ROUND #1

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR)
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
December 1, 2006

Wyoming Cashes In
He had a whole state behind him and did not let Wyoming down. A go-round buckle winner for the first time at the national finals, Casper’s Jhett Johnson led a cadre of Wyoming contestants that carried away a truckload of cash last night to open pro rodeo’s biggest show. Jhett and partner Travis Tryan won the first night of team roping for a payoff of $16,000 with a time of 4.3 seconds. That’s the same time taken by Jason Miller of Lance Creek to throw his steer, wrestling a fifth-place tie and some $2,200 in winnings. Bull rider Bobby Welsh of Gillette topped the hard bucker he rode to a tenth round win last year holding a steady seat again to win more than $12,000 in the first WNFR outing in 2006. A check for $9,500 came into the capable hands of bareback rider Andy Martinez of Pavillion. A great start for the cowboy state. Nine rounds remain.
Johnson is one happy big fellow. “Anytime you can get a buckle of any kind at the NFR it is a very prestigious moment in your career. It feels great and really boosts our confidence,” Johnson said.
Don’t Ride By
Jason Miller started getting some size to him and knew he was going to be too big to compete in any rodeo event other than steer wrestling. A born bulldogger. The first time he jumped, it was after riding in the truck with his older brother from Wyoming to South Dakota to go to a training school. “Don’t ride by. Don’t ride by,” said older bro. Jason jumped in time but he missed the steer. That could have been it. Some do quit when they don’t succeed at something right from the start. Miller isn’t built that way. He was close to getting here to compete at the national finals more than he wants to think about. “I got sick and tired of sitting home in December watching this dang thing.” During 13 years of work as a pro, Miller finished the regular rodeo season in...20th…17th...16th. Finally, this year #9 – well ahead of that 15-spot he needed to make it to Vegas. Miller won money on his first WNFR run. He did not ride by. “The horse worked well. I felt like I got a good start and I’m ready to do it again a little faster tomorrow,” he said.
Not On Television
Brandie Halls is living at a horse park for the next ten days. When she found out the barrel racers who qualified for the national finals were being offered Hooters as host hotel in Vegas she opted out and gave the room to her vet. “We’ll stay in the trailer. It’s more our style,” she said.
The WNFR opened with a scary moment by a dramatic fall of one of the Percheron horses hitched to main sponsor Wrangler’s wagon. Extraordinarily quick and expert work by Jason Goodman and company brought the animal up safely. He left the arena on all fours and head held high.
One of the great traditional country music singers of the last twenty years opened the show following Trick Pony’s rendition of our national anthem. Randy Travis deftly pleased the crowd with his hit “Forever and Ever Amen.”
It will be Wyoming vs. Wyoming tonight at the WNFR come the final event when Gillette’s Bobby Welsh is matched with a bull brought in by Dona Vold Larsen and husband Bill’s Triple V Rodeo Company of Casper.