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Last updated February 1, 2010

UPCOMING RODEOS & MEDIA NEWS

UPCOMING RODEOS

Murray featured on Jan. 31 Extreme Makeover Home Edition

ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray and wife, Jewel, were guests on ABC-TV’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Jan. 31. The couple helped build a home for a mother battling stage-four colon cancer in the episode “A Final Wish” about the Creasey family. The complete episode can be viewed on the show’s Web site: http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition “They’re a really nice family, and they're facing a sad situation,” said Murray, who traveled with Jewel to North Carolina to be a part of the construction. A group of 3,000 volunteers were involved in the project to build a house of the family’s dreams in just one week. “It would take anybody over a year to do what (the volunteers) did in a week,” Murray said. “This is one of the sweetest ladies in the world, she has a husband and three little kids, and she knows her cancer is terminal.” The Creasey family went on a week-long Disney vacation while the construction team and volunteers built the new home, complete with landscaping, a playground and dog pens. One of the show’s trademarks is personalizing the design and decoration of the children’s bedrooms. “They put their clothes, cleaned and organized, in their new closets and stocked the cupboards, so all the family had to do when they got back was move in and get back to living,” Murray said. “I’d have said that what the show did in a week was impossible if I hadn't seen it myself. It was totally amazing, and really, really cool for that family.” Murray, a seven-time all-around world champion, appeared on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars last year. He advanced to the semifinals, following a groundswell of support from the rodeo community.

ProRodeo Livestock video available for free

A 20-minute video titled ProRodeo Livestock is available free of charge to rodeo enthusiasts through the PRCA Industry Outreach Department in Colorado Springs, Colo. The educational video covers rodeo history, livestock care, PRCA stock contractors’ born-to-buck breeding program and PRCA rules that govern the safety of animals in competition. PRCA stock contractors Dona Vold Larsen (Triple V Rodeo Company) and Jim Korkow (Korkow Rodeos) speak in the video, and several cowboys talk about the athletic ability of bucking horses and bulls and also discuss rodeo equipment. Three-time and reigning World Champion Bareback Rider Bobby Mote, 2006 World Champion Bull Rider B.J. Schumacher and 19-time Wrangler NFR saddle bronc qualifier Rod Hay are among the cowboys featured in the video. Representatives of rodeo committees, rodeo clubs, Western youth groups and other organizations wishing to get a copy of the free video may call PRCA Industry Outreach Director Cindy Schonholtz at 719.593.8840 or e-mail requests to animalwelfare@prorodeo.com.

All-around cowboy Josh Peek takes flight in F-16

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard, took all-around cowboy Josh Peek for a ride in an F-16 on Jan. 8. The tie-down roper and steer wrestler from Pueblo, Colo., had the opportunity to spend the day at Buckley and learn about the increasing importance of the Air National Guard and its role in national defense. “I had a thrilling and exhilarating experience,” Peek said. The Colorado National Guard is marking its 150th anniversary on Jan. 23, and in an effort to educate the Denver community about the Guard’s missions and heritage, the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo has dedicated its 2 p.m. rodeo performance on Jan. 22 at the Denver Coliseum to the National Guard. Video footage of Peek’s F-16 flight will be shown during the event. Along with being a Colorado native, Peek won the all-around and tie-down roping titles at the National Western last year, making him a natural choice to promote both the Guard and the Denver rodeo. The National Western, which runs through the finals on Jan. 24, is in its 104th year. The F-16 orientation flight program Peek took part in is part of a comprehensive outreach program, through the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Public Affairs, to contribute to the public’s understanding of the roles and missions of the Department of Defense. An F-16 flight provides firsthand opportunities to view the quality and capability of our people and weapons systems. “The Colorado Air Guard was the most respectful family oriented group of people I have ever met,” Peek said. “My family and I were treated with such great hospitality and kindness. The Colorado National Guardsmen, in my opinion, are heroes for their sacrifices and dedication to the State of Colorado and the United States.” -Courtesy of Capt. Nicole David/140th WG Public Affairs

World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo gets new management

The 120-member Payson (Ariz.) Pro Rodeo Committee has taken over management of the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo with plans to make arena and seating improvements, increase prize money and upgrade the specialty acts. Their first move was to engage Salt River Rodeo as the stock contractor for the August 2010 rodeo.

