December Issue Soapbox Article - Ty Murray Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge What a novel idea.  How better a way to bring worldwide exposure and attention to a sport we know so well but others remain significantly ignorant about?  Combining talented celebrities from varying arts and sports who have a following of fans that may never thought about watching a bull buck or even care about who is on their back.    The Ty Murray Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge aired this summer on CMT.  The name even sounds intriguing.  The premise was even better. Personally, I felt the only demise of the entire show would be the person who hosted, helped produce and had it named after, or so I thought.   In my small circle of peers I have expressed the feeling that I consider Ty Murray not to be one of my favorite television personalities in commercials or with the PBR commentary. The knowledge and experience he brings is invaluable to informing the public and nothing can be taken away from him as the top all around roughstock cowboy of all time.  He is probably the best bull rider in PBR history to have never won a world title.  My admiration for his knowledge of the sport, industry and lifestyle is colossal. The issue for me was always his ability to turn McKee and Gaffney’s well spoken conversations into the backwoods sounding, illiteracy that mainstream sports enthusiasts think all cowboys are.   I saw a different side during the several episodes of the show which aired in late summer on CMT.  Going into it, I was very skeptical but soon became a huge fan and I will tell you why.   This series encompassed several days of Ty trying to teach celebrities of various professions how to ride bulls.  This is a skill that many athletes try months to get right well enough just to stay on a beginner bull for 8 seconds, let alone do it in days.  The diversity of those involved was enormous.  The attitudes, physical ability and toughness each worked for and against every person involved.    The first couple of episodes showed how “green” the competitors were to the sport.  The sizes of these guys alone ranged from just over five feet tall to a few inches over six feet.  They were not your typical cookie cutter bull rider size.  They worked out on a bucking machine to get the proper form and counter ability needed to remain on a bull.  The next day they learned the correct way to sit on a bull in the chute, put your rope on a bull and how to properly take your wrap.  Before days end, they were nodding their head atop their first live animal.   There was praise all around from each of the riders for their instructor for his knowledge and ability to relay the information to them so that they felt comfortable enough to go to the next level.  I began to forget the fact that I did not like Mr. Murray’s way of speaking and began to realize it was really not that important.    The first couple of days went by with one competitor quitting right after the mechanical bull session and soon another would go down to injury.  The next couple of days were spent showing the riders the proper way to dismount after a ride, avoid a bull and when not to stand around and do a dance in the arena.  Every time Ty spoke, it became more genuine to me the words he said and not so much the way he said them.  His concern for the riders and they way he wanted them to bond sold me on the show and its reasoning right there.    Being a cowboy to me is much more than saying, “I rode a bull in a rodeo”.  It is a way of life and they way you live your life.  Many of us are no longer in the cattle or equine industry but the way we live our lives and appreciate the things in it keep the cowboy spirit alive and well.  This is what I felt Ty Murray was sharing with the rest of the world and did it through a more mainstream means.  It was like saying, “I’m not waiting on the PBR and PRCA to continue to chip away at the rock which is the ignorance of the mainstream world.  I’m going to place a stick of dynamite in it and blow that sucker up!”  Now, he didn’t say that.  I just have the feeling that he was coming from that direction.   The most important part of the entire series was the trip out to the ranch and the evening bar-b-que.  Those types of evenings and time spent with friends in the extended rodeo family I share are the ones I remember and enjoyed the most.  This was the turning point for the most intense competitor of all.  He realized that aggressive practice and competition was a good thing but so is the camaraderie that a rodeo athlete shares with his fellow cowboys.   By the time the riders made their way to the PBR BFT event in Nashville, TN, they were dedicated and pumped up bull riders.  The crowd was behind every competitor whether they covered or bucked off.  The interviews of each of the riders gave some small insight to their thinking and new admiration for bull riders and the cowboy attitude as a whole.  This was a huge stick of dynamite that I am sure blew some massive holes in others thoughts.   