SuperLooper-May 2012 by Western Sports Publishing

May 2012 Cover_Cover 4/25/12 11:04 AM Page 1

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE

THE MAGAZINE FOR TEAM ROPERS MAY 2012

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May 2012 Cover_Cover 4/25/12 11:04 AM Page 1

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07 MAY TOC_TOC 4/12/12 12:40 PM Page 7

USTRC Championship Results

THE MAGAZINE FOR TEAM ROPERS

FEATURES 8

Just the Way It Is

Oklahoma Winter Classic

Louisiana Championships

East Nebraska Championships

Colorado River Championships

Tennessee Championships

Northern California Championships

Northeast Kansas Championships

102

New Mexico Championships

108

Bluegrass Championships

by Ben Clements

USTRC Announcements

By the Numbers

by John Findlay

Gold Plus Report

by Ty Hillman

Insider—What Twisselman Stands For!

Top Tips

Champions Profile –

with Rickey Green

Sloan Kuehl & Stuart Lenoir

Horse Health Don’t Skip the Purchase Exam

Tryan and Smith rope record-setting paydays at the GSTRC

USTRC On Tap

US Open Tour Standings

Cruel Girl Standings

36 FEATURE

COVER PHOTO BY LONE WOLF PHOTOGRAPHY

North Country Classic

08 JTWii_Layout 1 4/11/12 3:24 PM Page 8

JUST the WAY IT IS

MAY 2012

Smile and the Whole World Smiles with You

ou just sometimes cannot help laughing. I mean we have all been in that situation where someone gets in a mess or is the brunt of a joke and you just have to laugh. Did you know it takes less facial muscles to smile than it does to frown? None of us like to be made fun of. It is much better to have a good time at someone else’s expense but you have to admit having a sense of humor makes it better for everyone involved. All of us do stupid stuff and when I look back on some of my worst messes I cannot help but smile. There are many times when, if it wasn’t for a sense of humor and the ability to laugh, we couldn’t make it. Sometimes laughing at ourselves is the only thing that keeps us sane. We have all been in those precarious positions where we cannot help but snicker under our breath. Goodness knows our buddies, friends and family have done their share of snickering at us when we screw up. Did you know the things we fuss over, worry over and stress over won’t matter next week or even tomorrow? We have to learn to smile and see the bright side. I am so glad my wife doesn’t tape our practice roping sessions. They would be enough to make even the most serious roper fall off his horse in a deep belly laugh. I remember a story related to me one time about this high school band director who, more than anything, wanted his band to win the state performance band award. He had pushed the kids unmercifully in practice after practice to the point the kids were maxed out. They had one more practice and were all seated in the auditorium. In frustration over the practice the director threw his baton in the air and surprisingly the baton stuck in a light fixture above the stage and dangled there. The kids stared. The director could not have done it again if his life had depended on it. Suddenly the kids burst into uncontrollable laughter. The whole incident broke the tension and the practice turned out to be one of the best. The point being it takes laughter to show you things are going to be okay. It takes a sense of humor to keep reality in check. It takes laughter to show you the world may be crumbling but there is still hope.

Team roping tests our abilities, our nerves, our discipline, our perseverance and our commitment. I have seen ropers, myself included, miss a heel or head loop and throw their rope high into the air in frustration. Can you imagine how that looks to the average observer? We have to laugh at ourselves in order to keep the world sane around us. One of the most popular articles in SuperLooper is “The Other Half - Thoughts of a Team Roping Spouse.” Most people smile when they read it because it rings true to all of us. Poor Gracie has a terrible time with her roping family and sometimes when she feels like crying she is making us smile and laugh because we have all been there and done that. A good deep belly laugh is healing, healthy and has more positive ramifications than even a hug. You don’t want to laugh at the expense of someone’s well being but it is okay to laugh and smile when things are joyful, fun and healthy. Sometimes you just have to laugh to keep from crying and you know when you look back it will have been a comedy of errors. I remember a story my parents told to me about being on the rodeo trail. In the middle of the night during a long rodeo run my mom left my dad on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. She didn’t mean to. She thought he got in and closed the camper door, but really the wind just blew the door shut. Thinking all was well she drove off into the night leaving my dad standing in the bar ditch. It was not funny to say the least at the time, but you should have heard the teasing and ribbing my dad got when his roping buddies found out. He wasn’t laughing but in looking back, it is one of their favorite stories. All of us have similar stories and incidents that bring a sweet smile to our faces. We don’t like to admit our mess ups or failures but some things in life are just funny. We treasure all those things that makes us laugh and they are the memories life is made of. Laughing is just good for the soul and if you can laugh it is easier to work, love, live and just get through each trying day. Smile and the whole world smiles with you and that is just the way it is….

09 MAY Masthead_Masthead 4/11/12 3:47 PM Page 9

DEPARTMENTS 120 On the Edge of Common Sense by Baxter Black

122 Riding Herd

by Lee Pitts

124 The Other Half

by Gracie Mae

126 Sports Medicine Stable by Mark Duncan 128 Walt Woodard 130 BuckVentures 132 SuperLooper Events Calendar 133 MarketPlace 201 Advertiser’s Index

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE 10601 Lomas Blvd. NE, Suite 106 Albuquerque, NM 87112 Advertising or Editorial: 505/899-1870 fax: 505/792-5678 Produced and published by USTRC EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING USTRC Editor: Ben Clements Associate Editor: Ryan Davis Sales Manager & Event Advertising: John English Advertising Representatives: Monica Davis, Steve Miera Customer Service Representative: Jules Price CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION Art Director: Marcia Rackstraw Production Coordinator: Violet Sue Anderson Graphic Designer: Doug Purdy OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY Allen’s Rodeo Photos P. O. Box 270428, Flower Mound, TX 75027 1-800-438-8659 • www.allensrodeophotos.com

May 2012 / Vol. 21, No. 5 SuperLooper Magazine (ISSN 1069-5508, USPS No. 009983)is published monthly by Western Sports Publishing, Inc., 10601 Lomas Blvd. NE, Suite 106 Albuquerque, NM 87112 Subscription price: 1 yr. - $20. Periodicals Postage Paid at Albuquerque, New Mexico and additional mailing offices. © Copyright 2000 by SuperLooper Magazine. Material may not be used without permission from the publisher. Deadline for editorial and advertising is the 25th of the month, two months preceding issue date. Advertising rates on request. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGE TO SuperLooper Magazine c/o Western Sports Publishing, Inc., 10601 Lomas Blvd. NE, Suite 106 Albuquerque, NM 87112 Advertising claims are the sole responsibility of the advertiser, not SuperLooper Magazine.

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 9

10 MAY Announce_10 ANNOUNCEMENTS 4/11/12 11:27 AM Page 10

Announcements Plan your next roping event by clicking on the USTRC Calendar at www.ustrc.com. The calendar is filled with great team roping events and is the best way to keep track of where to go. Also don’t forget to put the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping on your agenda. The action starts October 20, 2012 and will run through October 28, 2012. All USTRC members receive Flex Earnings upon participation at a USTRC Sanctioned or Affiliate event. Gold Spur members receive $1,000 and Gold Plus members receive $3,000, which can be used at any Regional Finals or the Cinch National Finals of Team Roping. Renew your membership today for 2012. Gold Plus Memberships are $300 and Gold Spur Memberships are $100. Call 254-968-0002 today or get online at www.ustrc.com and make your purchase. The DVD’s from the 2011 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping are available online. The DVD will show all five go rounds of the US Open plus the short go round. It will also include the short rounds of all Shoot-Outs, the Cruel Girl and the Century Roping. This makes a great gift for the team roper in your family. DVD’s are available for purchase on line at www.ustrc.com. As of November 1, 2011, Gold Plus members must be 25 years of age or older to be eligible to compete in the Gold Plus division. Eligible members 18 to 24 years of age can still purchase a Gold Plus membership and receive all of the benefits other than competing in the Gold Plus division. Remember, ropers and producers with the TRIAD Classification agreement with the Word Series of Team Roping, TRIAD Classification numbers will be used at World Series Events. Current USTRC memberships are accepted at any WS event, but only a USTRC membership is accepted at a USTRC Sanctioned, Affiliate or Grassroots event. If you have purchased your USTRC Membership card, but have not received it, please contact USTRC and make sure all of your information in the system is correct. Many times there are missing social security numbers, birth dates, or incorrect addresses. If you have a change of address (mailing or email) please contact the USTRC and update your profile. 10 / MAY 2012

If you are not receiving the SuperLooper Magazine please check with the USTRC National Office to make sure your address on record is correct. Check your Available (Flex) Earnings online at Member Services. Make sure you are ready for the upcoming Regional Finals - the first one West Coast Regional, June 22-24. 2012, Paso Robles CA. Get your Available Earnings account full and be ready to enter one of the premier events of the year. Revised Rule 12.1 All roping cattle shall consist of native Corriente, native Longhorn or Mexico Corriente. Native roping heifers may be used if they are of same quality. (Note to Producers and Cattle Contractors: Native heifers used at roping events may only be comingled with other native Longhorn and/or native Corriente cattle. Due to the probability that native heifers may be used in a breeding program prior to slaughter, they may NOT be comingled with Mexico Corriente roping stock.) Weight limits on all roping stock should be 350 lbs to 550 lbs. Please direct your questions or comments on this rule revision to mqualls@ustrc.com or kirkbray@ustrc.com. USTRC Regional Finals are just around the corner. Check this issue’s ads to find the Regional Finals you want to attend. Ropers make sure you are eligible by participating in a 2012 season Affiliate, Grassroots or Sanctioned event or a Regional preliminary division prior to the Shoot-Out division you want to enter. Also, go online www.ustrc.com/member services and check your Available Earnings you have to qualify for a Regional Shoot-Out division. USTRC is excited to announce there will be a minimum of $105,000 added cash to the Regional Finals Gold Plus Ropings this year. This means there will be at least $15,000 added to the roper’s pot in the Gold Plus division at each of the seven Regional Finals. Last year, USTRC added $12,800 in each Gold Plus Regional Roping and the results were amazing as the Gold Plus division at all seven of the Regional Finals were the highest paying Gold Plus ropings ever in the history of those seven events. If you have any questions, contact Gold Plus Representative Ty Hillman at thillman@ustrc.com. To see all previous USTRC announcements made for the 2011 season visit www.ustrc.com and click on the “Announcements” link.

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12 By the Numbers_Layout 1 4/5/12 10:58 AM Page 12

USTRC

by the

BY JOHN FINDLAY

NUMBERS So, How Are We Doing?

f you were a winner at one of the USTRC’s sanctioned ropings this season, you may have noticed that you headed home with a fatter paycheck than you may have been used to. There is a good reason for that. Actually, there are two good reasons for that. The first reason there are larger payouts at USTRC ropings this season has been the elimination of roper’s contributions to the USTRC ShootOut Fund. Because of USTRC’s guaranteed pledge of a minimum of one million dollars going to that fund annually, there is no further need for additional contributions from ropers. As a consequence, the money that had been going into the Shoot-Out Fund trust account as funds set aside for the Cinch USTRC National Finals Shoot-Outs, is now going home with winning ropers instead. Purses at USTRC ropings have swelled by as much as 10% as a result. The second reason I attribute primarily to an improvement in the U.S. economy. We are finally seeing some growth in what has been a rather moribund state of financial affairs for the last few years. The unemployment rate is down . . . slightly, consumer spending is up . . . slightly, real estate prices have bottomed out . . . maybe, and personal income and outlays are up . . . a little. Long story short, things are starting to look up . . . kinda. But be that as it may, I CAN tell you, with no uncertainty, that attendance and purses at USTRC sanctioned ropings so far in this 2012 season, on the whole, are definitely up! No question, for sure, without a doubt, and indubitably. And how do I know? Just take a look at the table. It lists all of the sanctioned ropings USTRC has had so far this season that have been recorded in our TRIAD database by the time SuperLooper went to press. They are listed in chronological order from the first roping of the season back in November ‘11 to the most recent. The first column of the table lists the roping with its location, the next column lists the dates of the roping this season and last season, next comes a comparison of entry fees, this season and last season. The next two columns compare the number of teams, followed by a comparison of Ropers’ Pots. The last two columns compare the difference in Ropers’ Pots, first in dollars and then by percent. Out of the nineteen ropings that had counterparts from last year, all but three of them paid out a larger purse (one, the Duke City Classic in Albuquerque, was a first this season.) Now let’s review my two assumed reasons for this growth. The first was the elimination of roper contributions to the Shoot-Out Fund. For a really good example of just how much eliminating those contributions impacted Ropers’ Pots, look at the Oil Capital Stampede held back in December in Tulsa. Check out the number of teams that participated in the last two years –– 1,104 in Season ‘11 and 1,110 in Season ‘12, a difference of six teams. But now look at the difference in Ropers’ Pots –– $120,404 in Season ‘11 but $130,100 in Season ‘12, a difference of 12 / MAY 2012

nearly $10,000 ($9,696). In the last column you see that amounted to a gain of 8.1%, with virtually the same number of teams and entry fees both years. That is a significant difference. Now look at the Mississippi Classic in Jackson back in November. The difference between this season and last was only 21 teams to the good (922 in ‘12 to 901 in ‘11), but the difference in Roping Pots was major. Jackson went from $96,076 in Season ‘11 to $110,495 in Season ‘12, an increase of $14,419 or 15%. This 15% increase was a little higher than normal because of the complex way in which teams are counted in the #8 Pick/Draw. Some day I might bore you with why that is but for the moment you can figure that the elimination of the Shoot-Out Fund at ropings this season is adding 8 to 10% back to each roping’s pot on average. Now for the second reason pots are increasing –– teams are up. It is this element that makes me suspect that economic conditions are improving in the heartland of America. The more money circulating around team roper towns, the more team ropers are going to rope. They will go to more ropings and they will rope more often. This is simply a reflection of what all of you I’m sure learned in Economics 101, that being consumer choice theory. Consumer choice theory is a way of analyzing how consumers (ropers) may achieve equilibrium between preferences and expenditures by maximizing utility as subject to consumer budget constraints. Did you get that? Let me, even with my meager understanding, try to explain. Preferences are the desires by each consumer (roper) for the consumption of goods and services (i.e. to pay to enter a roping) that translate into choices based on (a roper’s) income or wealth for purchases of goods and services (there’s that roping thing again) to be combined with the consumer's time (this weekend) to define consumption activities (rope!). See, it’s just simple economics. Roper with more money = more roping. I’m glad we’ve got that cleared up. Thirteen of the nineteen ropings through March 18 had more teams this year than last year and two of those that didn’t had increased their entry fees which usually results in fewer ropers regardless. The two that gained the most in Ropers’ Pot dollars were the Will Rogers Classic in Ada, OK with a whopping $107,122 gain and Lasso Del Sol in Scottsdale, AZ with a $88,698 gain. The Ada roping more than doubled their pot from ‘11 to ‘12 going from $105,840 to $212,962. The Scottsdale roping was up by over 63%. The next two ropings with nice gains were the Muddy River Classic in Memphis, up nearly 60% and the Oklahoma Winter Classic in Guthrie with a nearly 38% increase. There were only two ropings that did not fare well. One was the Laughlin Team Roping Finals, that has been suffering for a few years now to the extent that the November proceeding was its last. The Laughlin Team Roping Finals is no more. Another, the Maui Classic was down this year but not

12 By the Numbers_Layout 1 4/5/12 10:58 AM Page 13

from a lack of support from the locals. A lot of Hawaii’s ropings, while not dependent on mainland ropers, are impacted by how many can make the long trip and this year, not as many were on hand as usual. Overall, total team counts so far are up from 20,740 to 24,426,

a huge 17.8% increase and pots are even better. Last year by the middle of March we were at $2,264,248 while this year we were at $2,771,439, a whopping 22.4% growth. So ropers, things are looking up. If your rope’s been getting a little dusty the last few years, hey . . . Get back in the game!

