Wrangler National Finals Rodeo - The Finale

Jason the Champion

There were text messages and voice mails coming in at a rate of more than one per minute the first hour after Jason Miller won the world championship in steer wrestling last night. Lance Creek, Wyoming – make that the whole state – was awash in pride watching Miller get a steer down in 4.8 seconds to win the average battle (total time on ten steers) by almost two seconds. That made the last run worth $42,000 to Miller but he held a gold buckle in his hand and it was the prize. “It’s what you dream about as a kid,” Miller told us. “For me, every time you buy your (PRCA) card it’s with one goal in mind – a gold buckle at the end of the year. It’s just a dream come true.” Miller came out each night trying to get a good start out of the box. “I rode a great horse and drew some good steers. It just worked out,” he said. Miller is a student of the finals and noted that his event seems to roll along at the finals in a similar way most of the time. “Somebody gets a good start and it just rolls over,” he added as his cell phone sounded one more time. You would have a hard time finding a better person to carry Wyoming on his sleeve. “I’m awfully proud to represent the State of Wyoming,” Miller said.

Photo: Jason Miller accepts his gold buckle. Credit: ESPN

Powell man Kanin Asay put a few years on his 21-year-old body this week. He showed me his left arm before Saturday night’s last round at the 49th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and it looked strong. Asay said it felt a little better than previous nights and he looked very solid in the arena sitting tall for a hectic stint on a bull aptly called Rompus. “I’ve watched that bull the last couple of years. He’s not very big; really wild and electric. I wanted to make the best of the opportunity to get on him. He blew back up into me and beat me around the corner. But I got back to finish it off,” Asay said. Nice finish too. He gave the ultimate cowboy signal of respect spinning his hat back toward the spot that left Kanin safely on the dirt with a qualified ride of 85.5 points. He finished second in the round and second in the world standings earning more than $218,000 this year. Asay called his first national finals the experience of a lifetime and plans to make it back for the 50th in 2008.

Photo: Kanin Asay tosses his hat after an 85.5 ride in the final round. Credit: ESPN

Billy Stays On

Probably the most recognized name in the sport of rodeo, and certainly its finest ambassador, picked up a win in the tenth round on a Wyoming horse. Mullin Hill is named for the rise on a pasture where he was born near Rozet, Wyoming. He took Billy Etbauer on an 89.5 point buck last night. “He’s always a good horse and I was just worried about taking care of my end,” Etbauer said. “Everything clicked along tonight so we were just glad to get by one.” The 44-year-old is planning on a return to the arena in 2008. “Right now it’s day by day and horse by horse. We’ll see how it works out,” he smiled. Burch Rodeo Company’s Matt Burch says the eight-year-old Mullin Hill is rider-friendly. “They win a lot of rodeos on that horse year-round.”
Follow Team Wyoming

I hope you’ve had the chance to meet the cowboys and cowgirl we sponsor. They each made appearances at the Corral West Ranchwear area of Cowboy Christmas this year at the finals. I’ve always maintained there are no friendlier, more mannerly, people than those who are a part of rodeo. I’ve been around this sport for a relatively short time – about 25 years – and I can say without fear of correction this is as fine a group of contestants from Wyoming that has ever made a run at world titles. For a state with just a half-million people it is pretty darn good to see seven contestants from the “Cowboy State” make the WNFR. While only one is carrying home a world champion’s gold buckle, each performed admirably and left nothing on the table. They are, to a person, Wyoming champions. Please watch our website this next year as we do our best to keep up with our pro rodeo athletes and tell you where you can see them perform throughout 2008.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo - Round Nine Recap

The Heeler

Jhett Johnson and his partner Keven Daniel didn’t win the round last night but Johnson feels like he won the world title. “I feel like break dancin’,” he said walking down the hall away from us last night after posting a 4.2 run and winning $13,000 for second place. You can scroll down on this page to July and find a piece of the Casper team roper’s philosophy on life. It starts with the realization that there will be dry spells, that you have to work your way through those periods, and eventually you’ll get back to the top of your game. What Jhett won’t do is give up and go home. And he won’t blame his partner when the outcome of their work together isn’t what they’d hoped for or are capable of doing. That “team” word matters to Johnson. “We haven’t roped to our potential,” he reflected after a successful catch last night on a steer that had never had a time on it. “With nothing to gain, or lose, we went at him as hard as we could and it worked,” Johnson said. Jhett switched from his gray horse after the fourth round. “He’s just smart enough that he thought it would be four-second runs every night. He was ready right out of the box to quit running and turn in. The steers are so fresh this year that it’s happening a little farther down,” Johnson noted. Many teams are having trouble at the finals. “It has been rough. There are four or five teams that have hogged it. They’ve placed almost every night, they’re getting all the average money and we’ve just had a rough go of it,” Johnson said. He still stays positive in the knowledge that a win tonight would give his team a $40,000 finals. Oh, and one of his boys is in the finals today at the roping event being staged at the Sands Hotel. Jhett’s going to spend the first part of the day helping his son. Now there’s a man with his priorities in place.

Photo: Jhett tosses his rope for a second place win. Credit: ESPN

Last Call

The ninth round in bull riding at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas was a dandy….for the bulls. The eliminators were out in force. They bucked and stomped, spun and spurned, nearly every caller. Only three riders stayed on for eight seconds. Gillette’s Bobby Welsh came very close with 7.7 seconds aboard. Bad left elbow and all, Powell’s Kanin Asay managed to keep his seat to take second place scoring 80 points. With $13,000 more in his jeans Asay, who is at his first national finals, is less than $3,000 from the number one money spot. The bull riding championship tonight is going to be something to watch. Get the popcorn and settle in. It’s all about buck-offs and average (or aggregate) money. Kanin is fifth in the average – 402 points on five scored rides. While he would never want a fellow competitor to fall short, a couple of them with higher average totals will have to be bucked off early, and of course Kanin will have to ride his bull, in order for the Powell stand-out to hold the gold buckle after tonight’s round. I can tell you that Kanin is only considering the job at hand for him - stick to the basics, and do what got you here.

Photo: Kanin stays on the full eight seconds in round nine. Credit: ESPN

Lance Creek steer wrestler Jason Miller can win the world tonight but last night, even though he did not place in the round, he was smiling because his friend Luke Branquinho beat back all that had gone wrong for him up until then. Branquinho turned down his challenge in a dazzling 3.2 seconds. Tonight is Miller Time. He leads the average by 1.4 seconds. In overall money winnings to date, Miller is in fifth place. There is only a $32,000 dollar difference in total earnings from #1 to the number ten position. Can you say nail biter?

Blood Brother

A spectacular saddle bronc horse, ranch-raised in Wyoming, bucked out last night to take Taos Muncy – the 21-year-old who won Cheyenne Frontier Days this year – on a rousing 86.5 point romp. Blood Brother is owned by Burch Rodeo Company. Matt Burch of Rozet, WY stood proud of his fourteen-year-old gelding. This is the horse’s seventh trip to the national finals. “That horse has been an all-star all his life,” Burch said. “That kind of horse doesn’t come around every corner. They come around once in a lifetime.”

Photo: Blood Brother flys through the air in a graceful manner. Credit: ESPN.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo-Round Eight Recap

Miller’s Crossing

Walking back past the media room toward the area where we sneak a little dinner now and then I spotted Jason Miller in a place he would rather avoid – the front of television cameras. Not a lot of those babies in Lance Creek, Wyoming. But he dutifully answered the questions and did so because he had another great run to finish second and collect a check for a cool $13K last night. He’s won more than $67,000 in eight runs to top all steer wrestlers and Miller is also now third in the world standings. He came here toward the bottom of the Top 15. Steer wrestling is becoming the show to watch at the finals and the announcer build up thickens each night. Miller says he doesn’t hear all the chatter or at least not what they are saying specifically about him when he backs into the box. Others do. Bareback rider Kelly Timberman was bearing down on his riggin’ the other night when one of the announcers noted the presence of Kelly’s wife in the stands. After the ride Kelly told me: “I’m not married. She hasn’t asked me yet.”

