Gary Davis, president of the foundation, and representatives from Coors, including Herman Perdomo Jr., area manager of the Coors Brewing Company, and Jim Schlimpert, J.K. Boersma Distributorship General Manager of Ponca City, made the joint announcement during a foundation committee meeting Wednesday.

The 101 Ranch Rodeo will be held August 16-18, and the announcement means the finalization of action sought by Davis and his committee for the past several years.

"We've been looking forward to this ever since we have been committed to the rodeo," Davis said.

What the Coors Chute Out will mean to rodeo fans here will

be an improved number of contestants for the entire rodeo, as they will be out to obtain additional monies from purses supplied by the Coors firm.

"We're here to prove to the foundation we are committed to the community, by being involved in community support. We feel the 101 Ranch Rodeo is one of the premier worthwhile events in Ponca City," Schlimpert said.

He said it means an $8,500 commitment, versus the $2,500 in years past. The exceptional part of the  commitment means there's going to be bonus money totaling $3,800 amounting to $400 to $500 per event, or team ropers sharing $800.

Schlimpert said, "It entitles the Ponca City rodeo to insure itself of getting the best rodeo performers around, and by getting on the PRCA Circuit as a Coors Chute Out, the rodeo will draw better contestants because they know the prize money is going to be higher." Schlimpert said the stepping stone was "the work done by Gary Davis and his committee. He began working years ago in boosting the 101 Ranch Rodeo to become a Coors Chute Out."

Landing a Coors Chute Out is not an easy task, since one of the requirements was attendance. It was explained that the designation takes 10,000 spectators to be on hand to watch the rodeo, and a lot of support from the local Coors beer distributor, of which Schlimpert is general manager.

Pointed out were facts that as new President of the 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation, Davis assembled a crew of top hands dedicated to the sport of rodeo. Through the 19-member group and their hard work, the financial  statement began looking much better with black ink. Thus the committee was able to make arena improvements and the' crowds became larger, obtaining the Coors Chute Out designation.

Pre-Performance Barbecue Set For 101 Ranch Rodeo

The barbecue set for the first day of the 101 Ranch Rodeo Aug. 16 will have some added attractions this year. Tickets for the barbecue have just been placed in area financial institutions and businesses.

The barbecue, to be held at the rodeo grounds, follows the 5:30p.m.
downtown parade. The barbecue and parade are held only on the first day of the three-night performance Aug. 16-17-18 of the 101 Ranch Rodeo.

Tickets for that first day barbecue are $3.50. According to sponsoring sources, the effort is being made to draw spectators for that first night of the rodeo. A person must have both, a rodeo ticket and a barbecue ticket, to be able to eat at the barbecue.

The financial institutions helping sponsor the barbecue are First National Bank, Pioneer Bank and Trust, Security Bank, American National Bank, and Heartland Federal. Other specific businesses, including grocery stores, will also have tickets available.

The barbecue will be prepared by Head Country Barbecue Restaurant, and includes a barbecue brisket sandwich, pickle spear, potato salad, baked beans and either tea or lemonade.

An added touch to the barbecue will be dessert. The Ponca City Business and Professional Women will be inside the barbecue area selling dessert to those who wish it.

A large eating area under a tent will be set up for the barbecue. The barbecue committee also will provide extra entertainment for the barbecue area. Rodeo clown Gary Parli will be in the barbecue area handing out balloons to the youngsters.

Also available for entertainment will be Indian dancers from the area, performing from 7 to 8 p.m. KPNC-remote, with David Jeffries and Joe Garland, will be playing country-western music during the meal.

Rodeo tickets are available for $4 in advance or $6 at the gate for adults. Children ages 7 to 12 are admitted for $2 to Friday and Saturday events, but are free on Thursday evening. Children 6 and under are admitted at no charge all three evenings.

101 Ranch Rodeo Set For 31st Year This Week

Ponca City salutes its western heritage this week on Aug. 16, 17 and 18, as the 31st edition of the 101 Ranch Rodeo comes alive with performances each evening at 8 p.m. at the rodeo arena at West Prospect and North Ash Street.