I had the opportunity to visit with one of the riders from the series recently while I was covering the PBR Finals in Las Vegas.  Josh Haynes of the famous UFC limelight was hanging out with some of the PBR stock contractors after the first round of competition.  I expressed my appreciation for his dedication to the show and what a fan my family had become.  He showed complete admiration for all cowboys and could not be any more proud to have been a part of such a series.    I must now stand and say that I couldn’t really care what Ty Murray sounds like when he commentates anything.  My opinion didn’t really amount to a hill of beans to him anyway I’m sure.  His bringing together of such different people for a common goal may have solidified the sport of bull riding and the cowboy way into pop culture forever!  This is something that has been a long time coming and I hope he makes more installments in this series in the future. Thanks Ty! November Issue Manatee Civic Center - Palmetto, FL Hosts SSBR Keith Weems, Writer & Photos - 10/30/2007    The Three Blind Mice broke up this past weekend. One went out to eat with a new friend and the other two decided to judge the bull riding in Palmetto, FL. They showed up at the event without brail or even communication ability, because their scores were all over the place not even resembling the action in the arena.     The SSBR strolled into the Manatee Civic Center in Palmetto, FL, on October 6th, for their annual bull riding competition. This event has been held each year in the early fall under a few different sanctioning bodies, but always has a good crowd and a good showing by the bull riders. The top money earning bull riders for the southern region of the SSBR were entered with the exception of a couple that were tied up at some Challenger Tour events trying to make the money to jump up to the BFT series. The remaining talent was nothing to frown upon with some of them being BFT contenders themselves.    With the pomp and circumstance that accompanies most indoor bull ridings today out of the way, the event took off with a qualified ride. Ricky Ringer of Florida put the first score of the night on the board with 77 points atop a bull owned by Peace River Rodeo Co. The mice had begun to work. He was followed by Dewey Johnson of Ft Meade, FL, with a score of 78 points on a huge, bald-faced Braford cross that made the mistake of going back to the left into Dewey’s hand. Those mice must have loved either Dewey or the fact that the bull was into his hand, because this should have been a reversal with the previous score. Just a couple of rides later, Shannon Brass scored a 74 on another tough bull from Chris Stewart and the Peace River Rodeo Co. This was the first time the mice found some cheese. They ate it quickly and began staggering around in the second section again.    The newly crowned Coors Light Summer Champion, Bubba Predmore, was quickly snatched to the end of his arm and slung down from Black Stinger, owned by Doug Walker. The mice began to write a score but soon realized that the rider did come down early. Zolfo Springs native and PBR Finals qualifier Jake McIntyre took his bull to the whistle and the mice went to work again. His whopping 77 point score matched Ringers for a second place tie but comparing the two rides was ridiculous. Near the end of the round, Calub Sanderson of Kissimmee, FL, scored a whopping 80 points for his effort to put him into first place for the long round.    The event took a brief intermission as the mice made their way out of the arena and the draw was pulled for the short go. The top 9 scores from the long go were awarded a chance to return to the arena and see what score was pulled out of the hat.    First to go would be Dewey Johnson. He would also be the first to hit the turf. He was followed by Bobby Lathro Jr. from Fellsmere, FL. He was the second rider to hit the turf. Next rider out was the first to put up a score. Jake McIntyre hung tough to a bull that went two different ways and pitched him out the back at the whistle. His score of 87 was good to put him in first place for the event, but the mice felt the score matched the ride. Many others did not. Right after McIntyre was Sanderson. He took a very tough bull to the 8 second whistle, spurring him the last three rounds and received the same score as McIntyre. The mice scurried to write something, maybe going by the crowds noise or lack of it. Even though Sanderson was three points ahead of McIntyre, the margin should have been bigger. Jason Wade of Myakka City, FL, made it three qualified rides in a row with a score of 83 points to give him a total of 163 and a third place finish.     Palmetto, FL, is always a well attended event and the cowboys love it. The SSBR does a great job of promoting their riders and events. The mice were happy to make an appearance at the event this year, but hopefully they get back with their third blind buddy and go on a world tour somewhere else. The finals are coming up November 3rd and I’m sure no one wants to see their act again. September Issue SOUTHERN STATES BULL RIDING

