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Among the young cowboys participating in the 2017 Junior National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 6-12, will be Wyatt Freeman, 11. The sixth grader from Beutler Middle School will be the only representative of the State of Idaho at the event, said his mother, Kelly Maughan. The young man has been riding miniature horses, steers, and bulls since he told his parents that he was big enough to “fall off and eat dirt,” said Kelly. The family was watching That Famous Preston Night Rodeo when Wyatt was three years old. The following year, she and her husband, Chris, let him ride. Freeman is going into the competition with a third place world standing for the junior division, which is for youth ages nine-12.His rodeo competence has his parents taking him from Montana to Texas and also to Kansas to participate in major rodeos, such as Cowboys Days in Evanston, Wyo., and the Grand National Rodeo in San Francisco. Last summer he participated in Utah’s Days of ’47 Rodeo, brining home a second placing in mini bronc riding. In his spare time, Wyatt breaks mini-horses for other people, as well as mini donkeys for the grandkids in his family. When he’s old enough to participate in That Famous Preston Night Rodeo he’ll be an old hand at the trade. In fact, he does well enough that he pays his own entry fees at all the events. “We (his parents) pay for housing and travel,” said his mother. Sponsoring the young professional are West Motor; Preston Cleaners; Travis Chase State Farm; Credit Services of Logan, Utah; Stukenholtz Laboratories of Twin Falls, Idaho; Hayes Welding of West Warren, Utah; and Cass Design of Hyrum, Utah. He was featured on the West Motor entry in the Grand Lighted Parade held in Preston Saturday night.Championship ProRodeo has been producing the Licking Rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) for the past few years. A young but growing company recently participated in the 39th Great Lakes ProRodeo Circuit Finals. Held in Louisville, Kentucky during the North American International Livestock Exposition, the largest all breed show in the country, they were able to showcase 16 of their animals in the Championship Competition.
To produce rodeos, they have over 65 bucking horses and 70 bulls to choose from to transport to the rodeos. As a growing company they are looking to the future as they are breeding and raising horses and bulls to add to the competition stock. Currently, they have 300 cows, 120 yearling bulls, 27 weanlings and 15 three-year-old horses. In 2017 the ranch welcomed 12 new foals from this breeding program. As the young bull herd ages to 2, 3, and 4 years old they are taken to approximately 15 competitions in many locations across the country. Besides our rodeo, the crew hauls to 6 other PRCA rodeos. In 2018 they will be adding another Extreme Bull riding over the Fourth of July. At the Great Lakes ProRodeo Circuit Finals it was the Cowboys vs the Animals, and the animals were certainly ahead showing the talent they were bred for. A few cowboys used their match to put a little cash in the bank. Tanner Aus from Granite Falls, MN tied for 3rd place on the second night riding Jelly Roll, helping to propel him to finish 1st overall for the rodeo in the Bareback Bronc event. (Jelly Roll also helped cowboys out in Ashland, MO for a 1st and 2nd in Granite Fall, MN.) The final night, Jimy Marten of Donahue, IA made it to the 8 second buzzer on Chrome Hatchet to win the performance, the rodeo and the Year End Title Of 2017 Bull Riding Champion.
With the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las Vegas this December, 2 Championship ProRodeo Bulls have been chosen to make the trip – B-9 Juicy Fruit and 1137 Cowbanger (pictured above) will make his 2nd WNFR appearance. In a recent interview with Brett Barrett, co-owner of Championship ProRodeo, he said he appreciated the experience all the committees bring to the table. With all the volunteers that are ready to help, it makes everything go smoothly. Rain, shine or whatever Mother Nature throws at us, we Rodeo! A favorite at the Licking Rodeo, Cowbanger will head to Las Vegas in December to challenge the cowboys at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.Four local cowboys are among those who will seek world championship titles next week at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Among the top professional cowboys vying for national titles Dec. 7-16 are two former Ogden residents — Tim Bingham, 26, of Honeyville, a bull rider in seventh place and Caleb Bennett, 29, of Tremonton, a bareback rider in sixth place. Both of these cowboys have won more than $106,000 so far this season. “When you win the gold buckle, that’s the best you could do in the lifestyle I chose to live,” Bingham said. “To get the very top dog award that I could possibly ever achieve would be amazing. It’s something I’m going to continue to try to do.”
Joining Bingham and Bennett in their quest for a gold buckle are Baylor Roche, 28, of Tremonton, a steer wrestler in sixth place with $99,000 in winnings and J.C. Malone, 32, a tie-down roper from Plain City with $86,000 won.Competitors from elsewhere in Utah include three members of the Wright family of Milford, all competing in the saddle bronc riding contest. They are Ryder Wright, 19, in 8th place with $99,000, Jake Wright, 28, in 10th place with just less than $92,000 and Jesse Wright, 28, in 14th place with just less than $77,000. All three have bested Cody Wright, 40, Ryder’s father, who was the 2008 and 2010 world champion in this event, who finished 17th this season with just less than $70,000. Losing never felt so good: World champ Utah bronc rider gets bested by sons. Utah residents joining the Wright family at the Wrangler NFR are CoBurn Bradshaw, 23, of Beaver, in third place in the saddle bronc riding with $124,000 won, Joe Frost, 25, of Randlett, in fifth place in the bull riding with nearly $121,000 won, Mason Clements, 25, of Santaquin, a bareback rider in 15th place with $86,000 in winnings, and Kimmie Wall, 37, of Roosevelt, in 15th place in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association barrel racing with $76,000. The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is the season-ending championship event for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and is widely acknowledged to be the world’s premier rodeo, according to prorodeo.com. Held annually since 1959 – and since 1985 in Las Vegas – the Wrangler NFR is ProRodeo’s richest and most prestigious rodeo, and it showcases the very best cowboys, barrel racers and livestock in the world, says the website. The rodeo is telecast to more than 55 million households on CBS Sports Network, says the website. Each performance of the Wrangler NFR is broadcast live from 7:45-10 p.m. on CBS Sports Network — DISH channel 158 or DirecTV channel 121, according to news releases from the rodeo. The Top 15 contestants in the standard rodeo events — bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping headers and heelers, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, Women’s Professional Rodeo Association barrel racing and bull riding — qualify to compete at the Wrangler NFR based on money won during the regular season. At the conclusion of the Wrangler NFR, world champions are determined based on total season earnings, including the Wrangler NFR, says the website. The Wrangler NFR consists of 10 rounds – one round on each of 10 consecutive days. Each contestant competes once each day. Cowboys and barrel racers earn money by placing first through sixth in any round and pick up more money by placing first through eighth in the average with their cumulative times or points earned during the 10 rounds.