Some of the nation's top cowboys and cowgirls will gather in Ponca City for those three nights and attempt to ride into the history and record books in this rich PRCA . sanctioned rodeo event with world champions of the past, present, and future saddling up for nine exciting contests.

In addition, this year's 101 Ranch Rodeo will have its richest purses ever as this longtime Wrangler Series Circuit favorite adds the Coors Chute Out and the Coca-Cola Winners Circle to its growing list of corporate sponsorships.

Directly descended from the cowboy contests that took place on the famous Miller Brothers 101 Ranch southwest of Ponca City years ago, this rodeo has long been a favorite of contestant and spectators alike with its historical connections and wild west spectacle. In addition, the traditions the Miller Brothers began years ago that developed into a touring Wild West Show are still part of the action that will be present plus the rough and tumble part of the rodeo.

Festivities begin with a spectacular rodeo parade along Grand Avenue in downtown Ponca City Thursday at 5:30 p.m., followed by an opportunity for spectators and participants to savor the taste of the old west with a pre-rodeo barbecue sponsored by area financial institutions. Thursday night's rodeo action kicks off with Family Night featuring free admission for all children under the age of 13.

Additional performances of the 101 Ranch Rodeo continue Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with tickets available at the gate for $6, or in advance from area banks and merchants for $4.

Mayor Proclaims '101 Rodeo Week'

Mayor Balcer has proclaimed the week of Aug. 12-18 "101 Ranch Rodeo Week" and urges all citizens and business merchants and owners to participate during the week by wearing western wear, attending the parade and three-day rodeo.

The parade as a kickoff for the 101 Ranch Rodeo will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the first night of the three-day rodeo. The rodeo will be held at the 101 Ranch Rodeo arena, West Prospect and North Ash, at 8 p.m. Aug. 16-17-18.

"The 101 Ranch Rodeo is of tremendous historical and cultural significance to our community. The 101 Ranch Rodeo has a major positive economic impact on our community, and its success is critical to increasing the number of visitors and tourists coming to our area," Mayor Balcer said.

He said the 101 Ranch Rodeo, being-sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, attracts world-class professional athletes to compete.
Also, the efforts of the 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation, the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ponca City are to make the 101 Ranch Rodeo as one of the top rodeo attractions in the nation.

"I encourage everyone in Ponca City to invite their out-of-town friends, relatives and acquaintances to come and enjoy the rodeo on Aug. 16-17-18," Mayor Balcer said.

NFR Champs Set For 101 Ranch Rodeo

Two of the National Finals Rodeo 1989 champions are scheduled to appear in their events during the 101 Ranch Rodeo here in this week.

The rodeo gets under way at8 p.m. Thursday for a three-night stand.

The competition will be tough for the two 1989 champions as they attempt to take 101 Ranch Rodeo prizes, with two present-day leaders of World Standings heading to the NFR '90 also making appearances.

And that's not all. The 1989 final Prairie Circuit standings of the Women's Pro Rodeo' Association shows another top rider heading to the 101 Ranch Rodeo to compete, and she's still in high school.

Put that together with a kickoff parade from Union Street east along Grand Avenue starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, and a cowboy style barbecue for the whole family from 6 to 8 p.m. at the rodeo arena followed by first night of the rodeo indicates a fun-packed beginning.

The entry list of the 101 Ranch Rodeo shows a number of the leaders throughout every event listed in the top 15 of the World Standings. Those cowboys and cowgirls are heading for a showdown at the National Finals Rodeo 1990 in Las Vegas, Nev., if they continue to stay in that group.

Spirited efforts have already taken place with the appearance of the Dewey Kelly Trail Ride through Ponca City early Tuesday afternoon en route to the rodeo grounds. Riders included the Ponca City Trailblazers Saddle Club and the Marland Roundup Club, plus others from several surrounding towns and clubs.