Roping Pots at USTRC Sanctioned Ropings 2012 Season to Date Compared to 2011 Roping Name Roping Location

Difference

Dates ‘12 / ‘11

Entry Fee ‘12 / ‘11

Laughlin T.R. Finals Fort Mohave, AZ

11/18/201111/19/2010

$200/ $300

505

567

$60,218

$115,815

$55,597

-48.0%

Colorado Fall Champ. Loveland, CO

11/25/201111/12/2010

$200/ $160

1,060

1,116

$118,364

$105,939

$12,425

11.7%

Duke City Classic Albuquerque, NM

11/25/2011 #N/A

707

#N/A

$81,452

#N/A

Maui Classic Makawao, HI

11/25/201111/26/2010

$160/ $120

378

581

$31,293

$43,455

$12,162

-28.0%

Mississippi Classic Jackson, MS

11/26/201111/27/2010

$200/ $200

922

901

$110,495

$96,076

$14,419

15.0%

Oil Capital Stampede Tulsa, OK

12/2/201112/3/2010

$200/ $200

1,110

1,104

$130,100

$120,404

$9,696

8.1%

Lasso Del Sol Scottsdale, AZ

12/29/20111/1/2011

$200/ $200

1,706

1,213

$227,800

$139,102

$88,698

63.8%

South Georgia Classic Perry, GA

12/30/20111/1/2011

$160/ $160

1,261

1,012

$125,617

$90,770

$34,847

38.4%

Bayou Champ. Kinder, LA

1/6/20121/21/2011

$200/ $200

1,549

1,639

$196,570

$191,152

$5,418

2.8%

Heart of Texas Champ. Waco, TX

1/13/20121/14/2011

$200/ $200

2,499

2,340

$306,335

$266,105

$40,230

15.1%

Will Rogers Classic Ada, OK

2/3/20129/30/2011

$160/ $160

2,094

1,109

$212,962

$105,840

$107,122

101.2%

Colorado Winter Champ. Denver, CO

2/10/20122/4/2011

$200/ $200

1,132

1,010

$129,885

$112,315

$17,570

15.6%

East Texas Champ. Athens, TX

2/17/20122/18/2011

$200/ $300

1,430

955

$173,403

$143,207

$30,196

21.1%

Hawaii Champ. Kamuela, HI

2/17/20122/17/2011

$160/ $160

712

536

$61,931

$52,935

$8,996

17.0%

Muddy River Classic Memphis, TN

2/17/20122/18/2011

$160/ $160

1,782

1,150

$172,578

$108,237

$64,341

59.4%

South Texas Champ. Bryan, TX

3/2/20123/3/2011

$200/ $200

1,657

1,518

$206,408

$168,003

$38,405

22.9%

Florida Champ. Green Cove Springs, FL

3/3/20123/5/2011

$160/ $160

601

634

$57,370

$58,032

$662

-1.1%

Louisiana Champ. West Monroe, LA

3/9/20123/18/2011

$160/ $160

1,332

1,369

$139,272

$133,622

$5,651

4.2%

Oklahoma Winter Classic Guthrie, OK

3/9/20123/11/2011

$200/ $200

2,063

1,610

$230,610

$167,187

$63,424

37.9%

Colorado River Classic Fort Mohave, AZ

3/16/20123/11/2011

$200/ $200

633

376

$80,228

$46,053

$34,175

74.2%

*Total

24,426

20,740

$2,771,439

$2,264,248

*Less Duke City Classic

Increase

17.8%

Roper’s Pot

Teams ‘12

‘11

‘12

‘11

22.4% SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 13

S04DF_SthrnCoL_K_Layout 1 4/4/12 2:43 PM Page 14

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RR3210

RR3212 RR3206

16-18 Gold Plus_Layout 1 4/12/12 11:13 AM Page 16

$105,000 Added Cash in Gold Plus at 2012 USTRC Regionals!

happy as they told me that it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t very often they can rope for over 100% of their entry fees. The Northwest Regional Finals had a similar story as 133 teams competed for $37,000 (93% payback). One of the aspects many people overlooked in the Gold Plus ropings last year is how many checks were paid out and how much money ropers won in the Incentive. As the sport of team roping has gained popularity over the years and ropings have started paying more and more money, ropers have started to base the success of the roping strictly by how much money first place in the Average pays. This is great for the one team who wins first place, but not so good for every other team entered. Last year, the

winning team of the Gold Plus Average won anywhere from $7,500 to $11,000 not to mention the prizes, but what many ropers disregarded is how many ropers won checks. At the West Coast Regional Finals last year, eight out of 85 teams won checks, including the Incentive Average winners who cashed in almost $4,000 with a time of 37.90 on three steers. Not bad considering a 12.5 second per steer average for a #10 team. On the opposite end of the spectrum, 25 of the 296 teams that entered the Gold Plus division at the Lone Star Regional Finals won a check, which included the Incentive Average winners cashing in $7,400 plus prizes. Any roping that pays $7,400 is considered a good roping by continued on page 18 PHOTO BY LONE WOLF PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY 3 LAZY J PHOTOS

n 2011, USTRC took a huge step to polish the shine on the Gold Plus program by adding $12,800 to the Gold Plus division at each of the seven Regional Finals. While I knew the idea would be a big hit, I did not know to what extent. Gold Plus members showed tremendous support by taking the Gold Plus division to a whole new level. Last year, the Gold Plus division at all seven Regional Finals events had the highest payout of any Regional Gold Plus division ever. West Coast Gold Plus members did not respond with quite as much enthusiasm as the Gold Plus division only had 85 teams but still paid out $28,000 which was 110% cash payback. West Coast ropers still seemed

Oklahoma ropers, Dustin Elmenhorst and Nick Lauer took home the Gold Plus Championships at the Oklahoma Winter Classic. They roped four head in 28.82 seconds to win $4,486 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and $6,000 in USTRC Flex earnings.

16 / MAY 2012

The Texas team of Brandon Thornton and Justin Concilio rolled across the state line to win the Gold Plus roping at the Louisiana Championships. The duo roped four head in 32.25 seconds and took home $3,832 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and $6,000 in USTRC Flex earnings.

PHOTO BY 3 LAZY J PHOTOS

16-18 Gold Plus_Layout 1 4/12/12 11:14 AM Page 17

PHOTO BY C BAR C PHOTOGRAPHY

Winning $3,140 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and $6,000 in USTRC Flex earnings, the team of Danny Miller and Joe Matile were the champions of the Gold Plus roping at the Eastern Nebraska Championships. The duo won the roping with a time of 31.36 seconds.

The Colorado River Classic held in Fort Mohave, Arizona witnessed the team of Jeff Davis and Joaquin Huntington team up to win the Gold Plus roping, They roped four head in 39.28 seconds to win $2,182 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and $6,000 in USTRC Flex earnings.

PHOTO BY C BAR C PHOTOGRAPHY

Pete Durden from Florida and Travis Polk from Tennessee teamed up at the Tennessee Championships and won the Gold Plus roping. They put together four solid runs in 34.19 seconds to win $3,420 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and $6,000 in USTRC Flex earnings.

Joseph Southern of Tennessee and Jimmy Kelly, Jr. of Pennsylvania teamed up at the Bluegrass Championships in Kentucky and won the Gold Plus roping. They roped four head in 32.25 seconds and won $1,830 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and $6,000 in USTRC Flex earnings.

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 17

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Gold Plus

continued from page 16

Point Gold Plus member of the weekend will win a NFTR package which includes entry fees paid into two Shoot-Outs of choice, two stalls for up to nine nights, a Gold Plus RV spot located behind barn 9, and a personalized NFTR leather jacket. USTRC is taking great strides to continue to improve the Gold Plus Program and appreciates all of the continued support from its members. If you have any questions about anything, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to visiting with you.

PHOTO BY 3 LAZY J PHOTOS

most roper’s standards but for Incentive ropers to win that much and have a chance for an additional $11,000 in the main Average is exceptional! Needless to say, 2011 was a great year for Gold Plus members at the Regional Finals but I think 2012 is going to be even better. With that said, I am excited to tell you that USTRC is stepping up to add $105,000 to the Regional Finals Gold Plus

Ropings this year which means there will be $15,000 added at each Regional Finals. Like last year, the added money will be added to the ropers’ pot, as a whole, so whether you win a check in the fast time, Incentive, or the main Average, you will reap the benefits of the added money. The prize line will consist of Gist buckles, Resistol straw hats, Tony Lama boots, and three pairs of Cinch or Cruel Girl jeans for first place in the Average while Gist buckles and Classic Equine horse sheets, rope bags, and duffel bags will be awarded to the Incentive Average winners. The High

A ways from home, the team of Kirk Kooiker from Minnesota and Terry Durbin from Illinois won the Gold Plus roping at the Northeast Kansas Championships. They roped four head in 32.01 seconds to win $3,497 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and $6,000 in USTRC Flex earnings.

The team of Pam and Carl Wilken were the Gold Plus winners at this year’s Northern California Classic event. They roped four head in 38.71 seconds and won $1,952 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

Clovis, New Mexico and the New Mexico Championships played out well for the Texas team of Ab Hendley and Joey Martin. They won the Gold Plus roping with a four-head total of 35.14 seconds. The win earned them $4,106 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and $6,000 in USTRC Flex earnings. 18 / MAY 2012

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20 May Insider_Layout 1 4/10/12 3:43 PM Page 20

Insider By Melinda Clements

f you look hard enough it will be a subtle light, almost invisible. However, the more you look and the further west you go one suddenly realizes it is a faint glow, almost mesmerizing. You cannot be from the West or even from California and ignore it. It is a beacon of sorts sending a path of light upward and outward. The light touches others and changes them. Others interact with the light and motivate the light to start another project. The light is a mover and shaker of sorts. “The cowboy world we live in is a very special world,” comments Cathie Twisselman, USTRC header from Santa Margarita, California. “It is a small world with a huge heart and we are fortunate enough and blessed to be a contributing part of that world and lifestyle.” So sets the stage to define the light in the West and come to understand how the name Twisselman fits in and makes a difference. Cathie and Rowly Twisselman have been in the horse and cattle business all their lives. They were sort of bred into it, so to speak. I think the saying is, “They came by it honestly.” It is all a hands-on operation. The Twisselman’s have been team roping partners for years. They raise quarter horses and supply Corriente roping cattle for ropings and rodeos all along the West Coast. The entire family takes part and participates. Thirty-five years of breeding quarter horses has produced some of the most athletic, trainable and versatile horses and bloodlines in the business. They are known for their breeding, their confirmation and good cow sense. Producing livestock for team ropings and fairs and rodeo events has become synonymous with the name Twisselman. “We don’t take cattle to the roping that we don’t want to rope ourselves,” Rowly Twisselman explained. “We don’t raise and sell horses we wouldn’t ride ourselves.” No doubt his

A Soft Glow in the West What Twisselman Stands For!

20 / MAY 2012

COURTESY OF BREND ALLEN – ALLEN’S RODEO PHOTOS

philosophy and concept is working. One thing both Cathie and Rowly agree on is that good horses are important, they are hard to come by and they make people better. “I want even consistent cattle and that is what we want to provide,” added Rowly. “You come to understand ropers and their needs and wants from being a roper yourself and being in the business for a lot of years.” Santa Margarita, California is located near San Luis Obispo. Madonna Inn Quarter Horses and Flying T Cattle Company are the trendsetters for everything equine in the area. As it spreads far and wide suddenly the name Twisselman has relevance. The pair prides themselves in having only the best livestock at professional and amateur events in all the Western states. “It makes such a difference in that we all like what we do,” Cathie pointed out with pride and joy in her voice. There is no doubt her family is on the right page and doing what they love more than anything else. “Our kids participate and will carry on a tradition.” Cathie and Rowly are very proud of son, Caleb, and daughters, Tara and Teale. Not only does the family rope but also the girls are a singing duo and lived for short time in Nashville. The Twisselman’s also have a new grandbaby. They are very proud of that because the tradition will continue. “Rowly and I see us in our kids,” Cathie pointed out. “We

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have watched them grow up here, participating, learning to ride and rope and now all of them are doing exactly what we did.” They are involved with family. It is a family that loves what they do and what they are. That love is the cowboy, ranching and rodeo lifestyle. It is as much a part of them as is living and breathing. It is, without a doubt, what gives living and breathing relevance. “I met Rowly when I was seventeen years old and we will have been married thirty-three years in May,” Cathie continued. “We dated six years before we married and during that time we roped, rodeoed and trained colts. We loved what we were doing and still do. We are still making memories and sharing experiences after thirty-three years of marriage. It is hard to believe isn’t it?” Like all shakers and movers the Twisselman’s have a lot of projects in the works that keep them busy and on the go. Not only is caring for the ranching and horse operation a full time job the pair are committed to their latest project. The first annual Horseman’s Re-Union kicked off the first of April. It was an international event that has brought together the top twenty horsemen in the world to put on an event that boggled the minds of horseman, ropers, rodeo enthusiasts and the average everyday horse lover. “It isn’t a contest,” Cathie explained. “It is all about horsemanship and how important it is in our business. If more people had more horsemanship to go with their skills it would make roping and riding more fun. We are trying to give something back to the public. All the wonderful people that are coming to this event came together to make it a success and more importantly they did it for free. It was something everyone learned from and more importantly the top horseman and every one involved donated their time. It also benefitted Western Wishes. That is what happens when people get involved. I like to get involved.” The event took place at the California Mid State Fairgrounds in Paso Robles and included the top twenty horse trainers in the business. Committed to the event the horse trainer’s list read like a list of celebrities. They included Ron Wall, Rob Leach, Bryan and Luke Neibert, Joe Wolter, Martin Black, Chris Cox, Pat Parelli, Sid Cook, Wade Black, Clinton Anderson, Ed Robertson, Mike Sears, Ken May, Antoine Cloux, Thomas Sanders, Jim Neubert, Ty Van Norman, Craig Cameron, and Blake Schlosser. There were also appearances by Larry Mahan, Baxter Black and Red Steagall. Talk about a list of elite. “We have a great facility at Paso,” Cathie explained. “It is roper friendly. It is any kind of equine event friendly. There is a lot of support here for ropers and horse people. Paso Robles always welcomes horsemen and their events.” With the success of the first annual Horseman’s Re-Union both Rowly and Cathie hope the event will become an annual celebration of horsemen and equine fans. “We had the sale, the food, the booths, all the things coming together that would help us start a tradition,” Cathie continued. “We have put a lot into this as has everyone involved.”

