Back in the Saddle

My humblest of apologies for not being regular in these remarks on rodeo in Wyoming, the western life and a road trip suggestion or two. Rather than offer any excuses let us more forward. I assure you there will be updates to this column every month with the addition of video in some cases. We are sure to have something for you in the video vein over the next couple of weeks as we partake in Cheyenne Frontier Days. Beginning July 19 you can find me in the rough stock riders “ready” area where it’s my honor to connect the cowboys with journalists.

Our office sponsors professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls based primarily on their appearances at the national finals. One exception is Jeremy Sparks – a bullfighter who has been a fixture at frontier days for several years. Jeremy is a captain in the U.S. Air Force having decided to join after 9/11. He is the only full-time military person who is also a card-carrying member of the PRCA. I’ve gotten to know him well and appreciate his bravery in the arena. Jeremy’s had some health issues in recent months. Kidney stone complications put him in the hospital in Cheyenne. He lost weight his frame really could not afford to be without. Every time I see him now I first ask if I can buy him a double cheeseburger and fries.

Jeremy married his college sweetheart last month in Yellowstone National Park and the first week of July saw a dream come true as Sparks joined Sparks fighting bulls at the Cody Stampede. Jeremy decided to become a bullfighter because of the legendary Donny Sparks who has been one of the best at his trade for nearly twenty years. Their work together in Cody was abruptly cut short when Jeremy got stepped on by a bull. The resulting head injury put Jeremy in the Cody hospital overnight. He sustained a concussion and contusions but plans on being ready to go in Cheyenne, Saturday. I still think his relentless gym workouts should be capped off with candy, ice cream and mashed potatoes. But he won’t listen to me.

Jeremy will be joining us at the Wyoming booth this weekend. We’ll be out Friday-Sunday along the rodeo arena fence leading to the main entrance of Frontier Park. Look for the black tent that proclaims: Wyoming, Forever West. We’ve some good freebies including an updated Chris LeDoux Tribute DVD that concludes with the nice ride his son Beau performed at last year’s Daddy. And there is also footage of Beau, following his 81-point ride, dispensing a portion of his Dad’s ashes in the arena Chris once said he felt was his birthplace. We will have a drawing each day for a very special piece of framed art. It is a series of still photos (by our talented pal Rick Carpenter) of Beau LeDoux’s 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days ride and its aftermath. Please stop by, say howdy, and register to win.

Calgary was good to our Wyoming hands. Chet Johnson of Gillette is trading in $27,000 from Canadian to American currency. The huge saddle bronc horse he drew for the showdown round put up one heck of a fight trying to unseat Chet. Johnson stuck with it to place third in that round after winning Round 10. And world champ steer wrestler Jason Miller of Lance Creek collected some $12K at the Stampede. Chet will ride in the regular afternoon performances of Cheyenne Frontier Days – July 25th & 26th. Those same mornings, Miller seeks to repeat a Cheyenne championship by bulldogging in the slack competition for which there is no charge to watch.

Our team roper, heeler Jhett Johnson from Casper, is now working with Charlie Crawford of Oklahoma on the head. Jhett says they’ve pocketed about ten thousand dollars over past couple of weeks as Johnson makes another run at the national finals. Jhett and Charlie will work this week in Cheyenne – Wednesday and Thursday in the slack competition.

Bull rider Bobby Welsh of Gillette is coming off a big Fourth of July in Cody finishing with the reserve championship in the X-treme Bulls competition. Bobby won the WYO Rodeo in Sheridan last weekend and will ride in Cheyenne July 21st & 22nd.

The barrel racer we have a sponsoring interest and friendship with is Brandie Halls from Carpenter, WY. She is excused from Cheyenne with a vet’s release. We’ll be in touch with Brandie soon to let you know the latest.

Finally, and with no small amount of pleasure, I am happy to report Powell bull rider Kanin Asay is alive and on the road to recovery. The same night Jeremy Sparks was hurt (July 2) in Cody, Kanin was in a big wreck at the Saint Paul, Oregon rodeo. According to eyewitness reports given to Asay (he remembers nothing) Kanin was strung out and then brought down for a head-to-head smash. That sequence was repeated before sending the unconscious rider into a hung-up position alongside the animal. Kanin went to the ground after five or six seconds whereupon the bull stepped on Asay’s stomach. He was flown by helicopter from the arena to a hospital in Portland. Surgeons removed Kanin’s spleen. He sustained fractures to an eye socket and rib. The stomach surgery left a rather lengthy gash from Asay’s sternum to below the belly button. But he is back home and plans to ride again by the tour rodeo in Caldwell, Idaho the latter part of August.

I learned about Kanin from Jeremy Sparks who called me groggily from his hospital bed in Cody. These rodeo folks. Some times you have to wonder where they get their juice. One thing for sure. That fountain of adrenaline, focus, and pure cowboy try only flows one way – up.