Bennett flexes (sore) muscle with win at Lovington, N.M.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Bareback rider Caleb Bennett has recently been dealing with a chronic biceps strain in his right arm that has seen him making far more trips to the Justin Sportsmedicine trailer than the pay window.
Therapy, Aleve, rest and careful scheduling are not the best path to moving up the standings, so Bennett was “as surprised as anybody” when he won three rodeos over the Aug. 4-8 weekend, including the Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo in Lovington, N.M., a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Silver event presented by Justin Boots.
Bennett rode Carr Pro Rodeo’s River Boat Annie for 89 points to hold off D.V. Fennell and two past world champions, Justin McDaniel and Will Lowe, for the title in Lovington. He also won at Grace, Idaho, and Heber City, Utah, 45 miles from his home in Bluffdale, Utah.
“I don’t normally notice (the injury) when I’m riding,” Bennett said, “but it gets real sore and weak afterward. I’ve found I can usually make 3-4 rides back to back without it being too bad. I’ve had to kind of pick and choose when I compete.
“Rick Foster with Justin Sportsmedicine has shown me some exercises that have really helped. Those guys are miracle workers. Otherwise, I take pain meds and rest. I’m taking a couple of days off now; today, I can’t fully extend my arm.”
He pushed things a bit over the weekend, competing in five rodeos over six days, the last in Loveland, Colo., Aug. 8.
It’s a pretty safe bet that the muscle would had to have been pulled away from the bone for Bennett to miss Lovington after he found out he’d drawn River Boat Annie.
“I was 88 points on her at Waco (Texas) the only other time I’d gotten on her,” Bennett said, “so I knew I had some points there and had a chance to win.”
Hitting the weekend trifecta probably eased the pain a bit, too. It produced earnings of $7,353 and moved him up in the PRCA World Standings from 31st to 29th place.
Steer wrestler Dane Hanna has been riding Jeff Green’s horse, Streak, all year, and never had the horse’s name seemed more fitting that it did over the weekend.
Hanna won at Lovington with a two-head time of 7.5 seconds and backed that up with another win at Iowa’s Championship Rodeo in Sidney, and a check at Abilene, Kan., that brought his winnings for the weekend to $7,928.
Hanna advanced from 24th place in the PRCA World Standings to 15th.
“My confidence has been high lately,” said Hanna, who also won the Tour rodeo in Sheridan, Wyo., two weeks earlier. “It seems I’ve consistently had a chance to win. Sometimes you are bulldogging well and you don’t win anything, but it’s been good lately. A lot of that has to do with the horse. He’s a difference maker, very solid.”
Hanna rode him at Reno (Nev.) last year and had some success with him in the late fall, so he worked out a deal to use Streak this year with Green hazing for him.
Defending World Champion Team Ropers Nick Sartain and Kollin VonAhn had their biggest win of the season at Lovington, putting together a two-head time of 9.9 seconds to edge the new pairing of Kelsey Parchman and Michael Jones by a tenth of a second and earn $5,154 apiece.
Eighteen-time World Champion Steer Roper Guy Allen returned to Lovington – where he lived for many years – and edged Trevor Brazile in the three-head average (34.9 to 35.5 seconds). Allen moved up to 20th place in the standings, a little over $2,000 away from the No. 15 spot he would need to qualify for his record 33rd berth in the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping this fall in Guthrie, Okla.
The other champions at Jake McClure Arena were saddle bronc rider Louie Brunson (88 points), tie-down roper Ryan Watkins (18.1 seconds on two head), barrel racer Kenna Squires (17.32 seconds) and bull rider Wesley Silcox (89 points).
Film crew has plenty of drama from DeMoss brothers in Dodge City, Kan.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A crew from Committee Films of Minneapolis has been following the DeMoss brothers since mid-June, hoping to sell a reality series about life on the rodeo road to the National Geographic Network or the History Channel.
They might want to change directions here and approach TNT, the We Know Drama folks.
Heith DeMoss has soared from 15th to fourth since the film crew showed up, and elder brother Cody has come all the way back from knee surgery to the top ranks of saddle bronc riding in less than two months.
For the second week in a row, Cody DeMoss didn’t just win a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour rodeo presented by Justin Boots, he made history in the process, at the Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup, Aug. 4-8.
He followed his arena-record 91-point ride at Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days with an arena-record 92-pointer in the short go at Dodge City on Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman. Heith DeMoss was second in the round and in the average (172-169).
“That is cool,” Cody DeMoss told the Dodge City Daily Globe. “Me and him – one and two – that’s a dream. He is one of the best bronc riders in the world. He is turning into a bronc rider. It is an honor to ride with him.”