Bull riding associations in the southeast seem to come and go, but the latest one to emerge to the top is the Southern States Bull Riding Series. There are several reasons for the demise of past associations as well as the accelerating success of the SSBR. (www.ssbrnow.com)    When I first began shooting bull riding in 1999, the southeast had only two regional associations that the working bull rider could attend. There were also the rodeos that were sanctioned by the PCA, PRCA, IPRA and FCA, but these events were often a drawing contest with little or no added money and did not offer the spectacle of 30 plus bull riders mounted out in one evening.    Occasionally, you would find a practice pen available on some weekends or maybe a night during the evening, but consistent events on a regular basis were few and far between.    In the mid 1990’s the Southern Professional Bull Riders (SPBR) was formed and successfully operated up until a couple of years ago. This association offered events in several southeastern states with decent added money. The stock was consistent and events were fair. Sometimes these events lacked some professionalism and flair, which began to be detrimental after committees were given the same product year after year.     In 1999 the National Pro-Am Bull Riders (NPBR) came on the scene with a refreshing flare and flash of showmanship due its leading operative. This person was a rodeo producer with big aspirations and an even bigger imagination. Openings were spectacular and sponsor money showed their approval. The riders and bulls were the same found in the SPBR, but with a little more show. This association soon became a cowboy favorite.    But just like that shiny new pair of boots, the new wears off and those old beat up comfortable work boots soon fall back into favoritism and the shiny is left to the dust bunnies under the bed.    There is another group that has worked to provide money for nonprofit organizations in the cities where the events are held. The Southeastern Bull Riding Series began just a few years ago, but has been recently avoided by many riders and various other personnel due to poor communication.    Many of the competitors from the three earlier associations have stepped away from the bull ropes and cleats to begin a new association. The Southern States Bull Riders are a group of people that have all competed in the rodeo arena. Whether it was stocking the bulls, riding the bulls or fighting the bulls, they have all been there and done that in some respect. This is why they understand what it takes to be a successful organization.    Here is example number one. When an event is over, there is no wait for two or three weeks to see results and updated points/money information on the website. It is up usually by the next day.    Next, example number two. The association has its own set of checks and balances. It is not governed or run by one family, one person or even two buddies, but by a group of officers each with their own responsibilities and a vote.    Have you ever heard of a Cowboy Christmas in Florida in July for bull riders? That is example number three. When the cowboys mentioned it, the CEO took the idea and ran with it. There were six bull ridings in six different towns in seven days. Several thousand dollars was up for grabs and it was great to cover some of the events.    Some of the showmanship is still coming along for the SSBR. They have to overcome a few growing pains, because they are growing so fast. With two regions, they have divided much of the responsibility and should be able to take these pains with ease.     Events are coming in fast as they are co-sanctioning many of the current PRCA rodeos in Florida with the SSBR. They will soon be having their regional finals in the coming months and their association finals shortly after that.    From a photographer standpoint, it is nice to have a group of cowboys that value the use and expertise of a rodeo photographer. They anticipate your arrival and in turn it makes me even more excited to get to the next arena.    Bull riding associations in the southeast seem to come and go, but the SSBR seems likely to be around for quite some time.    Psst! By the way, I heard that another association is growing out of central Florida headed by some former PBR qualifying riders. The future of bull riding in the southeast looks really interesting.    Take care and we’ll see ya down the road.