Photo: Jason Miller wrestles a steer to the ground in round eight of the finals. Credit: ESPN

Jason Miller was helping his friend Luke Branquinho prior to his start last night and Luke got out a hair too quickly breaking the barrier causing a ten second penalty. We talked earlier in the week with Jason about how quickly you have to move in the small arena and how things have been flying so fast at this finals that it didn’t seem as though you could break the barrier. “I was in the box with Luke hollering ‘go,go,go’ and thought he made it out. So you can break it. You just can’t think about it. You’ve got to go back in there every night and take a start or else bad stuff can happen,” Miller said. Luke has had his share of bad breaks here in Vegas but don’t think for a second he won’t go for broke this last two runs. And then there’s the absolute fact that his running pal is leading the charge toward a champion’s buckle. The tables were turned last year. Jason Miller was here for the first time and he was down early. We got together on the concourse during the final go-round after Jason had completed a tough ten days. He wasn’t dejected. He was determined. “I’m going to make it back,” Miller said. “And I’ll do a lot better next time.” Now, there’s a man of his word.

Certain Hurtin’

The operative phrase for just about all of the rough stock cowboys and a couple of timed event folks heading into the ninth round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas is not double down. It’s double-tape, and triple-ice. These people are sore. I’d even extend that to a pair of syllables – SO-ER. Gillette saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson was taped and iced for a rotator cuff injury prior to, and after, last night’s 85-point-ride. He sprained his left ankle coming off. It was a good turn though and gave Johnson a second place check for nearly $13,000. That’ll buy a lot of ice. Bull rider Bobby Welsh is now adding tape to his left arm – not his riding arm – but is otherwise doing as well as can be expected after eight rounds on the best bucking bulls in the world. Welsh was 82.5 points last night for fifth place and a little over $4,200. Kanin Asay from Powell is undergoing extensive physical therapy alternating ice and heat – and lots of tape – to keep trying on his bad left elbow. That is the arm bull-rope wrapped to his challenge each night. And Carpenter barrel racer Brandie Halls has rotator cuff problems in addition to a neck spur.

Photo: Chet Johnson gears up for his ride. Credit: ESPN

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo-Round Seven Recap

36K Wyo’s Way

The Bobby Welsh well is dry no more. The Gillette, WY bull rider has won several rounds at the national finals the past two years. Until last night Bobby was, for the most part, taking short trips for no scores. He is not alone in the ratio of scored rides to buck offs, mind you, but there was not a lot going his way. He and Kanin Asay aren’t far apart in age and the Powell bull rider has been right beside Bobby in the chutes helping him get set. Yesterday, they sat together to meet and sign autographs for fans who visited our booth at Cowboy Christmas in the Las Vegas Convention Center. The young riders are also each very much believers and Welsh says he took some time before the rodeo yesterday for prayerful reflection. “My attitude coming in was the same as before but I had to pick up my spirit. The mental part and preparation were all the same. I didn’t change my riding style or anything else. I just needed a spiritual pick-me-up and that’s what happened.” He got on a bull called Vertical Exit last night and stayed there for 89.5 points and second place. “When the water is spilling out of tipped jar you have to pick it up to make it stop. I’m expecting the rest of the time to go like tonight,” Welsh advised after his ride. He had not ridden Vertical Exit before although he’d seen him and felt the fit would be good. He broke a confident smile and carried away his bull rope saying: “This is like going to ten of the biggest rodeos there are in a row. If you let the first couple get you down the last few are going to be worse. I knew it was about time and it was going to come around.”

Photo: Bobby Welsh in motion. Credit: ESPN

Welsh’s friend and fellow bull rider Kanin Asay continues to nurse a serious elbow injury and was definitely strained during his ride last night. He persisted to remain one of only five bull riders who made the eight-second whistle and was scored 81 points for fifth place.

Photo: Bobby Welsh and Kanin Asay autograph pictures for fans in the Wyoming Booth at Cowboy Christmas. Credit: Mike McCrimmon


Lance Creek steer wrestler Jason Miller does not like to show a lot of emotion. He is a quiet person. You get to know him a little better to find something of a prankster and cut-up especially around his friend Luke Branquinho who came into the finals in the top spot. Luke hasn’t had much luck in the finals this time but he sure knows how to pick his friends. As of today Luke and Jason are fifth and sixth respectively in the world standings. In the grand scheme it won’t matter too much to either of them which one finishes the finals ahead of the other. Their friendship is bound to stay in place much longer than professional rodeo careers throwing steers. Miller continues to lead the average at the finals and keeps climbing in the standings. He topped a very big and tough steer last night to turn him down in 3.9 seconds – splitting second and third place.

Photo: Bulldogger Jason Miller is in position and ready to go. Credit: ESPN


The 2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has three rounds remaining and Casper’s Jhett Johnson – a team roping heeler – is giving it everything he has each time out. Team ropers overall have been fighting demons all week here at the finals. Jhett and his partner suffered a five-second loss last night (only one leg caught) and still finished fifth.
Photo: ESPN captures team roping heeler Jhett Johnson and header Kevin Daniel. Credit: ESPN


In the bareback riding competition, Mills WY pro Kelly Timberman dipped for a little side-saddle action and managed to keep afloat to take home a split of fifth and sixth place cash.

Here’s the dispensation that went to Wyoming last night:

Bobby Welsh - $12,956.73
Jason Miller - $11,370.19
Jhett Johnson - $ 4,230.77
Kanin Asay - $ 4,230.77
Kelly Timberman - $ 3,437.50
$36,225.96



PRCA Photo Contest of the Year
The PRCA has just released the PRCA Photo Contest of the Year. There are 25 photos up for the title and Bullfighter Jeremy Sparks just happens to be one of them. Visit the Blogging Bullfighter for addtional information: http://bullfighterblog.blogspot.com/

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo-Round Six Recap

Asay Feels Better

Men hate to do it. Usually a woman has to force us, nearly at gunpoint, to go to the doctor but with a world championship in professional bull riding on the line, Kanin Asay is seeing Justin Sports Medicine docs every morning. The Powell, WY resident is wearing a brace on his left arm to help his elbow injury and performed self-massages in his Vegas hotel room earlier in the week. Now he heads to the medicine room at the Thomas & Mack Center where ice and jell is applied. A second treatment before the rodeo and some Tylenol and Asay is much better prepared to perform. “I’m sore and tired but heeling,” he said. One can observe a renewed sense of purpose in the young rider (21 years old) here in Vegas for his first appearance at the WNFR. “I still don’t feel like I’m at the national finals. From the very point in the season where I thought I had a chance to make it I decided to look at it like any other rodeo. It’s just ten days long and you get on the best bulls,” Asay remarked. He sat tall in the sixth round scoring an 84.5 and pocketing third place cash of $9,800. The bull turned back to the right, away from Asay’s hand allowing him to push on his rope which is a lot better than having to lift with that bad elbow.

