA at the age of 68.

2016

MARY BURGER

Team Roping Tops the Drama

SAGE KIMZEY

he team roping action at the WNFR was second to none. With a dynamic 10-round event, the drama and tension was high throughout the event and concluded with a duo of ropers who seemed to come from nowhere to take the World Championship back to Canada. Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler started the event in the spotlight and after a steady run throughout the ten-night event captivated the crowd and the thousands that tuned throughout the world with the championship. The championship was proof that hard work, determination and the desire to win can award in complete accomplishment. Levi and Jeremy began their quest several years ago and was paid off with the highest accomplishment of their lives. Congratulations to this great team and for helping make the 2016 WNFR exciting!

18 • THE ROPING PEN • JANUARY 2017

JEREMY BUHLER

ith $10 million and nine world championship buckles up for grabs, the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER was full of drama, thrills and everlasting memories. There were numerous historic performances in Las Vegas over the 10 nights, but no cowboys left town with bigger smiles than Junior Nogueira, steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack and bull rider Sage Kimzey. Nogueira, a 26-year-old team roping header from Presidente Prudente, Brazil, combined with his heeler, Kaleb Driggers, to place sixth in Round 10, which was enough to earn Nogueira the all-around gold buckle. Nogueira is the first Brazilian in PRCA history to win a gold buckle. Nogueira’s season total of $231,728 earned him the title by less than $3,600 over steer wrestler Clayton Hass. Since 2002, there have now only been three different allaround champs – Nogueira joins Trevor Brazile and Ryan Jarrett. Jarrett’s title came in 2005. Waguespack captured his first world title, thanks to an outstanding WNFR. The Gonzales, La., cowboy had a winning time of 41.9 seconds in the 10-head average. He placed in eight of the 10 rounds, and split victories in Rounds 1, 3, and 6. He also split second place in Round 4, and was second outright in Round 9. The $213,218 he earned over the 10 nights was a steer wrestling WNFR record, and also won him the RAM Top Gun Award for the contestant with the most money earned in a single event. In addition to the two buckles he took home, Waguespack also received a one-of-a-kind wrapped RAM truck,a custom buckle from Montana Silversmiths and a one-of-a-kind RAM Truck Top TIM O'CONNELL Gun-branded rifle from Commemorative Firearms. Bareback rider Tim O’Connell ($374,272) set a PRCA record for most money won in any event in any year, eclipsing the mark of $327,178 established by bull rider Sage

LEVI SIMPSON

Tyler Waguespack

TYSON DURFEY Kimzey last year. The single-season record JUNIOR NOGUEIRA for most money won in bareback riding before 2016 was $319,986 by Kaycee Feild in 2011. Waguespack also established a new single-season steer wrestling money record with $298,676, as did team roping header Levi Simpson ($249,133) and his heeler Jeremy Buhler ($258,311). ZEKE THURSTON With all the money earned at the 58th annual WNFR a handful of cowboys passed the million-dollar mark in career earnings. The list is comprised of team roping heeler Dugan Kelly ($1,014,232), bull rider Shane Proctor ($1,214,620), team roping header Riley Minor ($1,068,647) and team roping heeler Russell Cardoza ($1,021,387). Aside from Waguespack, the only other WNFR earnings record broken was set by world champion header Simpson and heeler Buhler, with $186,000 each in team roping. Nogueira, O’Connell, Kimzey and barrel racer Mary Burger were the only world champions who led their events heading into the WNFR. As a result of the shakeup at the top, there were seven first-time world champions in 2016: Nogueira (all-around), O’Connell (bareback riding), Waguespack (steer wrestling), Simpson (team roping header), Buhler (team roping heeler), Zeke Thurston (saddle bronc riding), and Tyson Durfey (tie-down roping). (...see next page for results list!)

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ALL-AROUND 1 Junior Nogueira.............Burleson..............TX.... $231,728.33 2 Clayton Hass..................Weatherford........TX.... $228,107.76 3 Clay Smith.....................Broken Bow.........OK... $215,923.94 4 Dustin Bird.....................Cut Bank..............MT... $214,181.04 5 Russell Cardoza..............Terrebonne..........OR... $204,720.08 6 Caleb Smidt....................Bellville...............TX.... $197,276.54 7 Josh Peek......................Pueblo.................CO... $164,362.76 8 Ryan Jarrett...................Comanche............OK... $155,415.75 9 Shay Carroll...................Prineville.............OR... $120,306.30 10 JoJo LeMond..................Andrews..............TX.... $112,623.01 BAREBACK RIDING 1 Tim O’Connell.................Zwingle...............IA.... $374,271.53 2 Jake Vold.......................Ponoka................AB... $240,161.06 3 Orin Larsen....................Ingles..................MB... $219,372.59 4 Caleb Bennett.................Tremonton...........UT.... $217,167.12 5 Tanner Aus.....................Granite Falls........MN.. $213,152.41 6 R.C. Landingham............Hat Creek............CA.... $211,986.10 7 Clayton Biglow...............Clements..............CA.... $171,064.17 8 J.R. Vezain.....................Cowley.................WY... $159,508.01 9 Winn Ratliff...................Leesville..............LA.... $153,679.51 10 Wyatt Denny..................Minden................NV... $148,861.91 11 Richmond Champion.......The Woodlands.....TX.... $129,092.09 12 Jake Brown....................Cleveland.............TX.... $120,282.43 13 Evan Jayne....................Marseille..............BD... $119,081.12 14 Ty Breuer.......................Mandan...............ND... $114,329.92 15 Jessy Davis....................Power..................MT... $79,916.05