Cody DeMoss was something of a longshot for the win going into the short round with an 80, the lowest score of those who qualified.
The $3,705 he earned for the win, along with another win at Iowa’s Championship Rodeo in Sidney, moved Cody DeMoss from 23rd to 21st place in the PRCA World Standings.
It makes a seventh appearance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo suddenly a very real possibility, especially given that he has soared to 10th in the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Standings and is a sure thing for the Justin Boots Playoffs.
Chad Masters and Jade Corkill won no rounds of the team roping, but were steady enough to win three-head average with a total time of 16.8 seconds. The $4,987 they earned at Dodge City helped move Masters to within about $3,000 of Turtle Powell for the lead among team roping headers. Corkill cut Cory Petska’s lead in the heeling standings from more than $14,000 to exactly $7,000 in one week.
The other champions at Dodge City were all-around cowboy Timber Moore ($8,177), bareback rider Wes Stevenson (171 points on two head), steer wrestler Olin Hannum (12.5 seconds on three head), tie-down roper Jerome Schneeberger (27.0 seconds on three head), barrel racer Jolene Montgomery (51.30 seconds on three runs) and bull rider Seth Glause (175 points on two head).
Brazile closes in on $200,000 milestone again
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Trevor Brazile was the leading money earner during Cowboy Christmas, and he isn’t slowing down any now that the season has reached the even busier – 35 PRCA rodeos last week – Indian Summer portion of the program.
With all-around titles at Lovington, N.M., and Abilene, Kan., plus additional earnings at Phillipsburg, Kan., and Dodge City, Kan., Brazile banked $15,455 over the Aug. 4-8 weekend, while putting a particular emphasis on his steer roping.
Brazile earned $10,974 in that event and moved from fifth to second in the PRCA World Standings. He leads the all-around and tie-down roping standings and is fifth among team roping headers.
His all-around earnings are now at $196,764, putting him on the verge of his record 10th consecutive season with earnings of more than $200,000 and a record eighth all-around gold buckle.
• Etbauer inches closer to milestone: By tying for fifth in the saddle bronc riding at Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo in Phillipsburg, five-time World Champion Billy Etbauer moved to within $806 of joining Trevor Brazile as the only men to have reached $3 million in career earnings. Etbauer needs $2,147 to become the first cowboy to reach the $3 million milestone in a single event.
• Plemons makes his move: Lawson Plemons of Axtell, Texas, was hanging around on the edges of the Top 15 in the steer roping standings until he put together back-to-back wins at Phillipsburg, Kan., and Gillette, Wyo., over the weekend. Combined with checks at Dalhart, Texas, and Dodge City, Kan., Plemons had earnings of $10,557. It nearly doubled his money total for the season and moved him from 16th to seventh place.
• Injury updates: Two-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Robert Etbauer has been hospitalized in Oklahoma City since Aug. 4 with blood clots in his legs. His son, two-time Linderman Award winner Trell Etbauer, is sidelined indefinitely with a dislocated right wrist … Bareback rider Tilden Hooper, a two-time Wrangler NFR qualifier, broke his right collarbone (clavicle) in “two or three places” when he was bucked off at the Days of ’76 Rodeo in Deadwood, S.D. It was surgically repaired by Dr. Pepper Murray in Salt Lake City Aug. 3, and Hooper expects to be back in time for the Justin Boots Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash., Sept. 10-12
Next Up
Ongoing Northeast Montana Fair & Rodeo, Glasgow, Mont.
Ongoing Larimer County Fair & Rodeo, Loveland, Colo.
Ongoing Field of Dreams Stampede, La Crete, Alberta
Aug. 10 Yuma County Fair & Rodeo, Yuma, Colo., begins
Aug. 11 Missoula (Mont.) Stampede begins
Aug. 11 Inter-State Rodeo, Coffeyville, Kan., begins
Aug. 11 Crossett (Ark.) Riding Club Rodeo begins
Aug. 11 *Farm-City Rodeo, Hermiston, Ore., begins
Aug. 11 Lawton (Okla.) Rangers Rodeo begins
Aug. 11 *Sikeston (Mo.) Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo begins
Aug. 12 Dawson County Fair & Rodeo, Glendive, Mont., begins
Aug. 12 Red Horse Ranch PRCA Rodeo, Fergus Falls, Minn., begins
Aug. 12 Cache County Fair & Rodeo, Logan, Utah, begins
Aug. 12 101 Wild West Rodeo, Ponca City, Okla., begins
Aug. 12 Silverton (Texas) Buck Wild Days Rodeo begins
Aug. 12 Omak (Wash.) Stampede begins
Aug. 13 Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Lake Luzerne, N.Y.