Night Jacket brings record price of $200,000

Night Jacket, a seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo bareback horse, was recently sold by Jim and Margaret Zinser to Cullen Pickett of Lancaster & Pickett Pro Rodeo for $200,000, which is believed to be the most money every paid for a rodeo bucking horse. The 15-year-old horse was part of the Zinsers’ stable, and the sale came a year after the family sold off more than 600 head of animals and transitioned out of the rodeo business. They had been part of J Bar J Rodeo, which has been supplying stock to PRCA rodeos since 1996.

Team roping horses each claim fourth AQHA/PRCA Horse of the Year award

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Team roping heading horse Precious Speck, owned and ridden by Travis Tryan, and team roping heeling horse, Baileys Cooper Doc, owned and ridden by Randon Adams, both earned their fourth AQHA/PRCA Horse of the Year honors. Precious Speck, “Walt,” has taken top honors in 2003 and from 2007-2009, while Baileys Cooper Doc, “Diesel,” has claimed consecutive first-place honors since 2006. Steer wrestling horse Rocks Eyes Opener, “Jessie,” owned by Lee Graves and ridden by Graves and Trevor Knowles, picked up a second Horse of the Year award. Jessie also got the top nod in 2007. “When you back him in the box, he’s going to give you 110 percent every time,” said Graves, of Calgary, Alberta, who leads the PRCA World Standings with season earnings of $120,574. Larneds Ricoche Doc, “Woody,” owned and ridden by Dan Fisher, was voted the steer roping AQHA/PRCA Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year. Also picking up a second honor was barrel racing horse Rare Fred, owned by Ronald Martin and ridden by 2006 World Champion Mary Burger. “Fred” also was named AQHA/WPRA Horse of the Year in 2006. In the tie-down roping, Big Smokin Wonder, “Pearl,” owned by Sid Miller and ridden by Cody Ohl, took its first AQHA/PRCA Horse of the Year honor.

The rest of those recognized included:

STEER WRESTLING– 2. Black Velvet Win “Streak,” owned by Richard and Leigh Ann Ramsey, ridden by Jeff Green, Shawn Greenfield, Travis Carnine, Dane Hanna, Cash Myers, K.C. Jones and Stockton Graves; 3. (tie) Latches Rockette, “8-Ball,” owned and ridden by Jake Rinehart and Docs Otoe Peppy, “Smarty,” owned and ridden by Billy Bugenig.

TEAM ROPING HEADING– 2. Lite My Dynamite, “Sic Em,” owned by Treda LLC, ridden by Trevor Brazile; 3. BMG Custom Hotrod, “Bullseye,” owned by Chuck Crawford and Charly Crawford and ridden by Charly Crawford.

TEAM ROPING HEELING– 2. Take Aim N Fire, “Slim Shady,” owned and ridden by Justin Davis; 3. (tie) Freckles Taz, “Taz,” owned and ridden by Kinney Harrell and Boot Scootin’ Bingo, “Gambler,” owned by Dean Tuftin and ridden by Rich Skelton.

TIE-DOWN ROPING– 2. Eightys Sport, “Sweetness,” owned by Spur Resources 1, Ltd., ridden by Clint Cooper, Houston Hutto and Blair Burk; 3. Acre Te Run, “Oz,” owned by Justin Maass, ridden by Maass, Scott Kormos and Cimarron Boardman.

STEER ROPING– 2. White Hot Ike, “Bullseye,” owned and ridden by Chance Kelton; 3. Happy San Doc, “Happy,” owned and ridden by Paul Patton.