TEAM ROPING (HEELERS) 1 Jeremy Buhler...............Arrowwood..........AB... $258,311.13 2 Junior Nogueira.............Burleson..............TX.... $230,283.97 3 Jake Long......................Coffeyville...........KS.... $225,091.16 4 Paul Eaves.....................lonedell...............MO.. $219,900.02 5 Brady Minor...................Ellensburg............WA... $218,658.07 6 Russell Cardoza..............Terrebonne..........OR... $193,441.35 7 Cory Petska...................Marana................AZ.... $190,411.17 8 Quinn Kesler..................Holden.................UT.... $145,876.06 9 Wesley Thorp.................Throckmorton......TX.... $138,221.06 10 Dakota Kirchenschlager.. Morgan Mill.........TX.... $120,755.43 11 Shay Carroll...................Prineville.............OR... $110,968.20 12 Jake Minor.....................Ellensburg............WA... $109,152.43 13 Dugan Kelly...................Paso Robles.........CA.... $106,510.45 14 Travis Graves.................Jay......................OK... $106,450.23 15 Billie Jack Saebens.........Nowata................OK... $98,833.62

STEER ROPING 1 Rocky Patterson.............Pratt....................KS.... $142,349.54 2 Cody Lee........................Gatesville.............TX.... $125,454.73 3 Chet Herren...................Pawhuska............OK... $110,747.14 4 Jason Evans...................Glen Rose............TX.... $105,275.47 5 Scott Snedecor................Fredericksburg.....TX.... $91,648.15 6 JoJo LeMond..................Andrews..............TX.... $77,502.97 7 Jess Tierney...................Hermosa..............SD... $72,866.96 8 Shay Good.....................Midland...............TX.... $67,823.76 9 J. Tom Fisher..................Andrews..............TX.... $66,621.53 10 Vin Fisher Jr...................Andrews..............TX.... $65,861.58 11 Troy Tillard.....................Douglas...............WY... $61,651.57 12 J.P. Wickett....................Sallisaw...............OK... $59,935.66 13 Chris Glover...................Keenesburg..........CO... $56,444.44 14 Marty Jones...................Hobbs..................NM.. $55,277.72 15 Guy Allen.......................Sterling City.........TX.... $51,841.52

STEER WRESTLING 1 Tyler Waguespack...........Gonzales..............LA.... $298,675.58 2 Matt Reeves...................Cross Plains..........TX.... $226,542.67 3 Clayton Hass..................Weatherford........TX.... $213,111.08 4 J.D. Struxness................Appleton..............MN.. $213,107.74 5 Jason Thomas................Benton.................AR... $205,136.76 6 Dakota Eldridge.............Elko.....................NV... $176,672.53 7 Ty Erickson.....................Helena.................MT... $145,672.82 8 Riley Duvall...................Checotah..............OK... $129,103.74 9 Josh Peek......................Pueblo.................CO... $119,156.51 10 Nick Guy........................Sparta.................WI.... $118,308.09 11 Billy Bugenig.................Ferndale..............CA.... $109,330.21 12 Trevor Knowles...............Mount Vernon......OR... $101,336.11 13 Cody Cabral...................Hilo.....................HI.... $101,331.34 14 Jacob Talley...................keatchie...............LA.... $96,686.36 15 Baylor Roche..................Tremonton...........UT.... $93,635.63

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1 Zeke Thurston................Big Valley............AB... $265,449.45 2 Jacobs Crawley...............Boerne................TX.... $262,618.06 3 CoBurn Bradshaw...........Beaver.................UT.... $219,867.17 4 Ryder Wright..................Milford................UT.... $211,758.01 5 Jake Watson..................Hudsons Hope......BC.... $204,101.75 6 Cody Wright...................Milford................UT.... $196,927.15 7 Allen Boore....................Axtell...................UT.... $184,385.46 8 Jake Wright...................Milford................UT.... $166,818.43 9 Rusty Wright..................Milford................UT.... $163,903.88 10 Jesse Wright...................Milford................UT.... $150,423.80 11 Clay Elliott......................Nanton................AB... $139,759.79 12 Cody DeMoss..................Heflin..................LA.... $138,768.01 13 Sterling Crawley.............Stephenville.........TX.... $132,376.23 14 Heith DeMoss.................Heflin..................LA.... $110,986.86 15 Chuck Schmidt................Keldron...............SD... $83,244.36

BULL RIDING 1 Sage Kimzey..................Strong City...........OK... $311,451.27 2 Brennon Eldred..............Sulphur................OK... $287,803.29 3 Shane Proctor................Grand Coulee.......WA... $272,364.58 4 Joe Frost........................Randlett...............UT.... $217,032.70 5 Garrett Smith.................Rexburg..............ID.... $171,698.16 6 Scottie Knapp.................Albuquerque........NM.. $159,290.93 7 Cody Rostockyj...............Lorena.................TX.... $153,286.71 8 Jordan Spears................Redding...............CA.... $151,801.83 9 Roscoe Jarboe................New Plymouth.....ID.... $149,765.04 10 Tyler Smith.....................Fruita..................CO... $139,891.07 11 Jeff Askey......................Athens.................TX.... $134,993.09 12 Tim Bingham..................Honeyville...........UT.... $132,782.74 13 Garrett Tribble................Bristow................OK... $129,118.08 14 Rorey Maier...................Timber Lake.........SD... $127,594.16 15 Cody Teel.......................Kountze...............TX.... $112,194.16

TEAM ROPING (HEADERS) 1 Levi Simpson..................Ponoka................AB... $249,133.31 2 Kaleb Driggers...............Albany.................GA... $230,283.97 3 Luke Brown....................Stephenville.........TX.... $228,435.76 4 Riley Minor....................Ellensburg............WA... $220,166.07 5 Clay Smith.....................Broken Bow.........OK... $218,611.20 6 Dustin Bird.....................Cut Bank..............MT... $200,102.27 7 Erich Rogers...................Round Rock.........AZ.... $189,184.93 8 Matt Sherwood...............Pima....................AZ.... $145,906.76 9 Zac Small.......................Welch..................OK... $143,787.19 10 Kolton Schmidt...............Barrhead.............AB... $132,378.12 11 Colby Lovell...................Madisonville.........TX.... $122,245.15 12 Tyler Wade.....................Terrell..................TX.... $114,529.41 13 Garrett Rogers...............Baker City............OR... $109,731.45 14 Cody Snow.....................Los Olivos............CA.... $100,717.73 15 Coleman Proctor.............Pryor...................OK... $92,049.18