They headed north into Ponca City at 9 a.m. from the Salt Fork River just south of the Kay-Noble County line along U.S. 177, arriving an hour earlier than expected. They took Seventh Street to Grand Avenue instead of Fourth Street as earlier indicated because of the grates along Fourth near Circle Drive. It took almost two hours for the trail riders, with police escort, to get the final five miles through Ponca City to the 101 Ranch Rodeo arena.

The two 1989 world champions heading this way are Rabe Rabon of San Antonio, Fla., calf roping champion with $89,301 to his credit a year ago and "Tuff" Hedeman, bull riding champion of Bowie, Texas, who garnered $122,765 en route to his title.

Rabon is scheduled for Friday night, along with nine other contestants, including Herbert P. Theriot of Wiggins, Miss., currently sixth in the World Standings. He will also appear Friday.

They'll have tough competition from the likes of a present-day leader, Fred Whitfield, Cypress, Texas, who stands atop the most recent World Standings and scheduled for a second session of Thursday night ropers. Also included in that group will be Chris Lybbert of Argyle, Texas, who stands tenth, and Hank Hainzinger of Ponca City, who was a strong finisher for rookie of the year honors a year ago.

Hedeman is presently sixth among the World Standings and is scheduled for the 101 Ranch Rodeo on Friday. He'll have tough competition from a number of Oklahoma and Texas hopefuls, plus others that have shown top finishes last year and are heading there this year. They include Raymond Wessel, Wichita; Beaver Jernigan, Dripping Springs, Texas; and Stu Sellars, Minneola, Fla. Jernigan has appeared recently in the World Standings.

Lybbert will also appear Friday in the steer wrestling competition. Lybbert is among the all-around listings heading for the NFR '90, so every prize he picks up counts a long way. Also doing well so ,far this season are other 101 Ranch Rodeo steer wrestlers, including Tom Duvall, Henryetta, and Roy Duvall, Checotah, as well as current World Standings leader Ote Berry of Checotah. They will appear Thursday.

Additional top performers in the steer wrestling include Coty Battles, Stringtown, Okla.; Ricky Huddleston, Talihina, and Mike Sanders, Ada — all appearing Saturday. Battles is one of the top 15 in the World Standings.

Not to be outdone, are saddle bronc riders, including Derek Clark of Colcord, Okla., and Jeff Switzer, San Luis Obispo, Calif., who appear Thursday, and Robert Etbauer and Dan Etbauer, both of Goodwell, plus Gary McDaniel, Tensleep, Wyo., for Friday. Both Etbauers, Switzer and Clark are among those in the World Standings and heading for the NBR '90.

Team roping hopefuls include some of the top cowboys, in Steve Northcott of Odessa, Texas, and Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla., as a team; Monty Joe Petska of Carlsbad, N.M., and Tee Woolman, Llano, Texas have a team which runs Thursday. Tyler Magnus of College Station, Texas and his partner Bobby Simmons of Eastland, Texas will be on the Friday listing.

Bareback bronc riders that are t the top include D.J. Johnson of Hutchinson, a Prairie Circuit champion a year ago; Bruce Ford of Kersey, Colo., both for Friday, and R.C. Patterson, of Kim, Colo., on Saturday. Ford is among the top 15 in the current World Standings.

High schooler Kim West of Oklahoma City, who headed the 1989 final Prairie Circuit standings and Colette Baier, of Hardtner, Kan., her closest competitor, will both appear in the girls barrel racing on Thursday. Some others include Mary Beth Durfey of Logan, Okla., and Vana Beissinger, Lake Worth, Fla., among Saturday performers.

All of the riding and timed event competition will have a tough time on stock from Hall of Famer Walt Alsbaugh, who is once again producing the 101Ranch Rodeo. Alsbaugh was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs Saturday.

Alsbaugh Rodeo stock has been selected for every National Finals Rodeo but one since the first NFR in 1959. Alsbaugh, 71, contracts stock to about 60 rodeos a year, including PRCA, high school, college and all-Indian rodeos. Alsbaugh of Arlington, Ariz., at one time competed in every event except bareback riding.