July Issue of HNH

TATER PORTER INVITATIONAL Keith Weems, Writer & Photographer - 6/27/2007

Naples Highlights    Matt Bohon’s name and 7.8 seconds are two things that indeed will be in Tater Porter’s mind after the invitational weekend that bore his name in Naples and Orlando, Florida.    These events produced by Orlandobullriders.com and headed by Billy Watson have become a mainstay on the schedule and looks to be here for years to come. In what has become one of the most anticipated bull riding weekends by the residents of the suncoast of Florida, Porter, the only home state representative to the top 45 bull riders in the PBR, was ejected after 7.8 seconds.    Naples (Estero), FL hosts the Sam Galloway Ford Invitational each year during a key weekend for PBR riders. The BFT series is on hiatus as this weekend allows many to heal, others to remain on tour and others to catch up. Glancing at the entries for the Friday night event, held at the Germain Arena, did not show an abundance of top 45 riders, but it did have familiar names of those who have been up there and some who are there now. Local stock contractors like Five Star Rodeo, as well as some from abroad, including Jeff Robinson, Teague, Anchor Bull Co and Frontier Rodeo provided bulls that made up a pretty sweet pen.    The five sections in the long round were divided up by sponsorship giveaways and a few comedic antics by Matt Merritt. All of these saw their share of 80 plus point scores which made it tough to make it back as the top 10 for the short round.    Section one started with the quick exit of Billy Robinson of Galax, VA. He did not see eye to eye with Ogre of Anchor Bull Co. Slight but gritty bull rider Jaime Dos Santos of Pompano Beach, FL was the first to put a score on the board with an 86 point score on #45 Dr. Phil of Anchor Bull Co. This bull didn’t give very much kick but Santos did as he spurred himself to the score which held to get him into the short round.  In section two, Cory Rasch put together a top ten score with #298 Gambler of Tom Teague’s string. Nick Landreneau of Sulphur, LA also put together a score good enough to make it to the short round. He and #RF298 Slim’s Revenge turned in an 85 point score.    Section three did not yield any scores high enough to make it back with an 82.5, 83 and 75 turned in by Buckshot Morrison, Craig Jackson, and Jason Wade.     Section four seemed to be the group to be in when the first rider out scored and 86. Shane Proctor of Powell, WY turned that in after receiving a re-ride on his first bull in section one. Ned Cross nodded next and repeated Proctor’s score of 86 atop #235 Biggerman of Frontier Rodeo Co. Tater Porter and Frontier Rodeo Co’s Hot Diggity #40 came in just behind as the third rider out, posting am 85 point score. After the early departure of Mexican world champ, Mario Galindo, Steven Shelley showed what a champion from the mid-west could do as he put an 87 point effort up with #5 Toto belonging to Jeff Robinson.    Section five was dotted with a couple of re-rides and one short round placing score as late arrival, Ednei Caminhas scored an 89 on his re-ride. That score was good enough for the number one spot going into the short round.    The crowd was huge and the noise was unreal as Tater climbed aboard #11 Lame Brain of Frontier Rodeo for his attempt at first place. He came into the round with an 85 and in the tenth spot. The noise continued to increase as Tater made wrap after wrap on Lame Brain, but at 7.88 seconds, Tater flew to the ground and chances of Florida’s favorite bull rider winning this event had flown out the window.    With Nick Landreneau’s buck off it started a one buck off and the next ride off and on up through the number one spot. Proctor was in the lead after riding third, but then Santos took the lead after riding sixth. Then Kody Lostroh scored and 89 on #175 Outrageous and combining that with his long round score of 87 put him in the lead for the event. Ednei was the last rider with a chance to unseat Lostroh after Rasch’s arm-jerking effort atop #255 Red Silhouette of Five Star Rodeo. He turned in an 85 score and a total of 174 allowing Lostroh to take the buckle for the Friday night event in Naples.  Orlando Highlights    Just about three and a half hours north of Naples in Orlando, FL, the entire crew was ready to do it all over again. With workers taking down the chutes and moving them overnight to Orlando, the stock trucking up as well, it was chance number two for the cowboys to get a piece of the $20,000 added prize money.    The Amway Arena, home of the Orlando Magic and Predators (arena football league), was the temporary home of the PBR on this very hot and humid June evening.    The draw was a near match to Friday night with some changes to the order. Ned Cross of Midland, OR was the first to post a top score as he and #20 Hot Rod of Tom Teague, jumped out front with 88 points. That stood for all of about two minutes as Matt Bohon of Cole Camp, MO scored 90 points on #458 Ring of Fire, also of Teague’s.    Tater Porter put up his bid for first, but fell just short at the beginning of section two atop #45 Dr. Phil. His score of 89.5 brought the hometown crowd to their feet and was good enough to keep him in second place going into the short round one half point behind Bohon. Joining Porter in the short round coming out of section two was Texan, Craig Jackson. This Houston cowboy scored an 87 on #17 Big Tom of Anchor Bull Co.     Fellow Houston bull rider James White was the only cowboy to make the short round from section three. His score of 86.5 was good enough for the number six spot. He bested Frontier Rodeo’s #40 Hot Diggity to earn his place.     Mexican champion bull rider Mario Galindo made the short round after his efforts in section four. His 86.5 score on Frontier Rodeo’s #W187 County Line put him in seven spot. Also making a statement for their want to win the buckle, saddle and prize money was Rob Bell of Shreveport, LA with an 88 and Ednei Caminhas with an 86. Cory Rasch of Clarksville, TN also made it to the short round with an 87, but was knocked unconscious for a brief period after going head to head with Toto. He did not compete in the short round.    First out in the short round was Ross Lewis. He was seeing double dollar signs after he and Double Vision of Frontier Rodeo were finished. The 87 point score totaled 172 when added to his 85 from the long round. Caminhas nodded only two bulls later and put a total of 169 on the board. This was good enough to hold second place thus far for the Orlando event, but it made him the first and only to ride four bulls for the weekend. The average saddle was his.    One by one the next five riders bucked off and only two were left. Porter had drawn #220 Rock Hound of Jeff Robinson and Bohon drew #P4 Barbosa also of Robinson’s string. Tater did not let the hometown crowd down. His 88.5 points were just shy of his long round score, but together made an impressive 178. Bohon would need only an 89 to beat Porter and he had the draw to do it. Barbosa turned it on and Bohon matched him jump for jump as they beat Porter and the Hound with a score of 90 points. Bohon had two bulls to ride and scored a 90 on each one. That’s tough to beat no matter who you are.    When presenting the buckle to Bohon, Porter made this statement. “I want to thank everyone who has come tonight and made this such a success. I want to congratulate Ednei on the average win, he’s a good bull rider and good friend. And Matt, you may have won the buckle, but remember it still has my name on it!” I think that says enough. Till next month….take care and we’ll see ya ……well, I’ll see ya’ as soon as I can get away from some of these barrel races!