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1 Tyson Durfey..................Weatherford........TX.... $212,445.46 2 Marcos Costa..................Childress..............TX.... $208,926.95 3 Hunter Herrin................Apache................OK... $205,572.94 4 Marty Yates....................Stephenville.........TX.... $194,212.48 5 Cade Swor......................Winnie.................TX.... $187,566.02 6 Caleb Smidt....................Bellville...............TX.... $183,776.78 7 Riley Pruitt.....................Gering.................NE... $180,585.78 8 Shane Hanchey..............Sulphur................LA.... $180,124.45 9 Matt Shiozawa...............Chubbuck.............ID.... $161,281.32 10 Cory Solomon................Prairie View.........TX.... $160,853.54 11 Ryan Jarrett...................Comanche............OK... $143,688.19 12 Blane Cox......................Cameron..............TX.... $141,473.40 13 Timber Moore................Aubrey................TX.... $118,539.17 14 Reese Riemer.................Stinnett................TX.... $99,640.71 15 Ryle Smith.....................Oakdale...............CA.... $94,386.06

WPRA BARREL RACING 1. Mary Burger, $190,976.59, $86,576.92, $277,553.51 2. Amberleigh Moore, $79,067.98, $187,692.29, $266,760.27 3. Lisa Lockhart, $100,244.19, $151,730.77, $251,974.96 4. Sherry Cervi, $83,678.73, $164,634.63, $248,313.36 5. Kimmie Wall, $107,795.17, $134,807.70, $242,602.87 6. Pamela Capper, $87,504.75, $84,461.54, $171,966.29 7. Jackie Ganter, $116,386.69, $53,153.85, $169,540.54 8. Ivy Conrado, $111,160.11, $50,615.38, $161,775.49 9. Jana Bean, $80,335.63, $78,750.00, $159,085.63 10. Sarah Rose McDonald, $89,364.39, $69,653.85, $159,018.24 11. Stevi Hillman, $104,642.98, $51,884.62, $156,527.60 12. Michele McLeod, $87,744.98, $56,961.54, $144,706.52 13. Cayla Small, $87,736.63, $45,961.54, $133,698.17 14. Mary Walker, $112,815.95, $10,000.00, $122,815.95 15. Carley Richardson, $80,875.33, $23,115.38, $103,990.71

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WORLD SERIES OF TEAM ROPING

Celebrates Season 11 in BigFashion!

he Priefert World Series of Team Roping concluded its 11th annual record-breaking event on December 11, 2016. The World Series Grand Finale XI, held at the South Point Hotel and Casino Equestrian & Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev., paid out a whopping $10,468,000 in cash and another $250,000 in prizes. An additional $1 million in prize money was paid at the qualification events held at the outside arena on the South Point grounds, to bring the week take for ropers to $11.5 Million. The #10 Ariat Finale tied last years single division record paying $2,040,000. This year’s WSTR Finale brought over 3,800 contestants to Las Vegas, the direct result of over 100,000 teams competing in 140 sanctioned events during the year in the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Mexico, Brazil and the Czech Republic competing for over $34 million is payouts. In the last ten years WSTR has awarded over $64 million to Las Vegas Finale contestants. RIDE-TV will air five one-hour telecasts of the short rounds to be telecast on DISH TV during the coming year. The sport of Team Roping boasts the largest economical component of the recreational horse world, producing over $65,000,000 in purses each year. Excluding horse racing, the combined purses

of the various team roping associations surpass all other horse events combined. The World Series of Team Roping Finale is the richest, and most prestigious event to showcase the sport. The event will return to the South Point Hotel & Casino on December 11, 2017.

#8 WSTR FINALE XI • TOTAL PURSE: $928,000 Michael Zamzow, Whitney, TX and Derek Pierce, Axtell, TX • $150,000 • 42.40 on 4 steers It is only fitting that in the first year of the full fledged #8 Finale, that the team who won it would be on their first trip to Vegas. Michael Zamzow is a 23 year old lineman with Hillco Electric, paired up with Derek Pierce after they qualified at the Stephenville #8 Heartland. Michael Zamzow, even though he had just won the #8 and pocketed $75,000, was quick to mention his hog hunting dogs and his “other” recreation. Pierce on the other hand couldn’t contain his excitement about his team roping win and seemed gratified in his accomplishment. Admitting that 2016 was the best roping season of his life as he explained his long hard journey to the pay window. “I started off as a left hander heeler and nearly cut a finger off when I first converted to my right hand.” The commercial roofer said his training curve had taken nearly eight years to arrive at a place where he felt comfortable with the rope in his other hand. On this day the team roped great and won the $150,000 with a little over 10 seconds per steer. Derek and wife Jana’s twin boys, at four years old and one year old brother Trevor are too young to remember but Jana will have the video saved for the day to share this memorable experience.

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#10 YETI WSTR FINALE XI • TOTAL PURSE: $2,040,000 David R. Hull, Wilson, OK, and Samuel Luchsinger, Atoka, OK • $348,000 • 34.77 on 4 steers Even though rancher Samuel Luchsinger had the hot hand all day, the tale that David Hull told over the PA had everyone laughing and shaking their heads. Three wrecks in one day, and still wins the big check. On the third steer in arena two, Hull, after the run was over slipped a stirrup and fell off in the arena, only to be clothes lined by his horse and the steer, still managed to get a clean call. Then in the short round Hull got three fingers under the dally, but finished the run, “hoping the flagger would drop the flag before his fingers were cut.” During the victory lap his head horse got a little too excited, grabbed the bit and ran off. “I wondered if I would be the first champion to die on the victory lap before I got a check?” Then his partner had to remind him that his head horse had just carried him to a $174,000 pay day. The pig farmer, quickly remembered his horse, Virtues.” Actually credit goes to the duo roping a very nice 8.81 second steer in the short round to move them from 4th to 1st place.