101 Ranch Rodeo Starts Three-Day Run Tonight
Put on those boots, western shirts and bluejeans (or whatever color they are) in preparation for the opening today of the three-night performance of the 101 Ranch Rodeo.

A western parade begins at 5: 30 p.m. from Union Street heading east on Grand Avenue to kickoff the rodeo festivities. Parade Marshal is Col. Mike Sokoll and Parade Chairman Johnny Heinze expects a large number of entries.

Immediately following the parade, a family-type, western  style barbecue will be held at the northwest corner of the 101 Ranch Rodeo Arena grounds between 6 and 8 p.m.

Then it's time for the Grand Entry, signaling the start of the Walt Alsbaugh-produced 101 Ranch Rodeo. Opening events and order each night will be bareback bronc riding, calf-roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, buffalo races with celebrity chute pullers, team roping, a specialty act, girl barrel racers and bull riding.

Gary Davis, heading up the 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation said the only deviation from that schedule will be on Saturday night, when the 101 Ranch Rodeo queen coronation will be held right after the first, event, the bareback bronc riding.

Following the rodeo Friday and Saturday nights, a rodeo dance will be held at the arena grounds.

NFR Champion Thrills 101 Ranch Rodeo Fans

National Finals Rodeo 1989 bull riding champion Tuff Hedeman certainly didn't let the 101 Ranch Rodeo fans down in the final event of the Friday night performance. And little 11-year-old Felicia Otis became a crowd-pleaser as well.

The three-night 101 Ranch Rodeo ended Saturday night, drawing to a close a spectacle of high-ranking cowboys and cowgirls, much to the delight of Ponca City and area rodeo fans and the credit of the 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation headed by Gary Davis, president.

Hedeman, 1989 bull riding champion from Bowie, Texas, and currently fourth on the money list heading for the 1990 NFR, thrilled the crowd on one of stock contractor Walt Alsbaugh's toughest bulls Friday. A quick turn to the left, a leap of all four hoofs off the ground three times and a turn to the right kept Hedeman busy matching the bump I and grind. Then, after the eight-second whistle, Hedeman stayed on for a couple more pounding leaps, before taking to the ground obviously exhausted. The resulting score of 81 was four points better than Scott Wilkins winning time Thursday.

The crowd had really come to life on the final contestant of the girls barrel  racing. It was little 11-year-old Felicia Otis of Blanchard and she rode to the cheers of the crowd to the second best time Friday at 17.45, just five-hundredths of a second off the Friday pace.

But the cowgirls were unable to match the top two on Thursday. Kim West, a high schooler from Oklahoma City had a 17.09 and Colette Baier of Hardtner, Kan., had a 17.18. Both are high on the money list for barrel racing.

The top two Friday, ahead of that 11-year-old, were Shandi Metzinger of Dexter, Kan., and Phyllis Walls of Harrah, both at 17.40.

A new leader in the bareback bronc riding Friday came from the effort of Vernon Gardner, Hartford, Kan., with a 78. That surpassed the Thursday best of 73 by Kent Crouch of Laveta. Brian Rice of Choctaw had a 72 on Friday, pushing Tulsan Steve Abernathy's 71 down to fourth before Saturday. Hyde Kramer of Gordon, Neb., had a 70 on Friday.

Anxious moments for everybody came early Friday when bareback rider Bryan Shave of Yukon wasn't able to get his steed out of the chute, and the horse fell on its side at the gate. Participants and arena help were on the scene immediately, calmed the horse, and Shave was freed within seconds. And the steed rose up and trotted away too, without apparent injury. Shave was given a chance for a re-ride later in the rodeo, but was unable to score.

Chris Lybbert's Thursday time of 9.9 withstood the Friday calf ropers, and. Morris Ledford of Comanche stayed in second place with an 11.3, behind the Argyle, Texas, roper. However, Friday proved a big night for Edmond veterinarian Dr. Terrell R. Phillips who had 11.6.