Photo: Kanin Asay leaves the round with a score of 84.5. Credit: Mike McCrimmon

The numbers at the top of the world standings in bull riding are close. Only $35,000 separates the leading four spots with four rodeos remaining. Asay is in second place, $20,000 behind Wisconsin’s B.J. Schumacher. He was tossed quickly last night by a 1,900 pound bull owned by Burns Rodeo Company of Laramie. “He’s just a four-year-old. He’s athletic and strong with power,” said Hal Burns. The animal comes from the bloodline of a bull called “Best Bet” who was so, shall we say, so difficult that he was eventually banned by both the PRCA and PBR (Pro Bull Riders). This offspring is known as “Bo Alameda” in honor of its previous owner who raises bulls in Wyoming.

Photo: B.J. Schumacher gets tossed in round six. Credit: Mike McCrimmon

UW on Willie

There are now three former University of Wyoming students using the same horse to drop from and wrestle steers at the national finals. Willie is obviously Wyoming’s choice to make a run at the champion’s buckle. Last night, Sean Mulligan came close to a record with his run of 3.2 seconds. Mulligan has a degree in agricultural business from the University of Wyoming. As a side note, Sean won Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2000. Casey McMillen who was born in Laramie and educated at both Casper College and UW is also aboard Willie. And Lance Creek’s Jason Miller is winning on Willie as well. Milller still lives in the “Cowboy State” while his fellow UW alums have moved elsewhere. Jason told me last night he found out from Willie’s owner that the horse carried doggers to $44,000 in winnings in the last two nights. Miller worked to garner fourth last night (4.1 seconds) and won $6,875. He is sticking to his game plan. “You have to get a good start in this short arena. You can’t back off the barrier. I’m going for money in every go-round. That’s the only way I’ll have a chance,” Miller said.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo- Round Five Recap

Good Brandie

It was a $9,800 night for Brandie Halls to end the halfway mark of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. She and trusty steed Slim gracefully maneuvered the barrel racing run in 14.02 seconds, finishing third in the 15-person field. Brandie, her husband and daughter, avoid the lights of Las Vegas. They stay pretty much to themselves here except for dutifully meeting obligations to sponsors. Brandie is shy but not around horses. She is a skillful trainer continually turning out quality animals from the family property east of Cheyenne. The Halls’ lead a faith-based existence and publicly exhibited their Christian beliefs at a horse-trough baptism during Cheyenne Frontier Days. While admittedly wont to avoid public engagements don’t for one minute doubt Brandie’s toughness and determination. She is performing this year with newly-engrained neck problems and came to Vegas in need of rotator cuff surgery. If you’ve felt the shoulder pain that comes with that injury imagine what she is going through in the arena every night.

Another tough customer of the strongest order is Powell bull rider Kanin Asay. He is bucking out every night with a left arm wracked in injury based at the elbow. He wraps his left hand on a massive bucking bull each night and did it twice last night – his second re-ride night of the finals. Asay scored a qualified ride (81 points) in that second tilt to finish fourth and win $6875.00. Oh, to be 21 again. Can you say invincible? Kanin is also a member of a deeply Christian family and was home-schooled his last two years of high school.

Turns out you can change horses in the middle of the stream. Casper team roper Jhett Johnson felt he had to make the switch and did so last night. “Sometimes you have to make a little change for the better,” said Johnson who ran a different horse, Pancho, for the first time at the national finals. Prior to that move, Jhett has always run steers in the Thomas & Mack Center arena on his gray horse, Smokie. “He just didn’t feel like he wanted to run in that building. He’s been there for more than twenty runs so he knows it’s fast. Either he can’t or did not want to give me 100 percent,” Johnson assessed. He rode the other horse in a lot of rodeos this year and decided the time was right to salvage the best possible finish. The strategy paid off enough to give Jhett and partner Keven Daniel a fighting chance down the stretch. They made a 5.3 second run and got fifth-place money totaling about $4,200 a piece.

Photos: Brandie Halls, Kanin Asay and Jhett Johnson each qualifying in round five of the finals. Credit: Mike McCrimmon

Burch Buckle
Wyoming won a go-round buckle last night by way of the bucking skill exhibited by Burch Rodeo Company’s (Rozet, WY) Pinball Wizard. The seven-year-old gelding carried bareback rider Will Lowe to a winning ride of 89.5 points. “He’s been a good horse ever since we started him,” said owner Matt Burch of the ranch-raised animal. This is his first national finals. “When you get one out here all you want him to do is have a good day and buck as hard as he can,” Burch notes. Lowe liked the result: “I had never been on that horse. I’d seen him at Caldwell, Idaho and knew he was an outstanding horse. I knew he was going to buck and be something exotic. You don’t know exactly what, but he’s going to do something.”

Adios Doc
A long, illustrious, career in pro rodeo came to a stand-up conclusion last night with the retirement of Dr. J. Pat Evans. He is the man responsible for the Justin Sports Medicine program without which a lot of good cowboys would have been home mending fence long before their careers had the chance to come to fruition. The good doctor told us he knew he could help rodeo when he first started attending events and saw that the contestants were without medical assistance of any kind. “Heck, in Texas even the high school football teams had trainers and these pro athletes had no one,” Dr. Evans said. He revolutionized medical care for rodeo athletes. His name, and contribution to the sport, is of immeasurable value. He gave renewed health and vigor to thousands of contestants over the last 30 years and money was never a part of the equation.

Photo: Wyoming fans demonstrate their support.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo - Round Four Recap

Nasty Bulls

Rank is a complimentary term in rodeo as applied to bulls. It means they are hard to ride. One will hop. Another jumps and spins. All will buck. The “eliminators” came to play at the national finals last night and made short work of all but two riders’ attempts to stay on board for eight seconds. Wyoming bull riders Bobby Welsh and Kanin Asay got thrown early. Asay sustained a hyper-extended elbow at the Xtreme Bulls tour finale in Indianapolis. He healed enough to come back out for the circuit finals in Denver last month and won that event scoring a couple of 90-point rides. The injury seems to have resurfaced here in Vegas. Kanin was well taped along the left arm and wore a brace last night. When I asked him about his bull before the ride, Kanin’s succinct reply was: “Rank.” Asay was sent to the ground quickly and made a beeline for the Justin Medicine room. He came out supporting his left arm with his right and grimaced in what can best be described as excruciating pain. He will undoubtedly want to “buck up” and keep trying to work through this setback. We’ll have to see what difference a day will make.

Photo: Kanin Asay tries to hang in for eight seconds with an injured arm. Credit: Rick Carpenter

Wyoming Collects More Cash

Three “Cowboy State” contestants loaded their pockets with money after the Fourth Go-Round. Barrel racer Brandie Halls of Carpenter rode Slim smoothly around the pattern for a 14.01 second finish and fourth place cash totaling about $6,900. Brandie is tenth in world standings as we near the halfway point here at the finals. Gillette’s Chet Johnson had a horse he saw buck out four times this year but had never ridden. Chet settled a solid seat and spurred clean finishing third with his 82.5 point bronc ride. Johnson is also in tenth position with six more rodeos remaining. He got paid nearly $9,800 last night. And bareback rider Kelly Timberman, of Mills, continued his winning ways notching a split of second and third place, paying him another $11,400. Timberman’s won $28,500 at the national finals – more than any other bareback rider – to put him number one in the average.