It quickly becomes very clear the name Twisselman involves family, fellowship, camaraderie and growth toward making the horse and cattle business a hand-in-hand business that helps others grow and learn. It involves sharing, growing and loving what you do. It is an integral part of the cowboy culture. “We are out here trying to promote and encourage the cowboy and roping lifestyle,” Cathie elaborated. Everything we do is to try and help others. We want to get involved and we want to give back. It is all about family. At the ropings everyone is happy, we see everyone even down to the chute and cattle crews. From the heading box to the catch pen, the flaggers, the office help everyone does a great job and they help and promote each other. We all work very hard to ensure everyone is happy, everything is fair and you can tell it is about camaraderie and having a good time. It is about youngsters growing up and learning to ride and rope. It is about continuing the lifestyle we love so much.” “It is about being in for the long haul,” Rowly said. “Today is more competitive than it has ever been. There are a lot better horses out there but a good one is still hard to come by. We have less and less people riding horses like they did years ago. The ATV has slowly taken over the jobs of cowboys and horses. Wet saddle blankets and what horses are exposed to is what makes a good horse. We wanted people to walk away from the Horseman’s Re-union saying they had learned something new and I believe everyone did. We have spent our lives working to promote and encourage our lifestyle and that is how we make a difference.” “We always try to look at the positive,” Cathie continued. “We look for the good, the blessing. We have been blessed and we want others blessed as well.” There is a glow in the west. The closer you get the more it shines and lights up all that is good in the cowboy, ranching, rodeo and roping world. That glow is growing and it is deeply embedded in the family known as Twisselman. The family has worked hard to be trendsetters, to make their lifestyle important and to share everything that means with others who have something to give. They have given their lives and commitment to the camaraderie, family and fellowship that comes with being a roping and ranching family. “We have traveled all over the world and there is no place we have ever been that we could not have found a friend if we needed help,” she so aptly summed it up. “Roping and rodeo is a small world with a huge heart and we are so lucky and blessed to have been born into that world. More importantly to be able to share it and use it with an event like Horseman’s Re-union and to know that roping is a thriving sport and more and more people want to become a part of it. Horses make us better people if we will let them.” “It is our job to love and fellowship unconditionally. We are better people because we are involved with horses and cattle and we want to give and share what we have with others. We want others to be blessed like we have been blessed. We want others to love the cowboy experience like we love it.” And that, my friends, is what Twisselman means. It is also why there is a soft gentle glow in the West. SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 21

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with Rickey Green GRIT he pioneers who tamed this great country had willpower and true grit. Can you imagine how difficult the trek west must have been for them? Every day they faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles and hardships, yet through it all, they refused to be denied their goals. I have a lot of students come to my Power Team Roping schools and put the techniques to work, then call or email me with great success stories. Then I have students who come and, like one student said, “I’ve been roping this dummy for three hours, when do you think I’ll get it down?” I said, “Well, I’ve been roping it for 45 years and I don’t have it down yet.” It’s amazing how many people live in their own little world. They spend so much money and time in this sport and don’t enjoy it as much as they could if they would dig down a little deeper and give themselves a chance.

22 / MAY 2012

Now, I know you can say, “It’s my hobby, and I just do it for fun. That’s why I try to keep my number lower - so I can go to a lot of ropings.” That’s a bunch of nonsense. The reason you want your number lower is so you can have a chance to win. Now if the reason you like to rope is that you like to compete and be competitive, I believe you and I have something in common. If we like to compete, we must dig down and find that grit that says, “I’m going to get the knowledge, and I’m going to put in the time in the practice pen, and I will not be denied.” Walt Woodard simply amazes me. He is trying to retire, and every time some world champion header changes partners, they call Walt and try to get him to come out and rodeo with them. The reason Walt is so esteemed by his peers is his ability to motivate himself and perform at a high level under pressure, in any situation that is possible in the rodeo

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world. How does Walt do it? He has looked inside himself and decided that whatever he does, he will not be denied. He will not quit until he reaches his goal. Now, most people don’t remember when he was writing articles about how he was going to make a comeback and didn’t make the top 30 for 3 years. I was getting kind of embarrassed for him, but he was not afraid to say what he had planned to do. He kept on and made a comeback like Mohammed Ali! Walt has grit and he will not be denied. There is always a time and place that seems to determine the makeup of an athlete. Have you had yours yet? Sometimes it’s a win under high pressure, and sometimes it’s a loss that pushes you over the hump. Marty Becker told me a story the other day about he and Fred Whitfield rodeoing. Marty said, “I told Fred I better not enter anymore rodeos because I’m out of money, and Fred responded with well go rope this calf and we will talk about it later.” Marty got on his calf horse and went out and set

the arena record of 6.8. That’s grit right there! Then he came back and won the average and had a great summer. We all have this ability if we will really give it our all. Now, I know it’s team roping and we can’t do it alone, but at least we can give ourselves a chance. Not many people know that Clay Cooper almost denied us the privilege of knowing such a great champion. His first year he wasn’t roping too well, and he told himself, “If I don’t win at Austin, that would be the final straw and that will mean that I shouldn’t go pro.” So he put all the pressure on this one rodeo and he won the rodeo and the rest is rodeo history! I know this is not for everybody, but if you’re tired of donating, let’s get busy preparing ourselves for the next battle and we won’t be denied our victories. Your Friend,

Rickey Green

Habakkuk 2:2&3

Who’s the most EXPERIENCED teacher of all time? Who do you think of when you want HELP with your roping? Where can you go for $20 per month to get PERSONAL CRITIQUES and QUESTIONS ANSWERED about your roping 24 hours a day? At Rickey Green’s Powerteamroping.com you will find the equipment, the products and the knowledge you need to become the roper you’ve always dreamed of being. Available To Members Only: • Exclusive monthly Video Lessons, Power Flick videos featuring special tips from Rickey as well as knowledge from experts in every field from horseshoers and veterinarians to pro ropers. • Access to Rickey personally through his newly designed Blog page. • New online store featuring all of Rickey’s Favorites - saddles, ropes, bits, videos, etc. • Extensive Video Library All site visitors will be able to access his school schedule and see examples of what the entire site has to offer.

Now accepting Visa & Mastercard

SCHOOL INFORMATION May 10 Beginners School May 19 & 20 May 26 & 27 June 2 & 3 11 & 12 Tatum, TX Valley Springs, CA Andrews, TX Garden City, KS Ed Pride Andy & Terry Bonham Andrews County Expo Brock Baker 620/271-4415 903/754-0734 209/772-2762 Pete Bellew Jason Pate 620/260-8759 432/556-2443 ) ) Now Booking Private Lessons and Schools for 2012 • Call 254-965-7525 ) ) Rental Horses & Bunkhouse Accomodations for Private Lesson Students Available.

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 23

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Champions Profile

And Then There Was One by Melinda Clements

#11

Shoot-Out Roping 2011 USTRC National Champions

eality has a strange way of taking the fun out of dreams. Sometimes reality takes a bite out of our dreams and makes us question and doubt our reasons for doing things. There are times dreams seem unreal and figments of our imagination. However, in some cases dreams come true in the most unexpected way and we wonder how it happens and why. Sloan Kuehl and Stuart Lenoir had a dream. It might or might not have been a possibility at one time or another. However, like all ropers who make the trek to Oklahoma City to the Cinch National Finals of Team Roping they came to OKC to seek their fortune. Roping was important to them and more than anything they wanted to beat the odds and attempt to make their dreams a reality. Team roping at best makes all dreams possible. Kuehl and Lenoir were the high team coming back into the short go round of the #11 Shoot-Out at the Cinch NFTR. In actuality that is much more than either of them ever dreamed possible. The pair had roped awesome all day and it just seemed everything had come together in a strange twist of fate. The numbers were certainly beginning to add up and go their direction. Thirty teams came back in the short go round. The prize line was certainly a dream come true. $84,800 coupled with Martin Championship Trophy saddles, Gist gold Trophy buckles, Tony Lama Full Quill Ostrich bBoots and Western Horseman 75th Anniversary Commemorative buckles was enough to make you think you were dreaming. It was nothing to scoff at. That was the reality. 24 / MAY 2012

Sloan Kuehl and Stuart Lenoir

There is a certain amount of pressure in being the high team back going into a short go round. It is a waiting game. It is time on your hands as you watch it all wind down. You cannot help but think about how things are happening and what is unfolding before your eyes. Less than one second separated the top four teams and only three seconds separated the top ten teams. It was a very tight close-knit group of ropers. Kuehl and Lenoir knew they were in good shape and both knew what they needed to do to cinch the win. The pressure came from knowing they had to make it happen. No one could do it for them. “I wanted to make a clean run,” Kuehl said. “I wanted to do what we had been doing all day. I wanted to get a good start and get the steer roped. We had a really good steer and it was our job to make things happen. I knew Stuart would be there. I just had to do my job.” “It seemed like everything I had was riding on this run in the short go round,” Lenoir commented. “This was all I had

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left to end the day.” No pressure there! The pair had watched the top twenty-nine teams rope and when they backed into the box every eye in the coliseum was focused on them. Ten thousand things echoed in their minds and then all that gibberish was gone and Kuehl and Lenoir set out to make their dreams come true. When Kuehl nodded for the steer you could feel the pulse of the music in your heart. Kuehl roped the horns and turned off and Lenoir was right where he needed to be and did exactly what he needed to do. The pair posted a time of 7.45 seconds on their short go round steer to take the win in the Aaverage with a time of 31.41seconds on four steers. Suddenly, the

dream was theirs and Kuehl threw his rope high into the air and embraced the exhilaration of victory. There was no way to describe it. How do you put words to a dream come true? “This is the first saddle I have ever won,” Kuehl commented later as pictures were being taken. “When you consider the USTRC National Finals, this many teams and this kind of competition; I cannot even grasp it.” “I just give all the glory to God,” Lenoir said with deep emotion. “Without God we wouldn’t be here. Our family, my wife Amanda, everyone is so supportive. We are so blessed and the fact we rope together means so much.” “There is no doubt family is important in all we do,” Kuehl concurred. “My wife Carrie, my mom and dad and Stuart is just the best partner. We have so much going for us. It is unbelievable.” Sloan Kuehl and Stuart Lenoir believe dreams come true. They also believe God has a hand in every dream. On one October afternoon in Oklahoma City two ropers captured the 2011 #11 Shoot-Out Championship. And Then There Was One—Sloan Kuehl and Stuart Lenoir the Champions of the #11 Shoot-Out at the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. It is what dreams are made of. n SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 25

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PAUL W. ARVISO SR.

y a W e H t He Paved

The Arviso clan from the Crownpiont, New

Mexico area has a long and interesting history. For example, Jesus Arviso, whose family came from Spain and then settled in Sonora, Mexico, was once traded for a horse. In the mid-1800s, young Jesus’s family was raided by a band of Apaches; he was taken. Years later the Apache who had Jesus traded him to a Navajo man for a beautiful black stallion. Jesus finished growing up as a Navajo and eventually married into the tribe. As a result of his unique experiences, he now spoke fluent Spanish, Apache and Navajo. Those talents came in handy, as he became a key translator, and important figure, in treaty negotiations between the U.S. Government and the Indians during the 1860s. Two generations later, his grandson, Paul W. Arviso Sr. was instrumental in popularizing the sport of rodeo on the Navajo reservation. Paul was born many miles west of Crownpoint during 1920 into a family of stockmen. His grandfather Jesus had done well serving as an interpreter and was rewarded with much livestock. Paul’s dad was a great stockman and also had been a horseracing jockey. Out with the herd from his earliest memories, this was where young Paul learned about stock. Riding burros and mules while chasing cattle, goats and several thousand head of sheep, made him a superb stockman. Living out on the range as they did, he also grew up tough. He and his brothers even used to ride “Billy” goats and rams around the corrals just for fun. Those corrals were the earliest “arenas” for what was to later become “a legend” of Native American Rodeo. Paul was about fourteen when the family moved closer to town. He was then entered into a boarding school for the first time, making him quite old for a first grader. But even though he did not spend many years in school, he was well educated in livestock and the common sense department. In his later years, he continually speaks at meetings and community events to inspire and motivate young people. He emphasizes the importance of education. “I didn’t have the opportunity for a formal education, but you do, so go after it. Education is valuable and will go a long way,” he advises. It was also 1934 when he discovered rodeo. The group commonly given credit as having the first organized rodeos on the reservation was called the “Rough Riders 26 / MAY 2012

Rodeo Club Association.” Paul was one of its earliest members. Paul and other members of the club set up bucking chutes, holding corrals and a timed event chute. Then families would come from miles around in wagons and cars, forming a semicircle to be used as the arena fence. Those old-time rodeos were more than just competitions; they were a celebration, bringing members of the Navajo nation (and eventually other tribes as well) together. It was during this time Paul developed a life-long love of rodeo. Paul dedicated his life to rodeo at a young age and was serious about it. He trained physically and mentally (before that was common) and practiced regularly to hone his already great stockman skills into that of a rodeo cowboy. Paul competed at just about every rodeo you can name across the Southwest and Four-corners region at one time or another. He was a regular All Around Cowboy winner as he competed successfully in most every event including bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, wild horse racing, wild cow milking, team tying, steer wrestling, calf roping and even an event known as the original chicken pull. For those who have never heard of “the original chicken pull,” it involves uncanny horsemanship skills and daring. To start with, a chicken was buried in the soft sand of the arena with just his head and neck exposed. Riders came down the arena at a full gallop, leaned over and plucked the chicken out of the ground. The fastest time won, and, as you can imagine, it was a big hit with the crowd. As another testament to his all around skills, Paul was both header and heeler in the team tying (later team roping) event and both a “dogger” and hazer in steer wrestling. Sometimes he also worked in the capacity of judge, flagger and even rodeo clown! He did it all when it came to rodeo. Paul says, “Rodeo is more than just a sport, it’s a way of life.” In 1942, Paul was drafted into the U.S. Army and did his duty during World War II. While stationed in Burma, India, a group of guys got together and staged a rodeo as a form of entertainment. Paul entered the bareback and saddle bronc riding…they used pack mules for the rodeo stock. He wound up winning first in both events. His prize money was a box of cigars in one event

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breakaway, ribbon roping and his all-time favorite, steer riding, and a case of beer in the other. Paul laughs and says, “After the to his resume. He has fond memories of competing with many show, we really had a party.” men who have “now gone home” - Paul’s words for what most Back home, over the next several years, rodeo gained in call death. popularity on the reservation. Then, in 1958, a group of guys Paul taught his own kids (eight of them) and many other decided to form an official association - the All Indian Rodeo youth the basics of horsemanship and how to care for a horse. Cowboys Association (AIRCA). Paul served as the first One of his own favorite competition horses was named “Rawley.” vice-president. That horse was an all-around champion as well, being used in He was actually asked to be the first President of the AIRCA, many different events during a rodeo. Paul said, “Respect the but declined in favor of letting someone with a little more horse. Take care of your horses and they will take care of you.” education take on those duties. He wanted only the best for the In 2003, the Navajo Nation Fair and Rodeo honored Paul by association and selflessly put any thoughts of personal gain bestowing the title of “Legendary Cowboy” on him. He received a aside. Paul’s nephew Roy Spencer honorably served as President. beautiful custom saddle and a During those early years, plaque for that. Now in his 90s, men such as Paul and his Paul still enjoys the sport of long-time friend, Sonny Jim, rodeo as a spectator and is (another well-known name in constantly amazed at the Native American Rodeo) were talent of the younger the ones who showed the generation. He is, in part, world that an Indian could responsible for that talent as also be a cowboy…and a good he served as mentor, one at that. These were the inspiration and role model to group of men who paved the many of today’s rodeo cowboy. way for today’s Native On April 5, 2012, Paul turns American Rodeo Cowboys to ninety-two! Also, in 2012, he become what they have. has been nominated for In a magazine interview acceptance into the Pro-Rodeo for the 4th of July & PRCA Hall of Fame. Many friends Rodeo Celebration at Window and family are pushing for his Rock, Arizona, Paul once said, acceptance and anxiously “I’m always praying for them await the October results. to get somebody up there in Along with his many memories of competing with some of Las Vegas some of these days.” It was always his dream for the the all-time great Native cowboys, Paul is especially proud of the younger generation to compete successfully in the Pro-Rodeo fact that the younger generation is now stepping it up a bit and circuit and represent the Indian Nations. competing “…up there in Las Vegas.” Paul did not realize it at the time, but along the way, he Men like Derrick Begay, Erich Rogers and Spud Jones who became a hero to a whole new generation of guys. Many time now qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo have the likes Indian National Finals Rodeo qualifier and champion, Lucius of Paul W. Arviso Sr. to thank for exciting the reservation about Sells, once told the Navajo Times, “I’d like to mention my rodeo and paving the way by letting the world know that the (grandfather) from Crownpoint, Paul Arviso Sr.. Being around Indian can also be one heck of a cowboy! him when he was roping…it’s a talent I got. It’s just a gift from Jim Olson © 2012 God that he gave to me. I guess they would say it’s in the blood.” Just like most of those old-time rodeo cowboys from that generation, Paul was About the Author tough. Back in the day, he hauled his Western Writers of America member horse in the bed of his truck, then later Jim Olson is a ranch-raised cowboy, author, promoter and on, in a self-made one-horse trailer. Also, entrepreneur. He grew up on the high plains of eastern New back then most of the roads across the Mexico, learning to ride young colts, tend to cattle and drive Reservation were not paved, so if it was heavy farm equipment at an early age. raining, you were likely to get stuck in the Jim spent some years competing in the calf roping event at mud on the way to rodeos, then spend the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association level, qualifying several hours digging out. At the rodeo, for the circuit finals a few times. Now he is a weekend roper. He lives on and operates Paul and his family often camped in tents his own ranch near Stanfield, Arizona - once a part of John Wayne’s Red River Ranch. or outside on the ground, but they had a These great life experiences Jim now uses in his writing career. He writes stories ton of fun. about interesting and extraordinary people of the west including short stories of both As he grew older, Paul moved on to fiction and nonfiction. He writes a monthly column titled “My Cowboy Heroes,” competing in “the old-timer’s rodeo published by several Southwestern and national magazines. Jim has three published association” where he continued his books and can be reached through his website at www.jimolsonauthor.com winning ways, adding events like

