Benefits, schools, congrats and be careful
We’ve got lots of ground to cover this week, so let’s hit a lope.
First off, some really good news is that little Clancy Goebel, tiny son of Tony and Janessa Goebel, is doing really well. He’s up to a whopping 3 lbs 12 oz and thriving. He was under 2 lbs at birth, so this is truly a miracle happening! Don’t forget the benefit for him and his folks on May 22 at the barrel race at Seven Down Arena in Spearfish. Contact Robyn at 605-209-0503 for more info on that fundraiser and auction.
Another benefit is coming up in Killdeer, ND, May 15 and 16, for Anton Helfrich. He was hurt in a work related accident April 8 and sustained serious burns on his hands and arms. There will be a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament on the 15th at the Buckskin Bar and Grill, Killdeer, ND, and the contact for that is Randy at 701-764-5725. The next day, the 16th, will be a Steer Wrestling Jackpot at the Killdeer Arena. With $3,000+ added and a Calcutta, it’s a pretty rich bulldoggin’. Contact for that is Sharon at 701-548-8178 or 701-260-1045. There will be silent and live auctions and items or money donations can be dropped off at American Bank Center at Killdeer.
There are still some rodeo schools in the lineup. One that I’m pretty excited about is the Steer Roping School that Ora and Ralph Taton are putting on at Rapid City on May19-21. There will be schooling for horse and roper, so it’s not your typical school. You can call Ora at 605-484-2131 to get more info. Steer Roping is a growing sport and a good school could get you and your horse off on the right foot, or even the left lead. Whatever.
There will be a Brent Lewis Roping Clinic at the Circle T Arena, Hermosa, SD on May 22-25, with Tie Down (Calf) Roping, Breakaway, and Advanced Tie Down Roping segments. Call Jim or Pam Tiltrum at 504-255-4186 or 605-209-8064.
For you roughstock hands, there’s a clinic on May 12 and 13 at Eagle Butte arena with Tom Reeves coaching Saddle Broncs, Steven Dent coaching Barebacks, and Jesse Bail coaching Bull Riding. Call Tom Reeves at 254-595-0654 for more info.
One of the finest pickup men in the business has been honored with a painting of him being used on the poster for the Mandan Rodeo Days. Jim Wilson of Alzada, MT has been picking up the big July 2-4 PRCA rodeo there for 14 years now, so is not a new face to Mandan. Jim started picking up rough stock when he was 18 and has been a PRCA member since 1994. I always enjoy watching good pickup men work and Jim is always in the right place at the right time. His lovely wife keeps the horses looking great and it’s just a treat to watch him and them work. Jim also picks up at area high school rodeos and even some hometown shows. He’s the real deal in every way. Congrats Jim. We always knew you’d be a poster child for something!
Chad Ferley put Oelrichs, SD on the map at the Red Bluff Rodeo April 16-18. He put a smoking hot 89 point ride on Big Bend Rodeo’s great mare Kool Toddy to win the Saddle Broncs at that big PRCA show. Attaboy Chad.
South Dakota’s High School Rodeo kids sell calendars each year to raise money for the state team to go to the Nationals. They all have to sell at least five to be able to rodeo, and there are some kids that sell a lot of them, which is great. At $20 a pop, it’s sometimes hard to do though. There’s one girl that could apparently sell snow cones in Antarctica, as she sold 102 calenders this year! Her name is Katie Boone, and though I don’t know where she’s from, I want to congratulate her on being quite the salesman!
The WRCA sanctioned Ranch Rodeo at Edgemont, SD on June 5-6 still needs a few more teams. They have 12 of 15 signed on, with teams from Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado, which makes it a qualifying rodeo for the finals in Amarillo. I would sure like to see South Dakota step up and get a team or three in there. We’re nearly overrun by great hands in our state, so we’d sure like to see them jump into the fray and hold up our end of the braggin’ rights! Call Wyatt VanEaton at 605-890-2369 for info and entries.
On May 15, 1 p.m., there will be the Dakota Classic Ranch Horse Competition at the All Season Arena in Bowman, ND. For info call Joe at 701-398-3099 or John at 701-720-6674.
The Coy Price Memorial Roping will be May 15 at the Newell, SD Arena. In case of rain, it will be at Wendt’s Indoor Arena 17 miles north of Newell. There will be several divisions each of Breakaway and Team Roping. Call J.D. Mutchler at 605-748-2437 or 605-490-0343 for info.
Congrats to P.J. Painter of Buffalo, SD for being given the 2010 Spirit of Black Hills Award at BHSU. It’s given to the student who has made significant contributions that reflect favorably on the university as well as the community. P.J. is a senior with an accounting and business administration major. He’s on the rodeo team and at last check, was leading the region in his events. He’s the son of Cindy and Joe Painter who ranch near Buffalo.
The Belle Jackpot Summer series kicks off on May 21 at the Roundup Grounds arenas in Belle Fourche, SD. If you haven’t sent in your membership, please get that done. Call Janie Norlin at 605-210-3179 or email her at norlin@blackhills.com, and if she can put her new twin grandsons down long enough, she might just get some info to you.
On a very serious note, please, please, please be sure you have adequate ventilation in your sleeping quarters, whether it’s pickup or horse trailer. The tragic deaths in mid-April of two young men from Roswell, NM are a grim reminder for us all. PRCA permit holders, Mike Hillman and Jesse Andrus, both 18, died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator while returning home from the Fiesta Days Rodeo in Cave Creek. Mike had won the Saddle Broncs at the rodeo, his first PRCA win, and it was Jesse’s first pro show. Both were top NHSRA competitors too, and seniors in high school. As a parent, I just can’t imagine the gaping holes left in the lives of their families.
So please be aware of the danger of carbon monoxide when you’re traveling to rodeos or wherever. It’s insidious and the victims don’t usually wake up and know they’re in trouble. Open a window a bit. Better to be chilly than memorialized.
Take time to be careful. No one is immune to injury or tragedy. By virtue of our lifestyles, we probably dance with danger more than the average person. Sometimes we take unnecessary risks though, so think about it, please. ‘Til next week, be careful out there.