She’s the Best

A Wyoming-raised mare is the best bronc in pro rodeo this year. And Powder River Rodeo Company’s Miss Congeniality hasn’t even reached her prime. “She’s still a couple of years away from when most horses are at their best, so she’s definitely ahead of the pack,” said owner Hank Franzen. He and his wife saw the nine-year-old come into this world and could not be more pleased with her development. Watching her throw off saddle bronc riders early is now most common. “She’s just so strong that if you’re a hair behind, she’ll just blow you out of there. For a mare to get that high in the air and drop, a lot of cowboys can’t stay with her,” Franzen said. Pros have been able to complete eight-second outings only three times all year. The bloodline is intact. Miss Congeniality has raised three colts already with another on the way. She fits her name off the field. “When not bucking she’s a big doll – good to be around – she doesn’t kick. She’s just gentle and not out to hurt anybody. Once she’s bucked she pulls no tricks. It’s just like here we go,” Franzen noted. This is Miss Congeniality’s second ‘Bronco of the Year’ title. She threw one of the greatest ever earlier at the finals when Billy Etbauer was sent flying. Miss Congeniality will make one last arena appearance this year in Saturday night’s finals.

Photo: Miss Congeniality bucks rider Billy Etbauer. Credit: Rick Carpenter

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo - Round Three Recap

Sir Lance Creek A Lot

Jason Miller has rolled up seven slots since his arrival in Las Vegas. He doesn’t strike me as superstitious but coming into the national finals Miller was 13th in steer wrestling’s world standings and must not have cared to stay there. He won the round last night – his first go-round win in pro rodeo’s Superbowl – and has tickled the pay window for more than $36,000 in three days. His 4.0 second run last night bested everybody. “I called a friend of mine that ran that steer earlier in the year and he told me about him. I didn’t feel like I made a real great run but I had a great steer so that paid off,” Miller said. The Lance Creek, Wyoming dogger has his parents with him at this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. There is not a prouder couple to be found today. We’ve gotten to know Jason pretty well this past year and there’s no doubt his folks have a lot more to feel good about than how their son has performed in Vegas so far. They’ve raised a fine, grounded, man who is admired greatly by his peers. Miller is now #1 in the average at the national finals. He has risen to sixth in the world standings having thrown three steers here in a total of 11.4 seconds.

Photo: Jason Miller of Lance Creek, Wyoming takes a victory lap. Credit: Rick Carpenter

Jhett & Chet

Casper’s Jhett Johnson broke through after a couple of nights of losing seconds to team roping miscues. He and partner Keven Daniel put together a solid run of 5.3 seconds to finish sixth and catch a check for $2,600 apiece. It is still early in this 10-day affair. Jhett and Keven are sitting seventh in the average (total times so far) while several of the pairs ahead of them in earnings for the year have fallen back dramatically in terms of where they stand average-wise at the finals.

Chet Johnson is pretty much over a bad cold that had him in bed for twelve hours overnight Friday. Last night he spurred Blazing Saddle to notch an 85 score and third place finish. The horse bucked toward a side rail at the end of his turn slowing down the finish, and score slightly. The Gillette, WY saddle bronc rider says the ride felt good and he is feeling much better. A check for $10,000 can’t hurt.

Photo: Chet Johnson rides with an 85 score. Credit: Rick Carpenter

Kelly’s Heroes

“If you’re going to lose to somebody, that’s the way to do it,” exclaimed Mills, WY bareback rider Kelly Timberman after posting a score of 88.5 last night to claim a $13,000 payday. Young Justin McDaniel (or kid as Kelly calls him) climbed aboard a horse he saw Timberman, the 2004 world champ, handle at the Wrangler Tour stop in Omaha and McDaniel proved himself a quick study last night. He flew to a new Wrangler National Finals Rodeo record in his event, scoring a 91.5
One of the great things about pro rodeo is how much contestants help each other. Timberman is looked up to, as well he should be, by McDaniel and Kelly expends a good deal of time and effort offering advice to the next generation of
champions.

Glad to be Here

This is Christmas and Cowboy time in Las Vegas. All the hotels switch their in-house music systems over to country and the restaurants are full of people in western wear. Usually the brightest smiles, anticipatory glee, and pure joy come through the face of a child. Last night in the rodeo arena the most satisfied customer was a person brought in to see his first national finals. The rodeo announcers recognized him. He stood, tipped his hat, and smiled. That fan was a sprightly 99-years-old.

Wrangler National Finals Rode - Looking Back at Round Two

Four Event Money

Wyoming contestants gathered paychecks in four events at the national finals last night. “I’m starting to make the turn and will get this thing figured out,” said Kelly Timberman of Mills who took fifth place money of $4,200 and is currently fifth in the bareback riding average. Jason Miller placed again dropping his steer in 3.8 seconds to collect close to $7,000 and fourth place honors. “My horse acted up a little in the box and I was just a hair slow getting out of there,” Miller told me. He had mentioned earlier in the day that we could expect a fast pen of steers and that was clearly accurate. A time of 4.1 did not pay in last night’s bulldogging competition. Miller holds the second spot in the average (or aggregate) and there’s where the best total at the end of this thing can serve to catapult a cowboy to the top. Carpenter’s Brandie Halls made a clean barrel racing run and won $4,200. And Bobbie Welsh, of Gillette, tied for fifth in bull riding to take away a $3,400 payday.

Missing Out & Making Do

As predicted by Chet Johnson, yesterday’s broncs were twisters of the highest order. They were downright rude tossing their riders with unkind regularity. But professionals don’t give up easily and eventually scores were obtained. Johnson looked back to see a pretty high mark initially and then noticed a flag that took away the score because he did not get his feet parked above the horse’s shoulders upon landing the first jump out of the chutes. It happens to the best. A violation of the mark-out rule hurts most when you’ve gone on to a classic spur like Johnson managed last night. He is not fretting and won’t look back. That’s an unwritten rule of rodeo. It is always better to smile and focus on the next one. You want that chance more than anything. And when your body is facing ten-to-one odds in terms of the animal’s weight to yours, you are also pretty darn satisfied to walk away healthy. Bronc rider Jeff Willert is the first contestant at this year’s Wrangler’s National Finals Rodeo who did not get up after being stepped on following a very respectable outing. Justin Sports Medicine doctors ordered Willert sent to University Hospital and reported a bone in Willert’s upper leg is very likely broken.

Photo: Chet Johnson in round two. Credit: Rick Carpenter

Team Toast

Mornings can start at noon in Vegas so our office hosted an early breakfast with some trepidation yesterday. But WOW did Wyoming show. Stock contractors, contestants, Wyoming rodeo committee people and oh yes, the Governor and First Lady, all came out to share sustenance and support the pro rodeo athletes who are here representing the “Cowboy State.” One of many just desserts out of the get-together was interaction between rodeo committees. They came away saying it was good to meet, talk, and learn more about one another. Sounds like the start of some good progress on the overall Wyoming rodeo scene. Casper team roper Jhett Johnson represented the athletes at the breakfast and he was very thankful for the support from the Wyoming Travel & Tourism office. “It’s truly an honor to have a whole state behind us. We meet people every day who are pulling for us – whether it went good or bad. Thank you and stay behind us. We’re doing all we can,” Johnson told the crowd.

Photo: Jhett Johnson speaks at Wyoming breakfast with Governor Dave Freudenthal in attendance. Credit: Rick Carpenter

2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo - Round One Recap

Jason Chasin’

Steer wrestler Jason Miller went to elementary school – K through 8 – in a class of six in Lance Creek, Wyoming. He later played high school sports in the nearby town of Lusk. Now, at age 33, Miller is making a name for himself amongst the elite in professional rodeo and on the world’s brightest stage for the sport at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. There are ten rounds of competition and last night’s first outing saw Miller attain the second fastest time – 3.6 seconds. He made nearly $13,000 for that effort climbing from 13th to 9th in the world standings. “That’s a big thing here. If a guy gets started off right, you can go on a roll. I’ve seen it happen before. You go right on through the week and win a lot of money,” Miller said. Most times in this little arena if a bulldogger can drop his prey in the three-second category there is going to be a big payoff. “I didn’t think I was that fast but knew I got a good start. You almost feel like you broke the barrier you just cover them up so quickly,” Miller remarked.

