News and Notes from the Rodeo Trail, June 20
by ProRodeo.com | Jun 20, 2016
The Wrangler Network will be live streaming the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo June 20-25, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. (PT) each night. Log on to www.wranglernetwork.com to watch.
Brent Romick Arena, the home of the 10-week Steamboat Springs (Colo.) ProRodeo Series, has received some upgrades for the 2016 season. Among them is a new sound system, and both the competition and warm-up arenas received an overhaul and will be slightly larger. New Priefert panels will give the arena a more modern feel, and there will also be more stalls available for those wanting to keep horses overnight. “It is significantly more contestant-friendly,” said John Shipley, the rodeo board president. “It will be pretty noticeable, particularly as (spectators) make their way from the concession stand over to the concrete grandstands. They are going to be walking right through the heart of a lot of this new equipment.”
California Rodeo Salinas has awarded scholarships to five Salinas Valley high school graduates who are attending local Hartnell College or transferring from Hartnell to a university. The five students who received scholarships are Francisco Amaro, Angela Serrano, Annabel Murillo, Alejandro Gomez and Adela Zamora.
Dr. Jim States was the recipient of the 2016 Dale Studley Memorial Award during the June 17 performance of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Neb. “The award is given to people or organizations that give selflessly of their time and resources to help our organization,” said David Fudge, executive director of Nebraskaland Days. States, who served on the Nebraskaland Days Board from 1998-2003, is the 44th recipient of the Studley Award, which is annually given to an individual or group who has gone above and beyond for Nebraska’s Official State Celebration.
Former PRCA announcer Art Daly was honored posthumously with the 2016 Trail Boss Award from the Buffalo Bill Rodeo committee. The Trail Boss Award is given annually to someone who has contributed positively to rodeo in general, but in particular to west central Nebraska. Daly, who died Aug. 1, 2014, announced at PRCA events, as well as college and high school rodeos in the area.
Before the rodeo started in North Platte, the annual North Platte Jaycees’ Flapjack Feed took place the morning of June 17. Pancakes and sausage were served to the 400 people in attendance, with the $2,000 raised going to a fund which supports important causes in the community. The event is in its 31st year.
Pearl River Community College (Poplarville, Miss.) is getting ready to saddle up this fall as it puts the finishing touches on its inaugural rodeo team. The PRCC Board of Trustees approved the addition of rodeo to its roster of varsity sports June 16. “This program provides an opportunity to reach out to a variety of students in our area,” said Adam Breerwood, vice president of PRCC. “People are very excited about this, and we have donations coming in from all over.” At present, Breerwood said the school plans to offer 15 full-tuition scholarships for rodeo competitors, which includes men and women. When the team begins competition this fall, it will join Mississippi State, East Mississippi Community College and Northwest Mississippi as the only schools in the state offering a competitive rodeo team.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“With Chad over there, there’s no room for that steer to get away. Chad never stubs his toe. Having him over there is kind of like having my binkie. It makes it real simple.”
-Three-time WNFR steer wrestler Jule Hazen telling rodeo publicist Ruth Nicolaus how comfortable he feels with Chad Van Campen hazing for him.
Courtesy of PRCA