ciation | Weekly Press Release | For Immediate Release | In This Release You'll Find: |
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| Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Weekly Press Release Oct. 18 Editor's Note: The information enclosed in this release is courtesy of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) for media use. However, if you reprint any of the following information verbatim in your publication, or if you read it verbatim on a radio broadcast, please mention that the information is courtesy of the PRCA. |
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In This Release You'll Find: 1. PRCA announces 2021 Polaris Remuda Award winners 2. Wrangler NFR photographer, barrelman, pickup men, bullfighters unveiled 3. Pendleton Whisky's Let'er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year awards announced 4. Cody Ballard sweeps saddle bronc titles at RAM Prairie Circuit Finals 5. Heart O' Texas champion Parker McCown sets sights on 2022 season 6. What to Watch For 7. News & Notes from the rodeo trail 8. 2021 PRCA | RAM World Standings leaders |
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PRCA announces 2021 Polaris Remuda Award winners
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – On Monday, the PRCA announced its 2021 Polaris Remuda Awards. The best pen of bucking horses brought to PRCA rodeos is the Calgary Stampede and the committee recognized for assembling the best pen of bucking horses is the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up.
The annual Remuda Awards go to the stock contracting firm and rodeo committee that provide the best, most consistent pen of bucking horses, creating the best opportunities for contestants to score well.
“It’s an award that is voted on by our peers, the bareback riders and bronc riders,” said Keith Marrington, Calgary Stampede director of rodeo. “So, anytime your stock is recognized for that type of award it is really humbling.”
Calgary Stampede also won the Remuda Award in 2009.
Calgary Stampede is the home of the 2021 Pendleton Whisky Let ‘Er Buck Bareback Horse of the Year Xplosive Skies. Marrington said it has been a banner year for their stock north of the border.
“We feel like we’re at point where our stock talent is really deep,” he said. “It’s really evolved over the last 50 years of breeding. There’s a lot of good breeding programs out there and to be recognized as No.1 in our sport we’re thrilled because there are a ton of talented contractors across the country.”
This is the first time the Red Bluff Round-Up rodeo committee has been honored with the Remuda Award.
“Winning this prestigious award is a massive accomplishment for the Red Bluff Round-Up Association, especially on our 100th anniversary,” said James Miller, Red Bluff Round-Up general manager. “Our livestock committee works tirelessly to attract the world's best contestants with only the best livestock.
“We sub-contract livestock from eight top-notch firms, all of which have stock voted to be at this year's NFR. Winning this award is a sense of accomplishment for all of the hard work that goes into this.”
This past season the three-day rodeo paid out over $47,000 to saddle bronc and bareback riders alone. It’s something the committee takes pride in every year as they aim to continue growing the sport.
“We continue to improve thanks to a livestock committee that is genuinely knowledgeable and downright driven to have the best livestock to attract the best contestants,” Miller said. “Taking charge of our rodeo and partnering with many stock contractors is another key to our success. In addition, working with PRCA event reps and meeting with them yearly during the NFR furthers our mission to buck only the best.”
The Remuda Award winners will be honored at the PRCA Awards Banquet at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas at 6 p.m. (PT), Dec. 1, the eve of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo opening at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. |
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Wrangler NFR photographer, barrelman, pickup men, bullfighters unveiled
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The PRCA is proud to announce Phillip Kitts has been named as a photographer for the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Dec. 2-11.
Kitts replaces Phil Doyle who did not meet eligibility requirements to shoot the NFR due to a PRCA calculation error.
