News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail, September 23
The National Park Service (NPS) on Sept. 20 announced $12.6 million in Save America’s Treasures grants to assist funding 41 preservation and conservation projects in 23 states. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs, Colo., was a National Save America’s Treasures Program Grant Recipient for $95,500 for its project on the Conservation of Museum Panoramic and Oversized Photographs. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy was the only Colorado institution to receive a grant this year. “This is very exciting news for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and for the preservation of the history of our sport,” said Kent Sturman, director of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy. “These images are priceless, and we can now preserve them for generations to come. They are an important part of our history and date back to 1919. None of these photographs have been out on display because they are too fragile and some are damaged. We can now remedy that situation. This is a matching funds grant so we have our work cut out for ourselves to raise additional funds for this project. We will count on our rodeo family and fans to help us achieve this goal.” The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy sought funding for the Panoramic Rodeo Photographs Project, which includes the cleaning, restoration and digitization of its panoramic and over-sized photograph collection. The collection includes 120 photographic prints, one of the most comprehensive collections in the country. These photographs date between 1919 and 1957, the golden years of rodeo. The current condition of the photographs excludes their use as either research or display material. If left in their current condition, many of the photographs will continue to degrade and become lost to history. Once the photographs have been conserved, they will be housed in archival safe-storage boxes and be available for limited display in the museum. Their digital files will be added to the museum’s online database for access by the general public. The project is scheduled to begin in the fall with the transportation of the photographs to a conservation center with expertise in photograph treatment. Upon arrival at the conservation center, each photograph will receive a comprehensive written evaluation and treatment plan. Once written condition assessments are created and treatment plans approved, the center will schedule the collection for treatment. The process will include humidifying, flattening, surface cleaning, mending, stabilizing, retouching and digitization of each photograph. They will then rehouse the photographs in archival safe boxes for shipment back to the museum. Once the photographs return to the museum, they will either be placed in archival storage or an appropriate display frame. The project will conclude in 2021.
Bareback rider Jessy Davis, a seven-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2006-08, 2012-14, 2016), is retiring, “I’ve been dealing with a few injuries and I just have a lot going on at the house,” said Davis, 38. “I have two beautiful girls and my lovely wife to take care of, and I’ve decided it is time to stay home.” Davis and his wife, Cassidy Jo, have fraternal twin daughters, Cru and Quincee, 3. Davis, who joined the PRCA on May 29, 2001, has earned $1,192,026 in his PRCA career. He was born and raised in Salem, Utah. He moved to Power, Mont., seven years ago. When Davis reflected on his career, the 2007 Wrangler NFR stood out the most. He finished a career-best fourth in the world standings and placed second in the average. “I placed in seven of the 10 rounds, and it was a good payoff,” Davis said. Davis was second in Rounds 6 and 7 and was third in Round 10. He earned $81,442 at that year’s NFR, second most in the event to bareback rider Will Lowe’s $116,214. Davis also was sixth and eighth in the 2006 and 2012 world standings, respectively. “All the friends and the people who you meet and the great committees that put on rodeos day-in-and-day-out, and the contractors, I’m really going to miss that in rodeo for sure,” Davis said. Davis works in the family business of East Bench Cattle Company in Power. Davis said his last rodeo he competes in will be at the RAM Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo in Great Falls, Mont., Jan. 10-12.
Jason Stewart won the coveted Big 4 Rodeo Association’s “Best in the Northwest” title in 2019 as a result of competing at the Horse Heaven/Kennewick (Wash.) Round-Up, Walla Walla (Wash.) Frontier Days, Lewiston (Idaho) Roundup and Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. The “Best in the Northwest” award is given to the contestant accumulating the most points while competing at all of the Big 4 Rodeo Association’s events. Stewart, of Heppner, Ore., won the title while competing as a team roping header and steer roping at all four rodeos. Stewart earned $11,864 at the four rodeos and won a custom-made saddle for being the “Best in the Northwest.” The saddle was designed by Stoney Saddlery of Wickeburg, Ariz.
The 2019 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping is Nov. 22-23 at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane. The Top 15 steer ropers in the PRCA based on PRCA | RAM World Standings at the end of the regular season head to their own national championship which is a separate event from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. (CT). The competition begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets from $28 plus taxes and convenience fees. To book tickets go here. To book your 2019 NFSR room and ticket package visit here.
Next Up
Sept. 23: Pasadena (Texas) Livestock Show & Rodeo continues
Sept. 25: Cumberland (Maine) County Fair Rodeo
Sept. 25: Old Fort Days Division 2 Xtreme Bulls, Fort Smith, Ark.
Sept. 26: Cumberland (Maine) County Fair Rodeo
Sept. 26: Comal County Fair & Rodeo, New Braunfels, Texas, begins
Sept. 27: Stephenville (Texas) Legacy Steer Roping
Sept. 27: Kern County Fair Rodeo, Bakersfield, Calif., begins
Sept. 27: American Royal Pro Rodeo, Kansas City, Mo., begins
Sept. 27: Southern New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo, Las Cruces, N.M., begins
Sept. 27: Corn Palace Challenge, Division 2 Xtreme Bulls and XBroncs event, Mitchell S.D., begins
Sept. 27: Young Living’s Last Chance Rodeo, Mona, Utah, begins
Sept. 27: Omaha (Neb.) River City Rodeo begins
Sept. 27: Poway (Calif.) Rodeo begins
Sept. 27: Hanna (Alberta) Indoor Pro Rodeo begins
Sept. 27: Sheriff’s PRCA Rodeo, San Bernardino, Calif., begins
Sept. 27: 50th Annual Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo, Stephenville, Texas, begins
Sept. 28: Cowtown Rodeo, Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J.
Sept. 28: Apache (Okla.) Stampede begins
Sept. 29: Comal County Fair & Division 2 Xtreme Bulls, New Braunfels, Texas
2019 PRCA | RAM World Standings Leaders
Unofficial through Sept. 23, 2019
Courtesy of PRCA