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The Outside Circle: Duane Howard hurt; Scamper; winning ladies & NHSRA Finals

Jan Swan Wood
for Tri-State Livestock News

My sympathy goes out to those who have suffered losses in the big fires in our region. My heart aches, as well, over the suffering and loss of the livestock.

Rodeo honoree in both the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK, Duane Howard, Sheyenne, ND, had a serious accident on June 26. While getting out of a car, he lost his balance and fell, striking his head. He was airlifted to Bismarck where he was in the ICU in an induced coma. Duane had been hail and hearty up until this accident and will be turning 79 in August. Many years ago during his rodeo career, Duane suffered a critical brain injury at Cheyenne and had to relearn how to walk, talk and ride. Cards can be sent to Duane Howard, c/o MedCenter One, 300 N. 7th St., Room 474, Bismarck, ND 58501. I’ll try to get an update on his condition for next week.

Anyone who ever watched the NFR on TV knew the name of the great barrel horse Scamper. He and Charmayne James, then a young teenager, shot to the top of the world standings starting in 1984, and followed that with 10 consecutive World Championship titles. Scamper, whose registered name was Gills Bay Boy, was a broncy, ex-feedlot horse, who found his niche and loved his job. He proved that he ran because he wanted to when his bridle broke during a run at the NFR and he finished the run and won the round after it fell off. He and Charmayne won over one million dollars in his career and he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1996. He was loved and meticulously cared for by Charmayne for 31 of his 35 years and died July 4 on her place. He was a tremendous individual, with toughness, heart and try. Scamper will never be forgotten.



I mentioned Rickie Engessor’s barrel title and pole bending placing at the Wrangler Jr. High Rodeo Finals in Gallup, NM last week, but didn’t have this additional info to share. She also placed 16th in the average in the girl’s breakaway and was third in the all-around. JD Kirwan, Bonesteel, SD, won the championship in the boy’s breakaway and was ninth in the boy’s goat tying. Dawson Munger, Pukwana, SD, was 17th in the average in the girl’s breakaway. The South Dakota team placed 8th overall, with the boy’s team 24th and the girl’s team 4th. Great job, all of you!

Top Horse at the Black Hills Roundup Ranch Rodeo was Snippy Hawk, aka “Toothless,” owned and ridden by Ryan Bowden, Belle Fourche, SD. This very good horse was raised by Fred and Clara Wilson of Newcastle, WY. Congrats to Ryan, too. Now that’s what I call an Ag Loan Officer! He definitely knows which end of the cow gets up first. Also, his horse has all his teeth – his kids named him after a movie character.



The Cowboy Christmas rodeo run over the 4th of July week was sure good to our regional ladies in the barrels. Nikki Steffes, Vale, SD, put $13,523 in her pocket, while Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD put $11,315 in hers. Nikki won money in rodeos at Belle Fourche (4th place); Cody, WY; Mandan, ND, St. Paul, OR; and Livingston, MT. Lisa pulled checks at Greeley; Mandan and Mobridge, SD. The miles these ladies put on and still arrive at a rodeo with a horse ready to run is very impressive to me. Plus, they do it week after week. Hats off, ladies.

Bareback rider, Steven Dent, Mullen, NE had a nice run over the 4th as well, with a tidy $22,194 jingling in his pockets. Steer wrestlers Jason Miller, Lance Creek, WY and Dean Gorsuch, Gering, NE both surpassed the one million dollar mark in career earnings over the 4th as well.

The National High School Rodeo Finals will be July 15-21 at Rock Springs, WY. Best wishes to all the contestants. I offer special wishes to my neighbor kids, Taygen Schuelke and Kelsie Collins, who are headed to nationals. I’m sure proud of both of you.

The Ranching Heritage Breeders Challenge show in Rapid City, SD will be held on Aug. 30. The entry deadline is Aug. 15. Classes will be for four year olds, Open, five year olds and older non-pro. Entry forms can be obtained online at http://www.aqha.com/ranchingheritage or call 806-376-4811 and they’ll help you to the right department at the AQHA. This is a great opportunity for those of you who have purchased horses from breeders who are now a part of this organization. The older horses will be grandfathered in for the shows this year, but hereafter, they’ll have to be nominated as youngsters. It will be a ranch horse type class, so, all of you riding these good, rancher-type horses ought to get in it.

That’s my circle for another week. Send me your info! Pray for rain! F