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Don’t Skip the Purchase Exam

Courtesy of AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners)

wning a horse can be a big investment in time, money and emotion. Unfortunately, horses seldom come with a money-back guarantee. That’s why it is so important to investigate the horse’s overall health and condition through a purchase exam conducted by an equine veterinarian. Whether you want a horse as a family pet, a pleasure mount, a breeding animal, or a high performance athlete, you stand the best chance of getting one that meets your needs by investing in a purchase exam. Purchase examinations may vary, depending on the intended use of the horse and the veterinarian who is doing the examination. Deciding exactly what should be included in the purchase examination requires good communication between you and your veterinarian. The following guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will help ensure a custom-tailored exam: • Choose a veterinarian who is familiar with the breed, sport or use for which the horse is being purchased. • Explain to your veterinarian your expectations and primary 28 / MAY 2012

uses for the horse, including short- and long-term goals (e.g., showing, then breeding). • Ask your veterinarian to outline the procedures that he or she feels should be included in the exam and why. • Establish the costs for these procedures. • Be present during the purchase exam. The seller or agent should also be present. • Discuss with your veterinarian his or her findings in private. • Don’t be afraid to ask questions or request further information about your veterinarian’s findings in private. The veterinarian’s job is neither to pass or fail an animal. Rather, it is to provide you with information regarding any existing medical problems and to discuss those problems with you so that you can make an informed purchase decision. Your veterinarian can advise you about the horse’s current physical condition, but he or she cannot predict the future. The decision to buy is yours alone to make. But your equine veterinarian can be a valuable partner in the process of providing you with objective, health-related information. For more information about purchase exams, ask your equine veterinarian for “Purchase Exams: A Sound Economic Investment,” a brochure provided by the AAEP in conjunction with Education Partner Bayer HealthCare Animal Health. Additional information can be found on the AAEP’s Web site, www.aaep.org/horseowner. The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of

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CR VSA

the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary IN HOUSE PROOF CRXâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D profession and horse industry.

continued on page 30

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 29

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Find a Vet! If you are traveling, have recently The “Get A DVM” is easy to use: CRrelocating, VSA CRX’D Click on ‘Horse Owners’ and find the “Get A purchased a horse or are the IN HOUSE PROOF Head to www. aaep.org, AAEP “Get A DVM” locator service, in DVM” link. From there all you have to do is fill in a few fields and hit search. conjunction with Bayer HealthCare Bam! – You’ve got a list of AAEP qualified vets at your service. Animal Health, offers thousands of our This service is brought to you through a partnership between the equine veterinarian members to you at American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and Bayer HealthCare the click of a mouse. Animal Health.

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SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 1

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PHOTOS BY DOREEN SHUMPERT

Tryan and Smith rope record-setting paydays at the GSTRC

Thanks to years of faithful sponsors, top-of-the line prizes, such as custom Twister saddles and rope bags, are part of the coveted cache.

by Doreen Shumpert It’s the only event in the world where, in the course of one Saturday morning, nearly three-quarters of a million dollars overall is up for grabs, the winners split over $203,800 in cash ($101,900 per man) for 16.67 seconds of work (that’s roughly $6,112 per second), plus custom Chevy dually trucks, Bruton X-Treme Easy Pull trailers, jackets, rope bags and often round money and other possible prizes as well. In that same time frame, custom saddles and buckles are awarded to runners-up and round winners, Country Music Hall of Famer and host George Strait shakes hands with fans all around the arena, thanking sponsors and honoring dear friends who have passed, American Idol top 10 finalist John Wayne Schultz sings the National Anthem, and $29,000 in proceeds is given to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund via auctioning off the custom-painted Priefert Chute used throughout the event. It’s the George Strait Team Roping Classic (GSTRC), held each March at the Rose Palace just outside of San Antonio, Texas. In its 30-year history, it has become the most prestigious open roping in the world, with the most coveted crown in the sport, for obvious reasons. This year, the event celebrated its 30th anniversary on March 9th and 10th with 545 teams, record-setting payout, the usual sellout crowd, and near record-low temperatures accompanied by a two-day long-awaited downpour mixed with a little hail. But while it was cold outside, the action inside was sizzling hot to watch. As usual, Friday was elimination day, where teams 32 / MAY 2012

were broken down into 50 team rotations (twosteer progressive) and the Heeler Patrick Smith (left) and header Clay Tryan (right) five fastest times in each pose with their families, championship rigs, and producer George Strait. The duo roped three head in 16.67 seconds rotation qualified for during Saturday’s finals to pocket their share of nearly a Saturday’s finals and the half a million dollars in total cash and prizes. chance to rope for an eye-popping amount of loot. The rotation format is popular, as it allows ropers to just compete within their own rotation of 50 teams, and to know their standing fairly quickly. This is opposed to the old format, where all 500+ teams roped against each other and awaited an outcome that usually wasn’t known until well after midnight. While Friday is a marathon, with few spectators lasting to the bitter end, Saturday’s action is akin to a one-horse town; blink, and you’ll miss it. It’s a threeheader non-progressive for all 50 teams. Aside from a chance at over $200,000 and new rigs, other incentives abound like round money and “red wrap” steers. Sponsored once again by Wayne Wright Lawyers, any team that wins a round on a steer with red horn wraps also ropes an additional $10,000. If not, that amount doubles each round—potentially making a third round “red wrap” steer worth a whopping $40,000. With so much to shoot at, it’s no wonder the roping attracts the sport’s most elite and showcases some of the fastest times around. As Saturday’s action drew closer to crowing the champs, less than one second separated the top four remaining teams, one of which was header Clay Tryan from Billings, Mont., and heeler Patrick Smith from Lipan, Texas. Neither is any stranger to pressure or success; Tryan has crossed the million-dollar mark in professional team roping earnings and was the 2005 Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association (PRCA) world champion header, amidst numerous other titles. Smith is also a “million dollar man” and two-time world champ. But there’s something about “the Strait” that’s always a little special, even to those that have claimed about every title there is. It was no different for Tryan and Smith, who stretched their first two in 5.26 and 5.84 seconds respectively. As they rode into the box as the high-call team, the voice of long-time announcer Arkie Kiehne calmly reminded them, and a silent, highly-anticipating crowd, that they needed to be 7.68 for first place, $203,800 bucks and the trucks and trailers. No pressure there. And, there in the chute stood a “red wrap steer” good for an extra $20,000 at that point, should they win the round on him—which would require roping him in 4.4 seconds or less. That didn’t happen, but otherwise it was just another day at the office; consistency—not speed—was the game plan, and they stretched steer three in 5.57 seconds. The celebration was on, hats flew in the air, as both men claimed their first GSTRC title. In so doing, Clay followed in big brother Travis’ boots; Travis Tryan won the event in 2008 with heeler Michael Jones. Awestruck, Tryan said, “I just won the biggest team roping there is! It is unbelievable.” “The way the competition is here today, I am so very grateful for the win,” Smith added. “To God be the glory!” Being the thirtieth anniversary, the new victors weren’t the only ones with thoughts on the event; the GSTRC is known as a “life changer.” Winning it has allowed past championships to build homes, buy land, pay off debt, and secure their futures. They are forever grateful to George and the Strait family for their dedication

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to the sport and the ropers. “Thirty years of the George Strait roping means to me lots of payouts, lots of trucks, lots of trailers and lots of memories,” said last year’s champion header David Key. “I’ve been going for 26 years now and finally won it last year (2011). That was the biggest win of my life. With what George gives away, not only does it make a great pay, it makes a great year. His roping actually changes lives for ropers. George turned this roping into something that probably none of us dreamed of it being 20 years ago.” Rich Skelton, eight-time PRCA world champion heeler, and former GSTRC champion (1990) also shared some thoughts. “I really enjoy the roping because for one, it’s Texas and and two, it’s the best roping going. It’s the roping where you can win the most money,” Skelton said. “We have the greatest ropers in the world and the greatest singer in the world. George is a great host and a good friend of ours. To me it doesn’t get any better than that,” he added. Along with loyal participants, sponsors are an integral part of the success of such a massive event, and most of George’s have been with him for the long haul. The impressive list includes: Bruton Trailers; Wrangler; Frost Bank; Justin; Hill Country Tractor; Montana Silversmiths; Cavender Chevrolet; Capital Farm Credit; Resistol; Cactus; Bill Miller B-B-Q; Classic; Wayne Wright Lawyers; Red Bluff Buckles; Lift Master; Brake Check; Bar G Feedyards; Tractor Supply and Priefert. At 30 impressive years and counting, it seems the sky’s the limit for the GSTRC and the impact it will continue to have on the contestants and the sport of team roping. As George walked horseback around the Rose Palace arena Saturday morning, introducing the top 50 teams and thanking sponsors for a supportive three decades, a long and prosperous future seemed to be on his mind as well. “It’s been a great 30 years, and I hope we have another 30 in us,” he concluded.

GSTRC 2012 Results

Average 1. Clay Tryan / Patrick Smith, 16.67, $203,800; 2. Casey Hicks / Jake Pianalto, 18.79, $81,520; 3. Casey Mahoney / Joe Espy, 20.74, $56,046; 4. Kaston Peavy / T Luttrell, 20.81, $50,950; 5. Cooper Wimberly / Bode Baize, 20.99, $40,760; 6. Derrick Begay / Cory Petska, 21.37, $30,570; 7. Garrett Tonozzi / Dugan Kelly, 22.55, $25,474; 8. Cody McMinn / JC Williams, 23.62, $20,380 Go Rounds 1st Go 1. Matt Sherwood / Cory Petska, 4.87, $1,500; 2. Clay Tryan / Jade Corkill, 4.87, $1,500 2nd Go 1. Luke Brown / Martin Lucero, 4.31, $3,000 3rd Go 1. Colby Siddoway / Caleb Twisselman, 3.83, $3,000 Red Wrap Steer 1st Go 1. Matt Sherwood / Cory Petska, 4.87, $10,000 The championship rigs Friday Overall Fast Time await the winning header 1. Tyler Waters / Wesley Moss, 4.04, Buckles and heeler of the 30th Annual George Strait Team Friday Fastest Time on 2 Roping Classic, San Antonio 1. Brandon Beers / Ryan Motes, 9.12, Buckles Rose Palace, Boerne, Texas.

Celebrating 30 Years of the GSTRC Behind the scenes with Denise Strait Thirty years ago, brothers Buddy and George Strait decided to produce a local event with a simple goal: “Have a good roping, have fun doing it, and try to give good prizes and payout.” Mission accomplished. Three decades later, over 500 teams compete for a pot of gold that is closing in on three-quarters of a million bucks grand total. “I’m proud to be able to say we are the largest open roping event out there and our sponsors are responsible for a major part of that success,” acknowledges George Strait. And, in addition to sponsors, any event with this type of success has a proven team of dedicated pros working behind the scenes. “The core team is the same except for the passing of my brother Buddy,” notes George. “Needless to say, we miss him dearly. Pete Wright and his incredible team also have worked the roping for years. Collie Webb also has been there from the start and he has always made sure all of the ground work was done. We now have Arkie Kiehne announcing the roping along with his great team of assistants. Reed Flake also helps him announce, our chute help, flagger Johnny Garcia and the list goes on and on with many more who contribute.” To this day, even after the gigantic growth spurt, the GSTRC remains a family affair. George’s sisterin-law, Denise Strait, has literally “seen it all” and shared a little extra insight on the past, present and future of the sport’s most coveted event.

Q. A.

Thirty years ago, we know the GSTRC started as a family roping. How/when did it progress into such a prestigious open roping? Actually the roping started out for Texas ropers only. It never was an invitational, although Buddy and George did start an invitational roping about the third year that was held the Wednesday before the roping. It started as just a few of them getting together on Wednesday nights to “run” the steers and make sure they were the quality they wanted. Then they began inviting friends from the area to join them and they eventually even awarded buckles to the winners. I’m not sure of the year they opened it “to the world”, but records show that the entries jumped from 179 in 1984 to 265 in 1985, so I would guess it was around then.

What “roles” do the family members play in the roping each year? continued on page 34

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 33

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In the Kingsville (Texas) years, Buddy (George’s older learning how to produce a first class roping brother/Denise’s husband) and George collaborated over the phone over all the details of the roping itself; Buddy What is your favorite memory, overall, of this roping over actually put them into play, as George had started touring a lot the past 30 years? In turn, what has been the HARDEST by then. Of course, George and his wife Norma were thing over 30 years. responsible for bringing the sponsors in and settling the Hard to pick one, but one of my favorites was the first details on that end. I started dealing with the sponsors as they year our boys roped in it, probably 1997 or 98. It really got to town and made sure everything was done per the was satisfying to think we started when they were very agreement. I was also responsible for the ticket sales for the young and had lasted this long. Every year has produced so roping and concert, the advertising, security, concessions, and many fun memories with our family and friends; it would take generally everything that took place at the event itself. I also hours to talk about them all. There really hasn’t been anything made arrangements for everyone’s lodging. Erv and Danny terribly hard about the production of the roping. Stressful from George’s office took me by the hand and really walked me sometimes, yes, but there was so much help and good advice through everything when we got started, especially the from so many that it made it almost easy. Right now the advertising and ticket sales. I also had a lot of help from family hardest thing for me is, during the actual event, the realization and friends starting in the beginning. I don’t know how we of the ones who aren’t here anymore. would have pulled everything off so successfully without them. My Uncle Butch would get into town on Wednesday and work Did you, yourself, grow up in the horse or roping industry, nonstop from the time he got there until Sunday. Other friends or, did you become involved after marriage? Where are helped especially with the entertaining of sponsors and friends you from? I grew up outside Agua Dulce, a from out of town. My friend, small town 10 miles from Alice, on Penny Pillack, played a large part a farm. My Dad was a farmer and in overseeing the meals for so I grew up with horses, rancher, a everyone from friends to sponsors didn’t rodeo. My Dad’s I although starting from Wednesday and As we all know, to quote a line from was that horses were for philosophy through the concert Saturday another famous country hit, “along with the or for buying, training, cattle, working night. Of course, Collie Webb has sunshine, there’s got to be a little rain we seldom had one so sellling, and been with us from the beginning; sometimes.” me to be comfortable for enough long he was president of the rodeo club Over its thirty-year history, the GSTRC has a few horses after bought Buddy with. at Texas A&M when Buddy and lost some dear friends along the trail, most gave the kids George and married we George asked him to oversee the recently Vina Bruton, of Bruton “Easy Pull” him and loved all We “Nugget.” one arena crew. He has been fantastic Trailers (Nov. 2011), and the Voice of Rodeo, very had I died. he until him kept the whole time. Since the roping Pete Wright, who announced the GSTRC long. that horse a “known” seldom has moved to the Rose Palace,my roping for 26 years (Feb. 2012). Their role now is more limited; partly contributions to the event were invaluable, What are your thoughts on due to the fact that there is no and they will be greatly missed. sponsors, contestants, future goals, concert and partly that Norma etc. Also, you have lost some dear now really has the active role in the planning of everything and that Linda Scales is there full time to do all of the “hands on” things.

