News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail, July 27
On March 17, bull rider J.T. Moore was sixth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $37,740. Unfortunately for him, soon after rodeos went on hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he broke the femur in his left leg in a swimming pool accident.
“I was having a good year, and then I broke my femur,” said Moore, 24. “It happened in late March. I had surgery, and they put a rod in there that goes from my hip to my knee. They told me I would be out for at least four months. I hate that rodeos were halted (until the third week of May) because of the coronavirus, but it has helped me have time to recover.”
Moore’s hoping to return to rodeo competition the first week of August. As of July 27, he was 10th in the world standings.
“I’ve been going to physical therapy twice a week, and that has helped me out a bunch,” said Moore, who lives in Alvin, Texas. “I just had a check-up (July 17), and the doctor said it looks good. I can pretty much do everything on my leg but run.
“I’m trying to get healthy as I can as quick as I can so I can get back at it and make sure I can keep my spot in the standings and make the NFR.”
Moore had a career-best year in 2019, finishing 25th in the world standings with $71,276. Moore’s two biggest paydays in the 2020 season have been in San Antonio ($7,500) and Fort Worth, Texas ($5,720).
Slim Pickens, Mabel Strickland were named 2020 inductees to the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo Hall of Fame. Pickens is being inducted under the Participant category, while Strickland is being inducted as both a participant and a National Competitor.
Strickland and Pickens both went on to Hollywood movie careers.Mabel used her skills on horseback to work as a stunt woman and appear in several 1930s Westerns, including Bing Crosby’s Rhythm on the Range (1936).
Pickens became a talented actor who played characters in scores of mid-20th century television shows and feature movies, including Dr. Strangelove (1964), Major Dundee (1965, with Charlton Heston), The Cowboys (1972, with John Wayne) and Blazing Saddles (1974).
Pickens (1919-83), of Kingsburg, Calif., was a talented post-World War II rodeo clown who worked the Ellensburg Rodeo from 1947-50 and returned for the 1955 rodeo.
Strickland (1897-1976) was a highly respected rodeo cowgirl who competed in Ellensburg in 1926 and 1928-30 in roping, bronc riding and track racing events. She won the 1930 Ellensburg Rodeo women’s relay race.
Pickens is a ProRodeo Hall of Fame member in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Due to the continuous and unexpected spread of COVID-19, the Buccaneer Commission decided to cancel Rodeo Corpus Christi (Texas). The rodeo is slated to return in 2021.
On March 17, Buc Days was rescheduled for Nov. 19-29. Instead, the event has been moved to April 29-May 9, 2021. As announced previously, all official Buc Days/Rodeo Corpus Christi tickets already sold will be honored during the new dates in 2021. To receive a refund, reach out to the original point of purchase.
“The Buccaneer Commission is grateful to its 300-plus volunteers, 70-plus corporate partners and the community for supporting our events and fundraisers
throughout the years,” said Johnny Philipello, President & CEO of Buc Days, in a press release.
The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo announced last week it will be giving $12.2 million for education in 2020.
The rodeo has given more than $223 million since 1984.
“We are thrilled to help future generations of Texas youth achieve their educational goals,” said Cody Davenport, executive director and CEO. “The Rodeo and our more than 6,000 volunteers work diligently to generate as much funds for the youth of Texas as it is at the core of our organization and mission.”
About 11,000 Texas college students have received scholarships from the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
The money is raised at the annual Stock Show & Rodeo, along with other events, and is awarded in the form of scholarships, grants, endowments, junior livestock auctions, student western art auction, calf scramble program and show premiums.
The 2021 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is scheduled for Feb. 11-28 at the Freeman Coliseum/AT&T Center Fairgrounds. For more information, visit sarodeo.com.
Jim Svoboda, of JJJ Photo fame, retired at the conclusion of the 99th Annual Nebraska’s Big Rodeo at his hometown rodeo in Burwell, July 25. During the final performance, Jess Helgoth, president of the NBR Board, presented Svoboda with a custom-designed belt buckle.
Jim, 85, has been at work in a rodeo arena and behind a camera for the past six decades and has captured 50 years of the Burwell rodeo during his legendary career.
Svoboda spent nearly 20 years as a successful, four-event, all-around rodeo competitor before a severely broken leg in 1974 forced him to become a full-time rodeo photographer.
On May 15, The Cowboy Channel and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association launched the PRCA on The Cowboy Channel Plus App, which brings the most exciting PRORODEO streaming to fans’ fingertips.
The new and exciting app will also allow subscribers to stream The Cowboy Channel’s Western lifestyle content on any device, anytime, anywhere.
As the world’s destination for all things PRORODEO, the PRCA on The Cowboy Channel Plus App will keep fans up-to-date with their favorite PRCA rodeos and athletes, as well as provide behind-the-scenes access to livestreamed and on-demand PRCA rodeo events from around the country.
The content can be accessed via the mobile app (available on Android and iOS), as well as any browser, smart TV or device. Viewers will be able to enjoy free access to up-to-the-minute news, bios, rodeos and highlights. Those with a subscription will unlock premium content such as up to six simultaneous live rodeo feeds, classic PRCA archived rodeos, The Cowboy Channel video-on-demand programming, and the only place viewers can stream the National Finals Rodeo.
The Cowboy Channel Plus App is available for only $9.99 a month or save up to 25% and purchase the whole year for $89.99. To sign up for the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app, visit www.cowboychannelplus.com.
Courtesy of PRCA