Photo: Jason Miller moves into 9th place with a time of 3.6 sec in round one. Credit: Rick Carpenter

Pride of Wyoming

Pretty tough sledding for the Wyoming men riding bulls at the national finals last night. No scores for Kanin Asay and Bobby Welsh. They were not alone. It is a fact that a lot of nights see fewer than half the field stay on for the full eight seconds. One of the better animals out spinning in round one is called Ambush. He’s a product of the Burns Rodeo Company in Laramie. In the rough stock category of rodeo each ride is scored half for the animal and half for the rider. There are two judges and the best possible score is 100. A critter that is consistent, like Ambush, is going to be scored 22 or 23 points by each judge, nearly every time out. “He’s just a really good bull to draw. When they ride him the cowboys win a lot of money,” said Hal Burns. “He’s the cowboy’s pick. You ask them what they want in a herd, Ambush is right at the top,” Burns continued. Last night, Ambush lived up to his name and forced rider Clint Craig to touch with his free hand to end the night with no score. Burns and his brother, Pete, have been at it for more than twenty years. They raised the bull “Mr. T” who will long remain a rodeo legend for consistently tossing riders before the eight-second whistle for many years. Hal is just as excited this year about the human element competing at the national finals because of the number from Wyoming. “Not to downplay the Texans - there’s 33 of them - out of how many millions of people? What are we 450,000 in Wyoming now? And we’ve got seven kids in. Per capita, we blow away everybody in the rodeo business,” Burns beamed.

Photo: Clint Craig tries to hold on to Ambush before touching the bull with his free hand. Credit: Rick Carpenter

Friday Night Flights

Gillette, Wyoming saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson went to bed early to sleep off a cold and be in the best possible shape to face “Eliminator” night tonight in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo arena. The rough stock animals that are chosen to buck out tonight, and next Friday night, all have a trick to them. Johnson says he and his fellow riders are a bit more nervous when they are matched with eliminators. “You’ll usually get a bunch of ducks and dives. They are really strong,” he said. Chet feels fortunate in that his horse is one he’s ridden before. In fact, Johnson won the first round at Pendleton this year on the Ike Sankey Rodeo Co. steed, scoring an 86. That’s the thing about “Eliminator” night – staying on. It’s never easy but tonight fans are sure going to enjoy the wild rides even though the riders would probably just as soon be in the stands.

2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Opener

Big Men, Little Arena

The Thomas & Mack Center arena, where the world’s best cowboys and girls start getting after it tonight, was built for basketball. Now adapted with dirt and chutes for the national finals, there isn’t much room for error on the part of pro rodeo’s big men who’ll fly off their mounts to bulldog steers ten runs at a world championship. Jason Miller will attack his second year at this event with confidence. “I feel a lot more relaxed and the horse I’m riding has been here several times so he dang sure knows the drill,” Miller said. The Lance Creek, Wyoming pro has been in California for a couple of weeks practicing with Luke Branquinho who sits in the number one spot coming into the finals. “We’ve been working real hard out there and I’m pretty excited to get started,” Miller noted. All of the top steer wrestlers had a vote in picking the best steers to compete in Las Vegas. Miller and Branquinho spent their practices running those animals and chose the ones they thought would do Photo: Jason Miller, Steer Wrestlerthe best here. “This little building is a quick start. We want steers that leave and run hard. You are on top of them so fast they can get to stopping pretty easy. We looked for the steers that will give each of us the best opportunity at a fair shake,” Miller said.

Photo: Jason Miller, Steer Wrestler

Ace Seizes On Opportunity

Bull rider Kanin Asay had one heck of a year. He won the Xtreme Bulls tour event in his home state of Wyoming and capped it off championing the finals in Xtremes. Asay bested everyone to win the Mountain States Circuit Finals recently in Denver, finishing with two 90-point rides. He made more than $36,000 dollars over Cowboy Christmas (Fourth of July rodeos) and moved to second place in the world standings where he remains going into tonight’s first round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. His learning began with Dad (a former bull rider) and mimicking Mom’s balancing expertise. And Kanin practices hard at home but not on bulls. “I ride horses bareback. It’s the closest you can come to being on a bull without actually riding one,” Asay said. Lesson one we can learn is how to pronounce Kanin’s name. It’s Cannon (like the blasting apparatus) A-see. He may be young – 21 – and it’s his first finals. But keep a close eye on this bull rider. Asay is over six-feet-tall so he’ll strap those long legs on like a vice. His toes point out and he will be ready. Kanin cites former bull riding legend Jim Sharp as his model. Sharp once stayed on all ten rides successfully here at the national finals. Asay looks to go all out to try and match Sharp’s stellar accomplishment.

Photo: Kanin Asay, Bull Rider

Governor Supports Team

Wyoming’s Chief Executive Dave Freudenthal is in Las Vegas for the first round tonight. He, and First Lady Nancy, will make a couple of public appearances supporting the pro rodeo athletes that are sponsored by the state tourism office. Team members met personally with the Governor last night. No other state can say their governor made the effort to greet, shake hands, and wish good luck to its representatives at the opening of rodeo’s biggest show. That gesture is sure to give a little boost to our very proud, and talented, group of Wyoming contestants.

Photo: Governor Dave Freudenthal

Riding with Rip

Broadcasters in Minnesota called him “Hawk.” He kept his eyes on opposing quarterbacks and often interfered with their passes, either knocking them out of line to a receiver or intercepting. Rip Hawkins was a middle linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings from the inception of that team in 1961 through the 1965 season that ended when the Vikings beat their biggest rival, the Chicago Bears, on the final play of the game. It was an interception, run for a touchdown, by Rip Hawkins. It was his last act in pro football. You’d be lucky to learn that much from the historical record of the Vikings. I’ve had the good fortune over the last two weeks to find out a lot more. You see, Rip is a Cowboy, and not the Dallas kind.

A friend at the Wyoming Transportation Department, Rick Carpenter (whose photos you’ll often see on our web pages), told me about this Rip fellow who was a commissioner for his department. Our office was heading to Minnesota for a winter sports show and I thought maybe Rip would join us to add some flavor to the promotional mix. He agreed to help out by appearing in the Wyoming booth and signing autographs. We placed his old football shot on a picture of Devils Tower where Rip and his wife Mary have a ranch about a mile from the country’s first national monument. Rip signed and chatted with Vikings fans. He was well received and remembered.

I spent time with him in rides to and from the airport. He said that after the sudden death of his first wife he had to make a choice. Rip was just 25 but knew he should be there to take care of his family. “Football was a game to me. It was time to get on with life. I had to go out and make a living like everybody else,” Rip recalled. There is nothing self-aggrandizing in his tone but he occasionally thinks about what it would have been like to continue playing pro football. Could he have gained the notoriety of other linebackers of his era who played longer – Dick Butkus, Tommy Nobis? It was not to be. And the money, well it was different then. Rip’s first contract offered a $3,000 bonus and annual income of $12,000. It was really different. He was named to the pro bowl one year and led the Vikings in interceptions one season as well. I watched highlights from the 1965 season and Rip was one tough cat. He was big too – 6’ 3” and 250 pounds of hard-charging muscle.

Before getting on with Rip’s many life situation changes it would be best to go back to the beginning. His given name is Ross and Rip has nothing to do with football. His dad was a concrete salesman and baby Ross was always sleeping so far as Dad knew. The baby was sawing logs when Dad left for work and asleep when Pa got home. So, the forty winks of Rip Van Winkle gave Ross a new first name forever.