Q. A. Q.

“This is where the cowboy rides away”

Q. A.

What is the most challenging thing about producing this roping, and, what is the most surprising thing to you as you look back over 30 years? Very hard to say, but for me, the most challenging thing (actually the word is scary) was simply getting started. Buddy and George just decided to do it and then it was just figuring out how to make it happen. I had very little to do with the planning part the first year. I remember after the roping we all set up tables for the show and then Norma and I took over taking tickets at the door after we noticed the ticket takers letting their friends in for free. Couldn’t afford that!!! After that it seemed to just grow on it’s own. There have definitely been some unwanted “surprises” that came up at the last minute over the years, but, somehow, we managed to get it to turn out well. I guess the most surprising thing to me was how fast it grew; some of that was, no doubt, due to George’s rising fame, but I also know that a large part of it also was the face that that we as “amateurs”!!! were determined and 34 / MAY 2012

PHOTO COURTESY FRONT PAGE PUBLICITY

George and son Bubba, always fan favorites, head back up the pen after one of their runs this year.

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people; anything you would like to say about their roles in the success of the roping? We were sad to have lost Mrs. Bruton and Pete Wright most recently. The Bruton family have been a huge support to this roping over the years. They are great people and I feel very fortunate to have known them. Mrs. Bruton was a wonderful lady and was such fun to be around. Pete’s passing was a surprise, as he was still very active. He and the ladies in his crew were a tremendous asset to us over the years. Pete was well known in this area (Robstown, Corpus Christi) for his rodeo work; he devoted a lot of his time to benefit ropings - his absence will be very much noticed. About the contestants; it’s been a thrill to me to know the “stars” of the team roping world. I was new to this until we started our event, and really grew to appreciate the skill and dedication involved in the sport. I really feel honored that I have been able to play a part in the growth of our event, as well as the people I have come to know and appreciate. I remember in the beginning George and Buddy were against having sponsors. I’m sure it had something to do with an outside entity having an influence that hey wouldn’t want. Somewhere along the way that changed and we have been so fortunate in the sponsors that have given their support; I’ve thought over the years that it’s such a credit to George that he has formed an association with such fine people and to them for what they have helped us accomplish.

Three Decades of Champions, and Counting... Year 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Header Jack Stephenson Jim Fuller Popeye Boltinghouse Paul Petska Trey Pope Tee Woolman Bebe Rivera Jack Stephenson Mark Arnold Denton Payne Rube Woolsey Steve Purcella* Tee Woolman Steve Purcella Bobby Hurley Kevin Stewart Jake Barnes Steve Purcella Willie Guera Speed Williams* Turtle Powell Jake Barnes Speed Williams Speed Williams Nick Sartain Travis Tryan Chad Masters Coleman Proctor David Key Clay Tryan

Heeler Jackie Stephenson Pete Pierce Monty Petska Pete Pierce Bobby Harris Bobby Harris Robert Murphy Rich Skelton Allen Bach* Jeff Medlin Kory Koontz* Kory Koontz Clay O’Brien Cooper Allen Bach Cody Cowden Wayne Folmer John Paul Lucero Kory Koontz Cucu Huerta Tyler Magnus Kirt Jones Allen Bach Clay O’Brien Cooper Brad Culpepper Jhett Johnson Michael Jones Jade Corkill Jake Long Jade Corkill Patrick Smith

Payout Saddles Trailers Trailers Trailers Trailers Trailers/split $9,400 Trailers/split $10,606 Trucks/trailers/split $18,596 Trucks/trailers/split $12,348 Trucks/trailers/split $10,481 Trucks/trailers/split $11,180 Trucks/trailers/split $9,200 Trucks/trailers/split $16,320 Trucks/trailers/split $15,166 Trucks/trailers/split $13,324 Trucks/trailers/split $15,504 Trucks/trailers/split $17,120 Trucks/trailers/split $35,640 Trucks/trailers/split $29,270 Trucks/trailers/split $46,142 Trucks/trailers/split $49,992 Trucks/trailers/split $64,728 Trucks/trailers/split $72,734 Trucks/trailers/split $111,580 Trucks/trailers/split $168,674 Trucks/trailers/split $176,120 Trucks/trailers/split $177,990 Trucks/trailers/split $159,630 Trucks/trailers/split $174,600 Trucks/trailers/split $203,800

*Headers Speed Williams and Steve Purcella, and heelers Kory Koontz and Allen Bach, have each won the event three times. Purcella/Koontz have won it twice as a team.

TOP 50 OF 2012 Header

Heeler

Ty Blasingame J.D. Yates Kaden Richard Kyle Roberts Chris Francis Kyle Roberts David Motes Jeff Kanady Caleb Mitchell Bobby Baize Derrick Begay Clay Tryan Chad Masters Luke Brown Joshua Torres Eric Flurry Jesse Stipes Caleb Schmidt Tate Kirchenschlager Caleb Schmidt Camish Jennings Chance Kelton Brandon Beers Kolton Schmidt Chace Thompson Nelson Linares Colby Siddoway J.D. Yates Charley Crawford Jake Barnes Clay Tryan Ty Blasingame David Motes Tate Kirchenschlager Lane Ivy Cody McMinn Chris Lawson Dustin Bird Tee Woolman Derrick Begay David Key Casey Mahoney Brad Hamilton Cooper Wimberly Kaston Peavy Arky Rogers Matt Sherwood Casey Hicks Garrett Tonozzi Clay Tryan

Rich Skelton Nick Sarchett Rhen Richard Dan Whitworth Dakota Kirchenschlager Cole Jackson Jaytin McCright Casey Chamberlain Cuatro Hindes Brandon Gonzales Cesar de la Cruz Travis Graves Travis Graves Martin Lucero John Paul Lucero Casey Stipes Casey Stipes Cole Davison Will Woodfin Jade Corkill Wade Clayton B.J. Campbell Ryan Motes John Robertson Tommy Zuniga Clint Summers Caleb Twisselman Bobby Harris Clay Cooper Paul Eaves Jade Corkill Kollin Von Ahn Larry Hammons Dakota Kirchenschlager Shain Sproul J.C. Williams Dee Rampy Bucky Campbell Wade Clayton Cory Petska Martin Lucero Joe Espy Mickey Gomez Bode Baize T. Luttrell Clint Summers Cory Petska Jake Pianalto Dugan Kelly Patrick Smith

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 35

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THE RAM 3500 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 GMC SIERRA 3500HD Team ropers, you may not realize it, but you need a new truck. We know, yours is fully paid off, but we never met a roper who doesn’t think of upgrading his rig every once in a while. Right now is a great time to buy. That may seem like a slogan for every dealership across the country, but it really is. Not only does all of the big hitters have good prices in their heavy-duty category, but their efforts to re-establish themselves as the economy grows indeed makes now a great time to buy a new truck! As ropers use their trucks to get them to and from events, pulling trailers full of precious mounts to help them to the pay window; they need a serious tow vehicle. The all-star lineup of trucks on the market today will do everything team ropers need and more. Putting today’s trucks through the paces of an everyday team roper who often use them as their everyday vehicle, as well as their towing rig may be an article, so we decided to just give you the low-down on all of today’s leading truck manufacturers. The results will amaze you and no doubt have you ready to try one out for yourself. 36 / MAY 2012

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“As with the mainstream 1500s, the new Ram heavy-duty makes news for impressive ride comfort and competent handling. The diesel engine is both powerful and refined. Improved cabin trappings over the previous generation are a nice bonus. Chevy and Ford loyalists would do well to check out the Dodge heavy duty trucks. As Walter P. Chrysler used to say, ‘look at all three.’” — Consumer Guide

The Ram 3500 HD is a capable workhorse that over the past few years has been upgraded to include a great interior that has been praised by many reviewers. Its towing and hauling capabilities and powerful diesel engine make quick work of most any task, and the Ram truck exterior still displays its masculine attractiveness that gives it a style of its own. Two years ago, (2010 models) The Ram truck saw an overhaul of both Heavy Duty models, as well as the Ram nameplate. The name split from Dodge parent to create the Ram Trucks sub brand. Since then, the Ram HD has offered surprisingly luxurious interiors without sacrificing the burly abilities that make them stand out among the class. Car and Driver writes that the Ram Heavy Duty is “not just the Heaviest Dutiest Rammiest Ram ever, but also the quietest and most comfortable HD truck we can remember.” Today’s Ram is un-matched when it comes to comfort and style of its interior. They include convenient underfloor storage and other cargo options inside the cabin, the Uconnect navigation and infotainment system that Ram and Dodge share also gets praise for its in-dash hard-drive storage system for music and photos, optional Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and Sirius Backseat TV. Additionally, the Ram HD is no slouch on the worksite. When properly configured, the Ram 3500 can tow the heaviest of loads and haul pretty much anything you can fit in the bed. Reviewers especially love the exhaust brake included with all diesel engines. It allows drivers to save their brakes while towing to prevent them from overheating and failing on long downhill inclines adding more safety features to its already incredible vehicle.

The Power Ram HD can be equipped with a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel that produces 350 horsepower and 650 poundfeet of torque. This helps make the Ram a power-house and helps with loads and towing capabilities that reach 24,000-

“Lined up against its few rivals, the 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 is practically in a dead heat against the Ford F-250 and Chevy Silverado 2500HD. But we doubt we’ll find any argument when we say the Ram has the most attractive styling and an uncommonly upscale interior.” — Edmunds

pound Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) and 16,450-pound tow capacity. The diesel comes standard with an exhaust brake, which helps reduce brake fade when towing and keeps the brakes cool for when you really need them.

Configurations to Meet Your Needs The Ram 3500 is available in a variety of configurations and options. These include two or four-wheel drive; Regular, Mega or Crew Cabs; single or dual rear wheels; and up to six different trim packages, including the top-of-theline Laramie Longhorn line that includes many features and materials usually just seen in upscale sedans.

Heavy Duty Exterior Many reviewers and truck enthusiasts love the wickedly aggressive looks of the Ram HD models. The outside still gives Ram that “Aggressive – Get out of my way, I’m coming through” look. The Ram truck offers plenty of off the ground room, nicely molded curves that are combined to give the Ram a hard-lined truck style that uniquely sets them apart from others.

Heavy Duty Interior Many reviewers have said the Ram offers the best interior in the heavy duty pickup class. Not only is there lots of interior storage room including, the under-seat cargo bins and back seats that fold up to offer a flat load floor, they can also include luxury-level materials, features, and fit and finish. Additionally, the Mega Cab model offers a massive 44.2 inches of rear legroom, the most of any truck on the road today.

Heavy Duty Safety The 2012 Ram HD base ST models comes with front and side-curtain airbags, antilock brakes, and a tire pressure monitoring display among other safety features that have become standard on all trucks across the board.

Heavy Duty Reliability Ram covers the 3500 HD with a five-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and a three-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty. SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 37

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“All the big HD trucks can tow and haul heavy loads, and the Super Duty is no exception. But, beyond its workhorse credentials the 2012 Ford Super Duty offers an impressive array of comfort and technology features aimed at maximizing efficiency on the open road and at the job site.” — Kelley Blue Book “At this moment, there’s no doubt that Ford has once again raised the bar to new levels of performance and productivity for heavy-duty pickups. The Super Duty continues to be the standard against which its competition will be measured.” — PickupTrucks.com

Reviewers say the 2012 Ford Super Duty could be the most capable truck on the market. “If this truck was a person, Congress would have inquiries into performanceenhancing drugs,” writes The Detroit News. “Its strength is obscene, its power nearly absolute.” The lineup of the Ford Super Duty pickups has been upgraded, notably with the replacement of the controversial 6.4liter V8 PowerStroke diesel built with Navistar. Today’s Ford F-350 models can come equipped with this new 6.7-liter Powerstroke turbodiesel designed by Ford, and it churns out 400 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque. Equipped with the standard 3.55:1 axle ratio, the F-350 has a 23,500-pound GCWR and is rated to tow 14,000 pounds, making it a truck to consider for towing most any load. People who need supremely able trucks know that things like towing capacity and torque are some of the most important elements in a heavy-duty pickup. Test drivers love the Ford Super Duty’s innovative Work Solutions system, which lets owners track tools, print invoices and manage other trucks in their fleet from an in-dash computer. Reviewers say the Super Duty’s interior may look a bit more dated than more recently updated competitors, but they note that the Super Duty’s features remain easy to use and the seats are still especially comfortable. 38 / MAY 2012

Ford F-350 Super Duty Workhorse The 6.7-liter Powerstroke turbodiesel V8 engine gives Ford trucks 400 horsepower and an incredible 800 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that offers a manual mode for towing, the Ford Super Duty is well equipped to service anyone’s needs in terms of hauling or pulling.

Top of the Line Configurations The Ford F-350 Super Duty trucks are available as Regular, Super or Crew cabs and you can find your style of ride with XL, XLT, Lariat and King Ranch trim packages with the available diesel engine. You can also have the options of two or four-wheel drive, short or long bed and any of the available cab configurations, and of course single or dual rear wheels. The F-450 is only available as a 4x4 Crew Cab with a long bed and dual rear wheels.

Defined Exterior The 2012 Ford Super Duty’s looks are big and bold as only a Ford can do. There is no mistake when you see a Ford heavy duty truck. With a closer look, the ‘SUPER DUTY’ stamp of approval is often marked on the truck making it apparent that this large, valiant vehicle packs a punch.

Luscious interior The Ford Super Duty offers one of the most useful interiors in the heavy duty truck class, and depending on the trim, can be fairly luxurious. The front seats are highly praised for comfort, and back seats in extended cab and crew cab models offer plenty of space for everyone. Ford’s Work Solutions in-dash computer earns rave reviews for its functionality and convenience. Although there are three trim packages available stepping each one up in more comfort and functionality, it is a dream to be in the comfort of the premium King Ranch trim package that serves luxurious driving capabilities.

Safety Inside and Out All models of the Super Duty come with standard safety features that are typical for the class that include six airbags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and trailer sway control, as well as Ford’s SOS Post Crash Alert System that activates the horn and warning flashers if the airbags have been deployed. Additional trim upgrades include safety options such as a rearview camera, rear parking assist sensors and towing mirrors. The 2012 Ford Super Duty comes with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Powerstroke diesel engine is covered for five years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

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“What may tilt the scales toward GM, however, is its superior ride quality, engine refinement and features like smart exhaust braking. We suspect anyone who needs this kind of truck is unlikely to be disappointed by either of these leaders, but they might find themselves feeling a bit more refreshed after an extended stint in a Sierra or Silverado HD.” — Autoblog “This truck (GMC HD) is more capable than what 99.9% of private owners need, but for those select target customers, this $56K one-ton truck is surely fantastic, with its heated seats, satellite radio, very spacious cabin, huge bed, and, of course, near limitless towing capability.” — Automobile Magazine The lineup of the new GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado HD pickups features new running gear and a substantially beefier frame beneath familiar exterior that all but shouts, ‘Drive Me.’ The revised 6.6-liter Duramax V8 turbodiesel makes 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque. With this combination added to the standard 3.73:1 final-drive gears, the HD models can be pushed to the limit. They are also praised for keeping the diesel so quiet, which is a tough feat to accomplish on a type of engine that’s usually loud and unrefined. ‘Chevy Strong’ and ‘GMC Style’, these trucks are some of the most capable heavy-duty pickups on the market. Test drivers love their fuel-efficient yet powerful diesel engine, and say that its smart exhaust brake and handling are both especially good. Although the interior has not been upgraded as much over the past few years as compared to other trucks on the market, the comfort and style of both Chevy and GMC trucks lack nothing. Seats are comfortable and everything is built to last both inside and out.