April Issue of HNH Hancock Claims Title Seminole Classic Xtreme Bulls Keith Weems, Writer and Photographer - 3/21/2007

My first Xtreme Bulls event. I thought this was going to be great for me to finally get to shoot one in Florida. I made all the right phone calls, had my PRCA card renewal taken care of, I even had the trip from Arcadia timed out from the end of the rodeo performance on Saturday to the arena in Brighton so I would not be late. I was pumped up and ready to go. There was one thing that I was not prepared for though, shooting with another photographer. I knew he was going to be there, because he is a really good photographer and he photographs most of the rodeos now in southeast. I was so into the actual event, the preparation of working with someone else, mainly their equipment, was temporarily forgotten.    Nearly 40 of the top bull riders in the PRCA made their way out into the middle of nowhere to the Brighton Seminole community. They marked this event as well as Birmingham, AL, Arcadia, FL, and Okeechobee, FL, on their calendars as definite stops to earn top money in what is considered an early cowboy Christmas to many these days. With Houston opening its gates to competition right now, it seems a bull rider can get a jump out front and stay there with a good run in early March.    I would like to say that I know exactly what happened in the first section, but due to some technical difficulties, created by myself, I was unable to shoot most of the first section. I do know that the crowd cheered whole heartedly for three particular rides. These brought in scores of an 82, 87 and an 88.     Jared Ford of Greeley, CO, was in the lead with an 88 aboard #305 Nickelback of Southwick and Robertson’s string. This solid black, horned bull made two jumps out of the chute and went right, which was into Ford’s hand and ol’ Nickelback paid for it with several big money chops. He tried some revenge as soon as Ford hit the ground, but Kevin Ellis made a big save and became a flying bullfighter for his efforts.    By the time section one had ended and Ryan Rodriguez had finished his antics by shooting his little dog out of a cannon over the bucking chutes, my lights were good and section two began. In section two, three more scores in the 80’s placed Jimmy Crosby, Kanin Asay and Cody Hancock all in the short round with Hancock and Asay coming in with an 87, good for a three way split for second place thus far. Cody was knocked around a bit and gave the crowd a scare with his dismount. “It was weird. I went to get up and all the sudden, bam, I was seeing stars. Anymore it doesn’t take much,” he said. “That doesn’t scare me much at all. My wife always laughs, she knows if I got hit in the head, I’ll be alright.”     With only six qualified rides turned in, it left six spots vacant for the last section of eleven riders and three re-rides. Bobby Welsh was the first to score in section three with 82.5 points on #602 Hungry Eyes of Frontier Rodeo Company. This bull had made very short work of Jason McClain the day before in Arcadia at the PRCA rodeo, but Welsh was able to get by the Brahma cross’ leaps and hard kicks. Richard Echols of Frierson, LA, put his name on the board for the short round with a trip on his re-ride bull. He and Colorado Red #121 of the Five Star Rodeo string teamed up for 84.5 points.     Cooper Kanngiesser climbed aboard his re-ride bull and increased his score to a whopping 68 and another re-ride option. Just as he was collecting his rope to put on another mount, Bryan Richardson of Dallas, TX, put 82 points in the book with the help of #35 Next Page from Four L Rodeo Company.    It was time for Cooper to try it again. This was his third attempt in two hours to get into the short round. He increased his score by 11 points which was just good enough to put him in the eleventh spot out of twelve.    The short round began with three rank bulls from Frontier Rodeo company and some good bull riders hitting the dirt. Fourth out was Richardson on a bull owned by Southwick and Robertson named Denny Crane. Richardson busted out with an 89.5 and the first cowboy to cover two head. Bobby Welsh and Jimmy Crosby followed close behind with tied scores of 87.5 which tied them for the number two slot. Cody Hancock was matched with #HR22 Cooper. It was near perfect match with Hancock taking the lead and eventual win with a score of 91 points. Only Jarrod Ford and Zeb Lanham had the opportunity to pass him, but when they both bucked off, it left Cody with a nice win and placed him in the top ten in the PRCA world standings.    On speaking to those involved in the Seminole Classic Xtreme Bulls event, all involved felt it was a huge success. The bulls were rank and really fired and the cowboys showed up when it mattered most. The short go pitted top riders against top bulls and that is what it is all about.    The Xtreme Bulls tour heads next to Houston during the world famous Rodeo Houston and hits four more cities on its way to the tour finale in Indianapolis, IN.    This bull riding only style event is a wonderful addition to the PRCA and looks to add more top bull riders to its lineup every season.