The Hawkins family resided in North Carolina during Rip’s toddler days but moved back to their roots along the base of the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee. Rip was ten, at home alone with his Mom, when she died of a heart attack. Shortly thereafter, a cowboy was born. Christmas was coming and Rip’s father wondered how he might cheer his son in the aftermath of the family’s tragic loss. Would he like a motorbike? Or did he want a horse? Rip asked for a horse.

Enter a one-eyed pony named Charlie. You can see the scene. Young Rip strapped with his two toy guns and sporting a cowboy hat. “I got on Charlie and went on down the road with no idea what to do,” Rip said. He tried to turn Charlie but with the eye situation being what it was the pony did not know what his rider wanted. So Charlie just sat down in a ditch. “I thought I’d killed him or something,” laughed Rip. Charlie lived many years, so long in fact Rip had to resort to a bucket of corn mush mixed with hot water for feed. “He was my first love. After that, everything that I wanted to do it had to be with a horse.”

Rip had an older, mentally retarded, friend named Marvin Ray as a mentor. He answered to “Pee Wee” and they first met one day when Pee Wee came hollering up the road to the Hawkins place riding an old, bridled, plow horse. “I want to take Baby Rip for a ride!” Pee Wee told Rip’s father. Rip was placed on the horse, held on, and they rode around the hills for hours. “From then on, Pee Wee was sort of my guardian,” Rip said.

Many other horses followed. There had to be walking horses, this was Tennessee remember, and for Rip and his friends horses served as the boys’ legs. “We were on horses every chance we got. We rode all around those mountains. Played cops and robbers, chased each other to try and tag. Played every possible game on them,” he said.

After football Rip even took a shot at rodeo in Minnesota. Imagine a big middle linebacker on a bareback horse. The former pro gridiron star was now 30 years old. “I should have been bull dogging but didn’t know how to do that.” He joined the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association nonetheless and recalls his first ride vividly. “I was trying to keep my feet up above his shoulders when he came out and dropped his head. Where did he go? Where is he heading? I lost him,” Rip laughed. He never made the whistle on any of his pro rodeo attempts but had a big time trying. “When you first get on in the chute there is a ton of adrenaline running through. It’s exactly the same feeling I had standing on the sidelines with the Vikings during the national anthem,” he said.

Rip still rides. He has a horse called “Bo Bo.” They enjoy their time together on a Devils Tower, Wyoming ranch. Horses have given Rip a way of life he would never trade for the myriad of past occupations that have included seven years as a prosecutor in Fulton County, Georgia. Rip really enjoyed one of his jobs in Wyoming – head wrangler at the A Bar A Ranch. It was a heaven-made match of caring for horses every day. “There is a mutual trust and respect you learn for each other. You like the fact that they’ll put themselves in your hands,” he said.

Rip is down to about 210 pounds now and he sits quietly for a moment before our conversation continues. He thinks out loud about the old saying that being on the back of a horse is good for the inside of a man. “Whenever I was with a horse I was never lonely. You have to look after them. Be responsible. I guess it took some of the aching out of what I wasn’t getting somewhere else.”

A Cowboy’s Heart

I probably ought to quit writing on the subject of this man. Some people might think it’s some kind of creepy crush. Have you not memorialized him enough? You could legitimately ask. We’ve produced a tribute on DVD. I’ve written articles for various publications and our office is a major contributor to the marketing of the art show, rodeo, and concert put on each year in his name. What else can we do to honor Chris LeDoux today, on what would have been his 59th birthday? Well there are a few things left to say that I believe are worth thinking about.

The songs are being played on the radio stations in the West. They’ll surely let ‘er rip with ‘Hooked on an Eight-Second Ride’ and slow it down for ‘Look at You Girl.’ You could even get an earful of ‘Copenhagen.’ So far today I’ve chosen ‘Little Long-Haired Outlaw’ and ‘You Just Can’t See Him From the Road’ to satisfy a deep-seated need to remember Chris not only for his music but for who he was, and what he represented, to Wyoming and to a way of living that is in such seemingly short supply these days.

He chose to live here with the woman he loved. He treated her with respect. She was always with him no matter the miles between them. His road manager and guitarist, Mark, said Chris would politely decline requests for hugs and kisses from female fans. He said those were for his wife, but he’d gladly shake their hand.

Chris LeDoux loved to laugh and pull practical jokes. He made fun of himself. He never took the whole celebrity thing to heart. He was a cowboy – a rodeo man. Once age prevented him from riding bareback horses he had to make a living somehow. Rodeo did not make a man rich in 1976. It doesn’t for most today. So storytelling, poems, and guitar-pickin’ were secondary passions that would move to the forefront.

To say there were a lot of lean years would be the ultimate in understatement. But he never quit. Chris believed in himself. A little extra effort here, some luck there, and who knows maybe someday the dust would settle in his favor. It better. There were more and more mouths to feed at home.

I remember clearly Chris and his dad coming into a Cheyenne radio station one day in the early ‘80s. I was a news reporter from the Midwest and did not know a thing about Chris LeDoux. We spoke briefly and he went on the air with the disc jockey to talk about the latest cassette. I got hold of a copy and listened. Didn’t think too highly of the singing but there was something about the songs. They had heart. The person singing them really lived that life. You could tell. And there was that sense of humor.

I started covering rodeos and learned to love the sport. The cowboy spirit of getting back up from every fall was easy to see; hard to do. Yet I think for me it was the start of a long and sometimes rocky road called becoming a man. A better man. One who had principles and stuck to them. Still have plenty of room for improvement but at least I know of a dang good model to follow.

Mostly though, it was about hard work, overcoming obstacles – perceived or real – and practice. A really good band, or team, of players on the stage and in the studio with Chris made a big difference too.

Same for all of us. If we’re lucky enough to find the right partner, co-worker or friend to count on – to trust – well, we’ve just about all we need to catch that elusive butterfly called happiness.

If you couldn’t feel that spirit coming from the stage during a Chris LeDoux concert, you could not feel. I felt. I hope you had the chance to see him and know what it’s like to be in the presence of a true cowboy.

If you’ll indulge me a moment more I hope LeDoux fans will try to find their way to the University of Wyoming Fieldhouse in Laramie for a free concert by Western Underground, October 12. The band, led by Mark Sissel, carries on smartly down their own road opened by Chris. They have a new CD called “Unbridled” and you can pick one up at the show or go online – http://www.westernunderground.com/

Muddling Along

You never saw so much mud. Steer wrestlers skied on it, wallowed in it, and after their runs they were slathered from head to toe. They looked like they were preparing for jungle commando duty. (Your camouflage has a distinct odor of cow poop, soldier.) The rough-stock riders came back to the ready area bubbled in brown. Their chaps are singular badges of honor so forgive the occasional dainty lift after a ride to try to keep them semi-clean.


Scott Montague returned after his championship bareback ride to pick up his custom-made hat (the work of his brother), dump the watery mud from within, and bench the caked sombrero. “I think she’s a goner,” said Scott. “I’ll give it back to my brother. Maybe he can do something with it. Or we’ll put it on e-bay.”

Cheyenne Frontier Days arena is big and long. It has a history like no other. Pro cowboys and cowgirls live to make the final Sunday. The last three days of this years “Daddy” were damp. Make that wet. No, swamped. No one minds the rain, mind you. This is ranch country and the land’s been parched for many years. Give us rain. And for shooters – still and video – mud flying makes for some unbelievable pictures. Sure a tripod might get blotched and a few shirts destined for the dry cleaner in the sky. But what pictures! Here’s a taste for you from photographer Rick Carpenter and our own video-meister Mike McCrimmon:

Click here to see all CFD Mud Flying Images and Video

Honoring Thy Father

I sat quietly next to Beau LeDoux. You can see his father’s eyes sparkle forth in this son of rodeo and cowboy music legend, Chris. His boy and I shared a couple of thoughts on the subject of height. “Dad was taller when he was younger. I think he shrunk,” said Beau. “Me too. I’m definitely down an inch or two,” I said. “Except in the stomach.”