The Muscle Beneath The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD is one of the best-performing trucks in its class, with surprisingly good handling and a particularly strong exhaust brake. Equipped w ith the 6.6liter V8 turbodiesel engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, reviewers agree that these trucks can handle the tasks they were built to complete. When added together, the GM model trucks carry a payload of 24,500-pound GCWR and are rated to tow 16,800 pounds.

Configurations The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra’s 3500 are available with many trim options and come with regular, extended or crew cab configurations; short, regular or long bed; and with two- or four-wheel drive. They can also both be equipped with either single or dual rear wheels. More options are available including the Silverado HD Z71 off-road appearance package that is impressive and the GMC Sierra Denali which incorporate top of the line interior that matches anything on the road.

Exterior Recent reviews on the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra are mixed. Many love the macho look of these models while some say they look dated and need some refreshing

updates. So it comes down to personal attractiveness to the consumer, but no doubt the GM models configuration still offer what truck lovers need in terms of cab room and bed and wheel arrangements, making them versatile heavy-duty trucks.

Interior The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra HD’s interior ranges from the ‘no-frills,’ ‘work truck’ to the luxurious side that includes Silverado’s top-of-the-line LTZ and Denali trims. With upgrades such as the optional navigation system which is particularly intuitive and easy to use, dual-zone climate control, a premium sound system, Bluetooth phone connectivity and leather upholstery, the GM model trucks can be equipped for your everyday and over-the-road needs.

Safety The Silverado HD comes standard with safety features that are typical for its class. Additions that can be added to certain GM models include OnStar emergency crash response systems, thorax side impact and head curtain side impact airbags, as well as rear parking sensors.

Reliability The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD comes with a three-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty, while the Sierra HD has a fiveyear/100,000-mile transferable powertrain warranty. SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 39

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Ropers, you have a diesel because you need it. Hauling back and forth from ropings across the country takes a truck meant to haul and you want it to last as long as possible. That’s why you take care of it. Here are a few ideas to make your heavy duty hauler run better, get better mileage and perform like no other truck in your neighborhood, farm or ranch. Stop Vibration Fluidampr’s Performance Diesel Dampers dramatically reduce powerrobbing torsional vibrations over stock. Torsional vibrations also can destroy crankshafts and bearings. Reducing these unwanted vibrations can increase the life of an engine and pick up at least five horsepower. www.fluidampr.com

Deeper Diff Covers Mag-Hytec’s heavy-duty diff covers provide more cooling capacity to hardworking rearends. Each cast-aluminum cover is powdercoated, has machined cooling fins, and features an anodized aluminum dipstick with a magnetic insert, along with a magnetic drain plug—you don’t have to remove the diff cover to change the fluid. www.mag-hytec.com 40 / MAY 2012

Pick Your Power Level

Hot AND Bothered?

ATS’ E-Power Tuner for Ford, Dodge, and GM diesels gives you a choice of Towing, High-Power, and Max-Power levels—good for adding as much as 170 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The tuner recalibrates engine and transmission functions and allows you to read and understand Check Engine light codes. The towing mode also is said to provide noticeable fueleconomy gains. www.atsdiesel.com

Flex-a-Lite’s new electric fan for 19942002 Cummins replaces the stock beltdrive fan and shroud to improve fuel economy, horsepower, torque, and even air-conditioning performance. The fan pulls up to 5500 cfm and draws 28 to 36 amps. A variable-speed control module operates the fans between 60 and 100 percent, depending on engine temperature and A/C activation. www.flex-a-lite.com

Plug-In Power Superchips’ FireFly for the 2004.52007 Dodge 5.9-liter Cummins provides gains of up to 65 rear-wheel horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. It offers three power levels; switch between them on the fly by touching the gauge face. The underhood power module attaches to the engine’s factory sensor connectors in less than 10 minutes. It comes with a Lazer Gauge to monitor turbo boost pressure and EGT. www.superchips.com

Cooler Air Charge The Tapercore intercooler from Hypermax is named for its taper-sided core design, which maximizes flow capacity within the confines of a latemodel Ford diesel engine compartment. The intercooler features 20-percent-more frontal area, along with 30-percent-greater flow capacity than the Ford factory cooler; exhaust temperatures could drop by as much as 200 degrees. www.gohypermax.com

For You and Your Friends Beef Up the Boost Turbonetics’ Torque-Master replacement turbo offers fast spool-up for quick acceleration and increased airflow to help keep exhaust gas temperatures down on the 6.0-liter Power Stroke. The patented turbo is good for up to 500 horsepower and its ceramic ball bearing has 50 times greater thrust capacity, offers quicker throttle response, and is more resilient under hightemperature shutdowns than conventional designs. www.turboneticsinc.com

SCT’s Livewire is a PCM flash tuner that arrives preloaded with up to three different performance tunes and one fuel-economy tune and can be custom-tuned by one of SCT’s 500-plus dealers. Its 128MB SD memory card can hold tunes for as many as 20 different vehicle applications, plus it stores the complete factory uploaded program. The instrumentation feature lets you view and record six different vehicle parameters and up to two additional signals through a special port. You also can read and clear diagnostic trouble codes. www.sctflash.com

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Deep Breathing According to K&N, its high-flow intake system is good for an increase of 22 horsepower and 40 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheels. The system draws air through a large, cone-shaped K&N high-flow air filter, then moves it along an intake tube, which provides smoother airflow to the engine. www.knfilters.com

A Systematic Approach Edelbrock’s Diesel Performance Systems for GM, Ford, and Dodge trucks include an Airaid air intake and filter, Superchips programmer module with three levels of performance upgrades, and Edelbrock diesel exhaust system, tuned by Edelbrock to work together. According to manufacturer tests on a 2006 6.6-liter Duramax Chevy, the DPS produced 419 horsepower and 717 pound-feet of torque, an improvement of 152 horsepower and 204 pound-feet over stock. www.edelbrock.com

Bigger, Badder Turbo The Super Max turbo kit was engineered by BD and built by BorgWarner Turbo Systems’ AirWerks program. The Super Max creates enough airflow for up to 550 rear-wheel horsepower at 45 pounds of boost on diesel (up to 675 rear-wheel horses with a shot of nitrous). Its efficiency reduces EGT, lowers emissions, and can improve fuel economy over the stock turbo in certain situations. The direct-replacement system is designed to deliver quick spool-up and improve airflow across the entire rpm range. www.bd-power.com

Mo’ Flow Industrial Injection’s fuel injectors for Cummins and Duramax engines come in three different performance levels. Dragon Fly injectors (stock CP3 fuel pump) provide a 50-#’s of horsepower increase over stock. Dragon Flow injectors (modified fuel pump) provide a 90-horse increase over stock. Super Dragon Flow injectors require a new pump and are currently being run on an 817-horsepower diesel-only truck. www.industrialinjection.com

Hit the Bottle Justice Brothers says adding a bottle of its Diesel Fuel Supplement to your fuel tank could improve cold-weather starts, increase horsepower and torque, and reduce smoke emissions. The Diesel Fuel Supplement cleans injectors and the fuel system, lubricates rotary pumps, disperses water, and controls bacteria and algae in the fuel—especially useful for older diesels. www.justicebrothers.com

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GET BEHIND THE WHEEL WITH A GREAT DEAL! Being part of the Chrysler Group family has its benefits. You are now eligible to receive the Affiliate Rewards Program Preferred Price* (1% below factory invoice) on the purchase or lease of most new Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram and FIAT vehicles. Combine this with current

incentives and you could save thousands of dollars off the MSRP!** As a member of the USTRC, just visit chrysleraffiliates.com and input the USTRC’s Code D88562. Print out a certificate with your unique Control Number and take it along with your current USTRC membership card to

any participating U.S. Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge or Ram dealership or FIAT Studio. Or you can call Ram Rodeo at 641/684-6000. Then they will fax or e-mail your unique Control Number. To learn more, call 888-444-4321 or visit www.chrysleraffiliates.com.

*The Preferred Price is the maximum amount you will be charged by a participating U.S. dealer for an eligible vehicle. See dealer for details. A $75 administration fee applies. Offer valid for up to 2 (two) Chrysler Group LLC vehicles per calendar year. The Dodge Viper and all SRT models are not currently eligible for this program. Not all incentives may be available, as they vary by region and residency of buyer. See dealer for complete details. **Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. Excludes destination, tax, title and registration fees. Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram are registered trademarks of Chrysler Group LLC. FIAT is a registered trademark of Fiat Group Marketing & Corporate Communication S.p.A., used under license by Chrysler Group LLC.

TWISTER TRAILER LAUNCHES NEW SELECT SERIES TRAILER Twister Trailer is excited to announce the launch of a new line of trailers, the Select Series. These Twister Select Series trailers will offer custom trailer quality, at an exceptional value. Twister Trailers have been the top choice of many rodeo athletes and champion horse trainers around the country, and now by packaging the options, trailer buyers can enjoy some of the high-end features previously only available on custom trailers. Available in a three horse or a four horse version, with a comfortable 10 foot short wall living quarters, the Select Series trailers are going to be the easy choice for most horsemen. Twister will still continue to build custom trailers for those with specialized needs. 42 / MAY 2012

Jim Smith, Vice President of Twister Trailer, says “The Select Series was developed to make our premium quality available to more buyers. The Select Series trailer is the best value in the

industry.” With attention to every detail, Twister trailers provide convenience for the owner and comfort for the horses, so both can arrive at their destination ready to perform at their best. Twister Trailer is the official trailer of the National Reining Horse Association

(NRHA) and an official sponsor of the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC). Dealers will be on-site at the major events to show you why the top horsemen choose Twister trailers. Twister Trailer is the premier trailer company in the equine industry, offering trailers to suit every horseman’s needs. Superior in quality, features and style, Twister Trailers are pulled by top horsemen in many disciplines including: Trevor Brazile, Patrick Smith, Tuf Cooper, Casey Deary, Carol Metcalf, Teddy Robinson, Craig Cameron, Charmayne James, and Russell Dilday. Twister Trailers: setting the standard by which trailers are built. www.twistertrailer.com

S04DF_RamRodeo_P_Layout 1 4/2/12 3:47 PM Page 1

(1) See a dealer for a copy of the Powertrain Limited Warranty. Properly secure all cargo. Ram and HEMI are registered trademarks of Chrysler Group LLC.

44 UPCOMING_Layout 1 4/11/12 2:06 PM Page 44

North Country Classic Cannon Falls, MN May 26-28, 2012 ocated in the scenic Cannon Valley, at the junction of the Big and Little Cannon Rivers, Cannon Falls, Minnesota is a portal to biking, hiking, skiing, canoeing, tubing, or just plain taking it easy. More importantly Cannon Falls will welcome USTRC team ropers the weekend of May 26 through the 28 to the North Country Classic. Taking it easy will be fun as ropers move in for the weekend to experience team roping at its best. Cannon Falls, Minnesota is located on Highway 52 just 35 miles south of Saint Paul/Minneapolis and 40 miles north of Rochester. Easy access plus a community of friendly people and the roping should prove to be one of the best ways to spend a Memorial Day weekend. Rich in history and Native American culture, the area offers a unique take on how the community got its name. Historically, Native Americans and traders frequently hid their canoes near the river’s mouth, away from the heavily traveled Mississippi River. Because of this the French fur traders named the stream “Riviere aux Canots” or River of Canoes. Easterners, hearing the French pronounce “canots,” thought they were saying cannon, and the Cannon River it became. Zebulon Pike mentions the Cannon River in his journals. In 1853, father and son, Richard and William Freeborn traced the Cannon River upstream to its falls. The two explorers kept their find a secret until they could return a year later to stake a claim. The city, settled in 1854, thus took its name from those river falls, a natural cascade located along the Little Cannon River. It is the only city in the world named Cannon Falls. Cannon Falls has a wealth of buildings on the Historic Register. In 2000, twenty-nine buildings in the downtown commercial district of Cannon Falls were put on the National 44 / MAY 2012

Register of Historic Places. The district is an excellent example of a small Midwestern agricultural service community with most of the buildings constructed in a period from 1880-1915. Ropers and their families should take the time to explore the area when the North Country Classic winds down each day. If you are looking to spend an enjoyable day in the Cannon River Valley, there are plenty of recreational opportunities including the team roping to help ropers enjoy their time in the Cannon Falls area. The Cannon Valley Trail occupies the route of a former Chicago Great Western railroad line that connected Red Wing and Mankato, MN. The line started as the Minnesota Central and in 1882 construction began easterly from Waterville. It was completed to Red Wing in just over six months with regular service beginning on January 1, 1883. The Minnesota Central became part of the Chicago Great Western in 1899, which

44 UPCOMING_Layout 1 4/11/12 2:07 PM Page 45

eventually merged into the Chicago North Western in 1968. The history of the trail and its merger provides a great historical lesson and insight into the area. As ropers choose to journey the Cannon Valley Trail, they will find themselves following the footsteps of many generations of earlier people who have traveled this beautiful and peaceful valley. Scattered along and near the trail are remnants of the camps, villages, and burial places of American Indians who occupied this land for perhaps 12,000 years before white settlers arrived. These sites are the principal sources that reconstruct what life was like between the end of the last glacial advance and the arrival of Europeans in the region in the late 17th century. There are five distinct stages that are known in and around the Cannon River Valley. They are: Paleo-Indian Stage, Archaic Stage, Woodland Stage, Mississippian Stage, and Proto-historic Stage. These stages encompass changes in both the environment and technology and refer to artifact assemblages and the time periods during which they were made. Ropers can also visit several museums and explore the area by hiking or biking, enjoying all the Cannon River Valley has to offer. If you are looking for a Memorial Day weekend extravaganza head to Cannon Falls, MN for the North Country Classic. It will be a fun weekend full of great team roping in an area rich in historical relevance. Mark your calendars for the North Country Classic. It is a roping you need to plan on. Be there! SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 45

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USTRC

Choice Hotels

tap

www.choicesportstravel.com Special rate ID #00214570

Eastern Regional Finals July 5-8, 2012 Tennessee Miller Coliseum USTRC

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Murfreesboro, Tennesse

www.ustrc.com 254-968-0002 Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info Baymont Inn and Suites www.baymontinns.com Hotel Holiday Inn Express Murfreesboro Central www.hiexpress.com Hotel Red Roof Inn Murfreesboro, TN www.redroof.com Hotel Outback Steakhouse www.outbacksteakhouse.com Restaurant Demos’ Steak & Spaghetti House www.demosrestaurants.com Restaurant Longhorn Steakhouse www.longhornsteakhouse.com Restaurant Bonefish Grill Murfreesboro www.bonefishgrill.com Restaurant Red Lobster www.redlobster.com Restaurant Old Fort Course www.murfreesborotn.gov Golf Indian Hills Club www.indianhillsgc.com Golf Stampede Dance Hall & Saloon www.stampededancehall.net Entertainment GO USA Fun Park www.gousafunpark.com Entertainment Premiere 6 Theatre www.premiere6.com Entertainment Stones River National Battlefield www.nps.gov Entertainment Oaklands Historic House Museum www.oaklandsmuseum.org Entertainment

