News and Notes from the Rodeo Trail, September 17

• The following people have been nominated for the 2018 PRCA Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award: Sunni Deb Backstrom, Hadley Barrett, Lecile Harris and Duane Reichert. The purpose of this award is to recognize and honor those contract personnel members of the PRCA who have dedicated their lives to the rodeo industry through their commitment, hard work and contributions. Past winners of the Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award were Donita Barnes (2011), Art and Linda Alsbaugh (2012), Fred and Norma Dorenkamp (2013), Quail Dobbs (2014), Cotton Rosser (2015), Karen Vold (2016) and Jim and Julie Sutton (2017).

• Cowboys competed at 14 rodeos across North America, Sept. 10-16, worth $911,636 to try to secure a spot within the Top 15 and qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

• The Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene, Kan., held its annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign Aug. 3 where voluntary donations were picked up in the amount of $2,678.93 to benefit Dickinson County people undergoing cancer treatment. The money goes to the Elsie Brooks Memorial Cancer Fund of Dickinson County, which provides financial help to Dickinson County residents with cancer. Since the Elsie Brooks fund began 20 years ago, it has given out more than $750,000 to those in need. The Abilene rodeo has partnered with the Elsie Brooks Fund since 2008. Since then, it has helped raise $34,480. For more information on the Elsie Brooks Cancer Fund, contact Chris Ostermann at 785.479.3749. For more information on the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo, visit the rodeo’s website at WildBillHickokRodeo.com or call the Central Kansas Free Fair office at 785.263.4570.

• The final PRCA Rodeo Camp of 2018 is scheduled for Sept. 30 in San Bernardino, Calif. Registration is required at www.prorodeo.com/prorodeo/rodeo/youth-rodeo.

PRCA Stat of the Week

As of Sept. 17, there have been 610 rodeos during the 2018 season paying out a total of $36,317,022.

Courtesy of PRCA