#9 AIPC ENERGY WSTR FINALE XI • TOTAL PURSE: $1,708,000 Chelsea Gainey, Jonesville, LA, and Tillman Saucier, St Amant, LA • $284,000 • 35.65 on 4 steers Something you don’t see very often in a #9 team roping, a leg on the first steer for 13.70, 6.99 second steer, a 6.06 third steer to enter the short round as high call. Six-second runs are kind of unheard of in the #9 even with the soft start and perfect cattle. Finishing with an 8.9 short round time, the team ran away with the #9. Tillman Saucier admits that he likes to throw on the first hop, “Some days it works and lots of days it doesn’t.” This was obviously one of those days when it did. Chelsea on the other hand was somewhat surprised at the fast pace. “I don’t rope like that and was pretty shocked to be high call.” But make no mistake, Gainey, who is a horse farrier helper said, “I didn’t put up the big fees and drive 1,600 miles not to win a check. I had a great partner and knew if he was having one of his days we could win some big money.” Tillman who is a pipe welder never had any doubt that Chelsea would turn all four.

#11 BLOOMER TRAILERS WSTR FINALE XI • TOTAL PURSE: $1,738,000 Brian Wright, Hallsville, TX and Combine, TX, Milton Aguilera • $289,000 • 31.84 on 4 steers Brian Wright is a heavy equipment operator in a coal mine in east Texas, and had to give up roping for 12 years. But his occupation gave him plenty of time to think about roping and not only think about it, make a historic comeback. If you’re going to make a comeback then why not do it with a young guy who just turned 21. This was the first visit to Vegas for Milton Aguilera who turned 21 earlier this year. The young man is a salesman for Trent Ward Saddlery, and according to Wright is cool and unflappable. Being a little rusty and a little young wasn’t a problem for this team. They roped their high call steer in 7.64 to hold the lead and walk out with $289,000. THE MAGAZINE FOR AMERICA’S ROPER • 23

#12 ALLWAYS AUTO GROUP WSTR FINALE XI • TOTAL PURSE: $1,792,000 Jason Williams, Laveen, AZ and Robert Reynoso, Gilbert, AZ • $304,000 • 30.55 on 4 steers Jason Williams is not an unknown in central AZ and even placed at the BFI, but up to this point, the farmer, horse and cowman had failed to draw a aggregate check at the WSTR Finale. That ended this year. Reynoso, on the other hand, has been attending the WSTR Finales since the beginning and won a big check in 2010 placing third in the #13 roping to pocket $90,000. But times have been tough on Robert who suffered injuries in two disastrous horse wrecks. The restaurant owner was hopeful that the 2016 version would change his luck, and that it did! The duo drew well and roped the first three to find themselves 22 on three; they were high call with a full second advantage over the second call back. They needed a 8.3 second round to win and their 7.6 fourth steer was more than enough to get them the big check.

#15 WSTR FINALE XI • TOTAL PURSE: $766,000 Brenten Hall, Jay, OK, and Jake Clay Cooper, Sapulpa, OK • $150,000 • 26.57 on 4 steers The #15 Division is the only World Series Finale division that does not have an age cap. Obviously, in this highest skill level event, everyone in this roping ropes well and it was filled to the brim with 8, 8E, 9 and 10 ropers. But when it was all said and done, two Oklahoma 17-year-olds got the big check. While they’ve both roped on big stages before (Hall won the 12 Shoot-Out at the USTRC Finals last October) , the massive crowd they faced when riding out for the short round was enough to surprise Clay, but evidently it didn’t rattle him. From the second call back they needed a 7.1 to take the lead, they promptly posted a 5.9.

#13 WSTR FINALE XI • TOTAL PURSE: $1,496,000 J.R..Wood, Sinton, TX, and Shane T. Brown, Robstown, TX • $254,000 • 29.65 on 4 steers Most of the Finale short rounds presented some clear front runners who held their positions to the last steer. Wood and Brown on the other hand, who usually rope methodically, came out and attacked the final fourth steer. The six-second run from the 6th call back position was good enough to apply more pressure than the front teams could stand. When the Finale ended their move to first represented the largest position move for a win in 2016. The duo entered every jackpot between Texas and Las Vegas trying to be prepared for South Point and somewhere along the way they felt like they just started clicking. “All week long we just felt like we were on it, and it is great when you have that feeling.” J.R Wood who owns a pipeline inspection company was paired with Shane Brown who won the Heartland #13 last year. Of course Shane, a branch manager for Texas Farm Credit had a big motivation for doing good in Vegas, he watched his brother Scott win the #11 in Vegas in 2014.

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LLOYD ASKS: How do you store your ropes between ropings? RICKEY'S TIP: I always keep my ropes in my tack room. It’s a little cooler in the summer & warmer in the winter & it’s good for your ropes to build a loop & lay them out, that helps a lot.

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Rodeo’s $2 Million “U.S. Open”

