News and Notes from the Rodeo Trail, Oct. 2
Campbell has big final weekend to get into WNFR: Bull rider Boudreaux Campbell couldn’t have picked a better weekend to have big performances. The Crockett, Texas, cowboy earned $5,282. He earned $2,672 in Kansas City, Mo., and $2,610 at the WCC event Sept. 30 in Sioux Falls – on the final weekend of PRCA’s regular season to move up from No. 16 in the Sept. 25 WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings to No. 14 in the unofficial Oct. 2 standings with $88,063. Campbell slipped past Tristan Mize, who was in the No. 15 position in the Sept. 25 standings. Guthrie Murray ended up No. 15 with $87,288 and Brady Portenier ($87,014) and Tristan Mize ($85,957) ended up No. 16 and No. 17. Campbell and Mize also are rookies, and by finishing ahead of Mize, Campbell also could win the PRCA Resistol Bull Riding Rookie of the Year.
Steer wrestler Floyd headed to WNFR: Like Campbell, steer wrestler Chason Floyd will also make his WNFR debut after holding off Josh Peek and Clayton Hass for the coveted No. 15 spot. Floyd finished with $71,192 to just edge Peek ($71,105) and Hass ($70,545). Peek is a seven-time WNFR qualifier, including four times in steer wrestling (2007, 2009-10, 2016). Hass had qualified the WNFR three years in a row (2014-16) and finished third in the steer wrestling world standings last year and second in the all-around cowboy race behind Junior Nogueira. Neither Peek nor Floyd won any money on the last weekend, but Hass made a late push when he finished second at the Wrangler Champions Challenge presented by Justin Boots Sept. 29 in Sioux Falls, S.D., earning $3,016. Hass, however, didn’t win any money at the WCC event Sept. 30 in Sioux Falls and came up just short of his fourth career WNFR bid.
Buhler in, Simpson out of WNFR: Reigning team roping world champions – header Levi Simpson and heeler Jeremy Buhler – will not defend their titles together at the 2017 WNFR. Buhler will be competing in Las Vegas as he finished No. 15 in the standings with $68,006, but Simpson was on the outside looking in as he came in 16th with $68,006. Charly Crawford finished No. 15 in the team roping header standings with $74,146.
When new mom and longtime equine journalist Lindsay Keller began reading books to her son, she realized the “cowboy” books available to children were few and far between and many of them were created by people not truly familiar with the Western way of life.
So, she decided to do something about it. Partnering with her mother and illustrator, Marilyn Domer, the two created the book “Short Go Makes the NFR” to give rodeo kids a heart-warming story they could relate to and appreciate.
“Short Go” is a bay Quarter Horse who is owned by siblings Elsie and Max. Inspired by real childhood play, Short Go and the children re-enact the timed events at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
The book has a surprise ending where Short Go travels to Las Vegas to help carry out a very special task during each performance at the real NFR.
As part of the launch process, “Short Go Makes the NFR” was not only reviewed by rodeo families, but also representatives of the professional rodeo industry.
“When Lindsay and Marilyn approached us with their book idea, we knew right away it was something we wanted to be a part of,” said PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman. “We hope ‘Short Go Makes the NFR’ helps fuel a passion for the sport of professional rodeo in the hearts of every young cowboy and cowgirl who reads it.”
“We are honored that Lindsay and Marilyn chose to include Miss Rodeo America in this wonderful children’s book,” said Kiki Shumway, President of Miss Rodeo America, Inc. “We hope this story will encourage and inspire young cowgirls to follow in her footsteps as ambassadors who will promote the sport of professional rodeo and our western traditions.”
To purchase the book, visit www.TheBellMareBookCo.com and to keep up with the latest news and giveaways, follow Short Go at www.Facebook.com/ShortGoMakesTheNFR.
ProRodeoLive.com will broadcast the RAM Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo Oct. 5-7, beginning at 7 p.m. (PT) each day.
Bareback rider Logan Corbett won the Southern New Mexico State Fair rodeo with a 92-point ride on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Wilson Sanchez on Sept. 30, the final day of the PRCA regular season. It tied the highest-scored bareback ride of the 2017 campaign.
Ed Pickering, a PRCA Gold Card member and a former steer wrestler and team roper, passed away Sept. 21, at his home in Hygiene, Colo. He was 77. Pickering was born on Dec. 25, 1939, in Denver, Colo., to Frank and Millie (McQueary) Pickering. He grew up in Kremmling, Colo., and graduated from high school there. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University-Fort Collins in 1965, putting himself through school by rodeoing, winning the all-around cowboy four times and the regional championship in steer wrestling and tie-down roping.
The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association recently announced its contract award winners that work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all happen and keep the Association alive and well. Each winner will be officially recognized during the annual WPRA Star Celebration on Dec. 7 at the Grand Ballroom of the South Point Hotel and Casino. The Lenora Reimers Heritage Award is given annually to an individual or group that has been a longtime supporter of the WPRA and works to continue the heritage of the Association. This year’s recipient is Pam Minick. Minick has worked tirelessly in supporting the WPRA as competitor, through her work in the media, during her time on the board and her involvement with the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. It has truly been a banner year for the WPRA with history being made on Aug. 5, when barrel racers were inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. In recognition of this historic day the WPRA will honor the ProRodeo Hall of Fame with the Distinguished Partnership Award. In addition, PRCA Board Member Troy Weekley will be presented with the Outstanding Individual award.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The NFR is its own separate animal. There are no days off. You need to be physically and mentally prepared to be ready to go battle. You need to show up as the best possible version of yourself, and that’s what I plan on doing.”
– Reigning PRCA bareback riding world champion Tim O’Connell told the ProRodeo Sports News about his mindset as he prepares for the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER. O’Connell will arrive in Las Vegas in December as the season leader in the bareback riding standings.
Courtesy of PRCA