Solomon wins hometown title

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HEMPSTEAD, Texas – When Dorothy said it in the “Wizard of Oz,” it made for a good movie in the 1930s.

When Cory Solomon says it now, he means it. There’s no place like home, and he proved it Saturday night during the final performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. He roped an tied his calf in 7.7 seconds to win his hometown rodeo and collect nearly $3,200.

“When I walked u here today, I was like, ‘Today’s a new year,’ ” said Solomon, 34, of Prairie View, Texas. “it’s a new start. I had a great calf today. I’ve been struggling this last year. I roped good; I just struggled drawing and went through a lot of adversity.

“Last year is gone, and this is the first rodeo of the new year, and I’m blessed to start it off with a win.”

ProRodeo’s regular season wrapped Sept. 30, but the Hempstead rodeo is the first event of the 2025 season. Solomon finished the 2024 campaign with about $75,000 in earnings, which forced him to 26th on the money list. He fell short of qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo for the 11th time in his career, but he’s already focused on what’s in front.

“I’m one of those guys that enjoys being home with my family,” said Solomon, who finished the 2023 season sixth in the world standings with $246,331, more than $117,000 of which came during those magical 10 days last December in Las Vegas. “Rodeo’s getting big, and it’s definitely changed. I started rodeoing a little late this year, and we had a kids camp. I like helping kids, so it’s good to be around for that. These little rodeos around here are what made me who I am

“But I’m going to go hard this year. The purses are going up all over, like Houston is increasing it’s purse. Other rodeos are going up, and the (NFR) is adding more money. Making $75,000 is a hell of the year, but that just shows how great rodeo’s going.”

When he first qualified for the NFR in 2011, that kind of earnings would have certainly secured his shot for the world championship. This year, though, each cowboy in the top 15 who will compete in Las Vegas earned at least six figures. By not joining that elite field, Solomon has his mind and body focused on returning in 2025.

For now, though, he’s just enjoying his time at home. He first started competing at the Waller County Fairgrounds when he was 6 years old, so he’s seen all the recent changes that have made it into one of the premier facilities in southeast Texas

“I’ve been to rodeos all over the world from here to Canada, and what they’ve done here is just a blessing,” he said. “This rodeo draws the top guys, the top girls and the top horses. To be able to house all that with the new barn is definitely a big change.”

Waller County Fair and Rodeo
Oct. 3-5
Hempstead, Texas
Bareback riding:
1. Brayze Schill, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Borrowed Money, $1,884; Bodee Lammers, 80, $1,4444; 3. Anthony Thomas, 77, $1,067; 4. Kade Sonnier, 74, $691; 5. Tim Murphy, 70, $440; 6. Hayden James, 65, $314; 7. Lane McGehee, 64, $251; no other qualified rides.

Steer wrestling: 1. Brandon Harrison, 3.6 seconds, $2,157; 2. Daryl Joe Elliott, 4.2, $1,904; 3. (tie) Landris White and Cody Harmon, 4.6, $1,523 each; 5. (tie) Emmett Edler, Cole Walker and Ryan Nettle, 4.7, $1,142 each; 8. (tie) Cade Staton and Colton Swearingen, 4.8, $825 each; 10. (tie) Joe Nelson and Marc Joiner, 5.0, $254 each.

Tie-down roping: 1. Cory Solomon, 7.7 seconds, $3,196; 2. Tanner Green, 8.0, $2,820; 3. (tie) Chantz Webster, Cash Fuesz and Clint Singleton, 8.2, $2,131; 6. Treg Schaack, 8.4, $1,692; 7. Paul David Tierney, 8.6, $1,504; 8. John Douch, 8.7, $1,316; 9. Marcos Costa, 8.8, $1,128; 10. Adam Gray, 8.9, $752.

Breakaway roping: 1. (tie) Shayla Hall and McKenna Brennan, 2.1, $3,638 each; 3. (tie) Hali Williams, Britta Strain, Carlee Martinez and Haley Mason, 2.2, $1,869 each; 7. Rylee George, 2.3, $1,011; 8. Aspen Miller, 2.4, $909; 9. Cassidy Boggs, 2.5, $808; 10. (tie) Payton Scalzo and Quincy Sullivan, 2.6, $657 each; 12. (tie) Lari Dee Guy and Bailey Jay, 2.7, $404 each; 15. (tie) Jade Mitchell, Shyra Cline and Abbie Williams, 2.8, $67 each.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Mitchie Story, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Django, $2,222; 2. Skinny Parsons, 82, $1,704; 3. Brady Hill, 81.5, $1,259; 4. (tie) Chris Williams and Leon Fountain, 80, $667 each; 6. Dean Wadsworth, 77; 7. Garrett Long, 76, $296; 8. Sam Southern, 75.7, $222.

Team roping: 1. Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain, 4.3 seconds, $3,711; 2. Billy Bob Brown/Josh Patton, 4.4, $3,275; 3. (tie) Manny Egusquiza/Eddie Medina and Jace Bland/Tyson Thompson, 4.5, $2,620 each; 5. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 4.6, $2,183; 6. (tie) Cory Kidd/Dustin Davis and Joshua Torres/Caleb Hendrix, 4.7, $1,856 each; 8. (tie) Colby Lovell/Ty Arnold, Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight and Cory Smothers/Tyler Ishman, 4.8, $1,237 each.

Barrel racing: 1. Jolene Montgomery, 15.15 seconds, $3,207; 2. Steely Steiner, 15.27, $2,566; 3. (tie) Acey Pinkston, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Katie Halbert, 15.32, $1,657 each; 6. (tie) Liz Pinkston and Molly Otto, 15.41, $882 each; 8. Aspen Adams, 15.42, $722; 9. (tie) Rachelle Riggers and Jane Fabro, 15.43, $601 each; 11. Ilyssa Riley, 15.45, $481; 12. (tie) Shelley Morgan and Jo Fisher, 15.46, $361; 14. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.47, $241; 15. Kenna Kaminski, 15.48, $160.

Bull riding: 1. (tie) Jacob Carige, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Deviant, Tyler Kippes, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Grindstone, 85 points, $3,081 each; 3. Cutter Kaylor, 84, $2,145; 4. Kolt Achenbach, 77, $1,553; no other qualified rides.

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