Disappointment always comes in losses at sporting events-, and calf roper Rabe Rabon of Doole, Texas, 1989 NFR calf-roping champion found that out Friday. After a quick catch, the calf's refusal to get up forced Rabon to take extra time and he finished with a 14.2, well off the pace.

Stan Mauldin of Wetumka had a 6.9 in steer wrestling, closing out that event Friday night with the best time — but well back of Thursday leaders. Others were going to be hard-pressed to better the 4.5 of Ote Berry, Checotah and leading money winner towards the NFR 1990 as of Aug. 12. Joel Edmondson of Eureka had 4.6 Thursday and Roy Duvall of Checotah had 6.6.

The two 75s in saddle bronc riding turned in Thursday by Clay Jowers of St. Cloud, Fla., and Bryan Wright of Weatherford escaped opportunities by riders on Friday. Mike Galpin of Lincoln, Neb., turned in the top ride of 72 on Friday, and that left him in fourth place behind Derek Clark of Colcord, who had a 73 on Thursday.

Only one team roping pair was able to please the crowd with their efforts, as Steve Childers of Cushing and Dee Roberts of Noble did it in 8.9 seconds. Six other teams took no time. The 8.9 puts Childers-Roberts in second behind Steve Northcutt of Odessa, Texas, and Charles Pogue of Ringling, who had 6.6 Thursday. Scott LaClef of El Dorado, Kan., and Barney Kelly of Leon, Kan., were bumped from the second spot by Childers-Roberts. LaClef and Kelly had a ,9.3 on Thursday.

Arena Men Prove There's More To Rodeo Than Ridin' and Ropin'
Fans at the 101 Ranch Rodeo tonight and the next two nights besides watching their favorite cowboys being bucked from horses and bulls will also be seeing some professional escape artists at work.

They won't be tied up and make like Houdini, but they'll be keeping those bulls and horses from doing further damage to the cowboys pride.

The 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation' has contracted with two bullfighters, Scott Paulsen and Lefty Graves, along with barrelman Gary Parli, to do that type of work.

What rodeo fans will see will be Parli, as a comedian, filling in the lulls and entertaining the crowd. "My job (as barrelman and comedian) will be to joke around when the stock help has trouble getting a bull or bucking bronc ready for competition," Parli said.

The Morrison-based Parli, who is an insurance agent when not rodeoing, has worked with Paulsen and Graves "probably ten different rodeos this year."

Paulsen, from Ontario, Ore., will be working right after having broken some ribs less than ten days ago. "It's one of those things, that we just tape up and get right back into action" Paulsen said.

He didn't talk lightly of the injuries that are suffered in the rodeo arena however. Paulsen missed from the early part of August, "when I was supposed to be here", to January last season after being gored in the leg by a bull's horn. "It could have been worse," Paulsen said.

"Our definition of injuries isn't what most people might think. Sure, we see the doctors, and I'll visit a chiropractor here this week, but we have an idea on what our limitations are." Paulsen said.

"Lefty" Graves from Seneca, Mo., said that his nickname didn't come from rodeoing. "When I was a pee wee baseball player, Mom bought me a ball glove. It wouldn't go on the right hand. She didn't realize I needed one for the right hand because I threw with my left hand. I had to use that thing by turning it around somehow, or dropping if off my hand and then throw the ball," Graves said.

The mental state bullfighters and barrelmen get themselves into is different than a lot of jobs. "I'm thinking about what to do all the time, even while I'm sitting down," Paulsen said.

He said for the most part, the preparations include makeup and special padding. "There's not any real special padding for bullfighters, it's just what they feel comfortable with. I use some karate shin pads, motocross chest pads and I'll have some type of protection from head to foot. Except for my face, and the best I can do there is to put some makeup on," Paulsen said.

Rodeo is not the only thing that Paulsen, Graves and Parli have to fall back on. Each in some means, can go back to the ranches that are part of their family life, and each has higher education than high school.

