The Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo wraps up the 2011 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour today, but other than a few Facebook posts from the PRCA, there hasn’t been much word about it. After the earnings are tallied, we will know the 24 qualifiers to the Justin Boots Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash. But for those of us who[...]

Winning and finishing second in rodeo can happen in the blink of an eye. Overall, the sport is fast-paced, where livelihoods are measured in eight-second increments. But life gets a lot faster for the competitors in breakaway roping, where winning runs typically are in the 2-second range. Erin Johnson of Pueblo, Colo., and Willow Raley[...]

A lot of these trivia questions were focused on the regional local of the Buck Wild Days Rodeo, the annual celebration in Silverton, Texas. That’s why there’s a certain “twang,” or flavor, to them. But I suspect rodeo fans can answer them. How many Texans won PRCA/WPRA world championships in 2010?

To the question: Which ProRodeo world champion was the last one to be crowned such in the state of Texas? (drum roll please) Scott Snedecor, the 2005 National Finals Steer Roping in Amarillo. That was the final year of the championship in the Panhandle city before moving to Hobbs, N.M., for three years. This year’s[...]

While promoting the Silverton, Texas, Buck Wild Days Rodeo, I created some rodeo trivia questions for callers hoping to get tickets to the event. Every now and then, I’ll ask them of you. Give me your answer, and if you don’t know, give me your best guess. Which ProRodeo world champion was the last one[...]

Jerome Schneeberger is one of the best in the game, an 11-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and its 2001 tie-down roping average champion. Never once has he played on ProRodeo’s grandest stage in team roping, but he did so this past weekend during the Colorado State Fair & Rodeo. In fact, Schneeberger[...]

No matter how many times I’ve experienced it, I’m still awestruck world champions’ demeanor. Take five-time winner Lewis Feild. It’s been more than 20 years since the Utah cowboy has won gold, but he still carries a quiet confidence that is befitting a rodeo cowboy. Now known more as the father of one of ProRodeo’s[...]

I recall several years ago when Charles Pogue decided his time was better spent at home with his family than on the rodeo trail. I questioned how a 15-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo could do that, still one of the top headers in the business. Of course, I’d never packed up a[...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appears in the August 2011 edition of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. On paper, the Fourth of July run was awfully nice to Brenda Mays. She earned $11,140, with a large portion coming with her victory at the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott,[...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appears in the August 2011 of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to contribute regularly to the magazine. TR Dashing Badger just wasn’t herself. Jill Moody felt that in every ride, in every turn. She got through Reno,[...]