While tickets for the Wrangler NFR are sold out, individuals are selling tickets on both a website of the Thomas & Mack Center and an NFR ticket exchange at the Las Vegas Convention Center, said a rodeo promoter. Grab your cowboy boots and prepare for one of the biggest events of the year: Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. As top competitors and rodeo fans take over the Strip from Thursday, Dec. 7 through Saturday, Dec. 16, Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas resorts will offer the following food, beverage and entertainment specials for those looking to celebrate beyond the arena. Cheers to the rodeo with specialty cocktails at Alto Bar, Spanish Steps, and Cleopatra's Barge at Caesars Palace. Try the Gentleman Caller made with Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack; take a trip with the South Padre Island made with six specialty liquors; enjoy some Southern Hospitality made with Jack Daniel's; or spice things up with Whiskey Makes Me Frisky. For those seeking a classic cocktail, the Texas Mule and Orange Madness are both great ways to kick off NFR week. Rodeo-goers can also enjoy a bucket of five Coors Banquet Beer or Coors Light for $30. In addition to daily drink specials, Alto Bar will feature a live country DJ from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Alto Bar. Feel like you're in the center of the action and watch the live feed of NFR main events at the outdoor Spanish Steps bar. Guests can enjoy country music nightly from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and try out their dancing shoes with line dancing Dec. 7 through Dec. 10 and Dec.14 through Dec. 16 from 9 p.m. to midnight. Stop by for MillerCoors rider autograph signings on Dec. 8 beginning at 10 p.m., Dec. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. and Dec. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. Fans can enjoy a brahma bull photo opportunity from Dec. 8 through 10 and bull roper festivities on Dec. 8 and 9.For those seeking toe-tapping country music in one of the most iconic Las Vegas lounges, Cleopatra's Barge will offer a live country band from 9 to 11 p.m. followed by a live country DJ until 2 a.m. on Dec. 7 through Dec. 10 and Dec. 14 through Dec. 16. Cigar aficionados can round-up friends or plan a night to themselves at Montecristo Cigar Bar for NFR drink specials and samplings.For live country entertainment perfect to celebrate the rodeo, visit Redneck Riviera at the Grand Bazaar Shops adjacent to Bally's Las Vegas. John Rich's first unique country music bar offers live entertainment and regular performances by Rich, sweeping views of the Las Vegas Strip and a menu with delicious items from Wahlburgers.Ruth's Chris Steak House is getting into the cowboy spirit for NFR. The restaurant will feature a country lounge singer and a special steak and Jack Daniel's pairing menu on Dec. 10. Guests can also visit the portable Jack Daniel's bar for samples from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 10. Harrah's Piano Bar has transformed into the limited-time Jack Daniel's Saloon, and is the perfect spot to sing along to favorite tunes, sip on specialty drinks and enjoy a live feed of NFR main events. It will also feature rider autograph signings by Jack Daniel's Riders, Rocky McDonald and Beau Hill, on Dec. 8 and 9 from 11 p.m. to midnight.
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill will celebrate NFR in true Toby Keith style. In addition to the traditional Southern favorites, the restaurant will also feature drink specials, samplings and live country music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. nightly. Stop by for autograph signings from Jack Daniel's Riders, Rocky McDonald and Beau Hill, on Dec. 8 and 9 at 10 p.m. Fans will also have an opportunity for autographs from Saddle Bronc Riders Dec. 15 beginning at 11:30 a.m. and autographs from MillerCoors riders Dec. 15 and 16 beginning at 10 p.m.At 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar, rodeo-goers can enjoy a country DJ, nightly drink specials and line-dancing beginning at 8 p.m. Fans can also visit the bar for MillerCoors rider autograph signings on Dec. 9 and Dec.15 from starting at 11 p.m. Cowboys and cowgirls can visit Garden Bar for drink specials, line-dancing and live rodeo streaming. Garden Bar will also feature MillerCoors rider autograph signings on Dec. 9 and Dec.15 starting at 10 p.m.Rodeo fans can visit TAG Bar to enjoy daily drink specials as well as MillerCoors rider autograph signings on Dec. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. EXTRA Lounge will be an NFR hotspot with drink specials, tastings and free, live entertainment nightly. Fans can experience autograph signings from their favorite cowboys Dec. 9 and Dec.15 from 10 p.m. to midnight. Feel the NFR love at Heart Bar on Dec. 9 and Dec.16 from 9 p.m. to midnight with drink specials, Jack Daniel's samples, giveaways and more. Rodeo fans can stay up-to-date with the action and watch a live feed of the NFR main events nightly at Planet Hollywood's Race and Sportsbook. Be sure to fuel up at Ringer Wings, Pizza & Sliders, located just steps away. Party-goers can visit iBar for a variety of drink specials and MillerCoors rider autograph signings on Dec. 9 from 10 p.m. to midnight.