News and Notes from the Rodeo Trail, Nov. 21
by ProRodeo.com | Nov 21, 2016
Denny Wall, a bull rider who qualified for the National Finals Rodeo from 1965-68 and won the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo in 1966, passed away Nov. 13 in Payson, Ariz. He was 72. Wall finished a career-best ninth in the world standings in 1966. He also was a career-best second in the NFR average in 1965.
The Cascade (Mont.) County commissioners recently approved a three-year contract that will return the RAM Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo to Montana ExpoPark for at least three more years. Commissioner Jane Weber praised Montana ExpoPark Director Susan Shannon for putting together the contract that will continue the three-day rodeo in Great Falls through January 2019, with an option to renew another three years beyond that, through January 2022. The commissioners and Shannon called the rodeo a hallmark at Montana ExpoPark that benefits the county and community by drawing more than 12,000 fans annually.
The Lynden (Wash.) PRCA Rodeo’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign set a record in 2016 by donating $46,050 to the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center in Bellingham, Wash., for breast cancer patient care and research. Contestants, volunteers and spectators at the Aug. 16-17 rodeo wore pink shirts during performances to raise awareness of breast cancer, while local rodeo volunteers conducted fundraisers for the Cancer Center. The Cancer Center uses 100 percent of donations for patient support services and research.
Colorado Mesa University trustees last week approved the purchase of a seven-acre, $590,000 parcel of land in Grand Junction to accommodate the university’s growing rodeo team and sustainable agriculture program. Rodeo team adviser Kevin Bates said the facility reflects the hard work and dedication that the 20-student team puts into their sport. “The other aspect of it is a recruiting tool, so when we have kids who come to campus, and are interested in learning about the rodeo team, it’s nice to have a place to show them that really represents our team,” Bates said in an article in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Trustee Kathleen Eck said it was a simple decision to provide students with a better facility for the rodeo team, and the sustainable agriculture program.
At recent meetings of the Democratic Caucuses of the South Dakota State House and Senate, Democratic legislators selected their caucus leaders for the upcoming Legislative Session. Senator Billie Sutton of Burke was elected as Democratic leader of the Senate. Sutton was a PRCA bronc rider until he broke his back in a rodeo accident in the chutes.
Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up Queen Kendra Torrey and her four princesses – Sydney Jones, Taylor Ann Skramstad, Kaleigh Waggoner, and Betsy West – were introduced at a breakfast Nov. 19, hosted at the home of Steve and Susan Corey in Pendleton. They will reign over the 107th annual Pendleton Round-Up in 2017.
Courtesy of PRCA