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.