News & Notes From the Rodeo Trail, February 11
PRCA Stat of the Week
3.1 seconds
The time steer wrestler Justin Shaffer clocked in the final round at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas, Feb. 9, breaking the arena record. The rodeo is moving to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth in 2020. The previous record was 3.2 seconds, shared by ProRodeo Hall of Famer Byron Walker (1981); Lee Laskosky (1997); Stephen Canik (1998) and Beau Clark (2012).
What to Watch For
Dixie National PRCA Rodeo, Jackson, Miss., Feb. 12-13, 7:30 p.m. (CT)
Scooter, who has won the last two PRCA | AQHA Horse of the Year honors for steer wrestling, finished his 2018 PRCA season by helping guide Tyler Waguespack to the world championship. Scooter’s owners Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin finished sixth and 12th, respectively, in the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings. “Scooter had an amazing year,” said Pearson in a press release. “He has blessed Kyle and I more than we could ever imagine. We wanted to pay it forward. We decided to donate Scooter’s $5000 Horse of the Year check (in 2018). Then we challenged our sponsors as well and have raised $19,500 dollars to donate to Watering Seeds Organization.” Watering Seeds Organization creates rehabilitation and wellness opportunities for individuals with disabilities. With this money, those with disabilities will be given scooters for mobility.
There are two upcoming PRCA Rodeo Days camps in San Antonio and Red Bluff, Calif. The PRCA one day camps in San Antonio take place March 11-14 and in Red Bluff March 23. The camps are slated for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CT). All abilities welcome for ages 8 and up. Registration required at prorodeo.com/jrrodeo.
The PRCA Rodeo Camp in Red Bluff is slated for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (PT) on March 23. All abilities welcome for ages 8 and up. Registration required at prorodeo.com/jrrodeo.
A Cowboy Golf Classic to benefit the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and ProRodeo Hall of Fame will take place Feb. 19 in San Antonio. All contestants at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo golf for free. Contact Amber Jacobs with JCCF at 719.528.4726 or ajacobs@prorodeo.com
Last week, Fenton Nelsen was named the first rodeo coach for Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb. Nelsen, who joined the PRCA in 2014, and competes in steer wrestling and tie-down roping, brings a vast knowledge of coaching experience to Northeast, previously serving as the assistant rodeo coach at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo., and as a rodeo clinician for young contestants in timed events. Nelsen earned his bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Missouri Valley, while a member of the rodeo team. He was a four-time collegiate national finals qualifier in two different events and a two-time top-10 collegiate national finals qualifier in steer wrestling. “I am excited to announce the hiring of Fenton Nelsen as the Northeast Head Rodeo Coach,” said Dean of Student Life and Athletics Kurt Kohler said in a press release. “Fenton is a high-character individual who presented a well-developed plan for building a strong rodeo program in Northeast Nebraska. He comes to us with a wealth of rodeo experience, both as a competitor and as a coach. I believe he will use that experience, along with his work ethic, to develop a very successful rodeo program at Northeast.”
Next Up
Feb. 11: Dixie National Rodeo, Jackson, Miss., continues
Feb. 11: San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo continues
Feb. 13: San Angelo (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo continues
Feb. 15: Southern Miss Coca-Cola Classic Rodeo, Hattiesburg, Miss., begins
Feb. 15: Rocky Mountain Classic, Kalispell, Mont., begins
Feb. 15: 142nd Silver Spurs Rodeo, Kissimmee, Fla., begins
Feb. 15: Los Fresnos (Texas) Rodeo begins
Feb. 15: Brighton Field Day & Rodeo, Okeechobee, Fla., begins
Feb. 16: CINCH World’s Toughest Rodeo, Columbus, Ohio
Feb. 16: San Angelo (Texas) CINCH Chute-Out Rodeo
Feb. 16: Helzapoppin, Buckeye, Ariz., begins
Feb. 16: La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, Tucson, Ariz., begins
Courtesy of PRCA