(PHOTO BY JAMES PHIFER)
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Dean Wadsworth’s life is changing fairly rapidly.
Just a few years ago, he attempted to ride 130 saddle bronc horses. That’s a lot, but that’s the mindset Wadsworth has had most of his ProRodeo career. He wanted to give himself as many chances to make money as possible.
He made some nice money Saturday night during the final performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo in Hempstead. He matched moves with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Big Tex for 83 points to finish in a tie for second place, worth $1,256. The important thing for Wadsworth is a nice advantage in the Texas Circuit at the beginning of the 2022 season.
“If you win this rodeo, you’re over a quarter of the way in winnings to qualify for the Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo,” said Wadsworth, 33, of Buffalo Gap, Texas. “With these kinds of horses and this kind of money, you’d be crazy not to come to this rodeo. I’m always excited to get that jump and get started on the new season.
“Last year, I didn’t make the (National) Finals, so I may as well get started now.”
The Texan has yet to qualify for the NFR, which features only the top 15 contestants in the world standings at the end of the regular season. This year’s rodeo campaign ended Thursday night, and he hopes the jumpstart he got in Hempstead will enable him to at least have a shot at it by the time next September rolls around.
Having the opportunity to ride a horse like Big Tex was definitely worth the five-hour drive from west Texas to southeast Texas. It was the second time he’d been on the big, bay gelding, now 21 and a 15-time selection to the NFR. Big Tex was also the Bareback Riding Horse of the Year in 2010.
“I don’t think he’s lost a step,” Wadsworth said of the 21-year-old bucking horse. “He’s been in the PRCA longer than I have.
“You can win anything on him. Every now and then at about five seconds into the ride, he’ll have a little jucier jump on his juicy days, but even in off days, he’s pretty great.”
Just two weeks shy of his 34th birthday, he has other things to tend to than his younger days, but he still loves riding bucking horses. It showed Saturday night.
Waller County Fair and Rodeo
Sept. 30-Oct. 2
Hempstead, Texas
Bareback riding: 1. Zach Hibler, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Lady’s Man, $1,884; 2. Bill Tutor, 83.5, $1,444; 3. (tie) Kade Sonnier and Paden Hurst, 82, $879 each; 5. Keenan Reed Hayes, 81, $440; 6. Zachariah Phillips, 80.5, $314; 7. (tie) Tim Murphy and Anthony Thomas, 80, $220 each.
Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Trey Green and Denell Henderson, 3.7 seconds, $1,920 each; 3. Clayton Hass, 4.6, $1,518; 4. Dustin Merritt, 4.7, $1,250; 5. Cody Harmon, 4.9, $982; 6. Sterling Watson, 5.2, $714; 7. Tucker Allen, 5.7, $447; 8. Ryan Lewis, 6.2, $179.
Team roping: 1. Tyler Wade/Blaine Turner, 4.5 seconds, $2,832; 2. Kreece Thompson/Chad Williams, 4.9, $2,463; 3. (tie) Todd Arthur/Garrett Busby and Casey Tew/Seth Smithson, 5.1, $1m909 each; 5. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 5.2, $1,354; 6. (tie) Shay Carrol/Evan Arnold and Manny Equsquiza/Lane Mitchell, 5.3, $800 each; 8. Clay Robertson/Justin Copp, 5.5, $246.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Logan Cook, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Flirt, $1,884; 2. (tie) Blaise Freeman and Dean Wadsworth, 83, $1,226 each; 4. Cash Wilson, 82, $691; 5. (tie) Damo Brennan, Parker Fleet and Cree Minkoff, 77, $335 each; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 76, $188.
Breakaway roping: 1. J.J. Hampton, 2.2 seconds, $2,050; 2. Cassidy Boggs, 2.5, $1,782; 3. (tie) Jill Tanner and Jordan Jo Fabrizio, 2.6, $1,381 each; 5. (tie) Jordi Edens and Cadee Williams, 2.7 $847 each; 7. Ashley Goforth, 2.8, $446; 8. Jayme Marcrum, 3.0, $178.
Tie-down roping: 1. Sherman Lasker, 8.4 seconds, $2,715; 2. Blane Cox, 8.6, $2,429; 3. John Douch, 9.4, $2,143; 4. Ryan Thibodeaux, 10.0, $1,857; 5. (tie) Sterling Smith and Marcos Costa, 10.1, $1,429 each; 7. Clay Elliott, 10.4, $1,000; 8. (tie) Garrett Busby and Tyler Prcin, 10.6, $572 each; 10. Michael Otero, 10.8, $143.
Barrel racing: Thursday night: 1. Ericka Nelson, 15.44 seconds, $339; 2. Taycee Matthews, 15.78, $322; 3. Kyndal Schley, 15.99, $255; 4. Deb Guelly, 20,89, $188; 5. Nicole Driggers, 21.33, $121; 6. Nicole Love, 22.96, $67. Friday and Saturday nights: 1. Jamie Olsen, 15.95, $2,279; 2. Tammy Fischer, 16.02, $1,937; 3. Shelley Morgan, 16.04, $1,595; 4. Tiany Schuster, 16.08, $1,368; 5. Lisa Thornton, 16.10, $1,140; 6. Suzanne Brooks, 16.38, $798; 7. (tie) Mandy Cupp and Cassidy Champlin, 16.41, $513 each; 9. Teneille Angland, 16.47, $399; 10. Davie King, 16.49, $342; 11. Keyla Polizello Costa, 16.61, $285; 12. Jennifere Sharp, 16.65, $228. (Because ground conditions were changed due to rain that began Friday morning, the payout for barrel racing was adjusted)
Steer roping: First round: 1. Jess Tierney, 10.5 seconds, $945; 2. Cody Lee, 11.2, $782; 3. JW Brown, 11.4, $619; 4. (tie) Vin Fisher Jr. and Ryan Willberg, 11.5, $375 each; 6. Billy Good, 11.6, $163. Second round: 1. Cole Patterson, 10.0 seconds, $945; 2. Cash Myers, 10.1, $782; 3. Thomas Smith, 10.5, $619; 4. Slade Wood, 11.5, $456; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., 11.6, $293; 6. John E. Bland, 11.7, $163. Third round: 1. (tie) Landon McClaugherty and Shay Good, 9.4 seconds, $864 each; 3. Cash Myers, 10.2, $619; 4. (tie) Scott Snedecor and Jess Tierney, 10.7, $375 each; 6. Ty Herd, 10.9, $163. Average: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., 34.7 seconds on three head, $1,418; 2. Jess Tierney, 36.6, $1,173; 3. Slade Wood, 36.9, $929; 4. Cody Lee, 39.3, $684; 5. Billy Good, 43.3, $440; 6. Chet Herren, 44.4, $244.
Bull riding: 1. Toby Collins, 87 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Black Beauty, $8,256; no other qualified rides. (All money includes ground money)