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Jan Swan Wood: Processing could begin, Buck and ball, Larson Clinic, WNFR news

The injunction that has prevented horse processing has been lifted and processing should begin right away. The two plants that are ready to roll are in New Mexico and Missouri and are waiting for USDA inspectors to arrive. If they can get the plants running before HSUS/FRER finds another venue to file for an injunction with, the anti-slaughter people will be more hesitant to pay the fine for stopping it again (that’s the bond that was agreed upon that I believe is about $1 million out of HSUS deep pockets). Also, I believe that they have to pay that to cover damages toward the processors for the inability to do business when they do open. That would be extra sweet: not only have horse processing up and going again but to have HSUS have to cough up some money to help defray some of the plants’ expenses.

The Annual Buck and Ball will be held Tuesday Dec. 31, at the Camplex in Gillette, Wyo. This is an invitation only event featuring the top rough stock riders. It’s also PRS (Professional Rough Stock) sanctioned too. The barebacks and bulls will be a one header and the saddle broncs will have a four man short-go. Autograph sessions will be 5:15-5:45 p.m.; arena introductions at 6:45 and the action starts at 7 p.m. Tickets can be bought at the door, but this event tends to sell out, so it would probably be best to get your tickets ahead of time. You can get them through Gillette’s Wyoming Work Warehouse at 307-682-5053.

The book is filling fast for Larry Larson’s 2014 Equine Photography clinic. It will be held May 9-11 at the Highview Ranch, Rapid City, S.D. Call Larry at 605-390-8610 or email him at llp@rap.midco.net



Our region had two world champs crowned at the WNFR. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., was the top header in the team roping while Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., was the big gun in the saddle broncs. Congrats to them!

The Frenchmans Guy “family” are fair bustin’ their buttons over the success of his offspring and grandget at the finals. They won over $340,000 during the finals in three events. Matt Reeves owns a son of FG called French Wonder that won $179,487 in the steer wrestling at the finals. Reeves and Bray Armes both rode him to end up second and third in the world, plus Casey Martin used him in a round as well for a win. A FG grandget, Honor Thy Frenchman, set a new arena record in the barrels for Taylor Jacob in the sixth round and won four rounds total. Brittany Pozzi ran the five year old Ima Super Guy for a third in the sixth round. Team roping header Nick Sartain was third in the average on another FG grandson too. Quite a happy week for Bill and Deb I should think!



Trevor Brazile left the finals with his 11th All Around title, the 8th consecutive, and his 19th world championship. He also left there with enough money to be the sport’s first $5 million cowboy. His tie down and team roping winning in Vegas were $170,823 with season earnings of $426,010. My hat is tipped to him. He’s the ultimate rodeo athlete, a family man and genuinely nice guy and I always like it when someone like that does well. He’s certainly a hero for our young folks to look up to.

You’ve probably all heard the panic stricken yelping about the WNFR leaving Las Vegas in 2015. It’s not a done deal yet, but the PRCA has kind of gotten themselves in a pickle with the deal. The PRCA hadn’t accepted the Las Vegas Event’s (LVE) bid renewal for the rodeo and was waiting around for them to come up with a little more money apparently. In the meanwhile, the Osceola County group in Florida surprised even the Florida residents by offering $4 million dollars more than the LVE’s $15 million to have it in Orlando at the 24,000 seat arena of the Orlando Magic. The LVE’s offer had been on the table for 18 months, so they got tired of the whole deal and have started looking for another event to fill those 10 days of the finals. The WNFR in 2012 generated $92.8 million in non-gaming revenue for Vegas. It will be interesting to see how this plays out with the PRCA and some other big rodeos that are getting a little fed up with some of their nonsense. The PRCA lost Calgary and some other big ones, and those rodeos are thriving without them. Could be some big changes on the horizon.

For everyone that says it will ruin the rodeo to leave Las Vegas, the same thing was said when it left Oklahoma City 29 years ago. The NFR has also been held in Los Angeles and Dallas over the 55 year history of the event. Change isn’t always bad and some are saying that Orlando would be much more family oriented than Las Vegas. I’m not leaning either way.

That about winds up my column folks. My hope for you is that you have a richly blessed Christmas spent with loved ones, honoring the birth of our Savior. I wish you all a very wonderful Christmas and am so glad that I have you all to visit with each week.