RETURNS TO AT&T STADIUM FEB 19

FD-TV’s The American presented by Polaris RANGER concurrently with The American Semi-Finals in the historic returns to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Fort Worth Stockyards area. February 19, as the home of the Dallas Cowboys hosts the Those semi-finalists who earn the right to compete world’s richest one-day rodeo for the fourth time. at AT&T Stadium are eligible for a share of the extra With a total purse of $2 million dollars, The American $1 million bonus. That’s the reward if they are able among the top rodeos in North to win their event, by besting the America. Winners and the runnersother qualifiers and the top-ranked, up in bareback riding, steer wrestling, professional invitees. team roping (both heading and The bonus is divided among all heeling), saddle bronc riding, tie-down qualifiers who win The American, but roping, barrel racing and bull riding only three qualifiers have managed to win a share of $1 million prize money. win an event at The American in the There’s also an extra $1 million bonus past three years. Richmond Champion purse and $250,000 in prizes. became the first cowboy to win Top rodeo athletes from the more than $1 million for a single, Professional Rodeo Cowboys eight-second bareback ride at The Association, Elite Rodeo Athletes, American in 2014, the first time Women’s Professional Rodeo it was held. He became an instant Association and Professional Bull millionaire by virtue of one eightRiders have accepted invitations to second ride at the age of 21. compete at The American on February Not only are contestants at The 19. The roster of invitees includes American competing against rodeo’s newly crowned world champions best human athletes, in the bareback, as well as individuals with multiple bronc and bull riding they will face world titles. The field will also include top bucking horses and bulls in athletes that come through the the world. Award-winning rodeo qualifier system. companies from across the country The American’s unique “U.S. Open” will bring their featured animals format means that any competitor to match against The American is eligible to try to qualify for The contestants. Texan Richmond Champion American Semi-Finals. There are no It all makes for a record-setting became the first cowboy to earn $1 age or gender restrictions. Qualifying week in the Dallas/Fort Worth million for an 8-second bareback events are held across the U.S. with metroplex with four days of The winning competitors advancing to ride when he won $1.1 million at the American Semi-Finals in Fort Worth, The American Semi-Finals, where top inaugural RFD-TV’s The American followed by the PBR’s Iron Cowboy finishers punch their tickets for The presented by Polaris RANGER in VII on February 18 at AT&T Stadium 2014. The world’s richest one-day American. and The American on February 19. More than 600 qualifiers are rodeo returns to AT&T Stadium in Tickets for The American start scheduled to compete February 14-17 at just $20 and the semi-finals Arlington, Texas, Feb. 19. at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. tickets start at just $10. Tickets are Photo by Andy Watson – Bull Stock Media The semi-finals on its own features available through Ticketmaster or at a purse of $1 million, putting it among the top 10 richest AmericanRodeo.com. For those who want a full weekend of rodeos annually and making it the richest rodeo open to non- the best in western sports, there’s also a combination ticket professional competitors. A three-day western festival runs for the Iron Cowboy and The American.

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About RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN Presented by Polaris RANGER: Taking place at Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium on Feb. 19, 2017, RFD-TV’s The American is the richest single-day event in the history of rodeo. With $2 million on the line, the best athletes in the world will gather in Dallas to battle for the biggest single paycheck of their lives. The American invites the top athletes from the PRCA, ERA, WPRA and PBR and pits them against underdogs who advance from the American Semi-Finals, held Feb. 14-17 in Fort Worth. The winner of each event earns a $100,000 prize. Contestants who qualify from the Semi-Finals – or athletes who earned an exemption – who win THE AMERICAN share in an extra $1 million bonus pool. For more information, please visit: www.americanrodeo.com and www.RFDTV.com. Follow us on Twitter @RFDTVAMERICAN and find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RFDTVTheAMERICAN. 28 • THE ROPING PEN • JANUARY 2017

ENTRIES ARE OPEN!

Happy New Year! UPCOMING PATRIOT QUALIFYING EVENTS

DATES............... */**..CITY, STATE.............. PRODUCER.............................................................................. EVENT JAN 6-8, 2017..............*.....WACO, TX........................... USTRC.................................................HEART OF TX CHAMPIONSHIPS/PATRIOT QUALIFIER TOUR JAN 13-15, 2017.........**....OK CITY, OK........................ RTO PRODUCTIONS....................................................................... IFR/PATRIOT QUALIFIER TOUR JAN 20-22, 2017..........*.....KINDER, LA......................... STEVE JUDD..................................................BAYOU CHAMPIONSHIPS/PATRIOT QUALIFIER TOUR JAN 26-29, 2017.........**....JACKSONVILLE, FL............... JX2 PRODUCTIONS.................................................................................NTRL NATIONAL FINALS JAN 27-29, 2017..........*.....TULSA, OK.......................... RTO PRODUCTIONS............................WILL ROGERS CHAMPIONSHIPS/PATRIOT QUALIFIER TOUR FEB 3-5, 2017...............*.....DENVER, CO....................... JEFF SMITH PROD..................... COLORADO WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS/PATRIOT QUALIFIER TOUR FEB 21-26, 2017.....FORT WORTH, TX...... THE PATRIOT......................................................... THE PATRIOT FINALE * = USTRC GOLD PLUS / PATRIOT QUALIFIER ** = PATRIOT QUALIFYING EVENT THE MAGAZINE FOR AMERICA’S ROPER • 29

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hristmas has come and gone, and with it came the rain! After several weeks at the beginning of last month, Alabama finally got wet again. On December 4th, our rodeo was rainy and cold, but that sure didn’t stop us! Now, with Christmas and New Year break is underway, and you know what that means, hunting time! Over Christmas, this Alabama queen made her way up north to hunt the big bucks at South Fork Outfitting in Mendon, Illinois! I couldn’t wait! It was fun and exciting! With the Christmas season ended, I am most importantly remembered the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ. What I love about Christmas is the way people strive to bless others, give graciously, and do what they can to put a smile on someone’s face! For me Christmas isn’t about the presents but the love and thought that’s put into them. It’s a time of giving, giving thanks for all of our blessings and sharing love, hope, and joy with the people around us. I am wishing all of the rodeo families out there had a very blessed and merry Christmas! I hope we all have a great New Year! God Bless,

Miss Hannah Rogers 34 • THE ROPING PEN • JANUARY 2017

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AHSRA

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FYRA & DONNA FARMER 36 • THE ROPING PEN • JANUARY 2017