Beau smiled. Then you can really see his dad. It’s a tall shadow within which Beau rides his bareback horse in the massive Cheyenne Frontier Days arena. He dismounts, pulls a bag from his shirt pocket, and empties the contents to the arena dirt. A family decision led to ashes of Chris Ledoux finding their way to the middle of rodeo’s heart this week.

This arena is not used often – maybe a month a year. Such has been the case from the beginning. In the 1960s a teenage boy who’d won his first rodeo buckle in Texas moved to Cheyenne. Young Chris did not live far from the arena. During those character-forming days he would ride his horse in this arena in front of no one but his imagination. He doffed his hat to the empty grandstands while crowning himself a Cheyenne champion. Later Chris would watch bareback riding’s elite readying for their rides at Old Cheyenne and the boy with a dream began to believe in himself. “It was like I was born right here in Cheyenne,” said LeDoux.

Chris obtained his Rodeo Cowboy’s Association permit in due order and stretched his talent by listening to advice of fellow riders and working hard at his chosen craft. He never won Cheyenne but came close. Twenty years after the ride that nearly got him the Frontier Days buckle he would remember every moment clearly. He could talk about the horse, and the ride, and Joe Alexander coming out of the chute later to best LeDoux’s mark setting a record that still stands. Chris spoke as if he’d just dismounted from that horse right there in the middle of the Cheyenne arena – the arena where yesterday his son Beau brought Dad home.

Photo Caption: Beau LeDoux rides at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Upon dismount he left ashes of his father Chris in the arena dirt.

Credit: Rick Carpenter

Jhett Fueled For Finish

Most animals brought to Cheyenne for the timed events out of Chute 9 are fresh – meaning this is their first rodeo. Not so in team roping. This bunch of horned critters has been out at Colorado rodeos a lot recently, including the Greeley Stampede and the recent tour stop in Colorado Springs. Close to 150 teams roped today as the first go-round in team roping was staged throughout the afternoon. Casper team roper Jhett Johnson sprang into the top 15 for the first time this season, this week.

Johnson knew it could be a rough go today because the Frontier Days arena is long and narrow. Many of the steers would be runners since they know what is up now and they get a head start of over thirty feet in Cheyenne – twice as long as other rodeos. Still several teams got the job done in under nine seconds. Jhett and partner Keven Daniel were out of the money at fourteen seconds for their run. They will hope for better luck in round two. The pair did well in both Greeley and Colorado Springs earlier this month. Jhett is on the heels, Keven the head. Johnson says they picked up $9,000 over the Fourth of July turning around the season completely. “The last two weeks saved our chances to make the finals,” said Jhett.

Johnson is set for horses. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had two world-class heel horses. They have to be tough to get hauled in a trailer for eight or nine hours and then get out to perform at their best. Just like any pro athlete they’re on the edge and give 100 percent every time,” Jhett remarks.

My pal Rick Carpenter was shooting still photos of Jhett today and we heard him talking to a couple of old friends about heart. The conversation bears repeating. There is a life lesson here. A transcription follows:

Young guys will come in and win right off the bat and they think ‘Man, I’m going to do this forever. It’s fun. I love it.’ But once their luck changes - and this is for everybody whether it’s me or Speed Williams (current header standings leader) – there will be a dry spell and that’s the time you say ‘Do I want to do this?’ It’s money out of your own pocket (the entry fee at Cheyenne for example is $400). It’s wear and tear on everything. And you’re tired. You haven’t won and it doesn’t look like you are ever gonna win again. You have to ask yourself ‘Is this what I want to do?’ Some will fold and some will keep going. That’s when you find out what you’ve got. The easy way is to head to the house and regroup. And just never come back. You see that a lot.

Jhett Johnson could have given up this season. He started it with an appendectomy. His partner quit on him the week Johnson healed. “I lost my partner and I lost my appendix. It looked pretty gloomy,” he said. The bad luck didn’t stop there. The next partner’s horse went lame. “I thought that was about par,” said Jhett. But then Keven Daniel asked if Jhett would join him. “I always look for another light,” Johnson says.
The road to the national finals won’t be easy but if attitude counts for anything, Jhett is going to make it. His tank is always half full.

Christmas Money Comes Early

Fourth of July rodeos are the craziest travel time for contestants on the pro rodeo circuit. If you live in the West you saw horse trailers rolling the highways somewhere in the last few days. Two of them carrying Wyoming athletes pulled into Greeley, CO yesterday for the finals at the Stampede – the largest of the “Cowboy Christmas” purses. Both left with pockets full of cash.

Brandie Halls and her trusty steed Slim won the barrel racing average in Greeley with a total time of 52.33 seconds in three runs. The Carpenter, WY resident, and Torrington area native, ran at speeds good enough for money in each round and total winnings of over $8,400. Just to give you a thumbnail of how the travel miles accumulate during the first week of July, Brandie headed to Steamboat Springs, CO for a rodeo last night. She took her inexperienced horse, Lizzy, out for that run that really was difficult because of the fireworks and crowd noise. On top of those impediments, the wind kicked up and blew the timing eye down during the run. Back to the travel: Brandie’s been to Red Lodge, Montana and Cody, Wyoming in addition to Greeley over the last few days. She’s headed to Utah today and will return to Steamboat this weekend.

Casper team roper Jhett Johnson heeled his way to the Greeley pay window to pick up nearly $5,800 along with heading pard Keven Daniel. They took the average title with a total time of 17.4 on three head. Jhett has now moved up to 26th in the world standings and hopes to close in on the coveted top 15 within a few weeks. He has the honor of hauling a horse trailer widely, and colorfully, adorned with Wyoming scenery and a big picture of the Johnson family. They live west of Casper on a ranch that dates to the late 1800s.

Another member of the Wyoming rodeo athlete sponsorship program supported by the state tourism office is Jason Miller – a steer wrestler from Lance Creek. His year is getting better quickly after Greeley. He left the Stampede with a cool $6,000 and a startling vault in the standings, now in the 26th spot.

Cowboy Christmas Lights Up

Photo: Bull rider, Bobby Welsh is one of Wyoming Travel & Tourism's sponsored cowboys

There’ve been some strong moves by Wyoming rodeo contestants spurring their way toward, and within, the top 15 spots and the chance at a national finals slot. The Greeley Stampede rodeo begins tomorrow and while it is the largest Fourth of July (Cowboy Christmas) payday the money really starts to help with the Reno Rodeo just completed last weekend.

Chet Johnson, a saddle bronc rider from Gillette, WY won Reno and $9,500 to vault into the #12 position with total earnings of nearly $26,000 so far this year.

Reno saw good outings from Mills, WY bareback rider Kelly Timberman who is now #2 in the world standings. Brandie Halls, a barrel racer from Carpenter, also left Reno with money in her pocket and upward mobility in the standings to #34. A barrel racer from Lusk, Andrea Clark, is within $600 of the top 15 in her event.

