Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo Brings in Big Names and Brings Home Local Favorite

By Ted Harbin
Posted Monday, May 5, 2008

There was a light in Beau Franzen’s eye on Sunday afternoon.

The Oklahoma Panhandle State University graduate had just finished a rugged week of work in his old stomping grounds. Now living in Sidney, Mont., Franzen ventures back to No Man’s Land when his work requires it, and last week’s Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo called for a reunion in Texas County.

When the all-around cowboy busted through on Sunday afternoon for a 3.9-second steer-wrestling run, it meant hard work had paid off. He finished tied for fifth in the final go-round and earned almost $1,000 for the feat. More importantly, though, it moved him into the No. 2 spot in the all-important aggregate race and added another $2,980 to his pocketbook.

“It’s always good to come back here,” said Franzen, who moved to Goodwell earlier this decade to attend Panhandle State and compete on the university’s prestigious rodeo team. “It’s way better when you can win a bunch of money back here.”

Franzen did just that. He finished in a tie for fifth in all three go-rounds and earned $5,514, all for just 11.7 seconds of work.

“This is good for me coming back,” said Franzen, who was fifth in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s bulldogging world standings prior to Pioneer Days Rodeo. “I broke my leg over the Fourth of July last year and had to sit out a few months. So it’s good to be on this stretch.”

Only Californian Luke Branquinho fared better than Franzen. The 2004 world champ won two rounds and placed in a third, finishing with the fastest cumulative time of 10.9 seconds on three runs. Branquinho earned $8,643 while in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

His week’s worth of labor moved his earnings to $35,752 and should move him up one spot in the standings. The goal, of course, is to finish the regular season in a similar location – the top 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the rodeo season qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, and the contestant in each event with the most money won at the end of the NFR will be crowned world champion.

Franzen has played on ProRodeo’s biggest stage, having run with the best of them during the 2005 championship in Las Vegas.

“Doing well in Guymon helps in the standings, but it’s also a tour rodeo, so it’s good to get these tour points,” he said, referring to the ProRodeo Tour, which features 26 events and a tiered playoff system. The deeper contestants go in the playoffs, the better money that is available.

Franzen wasn’t the only Panhandle son to fair well in her biggest event. Legendary world champion Billy Etbauer – who spent time in the Panhandle early in his career and whose brothers, Robert and Dan, live near Goodwell – is well on his way to a sixth world championship.

Billy Etbauer rode the horse Smoke Jumper for 87 points on Saturday afternoon and tied Chet Johnson of Gillette, Wyo., for the victory.

“It’s a dream come true for me to compete against Billy, much less to split a big rodeo like this one with him,” said Johnson, 27, a two-time NFR qualifier. “I grew up watching him and seeing how great he is, so this is a big deal to me.”

Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo

Final Results

Bareback riding: 1. Jerad Schlegal, Burns, Colo., 87 points on Dirty Jacket, $5,194; 2. Zac Compton, Hermiston, Ore., 84, $3,982; 3. Cimmaron Gerke, Brighton, Colo., 83, $2,944; 4. Dennis Foyil, Guthrie, Okla., Tom McFarland, Wickenburg, Ariz., Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., and Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., 82, $1,169; 8. Scotty Drennan, Buffalo, Texas, and Jessy Davis, Payson, Utah, 81, $260.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla., on Smoke Jumper and Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo., on Pearl Jam, 87 points, $5,117; 3. J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 84, $3,283; 4. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, and Cody Horwedel, Shandon, Calif., 83, $1,738; 6. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, Anthony Bello, Oakley, Utah, and Isaac Diaz, Davie, Fla., 82, $772.

Bull riding: 1. Randy Maverick, Morrison, Okla., 89 points on Air Up, $5,643; 2. Spud Jones, Tohatchi, N.M., 87, $4,327; 3. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., and Thad Newell, Muskogee, Okla., 86, $2,634; 5. Corey Montana Davis, New Bloomfield, Mo., Bobby Welch, Gillette, Wyo., and Bandy Murphy, Weatherford, Okla., 84, $1,003; 8. Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., 83, $564