• CHECK US OUT AT RODEOFYRA.COM

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IN THE LOOP...with J.R. WOOD

hen you hear a professional team roper talk about the attributes of his favorite rope, you may think, “That guy could catch a steer with parachute cord, so how do I know I’ll like it?” It might help to hear the testimonial of a #5+ header who just knocked down a $254,000 win in Las Vegas. J.R. Wood of Sinton, Texas qualified for the World Series of Team Roping Finale by winning the #12 and #11 qualifiers last year in his hometown. Wood has used several brands of ropes over the years but now seems to be sold on The Bomb from Lone Star Ropes. Having tried a few ropes from Lone Star in the past, he just hadn’t found the one that fit him until a friend told him about The Bomb. Wood left south Texas en route to Las Vegas with a Bomb in his rope bag and he and partner Shane Brown hit every jackpot they could along the way. Having some success on the way, the pair really felt good about their odds in the big show. “We jackpotted all the way to Vegas, and by the time we got there, that rope had 30 or 40 runs on it.” said Wood. “I went to the Lone Star booth at South Point and bought a new one.” Wood untied that rope, gave it a swing and went to work in the #13 Finale. “It’s the best feeling rope I’ve ever used,” he continued. “I don’t know what it is about it but it really seems to hold up. We live close to the coast and the humidity is awful, this rope handles it well. I always liked to put a stretch on a four-strand but it’s not necessary with The Bomb...just pull it out and go rope.” Go rope is exactly what the pair did. Wood and Brown entered the #13 short round in the sixth position and smoked a six second run to take the lead. They held on for the win, representing the biggest short round move for a win at this year’s event. Their final time of 29.65 on four head earned a paycheck of $254,000.

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Wood and Brown, a #8 heeler, roped for the first time last year at the WSTR Qualifier in Sinton. They now practice together all the time, which is fairly easy since they live about 30 miles apart. “We’ve got a little bit of a practice circuit, but Shane usually comes and ropes at my house.” said Wood. Wood and his business partner, who also happens to be his wife of 11 years, Candice, own a pipeline inspection company. They have two sons, Kash, 9 and Jett, 5. Being successful in business, Wood has always kept his roping and business incomes separate. “I’ve always kept my roping separate from work,” he said. “Anytime I win, whether it’s $200 or $20,000, I give half to my wife, then if there is something she wants that we might not buy otherwise, she shares in the ‘messing around money’”. Wood is very humble about his business success but the kind of money he earned in Vegas probably qualifies as more than “messing around money”. “It may not be life-changing, so to speak, but this kind of payday will certainly free up some investment money for us as we’ve been looking into some real estate opportunities,” Wood concluded.

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MURPHY'S LAW R

ecently, I received criticism for posting some of the cattle woes we’ve had at work on social media. We had two steers, at different times, in separate pastures, break a hind leg. My suspicion was other steers had been mounting them, as they often do when different groups are co-mingled, and a leg was caught in a groundhog hole or rock crack. I posted so the non-agricultural public sees the real world of livestock production. We in ranching care for our livestock, yet things happen. Amazingly, the criticism came from within the animal ag community. Many non-farming folks gave me positive feedback and thanks for showing the whole view of this way of life. I had some in the cattle industry say how badly it looked, and that folks were gossiping on the number of broken legs we were having (two out of 2,000+ head). One person told me they had never had a broken leg and they ran just as many steers as my employer. How does one respond to this? I was reminded of the old adage, those that have them will lose them; those that don’t have none to lose. It’s simply the nature of dealing with living, breathing, unpredictable animals. Accidents happen. If a person in animal agriculture says they never lose any to sickness or injury, they’re either lying, have very limited experience, or don’t check their stock. In my years in agriculture, first growing up on a dairy, then in the beef business, I have seen many strange things involving animals. One fall, in a week’s time, we had three weaned heifers break legs. One had gotten hers hung in a hay ring; being a front leg, we were able to set it and save her. Another was simply standing with the break one morning, no clue as to cause. The third, with me a witness, stuck her foot in a rock crack while running across the pasture. I saw the hind leg snap; that still gives me a shiver. Another time, I had a neighbor tell me he had seen vultures circling a patch of woods on a rented pasture across the valley. When I went to investigate, hanging in the fork of a tree was the head and hide of what had been a seven hundred pound heifer. After studying the area, I came to the conclusion she was walking on a path around this hollow. She probably stopped to scratch an itch and reached her head up, getting it stuck in the fork, and fell off the path in her struggles. The buzzards had started eating her from the back end and had cleaned out the hide. I watched a steer going down a rock ledge, just ambling along, run a hind foot under an exposed tree root, hanging it between the root and the rock. I yelled at our green hand to get a rope on him and hold him. The kid just kept looking at the scene without reacting. I then screamed at him to get off and help me try to hold

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the steer before he... the leg snapped. We had to get a chainsaw to cut him loose. I had to lift another out of a hay wagon/feeder with a loader one night with the temperature around zero and put it down. A design flaw had left a narrow gap between the outside frame and the rebar grate making up the floor. The steer had climbed up and was on frozen hay. It appeared he broke through the hay as he attempted to jump out. Not all situatuons have had tragic endings. We once found an eight hundred pound steer with a third of a hay ring around his midsection; he had busted the other two parts off. We got him in a barn, roped and tied down, then had to use a torch to cut him out. He was not a happy camper when he was released. Another time, a turkey hunter came and told us there was a steer with his head in a tree, no further details. We mounted up, followed his directions up the mountain, and, sure enough, there was a steer with his head in a tree. The tree was hollow and had an inverted V opening from the ground to about three feet up. Said steer had been nosing around the rotted wood inside, raised his head, and got stuck. He pulled back, keeping himself from dropping his head and getting free. Luckily, he had only been there about a day. We had to heel him, lay him down, and twist his head to get him out. He thanked us by trying to kill the two of us when he got up. Burke’s Garden is karst topography, meaning the valley is undermined with caverns and there are sinkholes everywhere. Sometimes holes fall out in the soil over a cavern where groundwater has leached away the clay between the topsoil and the limestone. We found a steer dead in such a hole one summer. He seemed to have been walking along when the ground caved in. Another time, in frigid temperatures, I found a circle of bare ground in the snow covered meadow where we had new steers. As I approached, I found three steers in the hole. The ground there had probably been warmer and they had bedded down. Some time in the night, the hole fell in with them. The one on top was alive, the other two were buried when we filled the hole. On yet another occasion, two guys driving around o the mountain came to tell me there was a heifer in a hole. My father went with me, and yes, sure enough, the same scenario. We used ropes and chains to get her out. Thankfully, the was a stream flowing through the hole and she had been able to drink, for it appeared she had been there several days. Sometimes, the accident could have been avoided. Other times, opportunity met the ability to wreck havoc. No matter how it occured, when dealing with livestock, they’re are going to be accidents. I have used each as a learning experience. I have gleaned knowledge for future reference, in case I encounter similar situations. Always remember, animals, and nature, are unpredictable. With the best of care, there will still be wrecks.

