News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail, Feb. 23
by ProRodeo.com | Feb 23, 2015
After earning two checks over the weekend at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, team roping header Clay Tryan became the 22nd cowboy to surpass $2 million in career earnings. With the help of heeler Jade Corkill – the pair have been team roping world champions the past two seasons – Tryan earned $1,141 in the first round and then added $1,711 in the second round to push his career earnings to $2,001,131. Of the 22 men who have surpassed $2 million in career earnings, 18 of them have at least some money won in team roping, including saddle bronc riding legend Billy Etbauer.
Beginning Feb. 24, the Wrangler Network will be live streaming all of the rodeo action at the 67th San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on wranglernetwork.com. The Feb. 24-27 nightly rodeos will air live on the website, as well as the Xtreme Bulls event and rodeo finale on Feb. 28.
Zeb Lanham, a two-time WNFR qualifying bull rider who is currently No. 3 in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, underwent surgery Feb. 19 to repair several injuries he suffered at the Seminole Classic Xtreme Bulls event Feb. 15 when he was stepped on by a bull. Lanham suffered a lacerated liver, two punctured lungs and 16 fractures to his ribcage. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital from the rodeo grounds.
After an extensive, nationwide search, the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association has selected Dan Eddy as the association’s next General Manager. Eddy, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, has an extensive background in auto racing, as a former driver and team owner on the NASCAR circuit. Eddy will begin as General Manager of the CPRA on March 16. Outgoing GM Bob Steadward will remain as a CPRA consultant for the transition, until March 28.
Tim Shirley, a 32-year-old WNFR bareback rider, suffered a watershed stroke on Dec. 21, 2014. He remained in a coma for four days, and is now going through physical and speech therapy. The Downare Brothers Auctioneers will host an auction on Feb. 28 at the Mountain High Christian Center in Morrison, Colo., to help Shirley and his family in this trying time. To donate auction items or receive additional information, please contact Myles Downare at 719.395.7798.
Four-time World Champion Team Roper Jim Rodriguez Jr. is one of six individuals in the third class inducted into the Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame this summer. Born in Watsonville, Rodriguez rose to stardom in part due to his performances at California Rodeo Salinas. The Salinas High graduate was a team-roping champion at the rodeo four times – 1957-58, 1960 and 1962. He also competed in tie-down roping there, winning the title in 1968. He was a five-time Salinas all-around champion, sharing the crown with Gene Rambo in 1958 and 1960, and winning it outright in 1962, 1968 and 1971.
In conjunction with the Red Bluff (Calif.) Roundup, the PRCA is hosting a free one-day roughstock camp March 28. The camp is geared toward those competitors who are just starting out in the sport, and those with some experience who want to learn about fundamentals from PRCA champion cowboys. “Some cowboys may not have a parent or older sibling with ProRodeo experience and may not have access to instruction,” said Julie Jutten, industry outreach manager at the PRCA. “We want to provide future ProRodeo athletes free opportunities to learn how to use rodeo equipment and to be around livestock.” Camp curriculum includes an introduction to roughstock events with an emphasis on safety, technique, chute procedures, livestock safety, riding equipment, injury prevention, management, fitness, nutrition and business. There are no live buckouts. New this year, the Red Bluff camp will offer instruction in steer wrestling as well as the roughstock events. To learn more or get registered for this camp, visit prorodeo.com/PRCARodeoCamps
The Reno Rodeo presented a check for $275,265 to the Reno Rodeo Foundation for its myriad programs. The money comes from the profits made during the 2014 Reno Rodeo, and funds scholarships for university students and provides support to numerous youth and community-related charities.
The California Rodeo Salinas’ Hall of Fame is calling for members of the local community and rodeo industry to nominate potential Hall of Fame members by filling out a nomination form and submitting it by Feb. 27. Nomination forms can be found at www.carodeo.com by clicking on “Get Involved” and then “Entry Forms & Applications.” Forms can also be picked up in person at the California Rodeo Office at 1034 N. Main Street in Salinas. Categories for induction include: committee members, livestock, contestants, contract personnel/performers, notables, supporters/contributors and staff.
The Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame Region 5 reception this past weekend in Sheridan honored 1961 All-Around World Champion Benny Reynolds and his fellow PRCA cowboy John Forbes of Kaycee. They were both inducted in the inaugural Wyoming Cowboy HOF class last November.
Construction crews are now two months into building Missouri Valley College’s new rodeo practice facility, the DJ Rodeo Arena. The 61,750 square-foot covered facility – being built in the location of the teams’ current outdoor practice space – will allow the college’s rodeo teams to practice year-round. The $1 million facility was primarily funded through donations, including a $750,000 anonymous donation. Completion of the DJ Rodeo Arena is estimated to be June 1.
After a two-year hiatus, the Rodeo Clown Reunion will return Aug. 12-15 at the Coffeyville (Kan.) PRCA Rodeo. Many retired rodeo clowns from Oregon to Texas to Florida will converge on Coffeyville to perform their old acts and dust off those old clown outfits they wore while working PRCA rodeos. For more information, contact Gail Woerner at rodeogal@airmail.net or call 512.266.1001.
One of the newest attractions at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo this year is the Cowboy Boot Camp. It’s designed for the youngest buckaroos to provide some hands-on experience with rodeo-related activities. The boot camp has 10 stations with activities ranging from panning for gold, to saddling up a “pony,” to milking a cow. Kids can also try their hand at roping or making a rope by hand.
Sierra Dawn Thomas, a WPRA barrel racer from the Wilderness Circuit, will compete as one of the contestants on the 30th season of the CBS TV show “Survivor,” which begins Feb. 25.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I was around when the Dead Sea was just getting sick.”
-Rodeo clown and barrelman Leon Coffee doesn’t like to reveal his age, but concedes he’s been around awhile in an interview with KENS-TV. He’s working his 32nd San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo this month.
Courtesy of PRCA