March Issue Tampa FL PBR BFT

McBride Just Keeps On Winning Keith Weems, Writer & Photographer - 2/26/2007

Tampa, FL- The annual Southern Ford Dealers Invitational BFT series event in Tampa has a reputation of being one of the season’s toughest stops and also for being one that turns in some of the best rides. This one night event on a chilly evening in central Florida looked to shape up to another good show.     Brian Canter was the first rider slated to nod. Knowing the recent history with Canter, led most to believe that not even his draw of the Diamond S string #182 Dozer would be a problem for him. Well, we were wrong. Canter hit the ground faster than I have ever seen him go down, lasting about one wrap on the big yellow bull. Round one did turn in two scores, however, with Scott Schiffner of Strathmore, AB, atop Diamond S bull #185 Panama Red for a score of 86 points. Evan Rasch of Clarksville, TN, also got on the board with an 83.25 point effort aboard Boogie Board also of Diamond S.    Former CBR Champion Austin Meier of Kinta, OK, took Fraggle Rock to the whistle in the second section for an 87.5. Rookie sensation J.B. Mauney of Mooresville, NC, took Roy Carter’s bull Bell Tone to the tooter with an 86.25 to end section number two.    Section three turned out three more scores in the 80’s. The best being an 87 point score by Kasy Hayes of Liberal, KS, on #47 Patsy’s Pet of Ricky West Bucking Bulls. The last two sections did not see his score bested, but only tied as Travis Briscoe of Edgewood, NM, on Missfire of Boyd, Floyd and Paradise Farms. Justin McBride quietly turned in his best work atop #022 Texas Two Step for 84.25 points.    After a brief intermission and a show of flying sausages and t-shirts, compliments of one Mr. Flint Rassmussen, the short go was ready to begin.    It has happened, but it is rare that only two bulls are covered in the short go. Matt Werries, Matt Bohon, Evan Rasch and Mike Lee all were unseated early in the their final chance at a big check. McBride once again stepped up and did what he has done so consistently since 2001, rode another bull and this time breaking the 90 mark with a 90.25. With ten riders to go after him, he had plenty of time to think about who could take the win away from him. He did his job, but could they do theirs?    Shane Proctor, Rocky McDonald, Scott Schiffner, Cory Melton and J.B. Mauney all came down just before Kasey Hayes swung out of the chute atop #P4 Barbosa for a score of 87.25. This put him at a total of 174.25. That was good enough for second place with McBride’s score being 0.25 points better.    Justin continues to add to the record books with money and points earned in Anaheim, CA, later in February. Look to see Justin deep in the race for the championship again this year. Good luck to all riders.    God bless and we’ll see ya down the road. Long Round Results Rider Bull Score $$ 1 Mike White Mule Train 88.00 $2,730 2 Austin Meier Fraggle Rock 87.50 1,560 R. Palermo Slip Knot 87.50 1,560 4 Travis Briscoe Missfire 87.00 624 Kasey Hayes Patsy’s Pet 87.00 624 6 J.B. Mauney Bell Tone 86.25 312 7 Cory Melton Jeopardy 86.00 234 8 Scott Schiffner Panama Red 85.75 156 Short Round Results Rider Bull Score $$ 1 Justin McBride Smash Hit 90.25 $2,730 2 Kasey Hayes Barbosa 87.25 1,950   SOUTHERN FORD DEALERS INVITATIONAL - TAMPA, FL AVERAGE RESULTS Feb. 2, 2007 1 J McBride 174.50 $30,790 2 K Hayes 174.25 17,134 3 M White 88.00 11,230 4 A Meier 87.50 6,435 R Palermo 87.50 6,435 6 T Briscoe 87.00 3,424 7 J.B. Mauney 86.25 2,562 8 C Melton 86.00 2,134 9 S Schiffner 85.75 1,756 10 R McDonald 85.25 1,430