THE WAY A

• • HAPPY NEW YEAR! • •

s we close the chapter on another year and turn the page to the new year, we are reminded that time waits for no man. For some of us, looking back on 2016 will be a time to reflect on what blessings we have been given, inevitably some will have less to be thankful for. For someone reading this, it may seem like they missed the mark all together and the thought of a new year brings comfort. Even for those individuals I am reminded of a verse in While this may seem hard to do for some, for others it will come natural. But, like

roping, the more you practice it, the better you will become. Let me encourage you in 2017 to find at least one positive thing around you each day. Also, if you aren’t currently in fellowship with a body of Christ followers, now would be a great time to begin that journey as well, you may find a lot more to be thankful for. God bless and Happy New Year! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Charles Powers serves as the Administrative Pastor at Open Door Community Church in Erlanger, Kentuky.

BE THANKFUL IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:18

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inter is upon us and for many that means a short break from team roping or at least a time we slow down a bit. Colder weather and shorter days makes it hard to get out and practice. However it is a great time to set a game plan and begin to prepare for the spring and summer team ropings. With that in mind, Total Team Roping’s, Bret Beach had some words of advice for ropers who are setting their goals and ready to make their big run at the tremendous amount of money available in the sport today! “First off ropers need to have a game plan in mind and now what they want to do to get better,” Bret said. “This is a great time of year to plan what you want to do. Most ropers know they want to get better, but don’t really know how to go about it. First thing they need to do is sit down and see what is available to help them progress, weather it is a school, more practice time or online instructions.” There are a lot of ways for ropers to get better today, however that means it can be hard to determine what is the most beneficial and cost effective way to go about it. “I really can’t say what works best for everyone,” added Bret, “But what I can say is do your homework. This means if you are attending a school check it out before signing up. Try to find out if the level of instruction is going to be equal to your level of roping, beginner level school or ropers of your caliber, see how many steers are available, if there will be practice machines available, the length of the school and probably most importantly, see how many students are attending. I say that is the most important aspect because you want as much one-on-

NEVER TOO SOON TO PREPARE ...ADVICE FROM BRET BEACH

one training as you can get.” Schools are a great way to start off a season. As you start slow to give yourself and your horse time to get back in the groove of things, a school from a qualified instructor can help you get heading in the right direction to kick off the season. “Keep in mind where you are in your roping and what you want to learn, but keep an open mind also,” Bret said. “A good instructor will be able to evaluate you and let you know what you need to work on. At the schools I host, I watch the students rope and identify what they need to work on and begin to help them progress. I don’t want to give them too much information, I’m there to help them identify their biggest issue and attack them. A school is for a student to progress and the best way to do that is work on the one or two things to help take the ceiling off their roping. I feel people progress faster and better this way..” Bret also said that since beginning the Online Video Coaching at TotalTeamRoping.com that he has seen incredible progression in those who are determined to get better. “This is a great feature that I can’t say enough good things about,” He said. “The video coaching is better than any school. Really it is like a 365 day-a-year school and perfect for those who really want to improve. Clay O’brien said it is the best teaching tool he has ever seen and great for team ropers wanting to improve. Being able to see areas or patterns of a roper through a series of 6, 8 or 10 videos allows me, Clay and Charles to help ropers work on those areas and progress. If they are determined to get better it is a great way to do it.”

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The Other Half

Thoughts of a Team Roping Spouse • by Gracie Mae

t is a jargon you have to know to understand. You read about it in magazines, they talk about it in interviews, they work on it in training sessions and schools and yet it just seems to be something everyone struggles with at some point in time. If you are a roper you do all you can to make sure it doesn’t cost you the roping. If you happen to be new to roping you need to get your mind on track and not let this confuse you.

Position is instrumental for the header and the heeler and for the number one dummy driver and the Heel-O-Matic expert who uses all sorts of training techniques to illustrate what is right, what is wrong, what will win the roping and what will cost you some dollars. Heelers talk about position. Headers discuss position and placement of their equine partner. I’ve heard Boss say more than once, “Gracie, go a little straighter when you duck off so that I can get in position.” This is while I’m looking forwards and backwards and trying my hardest not to run into the fence and crash the four wheeler. It has everything to do with location, focal point and placement. How in the world can you put a steer in a certain spot and hope to catch him. They do, indeed, have a mind of their own.

Calm down, people, I know position isn’t about the steer because it is and will always be a thinking, independent and tyrannical beast of burden, who in his heart, is merely trying to get away so he can resume munching on hay in the catch pen. Position has everything to do with the roper and his horse whether he is heeling or heading. It just makes me smile and does my heart good when I play dumb and watch Boss’s reaction when I tell him I have no control over the steer and I’m doing the best I can and he comes back with, “My gosh, Gracie it’s a *^%$^& roping dummy!” Just makes me laugh out loud. He has no sense of humor.

Sometimes that sucker just takes his head and runs around crazy. Perhaps it is because my thumb is tired or I’m bored but you should see him try to get in position when that sucker is in runaway mode. It makes Boss want to fight. Yet, he knows better than to chew on me very much. He knows my paycheck is lacking and if I quit he’ll never have to worry about position, one way or another, again. I feel sorry for Boss’s horses sometimes. They are experts at position and if they could talk it would be something to the effect, “The dude just cannot rope. I’ve been all over that steer and he still misses. I go fast, I go slow, I duck off or miss the turn altogether and he still misses.” I bet they laugh as they munch hay and discuss the practice. “Team Ropers are goofy!” they say. “And they call us unbroken and untrainable.”

