Blog

July 9, 2007

Well we survived the Fourth of July run but in no way are we slowing down. There are a lot of great rodeos in July so we still have a lot of work ahead of us.

Let me catch you up on our travels since I last wrote. Before, I left for Reno it seemed like every vehicle I owned broke down in a span of two days including the van we planned to use for our rodeo travel this summer. It was a little hectic there for a while but I was able to get the van fixed in time for us to head out to Reno.

I was in Reno (Nev.) on June 19 for my first one and finished with a 76 on Rosser Rodeo's Bucky's Sam. It was a wild ride and there was a moment during the eight-seconds that I wasn't sure if I would get my butt back in the saddle but I did and made it to the whistle. I had my second one the following night and posted an 85 aboard Western Rodeo's Blue Creek, which put me in a tie for first in the round. I came back tied for seventh in the average with 161 points on two and competed in the finals on Saturday. I drew Flying U Rodeo's Black Wasp but ended up with a no score. I also ended up roping with Josi Young, while in Reno. I had thought my team roping days were over for the summer but then Josi, who mostly competes in bareback riding but does some team roping as well, called me up to see if I would enter with him, so I agreed. We didn’t have any luck on either one but it was still fun.

After our first two in Reno, we headed to Pleasant Grove (Utah). My brother, Heith, won the rodeo with an 84 on Bar T Rodeo’s Robin Ridge and I tied for fourth with a score of 81. I guess I have taught my little brother well.

After the final round in Reno, we were off to Ponoka (Alberta, Canada) and the start of our Cowboy Christmas. I was 76 up there giving me no hope for the final round, so we were off to Pecos (Texas) for their rodeo. I had a little better luck there scoring 83 points on Carr Pro Rodeo's Trail Dust and winning the rodeo. I picked up a check worth $4,700 and then it was off to Springdale, Ark. Heith and I posted scores of 84 and ended in a tie for third. I suppose if you have to tie with someone it is good to tie with your brother, it at least keeps the money in the same family that way. We each picked up a check worth $1,648. We then headed to St. Paul (Ore.) where I finished with an 80 and tied for seventh pocketing a check that totaled $473.

I didn't have any luck in Molalla (Ore.) or Prescott (Ariz.). We finally made it to Greeley (Colo.) for our first one on the night of July 3. I was 80 points and tied for eighth in the first round picking up a check for $131. In this line of business, every little bit counts. I qualified back for the Tour round on the Fourth of July but didn't have any luck, so it was on to Cody (Wyo.) that night. I posted an 83 and tied for fifth for a total of $2,303. We had two rodeos left on our agenda after Cody. We competed in Spooner, Wis., on the night of the 5th and then drove to Oakley, Utah, as we were up there on the 7th. We didn’t have any luck at either one and our "Cowboy Christmas" was over. I ended up with just over $9,000.

We are off to Canada now for the next few days for the Calgary Stampede. Bradley and I will compete July 10-13 and then the top four money winners from our group will automatically advance to Showdown Sunday on the 15th. Those that don't automatically qualify will compete on Wild Card Saturday for a chance to be in the field on Sunday. If a person was to win every round in Calgary they could walk away with $118,000. I would love to have a payday like that.

From Calgary, we will hit the rodeos in Nampa, Idaho, Salinas, Calif., Spanish Fork, Utah, Ogden, Utah, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Deadwood, S.D. We will then be at the end of July. Check back in a few weeks to see how things are going.

Until next time,
Cody