This is Kitts first time being selected as an NFR photographer. As released Friday, the list of the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Contract Personnel Winners is below: Barrelman 1. John Harrison Bullfighters 1. Cody Webster 2. Dusty Tuckness 3. Nathan Harp Pickup men 1. Matt Twitchell 2. Chase Cervi Alternate: Jason Bottoms |
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Pendleton Whisky's Let'er Buck Stock of the Year awards announced
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Standing out among a crowd of exceptional roughstock requires a perfect balance of animal athleticism and the cowboys capable of showcasing that talent. The 2021 "Pendleton Whisky's Let 'er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year Awards" is recognized as follows:
Bareback Horse of the Year 1. Xplosive Skies – Calgary Stampede, 40 points 2. Gun Fire – Frontier Rodeo, 34 points 3. OLS Tubs Stevie Knicks – Macza Pro Rodeo, 12 points Saddle Bronc of the Year 1. Onion Ring – Korkow Rodeos, 23 points 2. Wild Cherry – Calgary Stampede, 18 points 3. (Tie) All or Nothing – Andrews Rodeo, 13 points Kool Toddy – Big Bend Rodeo Co., 13 points Bull of the Year 1. Chiseled – Powder River Rodeo, 29 points 2. Smoke Stack – Beutler & Son Rodeo, 23 points 3. Resistol's Cliff Hanger – Big Rafter Rodeo, 16 points |
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Cody Ballard sweeps saddle bronc titles at RAM Prairie Circuit Finals
The journey to the top of the RAM Prairie Circuit wasn't an easy one for 26-year-old saddle bronc rider Cody Ballard. As a senior in college Ballard was attending Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla. After graduation he went back to his hometown of Tumut, New South Wales in Australia. That's when the young cowboy faced adversity head on. The COVID-19 pandemic forced Ballard to stay in Australia for 14 months, which meant his ProRodeo career would be put on hold. But his return to the sport left him with plenty to cheer about. Ballard not only earned enough money this season to qualify for the RAM Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo in Duncan, Okla., but he won the whole thing on Oct. 16. He wrapped up the average title with 236 points on three head, his 77-point ride on Frontier Rodeo's Big News in the final round also secured him the year-end title. "This was my goal, I got locked up with COVID last year back home," said Ballard. "I had no qualifications or anything coming into this year. So, it was my goal just to make the circuit finals and try to win the year-end deal and make the National Circuit Finals Rodeo. I was able to go out and achieve that, so I'm proud of what I've accomplished." He said finding consistency in his riding was the key to ultimately finding success on this stage. "100 percent of this sport is about consistency," he said. "You have to go out there and do your job every single time. You want to put good spur rides on them each time, it doesn't always happen, but that's my goal every time I nod my head." Now, for the first time in his ProRodeo career Ballard will have the opportunity to rodeo full time and chase the dream he's had since he was a kid. "I'm looking forward to going down the road like all of the other guys do," Ballard said. "I've never been on the road before in my career. I look forward to doing that this year and seeing where I can end up at in this sport, I want to see if I can match up with the big dogs." Other winners at the $186,794 rodeo were all-around cowboy Paul David Tierney ($6,060 in tie-down roping and team roping); steer wrestler Cody Devers (14.5 seconds on three head); team ropers Miles Baker/Zack Woods (17.0 seconds on three head); bareback rider Blaine Kaufman (250.5 points on three head); tie-down roper Eli Barger (32.4 seconds on three head); barrel racer Emma Charleston (46.94 seconds on three runs); steer roper Cole Patterson (33.9 seconds on three head); and bull rider Fulton Rutland (243.0 points on three head). |
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Heart O' Texas champion Parker McCown sets sights on 2022 season