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Position

There are positions in roping, in football and in dancing. There are positions for steers that run straight and positions for those steers that are not so perfect. Old horses know all positions but just don’t care anymore and young horses never give position much thought. Smile!

Boss is always talking to the kids about position and Buzzy takes it all in and June Bug just goes and ropes without any thought to position at all. Seems to me she catches a lot more than misses but maybe that is because none of it is complicated with technique and “what if” scenarios that make no difference anyway. When you are her age catching is all that matters and some of her best catches it is hard to define exactly what position she and her horse were in. I have a position that is my favorite and makes things easier for me. Focus people…team roping, practice pen, etc. I like to rest my foot on the bottom pipe of the chute when I turn out cattle. It makes me taller, gives me leverage and makes my arm stouter. Now, that’s a position worth sharing. There is also practicing from an actual roping position and then the one position that wears me out is the head bouncing off the butt of the horse when the heeler catches. I know it is a fad and it, too, shall pass. They didn’t used to do that when I was a kid but Buzzy is in tune to that and loves it. He always wants to heel so he can catch two feet and assume that position. It has nothing to do with trying to catch but is all to do with the victory dance in the end zone if you know what I mean.

Bronc Riders have positions and so do steer wrestlers. I can hear Jason Garret or some other coach telling his players, “We lost this game because you were not in position.” I’ve heard that muttered at my house a few times. You know, “I missed because I was out of position.”

Needless to say, there are positions for steers that run to the right or run to the left or run straight away. There are positions if the barrier is an issue and positions if your horse falls down or you hang your rope on the chute. There are positions that matter if the four wheeler suddenly dies and you have to avoid running over your number one driver----Me!

Maybe you should all be more like June Bug and just go throw your rope and see what happens. It is a lot more fun that way and it is easier to rope with NOT so much to think about. Good grief, you can only focus on so many things at one time and then your second nature takes over and it just boils down to “Throw your rope and hope for a miracle.” In actuality, that is what makes team roping fun!

Keep Ropin', Love Gracie

Advertisers & Events Index EVENTS: Fire It Up........................................... 26 National Finals (NTRL)....................... 42 NTRL Big Ticket.................................. 44 NTRL Calendar/Events................. 40, 45 NTRL Florida Championships............... 39 NTRL Muddy River............................. 38 Patriot Calendar................................ 29 Patriot in February............................ 32 Patriot Tie-Down Roping..................... 31 Priefert Youth Event........................... 10 Will Rogers Championships................. 30 ADVERTISERS: Alabama Roping................................ 11 Albracht Insurance............................. 49 Allen’s Rodeo Photos............................ 4 Bar H Photography.............................. 4 BTuff Jeans......................................... 7 C Bar C Photography............................ 4 Fastback.............................................. 3 Flatland Ropes................................... 11 FSR Cattle Company........................... 11 Gist..................................................... 7 Heel-O-Matic..................................... 25 Hot Heels.......................................... 21 Hudson Rope Horses.......................... 16 Jackets For All................................... 11

JD Photography................................... 4 Jim Davis Photo................................... 4 Lil Blue Heeler................................... 27 Lone Star Ropes................................. 46 Lubrisyn............................................ 56 Maverick Saddle Co........................... 15 Maynard Buckles............................... 17 Mortenson Saddle Buckle................... 11 Power Team Roping........................... 27 Priefert............................................. 54 Property in Texas............................... 16 Rope Smart, The Switch........................ 2 Rope Smart Arena............................. 35 Sparky.............................................. 15 STS Ranchwear.................................. 49 Team Equine Saddle Pad.................... 11 Tom Bourne....................................... 12 Total Equine Feed.............................. 55 Totalteamroping.com......................... 51 Tres Rios Silver.................................. 21 Willard Rope Co................................. 27 CONTACT US TODAY TO FEATURE YOUR EVENT OR PRODUCT! • 505-407-2151 • • rdavis@theropingpen.com •

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JANUARY 2017

Announcements

USTRC wants to wish you a very happy and blessed New Year. The USTRC Schedule is full of great events, with all of them leading to the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping (NFTR). The dates for the 2017 Cinch USTRC NFTR are October 21-29, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

To be eligible to enter the Cinch NFTR in 2017 ropers must have ten (10) entries at a USTRC Sanctioned, Affiliate or WSTR event. Good luck, and see you at the Finals! ______________________________________________________________ All USTRC members receive Flex Earnings upon participation at a USTRC Sanctioned or Affiliate Event. Gold Spur members receive $1000 & Gold Plus members receive $3000, which can be used at any Regional Finals or the Cinch National Finals of Team Roping (eligibility rules apply per Sec. 5 of the USTRC Rule Book). Renew your membership today for 2017. Gold Plus Memberships are $300 and Gold Spur Memberships are $110. Call 254-968-0002 or visit ustrc.com to make your purchase.

Again for the 2017, season USTRC memberships are accepted at all World Series events. Likewise, USTRC will accept WS memberships at all sanctioned and affiliate events.

The 2017 USTRC $100,000 Scholarship Program season began November 1, 2016 & runs through October 31, 2017. TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE, ROPERS MUST: • Be a current USTRC member in good standing • Be 24 years of age or younger as of January 1, 2017 • “ Opt In” to the Scholarship Program on or before June 1, 2017. This is done by logging into the Member Services portal from the USTRC website and selecting the “Opt In” option under the Scholarship Program. No ropers will be allowed to “Opt In” for the 2017 season after this June 1st deadline. Note: Ropers must “Opt In” to the Scholarship Program every season if they want to be eligible for scholarships. For more information visit ustrc.com and click on the “Points” link at the top of the home page. THE MAGAZINE FOR AMERICA’S ROPER • 53

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