GUYMON — Matt Reeves of Pampa, Texas, knows this neck of the woods. He lives just a couple hours south of the regional area known as No Man’s Land. Chad Van Campen of Granada, Colo., might know it a little better, living a couple hours northwest. But the latter spent four years in Texas County, Okla., while attending Oklahoma Panhandle State University, a mere 10 miles from Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena, home of the 77th annual Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo. On Saturday night during the third performance, Reeves and Van Campen put on a bit of a show. While Van Campen’s time of 5.0 seconds was a bit off the pace, his work as horse owner and hazer came in quite handy. In fact, Darrell Petry of Beaumont, Texas, rodeo Van Campen’s quality horse, Caesar, to a 4.5-second run, but more importantly to the top spot in the aggregate race heading into the final performance, set for 2 p.m. Sunday. “I won’t do anything in the average myself, but I’ll get quite a bit of mount money,” Van Campen said. Not all cowboys use their own horses, so they “rent” the good ones. If they win money on Caesar and have Van Campen hazing for them, Van Campen earns 25 percent of the take. If they win nothing, Van Campen wins nothing. “My year’s been a little slow, but everybody in the rig had won some money all year,” he said. “But it’ll be OK.” He should know. He won this rodeo in 2005 and has had some of the best competitors in the world ride Caesar during the National Finals Rodeo. Reeves, a 2007 NFR qualifier from Pampa, normally wouldn’t have to mount another’s horse, but because of an injury, he mounted a horse owned by 2005 world champion Lee Graves. It worked to the tune of a 3.7-second run, which took the lead in the third go-round. “I like doing well here,” Reeves said. “This is pretty close to home, and I was on an awesome horse.” If things keep going, he hopes for a second trip to the NFR. “That’s the goal, but that’s always the goal,” he said.
Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena Guymon, Okla. Third Performance Saturday, May 2 Bareback riding: 1. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas, 84 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Hey What; 2. Jason Jeter, Mansfield, Texas, 80; 3. Zach Curran, Arvada, Colo., and Kelly Timberman, Mills Wyo, 77; 5. Tim Shirley, Conifer, Colo., 76. First-round leaders: 1. Jared Smith, Snyder, Texas, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket and Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., on Carr’s Big Lights, 87; 3. Kaycee Feild, Elk Ridge, Utah, 85; Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., Matt Bright, Azle, Texas, and Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 84. Team roping: 1. Colby Siddoway, Argyle, Texas/Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D., 5.7 seconds; 2. Justin Yost, Mt. Morris, Pa./Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., 6.2; 3. Colt Braden, Dewey, Okla./Tanner Braden, Dewey, Okla., 7.3; 4. Dylan Bransom, Burleson, Texas/Justin Copp, Justin, Texas, 7.8; 5. Jake Weddle, St. Joe, Ark./Shawn Harris, Searcy, Ark., 13.2. Third-round leaders: 1. Colby Siddoway, Argyle, Texas/Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D., 5.7 seconds; 2. Justin Yost, Mt. Morris, Pa./Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., 6.2; 3. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., 6.4 seconds; 4. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Richard Durham, Morgan Mill, Texas, and Donnie McNeece, McLouth, Kan./Derrick Peterson, Stillwater, Kan., 6.5. Steer roping: 1. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 10.9 seconds; 2. Anthony Anderson, Gatesville, Texas, 11.7; 3. Brad Prather, Skiatook, Okla., 13.0; 4. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 14.4; no other qualified times. Fifth-round leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 10.1 seconds; 2. K.W. Lauer, Buffalo, Okla., 10.7; 3. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, and Cash Myers, Athens, Texas, 10.9 seconds; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 11.3. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 86 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Raylene; 2. Levi Berry, Morgan, Utah, 82; 3. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 79; 4. Will Payne, Beaver, Okla., and Curtis Garton, Kaitaia, New Zealand, 77. First-round leaders: 1. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 88 points; 2. Cody Wreight, Milford, Utah, 86; 3. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., and Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 84; 5. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 83. Steer wrestling: 1. Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, 3.1 seconds; 2. Gabe LeDioux, Kaplan, La., 4.1; 3. Zane hankel, Red Cliff, Alberta, 4.4; 4. Darre3l Petry, Beaumont, Texas, and Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, 4.5; Third-round leaders: 1. Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, 3.7; 2. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 3.9 seconds; 3. Gabe LeDoux, Kaplan, La., 4.1; 4. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.3; 5. Jason Lahr, Stephenville, Texas, and Zane Hankel, Red Cliff, Alberta, 4.4. Tie-down roping: 1. Billy Hamilton, McAlester, Okla., 9.5 seconds; 2. Cody Owens, Rankin, Texas, 10.3; 3. Ken Bailey, Okmulgee, Okla., 10.8; 4. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 14.2; 5. Justin Macha, Needville, Texas, 14.7. Third-round leaders: 1. Randall Carlisle, Lipan, Texas, 8.6 seconds; 2. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.9; 3. Jim Locke, Miami, Texas, 9.1; 4. Stran T. Smith, Childress, Texas, 11.3; 5. P.J. Spencer, Collinsville, Okla., 11.8. Barrel racing: 1. Tiffany Fox, Fox, Okla., 17.28 seconds; 2. Shelly Morgan, Eustace, Texas, 17.38; 3. Debbie Caywood, Lexington, Okla., 17.42; 4. Diane Martin, Ulysses, Kan., 17.44; Romany Gordon, Lubbock, Texas, 17.47. Second-round leaders: 1. Brittany Pharr, Victoria, Texas, 17.22 seconds; 2. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 17.33; 3. Summer Terry, Anadarko, Okla., 17.34; 4. Carol Chesher, Stratford, Texas, and Diann Bukowski, Falcon, Colo., 17.60. Bull riding: 1. Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., 78 points on the bull Pizzazz; 2. Cameron Castleberry, Gillette, Wyo., 77; no other qualified rides. First-round leaders: 1. Jason Beck, Prairieville, La., 90 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s P.J.; 2. Austin Ambrose, Fletcher, Okla., 87; 3. Jacob Tyner, Sacramento, Calif., 86; 4. Shawn Coleman, Springfield, S.D., 84; 5. Clint Craig, Mena, Ark., 83.
GUYMON — A season ago, Cody DeMoss just missed qualifying for his sixth trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It wasn’t injury, but a want to do other things that kept the Heflin, La., cowboy away from the bright lights of Las Vegas and ProRodeo’s championship. Still, he finished 16th in the world standings, one spot outside qualifying for the NFR. “It wasn’t injury that kept me from the NFR, it’s just other things,” he said. “I went to Africa and rode there, and I went to Brazil and rodeo there.” DeMoss also rode Saturday afternoon during the second performance of the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena, setting the standard in saddle bronc riding with an 88-point ride on the horse Cimmaron to take the lead in the event with two performances to go tonight and Sunday afternoon. What’s especially nice for DeMoss is doing well in Texas County, Okla., the Bronc Riding Capital of the World and home of 10 gold buckles. “It feels good to do well here, because this is one of the tougher bronc ridings in the country,” DeMoss said. “There are still a lot of good broncs and a lot of good riders to go, so I’m a long way from winning this thing, for sure. But I’ll get a pretty good check here, and I’m tickled about that.”
Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena Guymon, Okla. Second Performance Saturday, May 2 Bareback riding: 1. Kaycee Feild, Elk Ridge, Utah, 85 points on Big Show; 2. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 84; 3. Will lowe, Canyon, Texas, 83; 4. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 80; 5. Jarod Keylon, Fort Scott, Kan., 79. First-round leaders: 1. Jared Smith, Snyder, Texas, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket and Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., on Carr’s Big Lights, 87; 3. Kaycee Feild, Elk Ridge, Utah, 85; Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., and Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 84. Team roping: 1. Donnie McNeece, McLouth, Kan./Derrick Peterson, Stillwater, Kan., 6.5 seconds; 2. Adam Worthen, Black Forest, Colo./Jesse Jolly, Goodwell, Okla., 7.0; 3. Bubba Bohac, Victoria, Texas/Twister, Cain, Gonzales, Texas, 7.5; no other qualified times. Third-round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., 6.4 seconds; 2. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Richard Durham, Morgan Mill, Texas, and Donnie McNeece, McLouth, Kan./Derrick Peterson, Stillwater, Kan., 6.5; 4. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 6.6; 5. Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla./Casey Chamberlain, Colorado City, Texas, 6.8. Steer roping: 1. Cash Myers, Athens, Texas, 10.9 seconds; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 11.3; 3. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 12.0; 4. J.D. Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 18.7; 5. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 19.6. Fifth-round leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 10.1 seconds; 2. K.W. Lauer, Buffalo, Okla., 10.7; 3. Keith Swan, Vinita, Okla., 12.4; 4. Jay Craddock, Bridgeport, Texas, 13.6; no other qualified times. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 88 points on Black Sheep; 2. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 83; 3. Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla., 82; 3. Tyrell Smith, Vaughn, Mont., 79; 5. Heith DeMooss, Heflin, La., 76. First-round leaders: 1. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 88 points; 2. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., and Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 84; 4. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 83. 5. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, 82. Steer wrestling: 1. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.3 seconds; 2. Jason Lahr, Stephenville, Texas, 4.4; 3. Dennis Hepp, Kaycee, Wyo., 4.7; 4. Brad Johnson, Reva, S.D., 4.9; 5. Jon Ragatz, Cassville, Wis., 5.2; Third-round leaders: 1. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 3.9 seconds; 2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.3; 3. Jason Lahr, Stephenville, Texas, 4.4; 4. Cody Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 4.5; 5. Gary Collins, Russell Springs, Kan., 4.6. Tie-down roping: 1. Stran T. Smith, Childress, Texas, 11.3 seconds; 2. P.J. Spencer, Collinsville, Okla., 11.8; 3. Skyler Moore, Mount Vernon, Mo., 12.0; 4. Todd Brown, Dublin, Texas, 12.2; 5. Rick Greiner, Highmore, S.D., 15.7; Third-round leaders: 1. Randall Carlisle, Lipan, Texas, 8.6 seconds; 2. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.9; 3. Jim Locke, Miami, Texas, 9.1; 4. Stran T. Smith, Childress, Texas, 11.3; 5. P.J. Spencer, Collinsville, Okla., 11.8. Barrel racing: 1. Summer Terry, Anadarko, Okla., 17.34 seconds; 2. Diann Bukowski, Falcon, Colo., 17.60; 3. Sabrina Ketcham, Yeso, N.M., 17.63; 4. Lexi Bath, Burns, Wyo., 17.91; 5. Kelly Beeman, Inola, Kan., 17.99. Second-round leaders: 1. Brittany Pharr, Victoria, Texas, 17.22 seconds; 2. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 17.33; 3. Summer Terry, Anadarko, Okla., 17.34; 4. Carol Chesher, Stratford, Texas, and Diann Bukowski, Falcon, Colo., 17.60. Bull riding: 1. Shawn Coleman, Springfield, S.D., 84 points on Mister Grinch; 2. Nathan Klassen, Broken Arrow, Okla., 78; 3. Corey Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., 76; no other qualified rides.
First-round leaders: 1. Jason Beck, Prairieville, La., 90 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s P.J.; 2. Austin Ambrose, Fletcher, Okla., 87; 3. Jacob Tyner, Sacramento, Calif., 86; 4. Shawn Coleman, Springfield, S.D., 84; 5. Clint Craig, Mena, Ark., 83.
SHAWN YORKS/The Guymon Daily Herald
Wes Stevenson of Lubbock, Texas rides during the bareback riding portion of Saturday's first performance of the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo.
Former Aggie Among Saddle Bronc Leaders Heading Into Weekend Performances
Last Updated ( Saturday, 02 May 2009 )
on 05-02-2009 05:46
By TED HARBIN Special Correspondent GUYMON — Jeff Willert likes to be reminded of good times in Texas County. The former Oklahoma Panhandle State University cowboy returned to his “old home” dirt on Friday night for the first performance of the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo and fared pretty well. In fact, he’s one of two saddle bronc-riding leaders heading into the rest of the weekend after matching moves with Carr Pro Rodeo’s Miss Molly at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. Heading into the final three performances – at 2 and 7:30 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday – Willert is tied with Steven Dent of Mullen, Neb., with 84s. Dent rode Carr’s Centerfold to take a tie for the lead. “I’ve always done pretty well here,” said Willert, of Belvidere, S.D., one of many Dakotans who have come to Texas County to learn how to best ply their rodeo trade. “I knew after I came down here for the Etbauers’ bronc-riding school that I would come here. If you’re a bronc rider, this is where you come to school.” And he learned a lot in his time on the Goodwell campus. In fact, four seasons ago, he finished atop the rodeo world with a whale of a 2005 season and an even better Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, winning the first of what he hopes is many world championships. “I like to come back here and see my buddies,” Willert said. “I don’t get back here too often, but I had some good times here.” His weekend stay was short-lived – he got into town just shortly before the rodeo and was on his way back to South Dakota shortly after completing his ride. But it was likely well worth it. “It hasn’t been the worst year I’ve ever had to this point, but it hasn’t been a good year by any means either,” said Willert, a five-time NFR qualifier who missed last year’s grand finale. “But a good check here would help set some things up for me.” Money is how cowboys and cowgirls make their livings, but it’s also how they count championships. The contestants at the end of the season with the most money won in each event are crowned champions. “I don’t really try to worry too much about the money,” Willert said. “I just like going and having fun riding broncs. This is a hard business if you focus on the money, so you’ve got to be able to take what you’ve got and have fun with it.” Now he’ll wait out two more days of competition to see where he falls in the final standings in Guymon. “It’s been a long way since I’ve felt good about my riding, but I’m feeling that now,” Willert said. “Let’s hope it sparks something.”
Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena Guymon, Okla. Friday’s First Performance Bareback riding 1. Jared Smith, Snyder, Texas, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket and Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., on Carr’s Big Lights, 87; 3. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 84; 4. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., and Caleb Bennett, 78. Team roping 1. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., 6.4 seconds; 2. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Richard Durham, Morgan Mill, Texas, 6.5; 3. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 6.6; 4. Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla./Casey Chamberlain, Colorado City, Texas, 6.8; 5. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz./Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah., 7.0. Steer roping 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 10.1 seconds; 2. K.W. Lauer, Buffalo, Okla., 10.7; 3. Keith Swan, Vinita, Okla., 12.4; 4. Jay Craddock, Bridgeport, Texas, 13.6; no other qualified times. Saddle bronc riding 1. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Miss Molly and Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., on Carr’s Centerfold, 84 points; 3. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, 82; 4. Wes Burnes, Stephenville, Texas, 80; 5. Jake Griffin, Powell, Wyo., 78. Steer wrestling 1. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 3.9 seconds; 2. Cody Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 4.5; 3. Gary Collins, Russell Springs, Kan., 4.6; 4. T.J. Bohlender, Canyon, Texas, 5.3; 5. Casey Martin, Gettysburg, Pa., 8.2. Tie-down roping 1. Randall Carlisle, Lipan, Texas, 8.6 seconds; 2. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.9; 3. Jim Locke, Miami, Texas, 9.1; 4. Joe Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 12.3; 5. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 16.3. Barrel racing 1. Brittany Pharr, Victoria, Texas, 17.22 seconds; 2. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 17.33; 3. Carol Chesher, Stratford, Texas, 17.60; 4. Rhonda Straw, Miami, Okla., 17.78; 5. Lacey Harris, Canyon, Texas, 17.93. Bull riding 1. Jason Beck, Prairieville, La., 90 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s P.J.; 2. Austin Ambrose, Fletcher, Okla., 87; 3. Jacob Tyner, Sacramento, Calif., 86; 4. Clint Craig, Mena, Ark., 83; 5. Stetson Lewis, Tularosa, N.M., 81.
By Jordan Muncy OPSU Campus Communications WEATHERFORD, Okla. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo teams traveled to Weatherford this past Easter weekend for the Southwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo. Starting off with gusty winds and ending with pouring rain, the weekend seemed to have no effect on the performance of the Aggies. Both the men’s and women’s teams were dubbed champions and Tyrel Larsen was named All-Around cowboy. For Saturday night’s short round performance, red and blue vests could be seen everywhere surrounding the arena as contestants from Oklahoma Panhandle State University were warming up and preparing for the night. In the steer wrestling, three Aggies found their names on the championship list. Coming into the short round, Jesse Jolly was sitting second with a blistering 3.8 second run. Also in the short round were Justin Hegwer and Tyrell Ouellette and all three with top ten finishes call Colorado home. Three Aggie women were fast enough to make the short round in the goat tying event and all qualified in the top five positions. After winning the long-round with a 7.5 second run, Krista Johnson tied her short round goat fast enough to remain in first place for the weekend. Also making the short round was Jordan Muncy and Chancy Harrington who placed third and fifth respectively in the long round. For saddle bronc riders it was a rough weekend, with just six cowboys making a qualified ride in the long round. Four of those cowboys hail from OPSU. Townsend Prince, Ryan Bestol and Jesse Jolly tried their best in the championship performance, but in the end, Tyrel Larsen came out in the number one position. Just one Aggie managed to qualify in the calf roping for Saturday night’s championship performance. That cowboy was Seth Schafer, a regular at the top of the standings for the region, Schafer came into the short round in third place. When the dust settled, he managed to move up one spot and finish second. Like the calf roping, just one Lady Aggie was fast enough to make the short round in the breakaway roping. Katie Jolly, last year’s regional champion, showed great consistency, with times of 3.4 and 4.3 and ended up in third place for the weekend. Once again, the only team from Oklahoma Panhandle State University in the team roping event was the team of Ryan Simons and Cody Ware. The team showed once again their great teamwork