February Article Review of Jan Ft Pierce PBR

Stewart Dominates Ft. Pierce Keith Weems, Contributing Writer & Photos - 1/31/2007

Ft Pierce, FL - Takes a while sometimes to get going. Cold weather, out late the night before or maybe getting a little older slows it a bit.    Whatever the reason, the bull riders that showed up on Saturday night at the PBR Challenger Tour event at the St Lucie Fairgrounds in Ft. Pierce were suffering from something that was keeping them from making the whistle. It’s a good thing Sunday was different.    Back to Saturday. The PBR Challenger Tour came to Florida for the third year in a row for a full weekend of action with events in both Daytona and Ft. Pierce. Many of the bull riders who were entered on Saturday night had already ridden in Daytona on Friday night. That should have warmed them up, but it seemed to have worn them down.    The first round did reap a score of 83.5 for Chad Smith of Jacksonville, FL, on #95 Rakes Ridge of Anchor Bull Co. and an 80 for Colin McTaggart on #113 Stub. “I didn’t think I was going to stay on that little sucker,” said Smith of his event leading ride.    It was event leading until Matt Clemons of Okeechobee, FL, put an 87 point effort aboard #327 Cisco of Teague’s. Matt held the lead into the short round for Saturday night.    BJ Carter of Kissimmee, FL, hustled to stay aboard #228 Bullistic of Jeff Robinson’s string in round four. Clay McIntyre joined him in the short round with a score of 82 on his re-ride bull.    The short round began with the only rider drawn back for the top ten and ended being the only rider to cover his bull in the section. His 81.5 total on two head placed him in fifth for the event after the lights came down on round one.     It’s a good thing Sunday was different.    The second round reaped more than an 87 and did it in record fashion. The first man out, Sam Nelson, scored an 83 on #214 Moon Dog of Anchor Bull Co. Tony Mendes was number two and covered his bull, but was awarded a re-ride. In hole three was Mike Collins on #17 Big Tom of Anchor Bull Co. as well. They teamed up for an 88 with Ross Johnson beating that as the fourth man out with an 88.5 atop #106 Jock also of Anchor Bull Co. Clayton Tucker’s 79.5 and Billy Robinson’s 80 rounded out the first section.    In section three, Brian Courson tied Ross Johnson’s 88.5 on #358 Raspberry Punch of Diamond W. He was quickly followed up with an 88 by Michael Riggs of Claxton, GA, and an 87 by Jimmy Lathero of Fellsmere, FL. But, it was another 88.5 by Tony Mendes that finished section three with a roar from the crowd and Tony’s fists pumping in the air.    Lee Akin turned in the highest score of the long go for both nights with a score of 89 on #K3 Your Out of Jeff Robinson’s herd. Sunday’s short round turned out to be one of the best in the Challenger Tour’s history in the state of Florida.    Scott Schiffner was the first cowboy out aboard Wildcat and they teamed up for an 83.5. Up-and-coming Fellsmere star, Jimmy Lathero, turned in a score of 88 on Full Throttle, a total of 175 on two and the event lead. The next time the chute opened, Michael Riggs scored an 87.5 which put him in the lead for the win.    It didn’t last long, because Harve Stewart was next and with his score of 89.5 put him in the lead with a total of 178 on two.     It was up to Mendes, Johnson, Courson and Akin to put up a top score and take the win, but none of the four could accomplish that task. Harve Stewart came away with the win, the money and various items awarded the winner.    This event is in its third year and is growing bigger and better each January. If you have a chance to enter or attend this event, be sure to do so. It is definitely worth it. Maybe next year Saturday will measure up to Sunday and the entire weekend will go off as well as those fireworks that followed the show.    Watch for the upcoming story on the sale of 5 Star Rodeo Company to Marki Rodeo Company as well as pictures and highlights from the Tampa, Florida PBR Built Ford Tough event next month. Take care, and we’ll see ya’ down the road