Aug. 13 Summit County Fair & Rodeo, Coalville, Utah, begins
Aug. 13 Sand & Sage Roundup, Lamar, Colo., begins
Aug. 13 Ralph Morgan Semi-Annual Rodeo, Lauderdale, Miss., begins
Aug. 13 Mesquite (Texas) Championship Rodeo begins
Aug. 13 Linn County Fair & Rodeo, Mound City, Kan., begins
Aug. 13 Catfish Stampede, Onida, S.D., begins
Aug. 13 Phil Gardenhire PRCA Rodeo, Poteau, Okla., begins
Aug. 13 Barron County PRCA Rodeo, Rice Lake, Wis., begins
Aug. 13 Sonora (Texas) Outlaw ProRodeo begins
Aug. 13 Steamboat Springs (Colo.) ProRodeo Series begins
Aug. 13 Dawson Creek (British Columbia) Stampede begins
Aug. 14 Cowtown Rodeo, Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J.
Aug. 14 Ventura County Fair Rodeo, Ventura, Calif., begins
Aug. 15 Cape Cod Stampede, East Falmouth, Mass., begins
* Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Silver rodeos
Rodeo News and Notes
Cooper, Martin, Strait receive American Cowboy Culture Award
ProRodeo Hall of Famer roper Roy Cooper, PRCA Chairman of the Board Keith Martin and country music legend George Strait are among those who have been selected for The American Cowboy Culture Award.
The honorees were selected for their contributions to cowboy culture and Western heritage and will be honored in conjunction with the 22nd Annual National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration, and National Championship Chuck Wagon Cook-Off, Sept. 9-12, at the Lubbock (Texas) Memorial Civic Center.
Cooper won eight world championships, including the all-around title in 1983. Cooper follows his father, Tuffy, as an award recipient. Cooper’s sons, Clint, Tuf and Clif, compete in roping events in the PRCA.
Along with serving the PRCA, Martin is the chief executive officer of the five-time and reigning PRCA Indoor Rodeo of the Year San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, held every February.
Strait, a team roper, is a longtime supporter of cowboys and the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, along with being an award-winning singer.
The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Bismarck, N.D., also is receiving the 2010 award.
Many in the rodeo community have been recipients of the American Cowboy Culture Award, including Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo, Jim Shoulders, Gene Autry, Larry Mahan, Ty Murray, Bob Tallman, Carl Nafzger, Buck Taylor, Red Steagall, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Mel and Wendy Potter and Stran and Jennifer Smith.
Bill to ban transportation of horses in double deck trucks passes House committee
Representative Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), introduced a bill (H.R. 305) to ban hauling horses in double deck trailers on Jan. 8, 2009. After no movement for 1½ years, the bill passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 29, 2010, with no hearing on the matter. There have been a few high-profile accidents in double deck trucks, one in Rep. Kirk’s district, that were caused by human error where many horses were injured. None of these accidents involved rodeo horses, mostly horses heading to sales or processing plants.
PRCA stock contractors routinely transport bucking horses in specially-modified double deck trucks with no safety issues. If this bill passes, it will require PRCA stock contractors to purchase more trailers and have more trailers on the road, considerably increasing the cost of doing business. Congress is on recess until Sept. 13; after that, the bill could come up for a vote in the House at any time.
Those who would like to protect rodeo’s interests should contact their Congressional Representatives during the recess to discuss the negative impacts of this bill on rodeo. For a full report on the issue and an action alert, go to prorodeo.com, click on Livestock Welfare, then “latest news,” or contact Cindy Schonholtz at 719-440-7255 or animalwelfare@prorodeo.com.
Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund – ways to help “Give a Hand Up”
There are many ways to assist the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund (JCCF) coming up across the country. The JCCF has distributed nearly $6 million to more than 800 injured rodeo athletes and their families. The Fund depends on the generosity of the rodeo community to support these efforts and greatly appreciates everyone who donates, holds a fundraiser or attends a fundraiser. Here are some of the great events and project that help support the JCCF:
The Sikeston Jaycee Roundup Celebrity Golf Tournament will take place on Aug. 13 at the Bootheel Golf Club with an 8 a.m shotgun start. Entry fees are $150 per team of three, fourth player is a pro or celebrity, lunch served after the tournament. For more information, email info@sikestonrodeo.com or call 573.471.7196.
