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News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail, Sept. 2

by ProRodeo.com | Sep 02, 2014

Robert Clyde “Bob” Dent, a PRCA Gold Card member who competed in every event except saddle bronc riding over a career spanning five decades, died Aug. 24 in Fort Collins, Colo. He was 87. A resident of Fort Collins for more than 50 years, Dent was employed by Hoss Inman’s stock contracting firm for several years and worked as a pickup man. Rodeo was truly a family passion; he sometimes team roped with his wife, Norma, and had one of his truly great moments in the arena when he competed in the steer roping with his son, Scott, at the Cheyenne Frontier Days. Dent served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

PRCA steer roper Jaime Long, of Teague, Texas, is continuing to recover after a serious wreck at the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo on Aug. 27. Long, who turned 46 on Aug. 27, was taken by ambulance to Kittitas Valley Hospital in Ellensburg for evaluation before being life-flighted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for further treatment. “I have pain in both knees and I was told there was a small fracture and a severe dislocation of my left shoulder,” Long said. “My neck also is very, very sore because of the whiplash that was going on with me. Overall, I’m making progress every day and I keep feeling a little better. I really think that I will be able to make a full recovery. I just really want to express my thanks to all the guys who reached out and prayed for me and I’ve just had a tremendous outpouring of support. I really appreciate that.” Long said he’s scheduled to see an orthopedic specialist Wednesday in Corsicana, Texas, and Thursday he is going to see Dr. Tandy Freeman in Dallas to have his knees and left shoulder evaluated.

Ora Taton emerged as the average winner from the Aug. 30 PRCA Badlands Circuit Steer Roping Finals, held at the Days of ’76 Rodeo grounds in Deadwood, S.D. Taton completed five go-rounds in a total time of 70.6 seconds. He was the only competitor to successfully rope five steers.

Nearly 77,000 people attended the 111th annual Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo in Kalispell, marking a 1.49-percent rise over last year’s fair. “We wish to share our sincere appreciation to everyone involved that made this year’s fair such a safe, positive, and exciting event,” said Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell. “Each year the community comes together with hundreds of groups and individuals putting forth thousands of hours to make the fair happen.”

A new scholarship has been established in honor of Una Beutler to benefit the rodeo program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. The scholarship has been started by Tom, Charla and Granger Nix of Sayre. Beutler was well-known in college rodeo circles as a dedicated and professional rodeo secretary.

The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) in Billings, Mont., is now taking applications for participants in the 2014 NILE Internship Program. The internship program provides the opportunity to gain training and work experience in the livestock and equine industries, as well as events-based business through The NILE Stock Show and Rodeo, a non-profit organization. During the program’s duration, interns will have the opportunity to assist in all aspects of event planning and execution for The NILE Stock Show and Rodeo. All applications must be in the NILE Office by Sept. 5, 2014 and interns will be announced shortly thereafter. An application is available online at www.thenile.org.

The Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo Hall of Fame is nearly $59,000 closer to making its dream of a museum into reality. The Aug. 28 Steers of Fame skull artwork auction grossed almost $44,000, said Joel Smith, Steers of Fame Event Committee member. On top of that, an anonymous supporter donated $15,000 earlier last week to establish a permanent home for the thousands of historic photos, documents, memorabilia and artifacts related to the Ellensburg Rodeo.

Lou Quirk, a former bull rider from Fort Worth, Texas, passed away Aug. 28 at the age of 94. Quirk was a Cowboys’ Turtle Association member and also a PRCA Gold Card member.

Longtime bullfighter Lance Brittan fought bulls for the last time of his career at the Elk City, Okla., rodeo last weekend after a 19-year career. Brittan got his start as a bull rider at age 19, and quickly progressed to bullfighting. From there, his career blossomed; he began freestyle bullfighting, qualifying for the Wrangler Bullfight Tour in 1998-2000 and winning the championship in 1999. The Elk City committee presented him with a framed artwork and a custom-made coat. “I can’t think of a better place than Elk City that I’d rather retire at,” Brittan said. “These guys are the salt of the earth. They took me in and made me feel at home. I can’t think of a better place to call it quits than here.”

The Overland Trail Museum in Sterling, Colo., will present a Western-themed “Cowgirl Brunch” on Oct. 7 at 10:30 a.m. Gail Hughbanks Woerner will be the featured guest and will present stories from her newest book, “Western Women Who Dared To Be Different.” She will be on hand after the brunch to personally sign copies of the book, as well as other titles currently available in the museum gift shop. Tickets are $10 and can purchased at the Overland Trail Museum.

Courtesy of PRCA

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