CLAREMORE, Okla. – The dirt on their faces said something about Conner and Sterling Pharr.

They’re having fun on the rodeo trail with their daddy, Tim. So is he, for that matter. He has set up his rodeo schedule around his sons’ education; not that school’s out for the summer, the boys jumped in the rig with him.

On Sunday night, Pharr proved how much fun he’s having by roping and tying his calf in 7.9 seconds to win the tie-down roping on the final night of the 2018 Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo.

“This is the second run on these calves, and they missed her the first time,” said Pharr, the No. 38 man in the world standings heading into Memorial Day weekend. “There wasn’t much to know. You can’t really make a game plan, so you just wing it.”

Improvising worked for the Resaca, Ga., cowboy. He pocketed $1,659 in Claremore; when added to his earnings for finishing second at the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo to kick off May, Pharr has earned more than $4,400 in Oklahoma this month.

“There were four guys going after me, so I knew if I’m under 9.4, I’m in the money,” he said. “It’s still a competition between you and your calf. Some of the calves tonight really ran, and my wasn’t so fast, so it gave me an advantage.”

Pharr and the boys left their Georgia home and arrived 670 miles later in Fort Smith, Ark., in time for him to compete Sunday morning there. They then traveled another 125 miles to Claremore to partake in the four-time PRCA Small Rodeo of the Year. It’s a lot of miles, but it’s important for Pharr to have that time with his kids; Conner is 7; Sterling, 5.

“There’s nothing more important to me than family,” he said. “They just got out of school, so I just loaded them up, and here we go. I’ve got them for two weeks, then their junior rodeo finals is June 9.

“Whatever I can do to have them with me is what I do. I have a great family and a lot of support behind me, and they’re more than willing to help me.’

With Conner and Sterling right here with him, Tim Pharr has found a winning formula.

Will Rogers Stampede
Claremore, Okla.
May 25-27
Bareback riding:1. Jamie Howlett, 83.5 points Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s River Blast, $1,225; 2. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Tanner Aus, 81.5, $798 each; 4. Lane McGehee, 81, $456; 6. (tie) Justin Pollmiller and Jared Keylon, 80.5, $223.

Steer wrestling: 1. Shane Frey, 3.7 seconds, $1,951; 2. Matt Reeves, 4.3, $1,697; 3. (tie) Jason Tapley and Blake Mindemann, 4.4, $1,315 each; 5. (tie) Kyle Whitaker and Jule Hazen, 4.5, $806; 7. John Kloeckler, 4.7, $424; 8. Hunter Washburn, 4.8, $170.

Tie-down roping: 1. Tim Pharr, 7.9 seconds, $1,659; 2. Trent Creager, 8.4, $1,443; 3. Riley Pruitt, 8.7, $1,226; 4. Shane Hanchey, 9.1, $1,010; 5. (tie) Cole Bailey and Tyler Milligan, 9.4, $685 each; 7. Cody Quaney, 9.6, $361; 8. Scot Meeks, 9.7, $144.

Saddle bronc riding 1. Louie Brunson, 85 points on Pete Carr ProRodeo’s Django, $1,365; 2. Colt Gordon, 84, $1,034; 3. Joe Lufkin, 83.5, $744; 4. Dalton Davis, 83, $496; 5. (tie) Wyatt Casper, Tyrel Larsen and Roper Kiesner, 80, $165 each.

Team roping: 1. Dalton Turner/Heath Williams, 5.4 seconds, $1,729; 2. Cody Graham/Jason Stroup, 5.8, $1,504; 3. Cory Kidd V/Caleb Anderson, 5.7, $1,278; 4. Quentin Sawyer/Jordan Reynolds, 6.0, $1,052; 5. Brenten Hall, 6.1, $927; 6. Jesse Stipes/Jake Smith, 6.2, $601; 7. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 6.4, $376; 8. Branden Duff/Jeff Brown, 6.5, $150.

Barrel racing: 1. Jessica Routier, 17.11 seconds, $1,905; 2. Jody McKay, 17.20, $1,633; 3. Stevi Hillman, 17.25, $1,361; 4. Tiany Schuster, 17.27, $1,179; 5. Kylie Weast, 17.28, $907; 6. Cheyenne Kelly, 17.33, $726; 7. Ericka Nelson, 13.37, $544; 8. Ali Armstrong, 17.38, $363; 9. Sandy McElreath, 17.50, $272; 10. Sabra O’Quinn, 17.54, $181.

Clem McSpadden Tub-Handle Classic Steer roping: First round: 1. Roger Branch, 10.7 seconds, $1,554; 2. Will Gasperson, 10.9, $1,286; 3. Tony Reina, 11.3, $1,018; 4. Cody Lee, 11.9, $750; 5. Mike Chase, 12.2, $482; 6. Trenton Johnson, 12.5, $268. Second round: 1. Corey Ross, 9.9 seconds, $2,554; 2. Mike Chase, 11.8, $1,286; 3. Brady Garten, 12.0, $1,108; 4. Rocky Patterson, 12.4, $750; 5. Martin Poindexter, 12.7, $482; 6. (tie) Vin Fisher Jr. and Cody Lee, 13.1, $134 each. Third round: 1. Tuf Cooper, 10.1 seconds, $1,554; 2. J.P. Wickett, 10.7, $1,286; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., 10.8, $1,018; 4. Corey Ross, 10.9, $750; 5. Brady Garten, 11.8, $482; 6. Jim Locke, 12.0, $268. Average: 1. Cody Lee, 39.7 seconds on three runs, $2,331; 2. Roger Branch, 41.2, $1,929; 3. Trenton Johnson, 45.7, $1,527; 4. Billy Good, 48.8, $1,125; 5. Kelton McMillen, 50.3, $723; 6. Corey Ross, 20.8 seconds on two runs, $402.

Bull riding: 1. Lane Clark, 86.5 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Lloyd Did WHAT, $1,458; 2. (tie) Boudreaux Campbell and Kole Bowman, 86, $950 each; 4. Dusti Boquet and Shane Proctor, $420; 6. Cullen Telfer, 82.5, $221.