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. (tie) Luke Branquinho and Wade Sumpter, 3.7 seconds, $2,136 each; 3. (tie) Curtis Cassidy and Jule Hazen, 3.8, $1,540 each; 5. (tie) Shawn Greenfield, Beau Franzen and Clayton Morrison, 4.0, $795 each; 8. (tie) Jon Ragatz and Trevor Cox, 4.1, $99 each. Second round: 1. Jason Miller, 2.9 seconds (arena record), $2,285; 2. Baillie Milan, 3.5, $1,987; 3. (tie) Clint Robinson and Gabe Ledoux, 3.6, $1,540 each; 5. (tie) Trey Austin III, Luke Branquinho and Beau Franzen, 3.7, $795 each; 8. (tie) Clifford Smith, Linn Churchill and Shawn Greenfield, 4.0, $66 each. Third round: 1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.4 seconds, $2,285; 2. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 3.7, $1,987; 3. Dan Barner, Hershey, Neb., and Joey Bell Jr., Athens, Texas, 3.8, $1,540; 5. Baillie, Milan, Cochrane, Alberta, and Beau Franzen, Sidney, Mont., 3.9, $944; 7. Jon Ragatz, Cassville, Wis., 4.0, $497; 8. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 4.1, $199, Average: 1. Branquinho, 10.9 on three runs, $3,427; 2. Franzen, 11.7, $2,980; 3. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., 12.2, $2,533; 4. Trevor Cox, Purdum, Neb., 12.6, $2,086; 5. Milan and Clayton Morrison, Wellington, Colo., 12.8, $1,415; 7. Jule Hazen, Protection, Kan., 13.0, $745; Ragatz, 13.4, $149.

Team roping: First round: 1. Keven Daniel/Cory Petska, 5.6 seconds, $2,302 each; 2. (tie) Matt Sherwood/Randon Adams and Turtle Powell/Travis Graves, 6.1, $1,851 each; 4. (tie) Travis Tryan/Michael Jones and Cody McMinn/Travis Woodard, 6.3, $1,251 each; 6. (tie) Bubba Buckaloo/Jett Hillman and Coleman Proctor/Jake Long, 6.5, $650 each; 8. Dusty Forre/Troy Hermelbracht, 6.8, $200. Second round: 1. Brad Hamilton/Mickey Gomez, 5.9 seconds, $2,302 each; 2. Colter Todd/Cesar de la Cruz, 6.2, $2,001; 3. Logan Olson/Broc Cresta, 6.3, $1,701; 4. Garrett Tonozzi/Kinney Harrell, 6.4, $1,401; 5. Jojo Lemond/Martin Lucero, 6.5, $1,101; 6. Chance Kelton/Boogie Ray, 6.6, $801; 7. Justin Turner/Jace Crabb, 7.5, $500; 8. Mike Bacon/Kollin Von Ahn, 7.6, $200. Third round: 1. Travis Tryan/Michael Jones, 5.1, $2,302; 2. Logan Olson/Broc Cresta, 5.5, $2,001; 3. Clay Tryan/Walt Woodard, 6.4, $1,701; 4. Keven Daniel/Cory Petska, 6.5, $1,401; 5. Brad Hamilton/Mickey Gomez, 6.8, $1,101; 6. Charly Crawford/Jhett Johnson, 7.0, $801; 7. Luke Brown/Monty Joe Petska, 7.3, $500; 8. Colter Todd/Cesar de la Cruz, 7.6, $200. Average: 1. Chance Kelton/Boogie Ray, 21.2 on three runs, $3,452; 2. Todd/de la Cruz, 21.9, $3,002; 3. Jake Barnes/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 23.8, $2,552; 4. Crawford/Johnson, 24.6, $2,101; 5. Daniel/Petska, 25.0, $1,651; 6. Jay Adams/Cody Hintz, 28.0, $1,201; 7. Brown/Petska, 28.3, $751; 8. Clayton Hamill/Cody Curry, 29.9, $300.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Scott Kormos, 7.8 seconds, $2,348; 2. (tie) Timber Moore and Joe Beaver, 8.1, $1,888 each; 4. Joseph Gernentz, 8.3, $1,429; 5. (tie) Cade Swor and Blair Burk, 8.4, $970 each 7. Randall Carlisle, 8.6, $510; 8. Tim Pharr, 8.7, $204. Second round: 1. Houston Hutto, 7.5 seconds, $2,348; 2. Kody Curry, 7.7, $2,041; 3. Steve Brickey, 8.0, $1,735; 4. Cimarron Boardman, 8.1, $1,429; 5. Kelsey Garrison, 8.2, $1,223; 6. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Jeff Chapman, 8.3, $663 each; 8. Caddo Lewallen, 8.4, $204. Third round: 1. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.7 seconds, $2,348; 2. Caddo Lewallen, Morrison, Okla., 8.5, $2,041; 3. Steve Brickey, Tahlequah, Okla., 8.8, $1,835; 4. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, Tim Pharr, Resaca, Ga., and Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 8.9, $1,123; 7. Patrick Bellis, Lovington, N.M., and Steven Catalani, San Antonio, 9.2, $357. Average: 1. Hanchey, 26.5 on three runs, $3,522; 2. Jeff Chapman, Athens, Texas, 27.3, $3,062; 3. Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas, 27.6, $2,603; 4. Timber Moore, Stephenville, Texas, $2,144; 5. Brickey, 27.9, $1,684; 6. Pharr, 28.0, $1,225; 7. Brazile and Herrin, 28.7, $536.

