GOODING, Idaho – Three New Mexico cowgirls put on a roping clinic in southern Idaho on Wednesday night during the Beauty & The Beast special section of the Gooding Pro Rodeo.

Jill Tanner of Monument owns the lead after posting a 2.4-second run, while Kassidy Dennison of Tohatchi is second at 2.7 and Quincy Peralta of Peralta is third at 2.8 seconds. Now, they’re hoping they’re times hold up through the final three performances remaining in this southern Idaho gem.

“I like the Northwest; it’s fun up here,” said Tanner, a veteran cowgirl raised in the southeasternmost county in New Mexico by rodeo royalty. “There are lots of good rodeos, with Gooding being an awesome rodeo.”

Her father, Jimmie Cooper, is a ProRodeo Hall of Famer and a world champion; her brothers, Jim Ross and Jake, have each qualified for the National Finals Rodeo. She used every ounce of her training and expertise to find success in Gooding.

“Some of that was just adrenaline,” Tanner said. “I kind of black out a little bit, which I shouldn’t. Breakaway roping’s gotten pretty fast, so you don’t have time to think anymore when you’re roping.”

Sullivan, who also competes in intercollegiate rodeo at Clarendon (Texas) College, knew she needed to be fast if she wants to cash in at this large-payout rodeo.

“This breakaway roping is getting so tough that if you miss the start, you have a hard time of winning anything now,” she said. “You can’t safety up or back off, and I didn’t. I saw the start that I wanted to, and I probably should have taken one more swing and made sure I roped him sharp, but luckily it fell on.”

Sometimes luck is a big part of rodeo, but it’s important to take advantage of situations. That’s exactly what the cowgirls did. Dennison, who qualified for the NFR in barrel racing, is proving to be a true all-around hand. Sullivan is in her inaugural season in ProRodeo and would love to win the Resistol Rookie of the Year title; if she can earn a qualification to the National Finals Breakaway Roping, then that would be the gravy on her potatoes.

“That would be awesome,” Sullivan said. “I’m sitting good at Caldwell (Idaho); I go back there tomorrow. I’m just chipping at them one at a time.”

They may be a long way from home, but they’re living their rodeo dreams while roping one calf at a time.

“Gooding is so fun,” Tanner said. “Last year I was up in slack, but I got to watch the performance. I think the ‘Beer Worthy’ is so funny; I love it. This crowd is awesome. I don’t drink, but my husband does, so I was pretty pumped to get one for him. He deserves it for pushing all the cattle he does for us.”

Being “Beer Worthy” in Gooding is a good sign and likely means they’re making money.

Gooding Pro Rodeo
Aug. 16-19
Bareback riding: 1. Kade Berry, 87 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Leighton Berry, 84; 3. Orin Larsen, 83.5; 4. Richmond Champion, 80; 5. Mason Stuller, 76; 6. Tyson Hirschi, 66; no other qualified rides.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85 points on King & Wentz Blood Tracks; 2. K’s Thomson, 82.5; 3. Dawson Dahm, 82; 4. Wyatt Casper, 80.5; 5. Zeke Thurston, 80; 6. (tie) Joe Harper and Chance Barrass, 76.4; 8. Logan Hay, 74.

Breakaway roping: 1. Jill Tanner, 2.4 seconds; 2. Kassidy Dennison, 2.7; 3. Quincy Sullivan, 2.8; 4. Laramie Jackson, 3.0; 5. Sidney Nielson, 3.1; 6. Shai Schaefer, 3.3; 7. Erika Frost, 12.2; 8. (tie) Ally Zehrer and Erin Johnson, 12.4; 10. Timber Allenbrand, 12.6.  

Bull riding: 1, Jeff Askey, 88,5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Burnt Oil; 2. Canyon Bass, 85.5; 3. Roscoe Jarboe, 82.5; 4. Jeff Bertus, 74; no other qualified rides.