When the weather gets colder and rodeos move inside, Parker McCown gets excited. Indoor rodeo season is where the bull rider said he finds much of his success. "I usually tend to do better here in the winter for some reason. I'm just trying to capitalize on every ride that I can," McCown said. "It's just being close to home, maybe. I'm not sure." It's no surprise the cowboy has an affinity for indoor rodeos. Just a couple hours north of his home in Montgomery, Texas, McCown kicked off his 2022 season with a win at the Heart O' Texas Rodeo in Waco, Texas. Scoring 160 points on two head, McCown tuned out everything but his bull. "I was just focused on riding the bull under me," he said. "I wasn't really worried about what the judges were going to score, or any of the other guys, just trying to stay on the bull that I have." After the $1,848 win, the 21-year-old cowboy is headed home. There, he'll get in a few extra days in the practice pen before competing at the Trinity Valley Xtreme Bulls and Rodeo in nearby Liberty, Texas. With a new season and a fresh start, McCown wants to make the early rodeos count. "I made the Finals last year and I didn't make it this year, so I'm just really trying to get back to where I need to be and just try to get a jump on everyone," McCown said. In 2019, McCown set the record for most money won on a PRCA permit for one year including ground money, as well as the record for most money won on a permit for a career in one event not including ground money. In 2020, he placed in three rounds of the Wrangler NFR. But 2021 didn't bring the same accolades. Not having the 2021 season he wanted has made McCown even more driven to make 2022 successful. "I'm just ready to get on a bunch of bulls and win a bunch of money and make it back to the NFR next year." Other winners at the $118,331 rodeo were all-around cowboy Marty Yates ($1,519, tie-down roping, team roping); bareback rider Chad Rutherford (172.5 points on two head); steer wrestler Dustin Merritt (8.5 seconds on two head); team ropers Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira (8.9 seconds two head); saddle bronc rider Cree Minkoff (168 points on two head); tie-down roper Riley Pruitt (7.4 seconds); barrel racer Kassie Mowry (15.76 seconds) and steer roper Thomas Smith (29.3 seconds on three head). |
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News & Notes From The Rodeo Trail |
After a three-month promotion, two performers have been selected by fans to sing the national anthem at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. The Wrangler NFR will kick off on Thursday, Dec. 2 and run through Saturday, Dec. 11. The Wrangler NFR National Anthem Contest launched on Aug. 2. All entries had to be submitted by Aug. 23. Entries were received from 26 states. From there, an initial fan vote narrowed the list to the Top 30 and a panel of judges narrowed the list to the Top 8 for further open voting. From Sept. 27 through Oct. 4, fans voted on their selection of choice among the final eight entries. The 2021 winners were Candace Muir and Layne Beasley. Muir will perform on Dec. 7, while Beasley will appear on Dec. 10. The full list of anthem performers include: Thursday, Dec. 2 – Drake Milligan Friday, Dec. 3 – Jenna LaMaster Saturday, Dec. 4 – Little Big Town Sunday, Dec. 5 – Wyatt McCubbin Monday, Dec. 6 – William Michael Morgan Tuesday, Dec. 7 – Candace Muir Wednesday, Dec. 8 – John Wayne Schulz Thursday, Dec. 9 – Jaida Dreyer (Canadian anthem); Tyler Booth Friday, Dec. 10 – Layne Beasley (contest winner) Saturday, Dec. 11 – Kylie Frey |
2021 PRCA | RAM World Standings Please see prorodeo.com for the latest standings update. All standings are unofficial.
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The PRCA, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is recognized as the unsurpassed leader in sanctioning the sport of professional rodeo. The PRCA's mission is to unify membership in providing an innovative fan experience, to grow the sport of professional rodeo and provide new expanded opportunities for our membership and sponsors. Since 1986, the PRCA has paid out more than $1 billion in prize money to its contestants. The PRCA offers the best cowboys and the best rodeos; delivering the best fan experience while positively impacting our communities and embracing the spirit of the West. A membership-based organization, the PRCA sanctioned 732 events in 2019, and there are more than 40 million rodeo fans in the U.S. The PRCA televises the sport's premier events, with the world-renowned Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV and streaming on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App. The PRORODEO® Tour and RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo also air on The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV, and the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App. PRCA-sanctioned rodeos donate more than $40 million to local and national charities every year. For comprehensive coverage of the cowboy sport, read ProRodeo Sports News, the official publication of the PRCA, and make sure to check out the digital edition of PSN. The digital PSN and daily updates of news and results can be found on the PRCA's official website, www.prorodeo.com.
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For additional information about this press release, contact: Tracy Renck 719.528.4758 trenck@prorodeo.com
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 101 Pro Rodeo Drive |
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