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Jana Jarreau, 16.58 seconds, $1,933; 2. Delores Toole, 16.61, $1,657; 3. Lindsay Sears, 16.69, $1,381; 4. Whitney Baker, 16.73, $1,197; 5. Angie Meadors, 16.79, $920; 6. Diann Bukowski, 16.80, $736; 7. (tie) Tammy Key-Fischer and Annesa Self, 16.83, $460 each; 9. Cassie Moseley, 16.84, $276; 10. Megan McLeod, 16.87, $184. Second round: 1. Tammy Key-Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 16.49 seconds, $1,933; 2. Terra Bynum, Colorado City, Texas, 16.51, $1,657; 3. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, Victoria, Texas, 16.64, $1,381; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 16.76, $1,197; 5. Andrea Clark, Lusk, Wyo., 16.80, $920; 6. Sue Berg, Bloomington, Minn., $735; 7. Annesa Self, Valley View, Texas, 16.83, $552; 8. Lizzy Allen, Abilene, Texas, 16.88, $368; 9. Molly Powell, Stephenville, Texas, and Cassie Moseley, Farwell, Texas, 16.92, $230. Average: 1. Key-Fischer, 33.32 on two runs, $1,933; 2. Bynum, 33.45, $1,657; 3. Jana Jareau, Greenwell Springs, La., 33.53, $1,381; 4. Self, 33.66, $1,197; 5. Pozzi-Pharr, 33.71, $920; 6. Moseley, 33.76, $736; 7. Delores Toole, Manter, Kan., 33.81. $552; 8. Berg, 33.84, $368; 9/ Lockhart, 33.87, 276; 10. Powell, 33.91, $184.

Steer roping: First round: 1. Cash Myers, 11.4 seconds, $1,790; 2. Leo Campbell, 11.7, $1,557; 3. Jess Tierney, 11.8, $1,323; 4. Shorty Garten, 12.3, $1,090; 5. K.W. Lauer, 12.5, $856; 6. Trevor Brazile, 12.6, $623; 7. Tim Abbott, 12.7, $389; 8. Dee Kyler Jr., 12.9, $156. Second round: 1. J.D. Yates, 11.9 seconds, $1,790; 2. (tie) Vin Fisher Jr. and Rod Hartness, 12.3, $1,440 each; 4. (tie) Brady Garten, Shane Suggs and Neal Wood, 12.5, $856 each; 7. Jim Locke, 12.8, $389; 8. Trevor Brazile, 12.9, $156. Third round: 1. J. Paul Williams, 10.4 seconds, $1,790; 2. Rocky Patterson, 11.3, $1,557; 3. (tie) K.W. Lauer, Guy Allen, J.D. Long and Scott Snedecor, 11.6, $973 each; 7. Brady Garten, 11.9, $389; 8. (tie) Leo Campbell and Vin Fisher Jr., 12.2, $78 each. Fourth round: 1. (tie) Scott Snedecor and Blair Burk, 10.6 seconds, $1,674 each; 3. J.D. Yates, 10.8, $1,323; 4. (tie) Dan Fisher and J.B. Whatley, 10.9, $973 each; 6. (tie) Will Gasperson and Brady Garten, 11.6, $506 each; 8. Bryce Davis, 11.7, $156. Fifth round: 1. Leo Campbell, Amarillo, Texas, 10.2 seconds, $1,790; 2. David Felton, Dennis, Texas, 10.9, $1,557; 3. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 11.1, $1,323; 4. Will Gasperson, Decatur, Texas, 11.2, $1,090; 5. Shorty Garten, Pawhuska, Okla., 11.3, $856; 6. Chris Glover, Keenesburg, Colo., 11.9, $623; 7. Bradey Garten, Chelsea, Okla., 12.1, $389; 8. J.D. Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 12.8, $156. Average: 1. Yates, 64.2 on five runs, $5,372; 2. Brazile, 65.1, $4,671; 3. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 73.8, $3,970; 4. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 75.5, $3,269; 5. Rocky Garnett, McAlester, Okla., 76.7, $2,569; 6. Dee Kyler Jr., Pawhuska, Okla., 86.3, $1,868; 7. Cody Scheck, Alva, Okla., 91.2, $1,168; 8. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 99.1, $467.