and posted a 7.1 in the long round, which put them in sixth place headed to Saturday’s short round. Nearly half of the field of barrel racers back for the championship go were Lady Aggies. With some of the fastest horses in the country, the Central Plains region proves one of the toughest around, but that did not intimidate the Aggie women from showing they meant business. Qualifying for the short round was Shancee Howell, Hilary VanGerpen, Becky White, and Jordan Muncy, who qualified in 10th, ninth, third and second places respectively. When the event was over, all of the girls were penalty free, and made coach Craig Latham proud. In the bull riding, L. D. Meier and Tyrel Larsen proved they had what it takes to ride some of the toughest bulls around. Meier finished third in the long round and Larsen was second. Larsen’s great performances in the bull riding and saddle bronc riding helped him to take home a beautiful trophy saddle and be named All-Around cowboy, an extremely honorable award. Also qualifying for the short round was Quirt McDaniel in the bareback riding, but an injured riding hand kept him from the competition Saturday night. With just two rodeos to go for the regular season, both the men and women currently hold one of the top two team positions, which is the qualifying mark for the College National Finals Rodeo. As the excitement builds, keep watching for the results or go online at www.collegerodeo.com for complete results.
Committee points to community in saying bye to tour
Last Updated ( Thursday, 09 April 2009 )
on 04-09-2009 17:59
By TED HARBIN Sprecial Correspondent
GUYMON, Okla. – For the first time in the nine-year history of the ProRodeo Tour system, the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo will not be involved. And that’s a good thing. Over the years, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has tweaked and changed the tour system, and the Guymon rodeo has tweaked right along with it. The changes this year, though, forced the volunteer committee’s hands. “We had a chance to stay on tour, but it was going to take away from our rodeo,” said Bret Franks of Goodwell, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier who has worked on the production of his hometown rodeo for years. “We always have three rounds in the timed events, but the tour format this year calls for two rounds, back to back. “That works really good when there are other rodeos going on, but it really takes away from Guymon, where those guys usually come to town and stay all week.” When you’re talking about hundreds of contestants, you can understand the importance of keeping those cowboys and cowgirls in town. For the contestants, it helps ease the rigors of the rough-and-tumble rodeo road. They have a home-away-from-home in the Oklahoma Panhandle for a week. For the community, it pays to the tune of more than $2 million in economic impact to Guymon with the rodeo going on that week. Hundreds of cowboys, cowgirls and their families will fuel their rigs in Texas County, eat in Guymon restaurants and entertain themselves at spots all over town. “We opted to not go with thee tour since the PRCA changed the format,” Franks said. “Literally, we’re sticking with the traditional cowboy rodeo. For the timed events, the guys will have three rounds, fresh calves and steers. “That’s the main thing, what Guymon’s all about: The cowboys.” Competition begins April 27, and something will be happening at the Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena all week. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. May 1, 2 and 7:30 p.m. May 2; and 2 p.m. May 3. “When we first got on the tour, the events were televised, and it was great to see Guymon showcased on national TV,” said Ken Stonecipher, a longtime member of the committee who served as the rodeo’s chairman for several years. “But then they changed the TV format. We haven’t been on TV for several years, and that was a big draw for us to be on tour. “But over the years, we’ve made a name for ourselves as a rodeo the contestants want to come to, whether it’s a tour rodeo or not. The contestants will be here, no doubt about it.” Organizers have spent several months preparing for the rodeo, raising money to help further entice the biggest names in the sport to play the game in Texas County. The more money that’s available, the more contestants want to compete. “We weren’t getting anything for being on tour,” Franks said. “If anything, it was hurting us. We opted not to go that route, and I think it’s a good decision.” When it comes to a springtime event, the rodeo committee takes many things into consideration. They know that in timed events, world champions will compete alongside rookies, and all have a chance to win one of the most prestigious events in the country. It’s the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, where cowboys become legends.