K Wagon Wheel 308-872-2433 Hotel K Bonfire Grill www.bonfire-grill.com Restaurant K Emily’s Soda Fountain 308-872-5200 Restaurant K Cattlemans 402 Central Ave, Eddyville Restaurant K Steakhouse 206 N Main St, Litchfield Restaurant K Broken Bow Country Club www.brokenbowcountryclub.com Golf K Sylvesters, Inc. 308-872-6204 Entertainment K Historical Museum www.rootsweb.ancestry.com Entertainment K Tiffany Theatre www.tiffanytheater.com Entertainment K City of Broken Bow Swimming Pool 308-872-5177 Entertainment

Utah Championships July 14-15, 2012 Davis County Legacy Center C&C Roping (Bill Cornia) USTRC

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Nebraska Championships July 13-15, 2012 Broken Bow, Nebraska Custer County Fairgrounds www.brokenbow-ne.com Jeff Smith 620-921-5903 Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Gateway Motel 308-872-2478 Hotel K Americas Best Value Inn 308-872-6428 Hotel K Bosselmans Motel 308-872-6842 Hotel

46 / MAY 2012

K K K K K K

Farmington, Utah

435-793-5035 www.ustrc.com 254-968-0002 Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info Comfort Inn Layton, Utah 801-544-5577 Hotel Hampton Inn Wood Cross, Utah 801-296-1211 Hotel Lone Star Steakhouse 801-593-9823 Restaurant Kitty Pappas Steak House 801-295-9981 Restaurant Ruby River Steakhouse 801-359-3355 Restaurant Davis County Course 801-544-0401 Golf Lagoon Amusement Park 375 Lagoon Dr., Farmington, Utah Entertainment Liahona Guided Tours 801-294-5927 Entertainment Windrider Hot Air Balloons 801-771-3125 Entertainment Utah Botanical Center 801-593-8969 725 Entertainment

Colorado Championships July 20-22, 2012 Colorado Springs, Colorado Penrose Stadium Outdoor Arena www.springsgov.com Jeff Smith 620-921-5903 Ike and Mary Cox 660-425-6087 Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Travel Lodge 719-632-4600 Hotel K La Quinta Inn 800-531-5900 Hotel K Double Tree 719-576-8900 Hotel K Travel Lodge South 719-632-7077 Hotel K Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. www.phantomcanyon.com Restaurant K Giuseppe’s Old Depot Restaurant www.giuseppes-depot.com Restaurant K Olive Garden Italian Restaurant www.olivegarden.com Restaurant K Famous Steak House www.restauranteur.com Restaurant K Flying W Chuckwagon Suppers www.flyingw.com Restaurant K Outback Steakhouse www.outbacksteakhouse.com Restaurant K Lone Star Steakhouse www.lonestarsteakhouse.com Restaurant K Saltgrass Steakhouse www.saltgrass.com Restaurant K Cherokee Ridge Course www.cherokeeridgecourse.com Golf K Springs Ranch Club www.springsranchclub.com Golf K Colorado Springs City Govt: Valley HI Course www.springsgov.com Golf K Loonees Comedy Corner www.loonees.com Entertainment K 13 Pure Night Club & Bistro 719-635-0999 Entertainment K Garden of the Gods Visitor Center www.gardenofgods.com Entertainment K Ghost Town Museum www.ghosttownmuseum.com Entertainment K Cheyenne Mountain Zoo www.cmzoo.org Entertainment K Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame & Museum www.prorodeohalloffame.com Entertainment K World Figure Skating Museum & Hall of Fame www.worldskatingmuseum.org Entertainment

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West Arkansas Classic July 27-29, 2012 Fort Smith, Arkansas Kay Rodgers Park Harper Stadium www.fortsmith.org Denny and Lynn Flynn 479-965-6800 Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Comfort Inn 479-484-0227 Hotel K Hampton Inn Ft. Smith www.hamptoninn.com Hotel K Outback Steakhouse www.outbacksteakhouse.com Restaurant K Olive Garden Italian Restaurant www.olivegarden.com Restaurant K Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon www.lonestarsteakhouse.com Restaurant K Loganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roadhouse www.logansroadhouse.com Restaurant K Linâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garden Chinese Restaurant 479-484-5090 Restaurant K Links At Fort Smith 479-648-9691 Golf K Fort Smith Country Club www.fortsmith.com Golf K Grand Slam & Baseball www.grandslamfun.com Entertainment K Putt Putt & Games 479-646-3677 Entertainment K Electric Cowboy www.electriccowboy.com Entertainment K Fort Smith Museum of History www.fortsmithmuseum.com Entertainment K Choctaw Casino-Pocola www.choctawcasinos.com Entertainment

Alabama Championships July 27-29, 2012 Montgomery, Alabama W.O. Crawford / Garrett Coliseum www.garrett.alabama.gov www.visitingmontgomery.com Ed Allen 256-825-8171, 256-749-0541 USTRC 254-968-0002 Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Town Place Suites by Marriott (334)396-5505 Hotel K Quality Inn & Suites Convention Center www.qualityinn.com Hotel K Outback Steakhouse www.outbacksteakhouse.com Restaurant

K Olive Garden Italian Restaurant www.olivegarden.com Restaurant K Texas Roadhouse www.texasroadhouse.com Restaurant K Longhorn Steakhouse www.longhornsteakhouse.com Restaurant K Bogies Bar & Grill www.riverruncourse.com Restaurant K Montgomery Country Club www.montgomerycountryclub.com Golf K River Run Public Course www.riverruncourse.com Golf K Hank Williams Museum www.thehankwilliamsmuseum.com Entertainment K Troy Univ., Montgomery Rosa Parks Museum www.museummontgomery.troy.edu Entertainment K City of Montgomery Old Alabama Town www.oldalabamatown.com Entertainment K Deja Vu Billiards www.dejavubilliards.com Entertainment

Turquoise Championships July 27-29, 2012 Red Rock State Park Red Rock Roping Company and Walt Eddy 505-879-6191 USTRC www.ustrc.com 254-968-0002 Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Best Western Red Rock Inn 505-722-7600 Hotel K La Quinta Inn and Suites 505-722-2233 Hotel K Quality Inn 505-726-1000 Hotel K Best Western / Royal Holiday 505-722-4900 Hotel K Best Western Inn and Suites 505-722-2222 Hotel K Earlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant www.foodandwine.com Restaurant K Golden Corral www.goldencorral.com Restaurant K New Mexico Steakhouse www.aznmfishsoup.org Restaurant K Applebeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Neighborhood Grill www.applebees.com Restaurant K Gallup Municipal Course www.ci.gallup.nm.us Golf

K Zuni Mountain Course 505-287-9239 Golf K Gallup City Government: Rex Museum www.ci.gallup.nm.us Entertainment K Aztec Twin Theatre www.allentheatresinc.com Entertainment K Southwest Indian Foundation: Gallup Cultural Center www.southwestindian.com Entertainment

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48 Open Tour_Layout 1 4/12/12 2:26 PM Page 48

as of April 6, 2012

$10,000 Bonus to Year End High Point Header and Heeler; $5,000 Bonus to Runners Up

HEADERS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Chad W. Masters ...........49 Colby L. Lovell...............48 Luke S. Brown III ..........45 Kaleb E. Driggers ..........40 Erich J. Rogers ..............33 Clay B. Tryan .................31 Bubba Buckaloo............26 Turtle B. Powell.............26 Riley S. Minor ...............25 Wade K. Kreutzer ..........25 Clay O. Smith ................23 Keven Daniel ................22 Blake H. Hughes ...........20

14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.

David Key .....................19 David W. Motes .............19 Manny Egusquiza, Jr. .... 19 Arky Rogers..................19 Shaw T. Loiseau ............18 Quincy H. Kueckelhan....17 Calvin R. Brevik ............17 Colby B. Siddoway.........15 Adam Newcomb ............15 Tate Kirchenschlager .....14 Tyson J. Campidilli.........14 Jay Tittel........................14 Philip D. McCoy.............14

HEELERS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Jade R. Corkill...............62 Travis L. Graves.............49 Justin R. Price ...............48 Brad Culpepper .............46 Brady J. Minor...............28 Brandon J. Gonzales ......28 Russell Cardoza, Jr. .......27 Dakota Kirchenschlager..25 Nick Rowland................24 Cory Petska...................21 Kory J. Koontz ...............20 Tom Bourne ..................20 Justin W. Davis ..............19 Cody W. Doescher .........19 Bucky L. Campbell ........19

Chad Masters

Jade Corkill

Born: Nashville, Tennessee Current Residence: Lipan, Texas

Born: Fallon, Nevada Current Residence: Fallon, Nevada

USTRC Major Accomplishments • 2011 – US Open Champion • 2011 – Priefert US Open Tour Reserve Champion • 2010 – US Open Champion • 2010 – US Open Tour Reserve Champion • 2009 – US Open Preliminary Champion • 2008 – 3rd US Open • 2002 – 5th US Open

USTRC Major Accomplishments • 2011 – US Open Champion • 2011 – Priefert US Open Tour Champion • 2010 – US Open Champion • 2010 – US Open Tour Champion • 2009 – Open Preliminary Champion • 2006 – 5th US Open Champion • 2004 – 2nd US Open Champion

PRCA Major Accomplishments • PRCA Career Earnings: $1,228,740 • 2007 PRCA World Champion • 8 NFR Qualifications • 1 NFR Average Title

Chad Masters

Quote “We’ve taken a little time off here the last couple of weeks and that gives me time to practice and get sort of re-energized to get back on the rodeo trail.”

16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.

Troy R. Hermelbracht ....19 Patrick A. Smith ............18 Hank Bounds.................18 T. J. Watts......................18 Derrick J. Peterson ........17 Rodney D. Melton..........17 Chase R. Tryan ..............16 Monty Joe Petska ..........15 Cole Davison .................15 Paul R. Eaves ................14 Ed A. Ruth ....................14 Joseph B. Harrison ........14 Tyler J. Getzwiller ..........14 Rich Skelton..................14

PRCA Major Accomplishments • Joined PRCA: 2006 • PRCA Career Earnings: $707,736 • 4 NFR Qualifications • 2006 PRCA Rookie of the Year (Heeler)

Jade Corkill

Quote “I’m glad to see all the major jackpots are taking part in the US Open Tour this year.”

For a complete listing of all qualified Open Tour ropers, please visit www.ustrc.com For an explanation of points, check the Format section of this magazine. 48 / MAY 2012

S11DF_TRIAD_P_Layout 1 10/7/11 11:35 AM Page 1

Of the Roper, For the Roper, By The Roper Because All Ropers Should Compete Equally From Sea to Shining Sea TEAM ROPING INFORMATION AND DATA Find out more at www.ustrc.com

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50 Cruel Girl_Layout 1 4/11/12 3:59 PM Page 50

1. Lori D.Thone....................Damascus, AR ..........$26,096 2. Beverly A. Robbins...........Muscle Shoals, AL ....$20,090 3. Annette K. Hinkle.............Tularosa, NM............$14,450 4. Tish T. Luke .....................Yeehaw Junction, FL ...$9,757 5. Jackie L. Hobbs ................Stephenville, TX ..........$7,631 6. Jessy A. Remsburg............Palm City, FL..............$7,010 7. Rebecca Neuhaus.............Huntsville, TX .............$6,736 8. Tammy L. Lewis................Queen Creek, AZ ........$6,585 9. Cadee Tew .......................Weatherford, TX ..........$6,562 10. Debbie Weaver.................Andrews, TX ...............$6,142 11. Katy Jameson ..................Pilot Point, TX.............$6,005 12. Ali J. Bilkey......................Santa Ynez, CA ...........$5,958 13. JaLynn Rogers..................Elk City, OK ...............$5,728 14. Lindsey Rae Braddock ......Tioga, TX....................$5,550 15. Cy H. Christensen.............Kennefec, SD .............$5,502

16. Kelli Corbin .....................Baldwin, FL ...............$5,454 17. Mary Ann Brown..............Keedysville, MD..........$5,446 18. Kelly D. Hicks...................Stephenville, TX ..........$4,934 19. Jill L. Murray....................Cooper, TX..................$4,930 20. Janet L. Mickelson............Flagstaff, AZ...............$4,899 21. Shelly A. Granzin..............Dripping Spings, TX ....$4,715 22. Paula M. Knudsen ............Lancaster, KY .............$4,510 23. Haley L. Kolle ..................Cuero, TX ...................$4,258 24. Rebekah L. Smith ............Mustang, OK ..............$4,230 25. Peg J. Williams .................Kingman, AZ ..............$4,152 26. Melissa L. Holt.................St. Paul, KS................$4,036 27. Amanda B. Jones .............Mulvane, KS ..............$3,935 28. Joyce Pasley.....................Winchester, KY ...........$3,895 29. Alicia Stockton .................Hico, TX .....................$3,858 30. Teresa L. Herman .............Taylorsville, NC...........$3,780

Texas Bar S Cattle Co.

S Roping steers for rent - $30/month Locations: Houston, Dallas, Brenham, Beaumont & Decatur, TX & Jonesboro, LA Sammy Sorsby Mobile 713.208.1282 Home 281.351.2927

50 / MAY 2012

S11DF_USTRCmemRt_P_Layout 1 10/10/11 4:16 PM Page 1

s -ORE THAN -ILLION PAID IN s -ORE THAN -ILLION PAID AT #INCH .&42

s 3UBSCRIPTION TO SuperLooper Magazine AND OTHER GENEROUS MEMBERSHIP BENElTS

s 'UARANTEED &LEX %ARNINGS s 42)!$ THE MOST TRUSTED .ATIONAL WITH MEMBERSHIP PURCHASE AND #LASSIlCATION 3YSTEM LETS YOU COMPETE PARTICIPATION MORE PLACES THAN ANY OTHER CARD s 'UARANTEED ADDED MONEY IN THE 'OLD s $RAW )N OPTION AVAILABLE NEVER WORRY 0LUS DIVISION AT ALL 2EGIONAL &INALS ABOUT lNDING A PARTNER AGAIN

s -ORE THAN 3ANCTIONED AND !FlLIATE EVENTS FROM COAST TO COAST s 4HE MOST COMPLETE AND PRESTIGIOUS PRIZELINE AVAILABLE s 2ATED SUPERIOR BY ROPERS FOR EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EVENT MANAGEMENT s &AMILY MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

Join Today and Get Started For more information visit ustrc.com

4:52 PM

S11DS_USTRCmemS_P_Layout 1 10/7/11 12:20 PM Page 1

Gold Spur Membership Participation at a USTRC event automatically qualifies you for a Regional Shoot-Out position

Gold Plus Membership The best membership value for the roper who demands more! (must be 18 or older to purchase)

Membership Benefits + Receive $1,000 in Flex Earnings just by participating at a USTRC event + Distinctive card with your name, USTRC ID number and TRIAD classification + 12 monthly issues of the industry leader, SuperLooper Magazine + Eligible to compete at more than 80 sanctioned and 350 affiliate events nationwide + Draw in and never worry about finding a partner again! (some restrictions apply)

+ An individual record of your earnings and accomplishments + Unmatched customer service

Gold Spur Options Tailor your Gold Spur membership to fit your style with these options

Membership Benefits + You get all the benefits of the Gold Spur for you and your immediate family members, plus

Flex Earnings + Receive $3,000 Flex Earnings just by participating at a USTRC event.

