Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association News and Notes August 4, 2008

By Courtesy PRCA
Posted Monday, August 4, 2008

Fantastic four: Big paydays await in Hermiston, Lawton, Lovington and Sikeston
With four of the top-paying rodeos of August scheduled this weekend, contestants from America’s Heartland to the High Plains and Pacific Northwest won’t have any trouble finding an event with big possibilities.

The Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston, Ore.; Lawton (Okla.) Rangers Rodeo, Lea County Fair and PRCA Rodeo in Lovington, N.M.; and Sikeston (Mo.) Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo all are offering at least $10,000 in added money per event. Between the four, nearly $700,000 in prize money was awarded last year, more than a $200,000 increase from 2006.

All four rodeos start Aug. 6 and have four nightly performances, with each ending Aug. 9.

2. Etbauer wins another Dodge City title
DODGE CITY, Kan. – Saddle bronc rider Billy Etbauer's bid for a record-tying sixth world championship took a big step forward on Aug. 3 with his third win at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo in the past four years at the 26th and final stop on the 2008 Wrangler ProRodeo Tour.

Etbauer, who had won the first round with an 86-point ride on Harry Vold Rodeo's Sun Devil, came back on Sunday to share second in the short round with an 84-point effort on Harry Vold's Hangar and claim the average title by a single point over Isaac Diaz and Rusty Allen.

His combined earnings of $6,637 for the weekend kept his lead in the Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings at more than $6,000 over Cody Wright, who finished fourth in the average in Dodge City. Diaz won Sunday's short round, also on Sun Devil, with a score of 87 points.

Etbauer, 45, is seeking to equal the record of six saddle bronc world championships shared by Casey Tibbs and Dan Mortensen.

Bareback rider Steven Dent of Mullen, Neb., also extended his lead in the world standings by winning the two-head average. Dent rode Frontier Rodeo Company's Full Baggage for 87 points in Sunday's short round to match the 87 Royce Ford earned on Frontier Rodeo's Delta Force, and that was enough to hold off Ford by one point in the average (166-165).

Doug Pharr, of Victoria, Texas, backed up his second-round win in the tie-down roping with another in Sunday's short round that he managed in a rodeo-best 7.4 seconds. The parlay brought him the average title with a three-head time of 25.5 seconds and also the all-around crown with earnings of $4,180.

The most dominant victory of the weekend belonged to bull rider J.W. Harris of May, Texas. He won the first round on Frontier Rodeo Company's Wolf with an 89-point ride and then won the short go with 87 points on Frontier Rodeo Company's Coyote Bill. His combined score of 176 points beat runner-up Cooper Kanngiesser by 21 points.

The other average-title winners were Sean Mulligan of Coleman, Okla., and Jason Lahr of Emporia, Kan., who tied for the steer wrestling title (12.7 seconds on three head), team ropers Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla. (16.6 seconds on three head) and barrel racer Terra Bynum of Colorado City, Texas, (34.53 seconds on two runs).

Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Champions
Bareback Riding
Steven Dent (Mullen, Neb.), 166/2, $3,708

Steer Wrestling
(tie) Sean Mulligan (Coleman, Okla.) and Jason Lahr (Emporia, Kan.), 12.7 seconds on three head, $5,367 and $4,985, respectively

Team Roping
Keven Daniel (Franklin, Tenn.)/Cory Petska (Lexington, Okla.), 16.6/3, $6,295 each

Saddle Bronc Riding
Billy Etbauer (Edmond, Okla.), 241/3, $6,637

Tie-Down Roping
Doug Pharr (Victoria, Texas), 25.5/3, $4,180

Barrel Racing
Terra Bynum (Colorado City, Texas), 34.53/2, $5,107

Bull Riding
J.W. Harris (May, Texas), 176/2, $7,296

Steer Roping
Cody Lee (Gatesville, Texas), 34.6/3, $4,592

Upcoming PRCA Rodeos

Badlands Circuit: Catfish Stampede, Aug. 8-9, Onida, S.D.; Ashley Rodeo, Aug. 9-10, Ashley, N.D.

California Circuit: Truckee Championship Rodeo, Aug. 9-10, Truckee; Ventura County Fair Rodeo, Aug. 9-10, Ventura
Columbia River Circuit: Farm-City Pro Rodeo, Aug. 6-9, Hermiston, Ore.; Omak Stampede, Aug. 7-10, Omak, Wash.; Yakima Valley Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 8-9, Grandview, Wash.

First Frontier Circuit: Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, July 6, Aug. 8, Lake Luzerne, N.Y.; Gerry Volunteer Fireman’s Rodeo, Aug. 6-10, Gerry, N.Y.; Cowtown Rodeo, Aug. 9, Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J.

Great Lakes Circuit: Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, Aug. 6-9, Sikeston, Mo.; Lyon County Fair PRCA Rodeo, Aug. 7-8, Marshall, Minn.

Montana Circuit: Dawson County Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 7-8, Dawson; Missoula Stampede, Aug. 8-9, Missoula; Northeast Montana Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 10-11, Glasgow

Mountain States Circuit: Lincoln County Fair Rodeo, Aug. 4-5, Afton, Wyo.; Yuma County Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 5-6, Yuma, Colo.; Logan County Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 7-8, Sterling, Colo.; Kit Carson County Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 7-9, Burlington, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series, Aug. 8-9, Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Douglas County Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 8-10, Castle Rock, Colo.

Prairie Circuit: Lawton Rangers Rodeo, Aug. 6-9, Lawton, Okla.; 101 Wild West Rodeo, Aug. 7-9, Ponca City, Okla.; Linn County Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 8-9, Mound City, Kan.

Southeastern Circuit: Ralph Morgan Semi-annual Rodeo, Aug. 8-9, Lauderdale, Miss.

Texas Circuit: XIT Rodeo & Reunion, Aug. 7-9, Dalhart; Sonora Outlaw Pro Rodeo, Aug. 8-9, Sonora

Turquoise Circuit: Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo, Aug. 6-9, Lovington, N.M.

Wilderness Circuit: Cache County Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 7-9, Logan, Utah; Summit County Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 8-9, Coalville, Utah

Canada: Dawson Creek Stampede, Aug. 8-10, Dawson Creek, British Columbia; Olds Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 8-10, Olds, Alberta