LOVINGTON, N.M. – Over the decades of excellence at Lovington’s rodeo, there have been repeat winners and people who have found a redemption of sorts. Rodeo can be an unforgiving sport. A misfire during an eight-second ride or run can spell doom, but there’s always something graceful about it, too. The next opportunity offers a[...]

Jestes, Tuckness understand uniqueness of Gooding Pro Rodeo GOODING, Idaho – A decade ago, Nathan Jestes drove into this community for the first time to work as a bullfighter at the Gooding Pro Rodeo. “I remember pulling into town and wondering, ‘Where in the hell am I?’ ” said Jestes, a seven-time nominee for PRCA[...]

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo featured a new attraction a year ago, and it might grow into one of the most popular pieces of the annual exhibition. The Lea County Fair Board will begin its second year of the peewee showmanship competition, featuring children between the ages of 5-8. It will[...]

DODGE CITY, Kan. – The void that Jeff Lopp left behind has yet to be filled. It’s an empty space that his family hopes to one day occupy, but it’s still too soon. It’s an abandonment with which the community is handling. It’s a long-term relationship that’s been vacated since his death in late December.[...]

DODGE CITY, Kan. – There are only two certainties in life: Birth and death. The aging process isn’t easy, and death isn’t only for the geriatric. Julie Pinkerton knows that as well as anyone in Ford County. She’s the executive director for Hospice of the Prairie and Prairie Home Health and has been with the[...]

LOVINGTON, N.M. – It gets plenty hot in this neck of the woods throughout the summer months, but that’s just part of living in a desert. Organizers of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo realize this is part of the equation when it comes to drawing the top contestants in rodeo to town, which is[...]

DODGE CITY, Kan. – When members of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo committee reached out, the city of Dodge City answered in a big way. “The committee wanted to upgrade the main grandstands at the arena, and we felt that it was probably in our best interest as a community to help with the safety[...]

GUNNISON, Colo. – Nicole Hadley had some things to prove. She arrived in this community a day before she was scheduled to rope, because she has an investigative mind. She wanted to see what the cattle looked like and prepare her mind for her breakaway roping run during Saturday’s final performance of the Cattlemen’s Days[...]

GUNNISON, Colo. – This mountain town is a little bit out of the way for Andrew Galloway. He lives in Albuquerque and works as a farrier. He’s pretty busy with that, but he still finds time to wrestle steers, mostly in the Turquoise Circuit, a series of rodeos and contestants primarily from New Mexico and[...]

GUNNISON, Colo. – ProRodeo contestants must have short memories. They can’t celebrate the highs too much, and they can’t stay in the dumps when things don’t go their way. Even at just 20 years old, Rocker Steiner understands that as well as the most veteran of cowboys. Thirty hours after a rough day at the[...]