The River City Roundup’s Buckaroo Bash will take place Aug. 14, at 6 p.m. in Omaha, Neb., at the Mouted Police Facility. Created 11 years ago by a group of rodeo enthusiasts, Buckaroo Bash is a way to gather support and bring excitement to the sport of rodeo in Omaha. Held annually, the Buckaroo Bash has raised more than $180,000 for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and the Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Stock Show through scholarship and equipment support. The evening is a time for everyone to shine up those cowboy boots and dust off their hats, because they are guaranteed to have a boot-stompin’ good time. Take a ride on a mechanical bull, enjoy an award-winning steak dinner, and bid away in both the live and silent auctions. For more information, contact Nicole Eilers at 402.554.9600 or eilersn@aksarben.org or www.rivercityrodeo.com.
The Pendleton Round-Up Memorial Golf Tournament begins with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at the beautiful Wild Horse Golf Course in Pendleton, Ore. Plan to come and play in this fun tournament. It is a great event to benefit the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. Contestants entered in the rodeo play free! Mark your calendar for the Monday of Round-Up week. For more information, contact Kris Smith at 541.240.1633 or stephandkris@msn.com.
The “Bring Em On Home” cookbook will be a one-of-a-kind tribute to PRCA cowboys and their families; it will be enjoyed by the competitors and fans alike. A portion of the proceeds from every book sold will be donated to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, and the project is on schedule to debut at the 2010 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Bonnie and Kimber Beers are heading up this project and felt this was a great way to give back to the sport we love and help keep our cowboys going down the road. This unique collection will feature recipes, stories, photos and special memories passed down from generation of cowboys and cowgirls who blazed our rodeo trails and our sons, daughters, husbands and wives who are reaching new heights in professional rodeo right now.
All PRCA members and their families are invited to be part of this project, please send any questions or recipes to bringemonhome@yahoo.com; the deadline for recipes and photos is Sept. 15.
Western Wishes pays tribute to fighting spirit of four Colorado families
The newly formed Colorado chapter of Western Wishes, an award-winning national program, will be celebrating the fighting spirit of four courageous Colorado families Aug. 10 during the Larimer County Fair & Rodeo performance at the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland.
Garrett Ross, 11, was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and has had two heart transplants and more than 20 heart-related medical procedures to date. He is currently coming back from a recent battle with organ rejection.
Hannah Sixkiller, 7, and her family will also be highlighted for her courageous battle with stage III cancer (brain tumor). Sixkiller was not expected to be able to attend, but Denver Children’s Hospital decided to allow her a day trip to attend the rodeo, as long as her radiation treatments allow her the strength.
Delaney Wadsworth, 3, was diagnosed with diffuse pontine glioma, which doctors say is 100-percent fatal. The neurologists and oncologists at Denver Children's Hospital have deemed the tumor inoperable due to its location. They have completed the five-day-high dosage, experimental radiation treatments to give her a chance to survive.
Sierra Brewster, 10 months, was born three months premature and weighed one pound, four ounces. She is still in Children’s Hospital in Denver, with no release date set. Her big brother and parents will attend the rodeo.
Western Wishes will be shooting footage for a Ranch and Resort TV spot highlighting the fighting spirit that all Western Wish families exemplify.
Western Wishes is dedicated to rewarding children and young adults faced with adversity who love the “Western” way of life.
“Colorado is cowboy country,” said Travis Hamblen, director of the Colorado chapter of Western Wishes. “This is why Western Wishes is a perfect program for Colorado. In just a few months, we have had an awesome response from the Western community in this great cowboy state. We are super excited to bring these families to such a great event.”
News and notes from the rodeo trail …
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City will induct nine new rodeo notables Oct. 22-24 – John and Mildred Farris, Denny Flynn, Clyde Frost, Walt Woodard, Charlie Beals, John A. Beutler, Ronald “Buddy” Lytle and Larry Kane …The Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo (STFR) has added two members to the Rodeo Austin team, and promoted Vanessa Sugrue to executive assistant. Jacklyn Moore and Jennifer Paladino join Rodeo Austin’s 11 other full-time team members who work year round to advance the non-profit’s mission Promoting Youth Education – Preserving Western Heritage … The Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo committee will dedicate the Sept. 3 performance to bullfighter Loyd Ketchum, who suffered a broken back at that rodeo last year when he was hit hard by a bull. “When I left Ellensburg, I didn’t know if I would walk again,” Ketchum said. He broke his T-12 vertebra and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where surgery was performed to place a rod in his back. Doctors told Ketchum he would recover in six months. Ketchum was back working in January, two months ahead of schedule. “I’m rodeoing hard right now,” Ketchum said. The Sept. 6 performance is being dedicated to Allen Faltus, a member of the Ellensburg Board of Directors for 38 years.