January 2007 Soapbox Article

Big wishes.

Be careful what you wish for.

You just might get it.

In March of 2002 I had the opportunity to speak with what I now call a wise man.  Some may not think so because he spends his time making people laugh entertaining crowds all around the country.  At that time I thought his words, although common in context, were not common in content.  He told me that often over used phrase, “Be careful what you wish for.”   

This was his comeback after a conversation about his 30+ foot trailer and how he spends nearly 48 weeks out of the year in it.  He is gone for months at a time, winding his way by antique stores, over new highways, past old rodeo arena’s and across some of the most gorgeous pieces of acreage eyes can behold. 

Meeting world champions and watching the development of tomorrow’s stars were common threads throughout his stories that he told while I listened with a little envy.

Then he told of going from town to town and HIRED jobs from rodeo to rodeo.  This is where my comment was made and his now realized comeback has hit home.

“I sure wish I could do that.”  I said with a grin and slight envy.

“Be careful what you wish for.  You might just get it.”  He said with a sigh and touch exhaustion in his voice that I could not figure why was there.

That was 2002 and this is 2007.  It has been 5 years since those words were exchanged and I have come to realize what his exhaustion and sigh were for.

I can say that I have met and photographed many world champions and seen the development of today’s stars.  I have been gone for weeks at a time passing by many of the same things he spoke of with nearly 40 weekends spent on the road.

It all came to a screeching halt with little warning on the morning of September 8^th , 2006.    My father who was the one steady encouragement I had in the building process of my business became the one big set of brakes to bring it to a stop.

I have realized in my last three months since I lost my father to that horrible disease that bears the name of Lou Gherig, that what we build in this world monetarily and what we consume ourselves with daily is nothing without family.  This business which drove me for months out of the year also drove me past my fathers house on many days that I could have spent hunting, fishing or just sitting in the recliner talking baseball, bull riding, investments or how to best train his quail dogs.  This business that pushed me harder than my father ever did, pushed me right past the house of the man that sacrificed many opportunities to get further in the world.  Giving up his own dreams allowing my sister and I to be involved in activities that took up much of his time.

I wished for the lengthy travels.  I wished for the nice truck and trailer.  I wished for the steady paying accounts.  I wished for the opportunity to shoot the “big show”.  I wished for people to expect to see me at certain events and be upset when it wasn’t me. 

I should have been more careful.   I wished for it and I got it.

The past three months have been the toughest of my life but also some of the best.  I guess sometimes it takes a sorrowful event to make you realize what is important in life.  I have realized that.  It is my family.   My family is my life. 

I will be back here in HNH with articles of bull riding from the southeast starting next month.  I will once again give my opinion on the world of photography as it relates to the arena, the contestants and maybe even the beloved agents.  But I will never again take for granted the importance of my family or where my business will drive me in the future. 

I still have many wants in life.  But now I am much more careful about the ones I wish for.