Luck seems to be turning for Casper team roper Jhett Johnson (heeler). He and his pard have picked up enough cash the last week or so to move Jhett just inside the top 50, at #49. Also in the top 50 and holding out hope for a big Cowboy Christmas is Lance Creek steer wrestler Jason Miller, currently 45th. Miller, like the rest of the Wyoming athletes, is busy on the cell phone horse trading and making the last-minute choices necessary on which rodeos to enter over the crucial next week. It’s all about the draw in this sport - and finding ways to get to the rodeos that pay the most. Remember, for those of you not familiar with rodeo, each contestant is charged an entry fee and they don’t get that money back unless they place high enough once the dust settles.

Wyoming bull riders Kanin Asay of Powell and Bobby Welsh of Gillette are 8th and 14th respectively. Both of those top pros, along with Gillette’s Cameron Castleberry, are going to compete in this weekend’s Dodge Xtreme Bulls tour event in Cody. The forty-man field also includes many of today’s best pro bull riders – B.J. Schumacher, Dustin Elliott, Cody Hancock and Zeb Lanham to name a few. You can check on seat availability by going to: http://www.codystampederodeo.com/ and clicking on “tickets.” The action starts at 6 p.m. this Saturday night (June 30). The show is being shot for broadcast nationally on ESPN, July 28. Announcing chores are being handled by Dan Miller and Donnie Gay. Miller, as previously noted here (June 1), fronts a nightly cowboy music revue in Cody. It’s a family hour of great music, poetry, and humor. I have to tip my balding pate to Dan. He’s worked hard to put this show together. Catch it when you can. Tickets at the door, nightly.

Douglas, Wyoming: Momentous moments in time

We’re getting ready to head up to Casper for the College National Finals Rodeo after a stop in Douglas. Mike and I are putting together a series of interview clips and video about the history of Douglas and are finding the town worthy of a lot of little known attributes. When it comes to Douglas and Converse County, Wyoming:

Did you know?

Sir Barton, the first Triple Crown Winner, was purchased by a Douglas doctor. The horse was put out to stud on a ranch near town and sired enough young ones that the bloodline remains active today. The tall, red, horse is immortalized by statue in a town park where his bones are interred. The local Jaycees could not get enough cash together for the statue for some time after Sir Barton’s passing and during that ten-year stretch the horse’s bones were kept in the basement of the town bakery. By the way their dinner rolls are superb. Ask for George and he’ll tell you all about Sir Barton. The service is really fast there. George calls the place Home Bakery and he and his wife have operated there for more than forty years. Me thinks “Homestretch” would be more in tune with its history.

You are most likely aware of our holding of Japanese Americans in camps around the country during WWII. We also had a number of POW camps for Europeans. German and Italian military captives were kept at a facility in Douglas where the men spent daylight hours doing ranch chores and other agricultural endeavors around the area. At night, three of the Italians painted their visions of the American West on several wall panels and in large murals. It’s clear the men were very talented artists but their views were built from Tim McCoy movies much more than their days toiling on Wyoming ranchlands. Preservation money is a little thin these days but a group of locals are trying to find a way to get the building spruced up and better suited for public tours. I didn’t even know European POWs of WWII were kept in this country let alone Wyoming. Douglas folks are pretty sure the building is the only one its kind left standing and functional. A community club uses it as a meeting spot.

Experts in Douglas describe it as a “going through” place because of the rich western heritage involving trails carrying freight and human cargo in the 1800s. You can learn all about those days at the Pioneer Museum on the grounds of the Wyoming State Fair. Some might also call Douglas a “getting caught” place. The notorious Charlie Starkweather and his girlfriend were captured there in the late 1950s after leaving a murderous trail across Nebraska and eastern Wyoming. The cold-blooded couple served as inspiration for a pair of motion pictures – Natural Born Killers and Badlands. All that they inspire in Douglas is disgust.

The Colorado Cannibal, Alfred Packer, was brought in from the range outside of Douglas. You can look up Packer on Google for details about his eating habits. Suffice it to say he grew to like his fellow man a bit too much – pass the Tabasco please. The canyon where Packer was caught was later named “Man Eater.”

2007 Summer Rodeo Season is Upon Us

The summer rodeo season is here and that makes a lot of us feel like winter blankets can go in the closet. A damp chill filled the air along with steady rain last night in Cody, Wyoming – home to the Cody Nite Rodeo and the Cody Stampede. The latter is one of the stalwarts of “Cowboy Christmas.” That’s the period from the last week of June through the Fourth of July when professional rodeo athletes cover thousands of miles sometimes competing at two different rodeos in a day. Most are in cars, pickups, and vans but those who can afford it jump a flight to make as many of the better paying rodeos as possible. It’s all about the draw in this sport so travel decisions, particularly for rough stock contestants, are based on the animals they’ve been allotted. Some cowboy has ridden almost all of the horses and bulls that will be sent out of the chutes in professional competition. There is constant cell phone chatter and texting amongst the cowboys trying to find out all they can about animals… “he’ll buck out big and go to the right….he hasn’t been spinnin’ like he used to….she’ll stay strong to the whistle.” Try your best to make a “Cowboy Christmas” rodeo. It’s when the most money can be made in the shortest period of time all summer so cowboy try is at a maximum. If you can get an angle to watch the parking lot behind the chutes you’ll also see a lot of dust kicked up by tires carrying cowboys and girls to the next rodeo.

Here in Cody we went to the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue last night and it is a really, great show (as Ed Sullivan used to say). Miller tells humorous stories on the history of the songs he and his band perform. Their versions of such gems as “Cowboy Sweetheart” and “Great American Cowboy” are precise, melodically brewed to perfection, and crowd-pleasing delights. Miller will look familiar to rodeo fans. He’s spent twenty years alongside Donnie Gay providing television coverage of rodeos from coast-to-coast. Dan is now back with Donnie doing the Dodge Xtreme Bulls events showing on ESPN. Cody will be hosting one of those events, June 30 – a first for Wyoming. If you get this way this summer be sure to see the Dan Miller show, evenings at 8 p.m. Dan basically rebuilt the interior of the old Cody Enterprise building himself and has the strong support of his wife and family. He handcrafted the stage on which he stands. The least we can do is watch him work on it.

Our Wyoming rodeo athletes sponsored by the state tourism office are hoping to gain some momentum heading into the heart of the season. Team roper Jhett Johnson of Casper feels like he’s found the right partner to carry through the year. Keven Daniel will be doing the heading work with Jhett on the heels. As you hit the road this summer you can’t miss Jhett. His horse trailer puts in 60,000 miles a year wrapped with beautiful Wyoming scenery and a family portrait. Gillette bull rider Bobby Welsh is on the edge of the Top 15, currently #17. Lance Creek’s Jason Miller is at #36 in steer wrestling and barrel racer Brandie Halls, of Carpenter WY, is in the #40 spot.

The 2004 world champion bareback rider, Kelly Timberman of Mills, is off to a big start in 2007. Kelly is in the #2 position and looking to close in on the top spot. Kanin Asay, a bull rider from Powell, holds strong at #7. And Andrea Clark of Lusk has nudged into the Top 15. She is holding that last hole in barrel racing going into June.

Charlie's Cowboy Blog

Charlie is Chuck Coon aka Curtis Scott aka anything else you want to call him except late for dinner. He’s been coming to Las Vegas for the finals since 1987 either as a reporter or fan…even once to get married. Good thing the rodeo lasted because the marriage didn’t. You will find Charlie to be at the very least readable, occasionally humorous, and often on deadline. That means there’ll be something here for you to peruse – like it or not. He’s written for American Cowboy magazine and ghostwritten for a number of other national magazines. Charlie is fortunate to have a day-job serving as Media Relations Manager for Wyoming Travel & Tourism. He and colleague Mike McCrimmon put together television news feature stories for a cadre of quality stations in Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota. You will find a couple of those stories posted near here currently with many more coming from the 2006 WNFR.