Complimentary Family Memberships + Add immediate family members (children and spouse) in the same household age 20 and under at the time of application at no extra charge. + A spouse (legal proof required) recieves a Gold Plus membership and $3,000 Flex Earnings upon event participation + A child receives a Gold Spur membership and $1,000 Flex Earnings upon event participation

Gold Plus Ropings

(#12 with #10 Incentive) + Exclusively at USTRC Sanctioned Events

+ For Gold Plus members 25 and older

Rope both ends? Get a double number!

(Fees can apply)

Keep It in the Family

+ Century Bonus - 100% payback + Guaranteed added money to Regional Finals Gold Plus ropings

+ Add immediate family members (children and spouse) in the same household age 20 and under at the time of application

Check Writing Privileges

+ Each family member receives the same Gold Spur Membership benefits, including $1,000 in Flex Earnings upon participation at a USTRC event

Reserve Stalls

Lifetime Membership: Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Earned It

+ Ropers can pay entry fees by check at Sanctioned and Affiliate events + Reserve stalls (limited to two per member at ropings offering service) up to one week prior to the event

+ Ropers currently 70 or celebrating that milestone anytime in 2012 are eligible for a lifetime membership at the time of application (family members must renew annually)

NRS Discount

+ Enjoy all the benefits of the Gold Spur membership for a one-time only fee, including $1,000 in Flex Earnings annually upon participation at a USTRC event

Double Number Application

+ Available for U.S. addresses only

International Gold Spur Membership + Gold Spur benefits know no borders. You receive the basic benefits plus $1,000 in Flex Earnings upon participation at a USTRC event. + SuperLooper Magazine provided through U.S. Foreign Mail Service + For Non-US Residents

Jr. Looper Membership + FREE to youth age 12 and under at the time of application + Includes Jr. Looper card with name, USTRC ID number and birthdate + $1,000 in Flex Earnings annually upon participation at a USTRC event + Valid age documentation required (i.e. birth certificate, certified ID card) + No annual renewal + Social Security Number required

+ Receive a 10% discount on any product purchased through National Ropers Supply. + Apply for Double Number at No Extra Charge

Extended Entry Deadlines + Enter by phone up to one week after the postmark deadline with your credit card. A 3% surcharge will apply to all credit card transactions.

S11DS_USTRCmemS_P_Layout 1 10/7/11 12:21 PM Page 2

2012 Membership Application Membership active as of September 1, 2011 and expires December 31, 2012. Take advantage of joining online at ustrc.com or complete the application below. Indicate in the boxes the number of memberships at each level for which you are applying. PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE.

Qty

Fee Gold Plus Membership USTRC’s Premier Membership Package. Available to adults 18 and older. Must be 25 or older to rope in Gold Plus ropings.

$300

Additional Family Membership Please list names and information on this application form. One SuperLooper Magazine subscription per household.

$100

Female

SS# (required)

Email Address (required) By providing USTRC your email address, you give permission for USTRC to send important member updates and information. You may opt out at any time.

Occupation (i.e. rancher, teacher, mgmt…)

Country Home Phone

$40

Work Phone

Cell Phone

Gold Plus Family Members / Gold Spur Family Members Must be an immediate family member, spouse or children, living at home age 20 and younger at the time of application First Name

Last Name

Name to appear on card Male

Female

Birth Date

Email Address

USTRC ID # (if renewing)

$120

Relationship to member

Jr. Looper Membership Available to youth 12 and under at the time of application. Valid age documentation and social security number required.

FREE

First Name

Lifetime Gold Spur Membership Available to members 70 and older within the 2012 calendar year.

$100

SS# (required)

Last Name

Name to appear on card Male

Female

Birth Date

Email Address

USTRC ID # (if renewing)

Lifetime Gold Plus Membership $200 Available to Lifetime members only. Requires annual renewal. Total $___________

USTRC Membership P.O. Box 1198 Stephenville, TX 76401 Phone 254.968.0002 Fax 254.968.0003

Birth Date

USTRC ID # (if renewing) First time members must contact classifications dept.

International Gold Spur Membership

Please make check or money order payable to USTRC and mail to:

Suffix

City/State/Zip

No.___ Heeler

Payment Information

Last Name

Address

I am requesting a double number as a No.___ Header

Male

$50 Each

First Time or Expired Double Number Must be classified as a #5 or higher. Application fee non-refundable.

First Name Name to appear on card

Gold Plus Upgrade $200 Must be a 2012 Gold Spur or Lifetime member Gold Spur Membership USTRC’s Standard Membership Package. First-time member.

Personal Information (Primary Member)

SS# (required)

Relationship to member First Name

Last Name

Name to appear on card Male

Female

Birth Date

Email Address

USTRC ID # (if renewing)

SS# (required)

Relationship to member Please provide the following information when paying with Visa, Mastercard or Discover Carholder Name Card # Visa

Mastercard

Discover

Exp. Date

Security Code

Signature

We’re happy to accept your credit card application over the phone at 254.968.0002 or join online at ustrc.com.

USTRC memberships are NON REFUNDABLE, NON TRANSFERABLE. All memberships expire December 31, 2012, with the exception of membership purchased after August 31, 2012 and before January 1, 2013. Membership purchased during that time will be valid until December 31, 2013. Allow 3-4 weeks for processing. Allow up to 6 weeks for delivery of SuperLooper Magazine. USTRC reserves the right to obtain a payment electronically for any check or other instrument you send by initiating an ACH (electronic) debit of the amount of your check or instrument to your account. Your check or instrument will not be returned to you by USTRC or your bank. Your bank account may be debited the same day payment is received. 2:09 PM

S05US_WestCoast_P_Layout 1 4/11/12 3:55 PM Page 1

June 22-24, 2012 California Mid-State Fairgrounds PASO ROBLES, CA

USTRC WEST COAST REGIONAL

SHOOT-OUTS

SCHEDULE

PRELIMINARY FORMAT B

FRI, JUNE 22, 8 AM

SAT, JUNE 23, 8 AM

SUN, JUNE 24, 8 AM

s /PEN WITH )NCENTIVE

s 'OLD 0LUS WITH )NCENTIVE #ENTURY "ONUS Available. $15,000 minimum added to GP purse.

s 3HOOT /UT CAPPED AT %LITE

s WITH )NCENTIVE s #11 Shoot-Out

s 3HOOT /UT CAPPED AT %LITE

s CAPPED AT %LITE WITH )NCENTIVE

s 0ICK $RAW CAPPED AT

s #15 Handicap s #15 Shoot-Out s #13 Handicap s #13 Shoot-Out s WITH )NCENTIVE s #12 Shoot-Out

s CAPPED AT %LITE WITH )NCENTIVE

Entry Fee is $150/roper. May enter 2 times in each roping. Entry Fee is $100/roper. May enter 3 times in each roping.

For complete format details, see entry forms. 2012 USTRC membership required before you rope and may be purchased at this event.

ULTIMATE PARTNER FINDER Draw-In Options in effect for the Preliminaries and Gold Plus. On Site Only. For more details, see the Format section in the back of SuperLooper Magazine.

HOST HOTEL:

SAT, 12 NOON Kids 6 & Under, n n PRESENTED BY

PRE-ENTRY REQUIRED ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JUNE 8, 2012 DRAW POSITIONS AVAILABLE JUNE 20, 2012 WWW.USTRC.COM

Current Coggins may be requested.

STALLS: Reservations taken from Gold Plus members only. Must be made no later THAN *UNE &OR RESERVATIONS CALL 4Y (ILLMAN AT X !LL OTHER stalls on a first-come, first-served basis. No tie-outs allowed. $25/night plus shavings.

For more information visit ustrc.com

BEST WESTERN BLACK OAK 1135 24th St 0ASO 2OBLES #! s

CHOICE HOTELS: choicesportstravel.com 3PECIAL 2ATE )$

DIRECTIONS: California Mid State Fairgounds 2IVERSIDE !VENUE 0ASO 2OBLES #! s From Hwy 101, take exit 230 for Pine Street. Turn right onto Riverside Ave.

S05US_WestCoast_P_Layout 1 4/11/12 3:56 PM Page 2

2012 PRIZES:

MINIMUM GUARANTEE OF

$4,000

SHOOT-OUT

TO AVERAGE WINNERS OF THE OPEN AND THE #15 SHOOT-OUT

PRIZES

$8,000

12 Trophy Custom Martin Saddles Average Winners of #15, 13, #12, #11, #10, and #9 Shoot-Outs

TO AVERAGE WINNERS OF THE #13, #12, #11, #10, AND #9 SHOOT-OUTS

GOLD PLUS PRIZES AVERAGE WINNERS: Trophy Gist Buckles Resistol Straw Hats Tony Lama Boots 3 Pairs Cinch or Cruel Girl Jeans INCENTIVE AVERAGE WINNERS: Trophy Gist Buckles Classic Equine Horse Sheets Classic Rope Duffel Bags Classic Rope Sling Bags

HIGH POINT GOLD PLUS WINNER OF THE WEEKEND: NFTR Package including: 2 Paid Shoot-Out Positions 2 Complimentary Stalls Complimentary GP RV Spot 2012 NFTR Jacket

MINIMUM

$15,000 ADDED CASH TO GOLD PLUS PURSE

PRELIMINARY

#8 PICK/DRAW

CRUEL GIRL

JR LOOPER

PRIZES

8 Trophy Custom Martin Saddles

2 Trophy Custom Martin Saddles Average Winners

16 Trophy Gist Gold Buckles

4 Trophy Gist Gold Buckles

HIGH MONEY WINNER: Custom Trophy Gist Buckle 2 Pair Cruel Girl Jeans

3 Trophy Gist Gold Buckles

Average Winners of #12, #11, #10, #9

Incentive Average Winners of #12, #11, #10, #9 2nd Place Average Winners of #12, #11, #10, #9

2nd & 3rd Place Average Winners

Winners of 6 & Under, 7-9, 10-12

6 Pair of Trophy Gist Spurs Average Winners of Open, #15 Prelim, #13 Prelim

AMERICA’S COWBOY SPORT

S05US_EasternR_P_Layout 1 4/11/12 4:02 PM Page 1

July 5-8, 2012 Tennessee Miller Coliseum MURFREESBORO, TN

USTRC EASTERN REGIONAL

SHOOT-OUTS

SCHEDULE

PRELIMINARY FORMAT B

THU, JULY 5, 10 AM

FRI, JULY 6, CONTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D

SUN, JULY 8, 8 AM

s /PEN WITH )NCENTIVE

s WITH )NCENTIVE

s (ANDICAP

s 3HOOT /UT

s CAPPED AT %LITE WITH INCENTIVE

SAT, JULY 7, 8 AM

s 3HOOT /UT CAPPED AT %LITE

s 3HOOT /UT s (ANDICAP

s WITH )NCENTIVE

s 3HOOT /UT

FRI, JULY 6, 8 AM

s CAPPED AT %LITE WITH )NCENTIVE

s 'OLD 0LUS WITH )NCENTIVE #ENTURY "ONUS !VAILABLE MIN added to GP purse.

s 0ICK $RAW CAPPED AT

s 3HOOT /UT CAPPED AT %LITE

SAT, 12 NOON +IDS 5NDER 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9, 10â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12 PRESENTED BY

Entry Fee is $100/roper. May enter 3 times in each roping.

For complete format details, see entry forms. 2012 USTRC membership required before you rope and may be purchased at this event.

ULTIMATE PARTNER FINDER Draw-In Options in effect for the Preliminaries and Gold Plus. On Site Only. For more details, see the Format section in the back of SuperLooper Magazine.

HOST HOTEL:

PRE-ENTRY REQUIRED ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JUNE 22, 2012 DRAW POSITIONS AVAILABLE 2 PM, JULY 3, 2012 WWW.USTRC.COM

Current Coggins may be requested.

STALLS: Reservations taken from Gold Plus members only. Must be made no later THAN *UNE &OR RESERVATIONS CALL 4Y (ILLMAN AT X !LL OTHER STALLS ON A l RST COME l RST SERVED BASIS .O TIE OUTS ALLOWED NIGHT PLUS SHAVINGS

For more information visit ustrc.com

Entry Fee is $150/roper. May enter 2 times in each roping.

Baymont Inn 2230 Armory Drive -URFREESBORO 4. s Ask for USTRC Roper Rate.

CHOICE HOTELS: CHOICESPORTSTRAVEL COM s 3PECIAL 2ATE )$

DIRECTIONS: 4ENNESSEE -ILLER #OLISEUM ) TO EXIT " (WY 4URN RIGHT ONTO (WY CROSS INTERSTATE to first stop light. Turn left onto Thompson ,ANE #ONTINUE MILES TO 4ENNESSEE -ILLER #OLISEUM EXHIBITOR ENTRANCE ON THE LEFT

S05US_EasternR_P_Layout 1 4/11/12 4:03 PM Page 2

2012 PRIZES:

MINIMUM GUARANTEE OF

$4,000

SHOOT-OUT

TO AVERAGE WINNERS OF THE OPEN AND THE #15 SHOOT-OUT

PRIZES

$8,000

12 Trophy Custom Martin Saddles Average Winners of #15, 13, #12, #11, #10, and #9 Shoot-Outs

TO AVERAGE WINNERS OF THE #13, #12, #11, #10, AND #9 SHOOT-OUTS

GOLD PLUS PRIZES AVERAGE WINNERS: Trophy Gist Buckles Resistol Straw Hats Tony Lama Boots 3 Pairs Cinch or Cruel Girl Jeans

HIGH POINT GOLD PLUS WINNER OF THE WEEKEND: NFTR Package including: 2 Paid Shoot-Out Positions 2 Complimentary Stalls Complimentary GP RV Spot 2012 NFTR Jacket

MINIMUM

$15,000 ADDED CASH TO GOLD PLUS PURSE

INCENTIVE AVERAGE WINNERS: Trophy Gist Buckles Classic Equine Horse Sheets Classic Rope Duffel Bags Classic Rope Sling Bags

PRELIMINARY

#8 PICK/DRAW

CRUEL GIRL

JR LOOPER

PRIZES

8 Trophy Custom Martin Saddles

2 Trophy Custom Martin Saddles Average Winners

16 Trophy Gist Gold Buckles

4 Trophy Gist Gold Buckles

HIGH MONEY WINNER: Custom Trophy Gist Buckle 2 Pair Cruel Girl Jeans

3 Trophy Gist Gold Buckles

Average Winners of #12, #11, #10, #9

Incentive Average Winners of #12, #11, #10, #9 2nd Place Average Winners of #12, #11, #10, #9

2nd & 3rd Place Average Winners

Winners of 6 & Under, 7-9, 10-12

6 Pair of Trophy Gist Spurs Average Winners of Open, #15 Prelim, #13 Prelim

AMERICA’S COWBOY SPORT

Regional Format_Layout 1 4/11/12 3:24 PM Page 1

Reg Entry Forms-Eastern_Layout 1 4/11/12 3:02 PM Page 59

REGIONAL PRELIMINARY ■ WEST COAST - CA ■ EASTERN - TN

2012 REGIONAL PRELIMINARY ENtRY FORM • ANYONE CAN ENtER Team Roper’s Name _____________________________________________________________________________ ID No. ____________________________________________________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS ___________________________________@___________________________

ATTENTION: YOU mUST INcLUDE YOUr OwN AND YOUr pArTNEr’S USTrc ID#.

• Entries must be postmarked by the Friday two weeks prior to the date of the roping you are entering to avoid late charges. Payments must be made by personal check, cashier’s check, or money order. Personal checks WILL NOT be accepted from members who have written bad checks in the past. • Entries postmarked after the deadline must include a $20/roper late fee, and must be paid with cashier’s check or money order only! • Make entry fees payable and mail to: USTRC CENTRAL ENTRY, P.O. Box 1198, Stephenville, TX 76401. For Roping or Classification Information call the USTRC National Office, 254/968-0002.

The Ultimate Draw-In Is Available ON SITE ONLY!