BARREL RACING– 2. Judge Buy Cash, “Jethro,” owned by Frank and Lynne Mays, ridden by Brenda Mays; 3. Sugar Moon Express, “Martha,” owned and ridden by Lindsay Sears. 10/20/09

The top 25 timed-event contestants in the PRCA World Standings and the top 25 in WPRA NFR standings as of Oct. 5 are eligible to vote on those timed-event horses nominated for the 2009 AQHA/PRCA/WPRA Horse of the Year. Voting was conducted by phone on Oct. 6 through ProCom. Points were awarded as follows: 1=3 points 2=2 points 3=1 point The animal with the most points is awarded AQHA/PRCA Horse of the Year in each timed event category. Horses that are nominated must be AQHA registered horses, and anyone can nominate a horse.

USSTC/PRCA Bucking Stock of the Year announced

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – If Grated Coconut could talk, the Calgary Stampede bucking horse could ask for a raise, or at least an extra scoop of oats. The Calgary Stampede stud claimed the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company/PRCA Bareback Riding Horse of the Year Award for the fourth consecutive year and a record-tying sixth time (2003-04, 2006-09). With the top nod, Grated Coconut ties the legendary bucking horse Descent of Beutler Brothers & Cervi, who also garnered six awards (1966-69, 1971-72). Grated Coconut claimed his sixth Canadian Professional Rodeo Association award last week. Grated Coconut, 12, is the son of dam, Coconut Roll, and sire Wyatt Earp. Bareback riding equine stars Wise Guy, of the Classic Pro Rodeo string, and Growney Brothers’ Moulin Rouge finished second and third in the voting, respectively. In the saddle bronc riding, Spring Planting of the Flying 5 Rodeo string earned her first USSTC/PRCA Horse of the Year honor. The blue roan mare is a source of pride for the Hutsell family, since she was raised on the family’s eastern Washington ranch. She is the daughter of dam, Jubille, and sire Iron Mountain, also Flying 5 Rodeo bucking horses. “She is solid from when the gate opens until the whistle blows,” said Chad Hutsell, general manager of Flying 5 Rodeo. Frontier Rodeo’s Let ’er Rip finished second and Harry Vold Rodeo’s Painted Valley came in third in the voting. Buckeye of Silverado Rodeo Company has been honored as the USSTC/PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year posthumously. The bull sustained a back injury in an altercation with another bull in a pen. The bull was treated by veterinarians at Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in College Station for about 10 days. However, extensive efforts were not successful. Owner Harlan Robertson was greatly moved to have Buckeye honored. “He just bucked like heck,” said Robertson of the Wrangler NFR qualifier and son of Panhandle Slim. Reigning World Champion Bull Rider J.W. Harris was bucked off Buckeye in their one meeting. “He had it all,” said Harris, the PRCA World Standings leader. “He would jump five feet into the air, kick over his head and turn back. That is what you want in a bucking bull. If you rode him, you would be 90 points. He bucked.” The honor is Robertson’s second. His bull Biloxi Blues was USSTC/PRCA Bull of the Year in 2006. Robertson submitted Buckeye for honors at the request of bull riders. “It was special to me (to win) in 2006, but this is more special,” Robertson said. Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Little Lightning earned the No. 2 spot in the voting, while Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Multi-Chem Texas Cocktail finished third. Stock contractors submitted nominations for two animals from their herds for the livestock of the year awards. The top 30 cowboys in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding, as of Sept. 1, were mailed a ballot with the list of eligible stock in their event. Ballots returned by Oct. 9 were counted for the awards. The livestock, and their owners, will be honored at the annual PRCA Awards Banquet, Dec. 2 at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. The AQHA/PRCA Horses of the Year are expected to be announced later this week and will be posted on ProRodeo.com. The list also will be included in the Oct. 18 news release.