Paulsen has a law enforcement degree, "But I've not taken time to go into any of it yet. I mainly go back to the family ranch so far, when I'm not rodeoing."

Graves is a funeral director. He too can go back to ranch-type activities in southwest Missouri.

Parli however has been through a lot of different education situations, including teaching at Caney and Labette County Community College in Parsons, Kan., before realizing that "I can make better money selling insurance and working out of an insurance agency."

Parli was sporting a National Finals Rodeo belt buckle, one that both Paulsen and Graves have their eyes set on. "I'd like to have that type of opportunity," Paulsen said.

Besides being the barrelman, Parli will be providing some type of show in between events. He has a 1926-something, resembling a car. "One like it has been all over the country," Parli said.

So there's more to rodeoing than riding and roping and Parli, Paulsen and Graves will be out there in the arena Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the 101 Ranch Rodeo to prove just that to the rodeo fans.

Cowboys, Cowgirls Whoop It Up At Rodeo

Two defending 1989 National Finals Rodeo champions are scheduled to make their appearances at the 101 Ranch Rodeo Arena tonight but will be hard-pressed in their specialties after opening night performances put on quite a show for the nearly 4,000 rodeo fans in attendance.

Rabe Rabon of Doole, Texas, who hails from San Antonio, Fla., is scheduled to be here for the calf roping event — in which two sections were run off Thursday. Rabon will be out to better the single-digit performance of Chris Lybbert, Argyle, Texas, who appeared in the slack section following the bull riding Thursday. Lybbert had a 9.9, and is scheduled for a performance tonight in steer wrestling.

Tuff Hedeman of Bowie, Texas, defending NFR bull riding champion, will be looking at bettering a Thursday score of 77 turned in by the first rider out of the chutes, Scott Wilkins of Houston.

The rodeo offers two more nights, including tonight and Saturday, with both performances beginning at 8 p.m. There'll be a rodeo dance under the "big tent" on the rodeo grounds, featuring Good Ole Boys, following the rodeo.

"I think it is one of the best' first night performances we've had since I've been associated with the rodeo," Gary Davis, president of the 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation, said. He indicated somebody made a count of 3,881 in attendance, "and that figure maybe short or long, but we had a really good attendance tonight."

And the fans were treated to some outstanding performances during the entire program. And a few I stayed over for a slack calf-roping group that provided the best time in that event, after the bull riding performances that had signaled the end of the night's events. There are no slack sections scheduled however for the next two nights.

During that slack performance, Lybbert took the lead with his 9.9, but three others bettered or equaled the best in the opening performance of the rodeo. Morris Ledford of Comanche had 11.3; Justin Lankford of Oklahoma City had 12.0 and Randy Hay of Lindsay had 13.0. David Lawson of Blanchard saw his 9.7 inflate to 19.7 when it was determined he broke the rope barrier.

Earlier in the evening, Travis Smalts had finished off the calf roping with a 13.0 that had put him in the lead. Smalts, of Keyes, had bettered a Ponca City roper Keith McCubbin, who had 15.5 and Jim Brown of Wichita at 16.7. Hank  Hainzinger of Ponca City, a rookie of the year candidate on the circuit last year, turned in a 13.1 in the first of the slack performers.

Lybbert heads a field of 12 prospective steer wrestlers tonight, but they'll all have to go some to better the final four performers of Thursday. Tom Duvall of Henryetta had an 8.2 and then Roy Duvall, still of Checotah, bettered that at 6.6. But it still wasn't good enough when Joel Edmondson of Eureka took to the task, and wrestled his steer to the arena floor in 4.6. And the next performer, present World Standings money leader, Ote Berry of Checotah, fashioned a 4.5.

Bareback bronc riders opened the rodeo program, and the crowd settied back to some top performances, when Kent Crouch of Laveta, Colo., had a 73. Three others remained on their steeds long enough to get scores, including Steve Abernathy, Tulsa, 71; Milburn Outhier, Weatherford, 69 and Tom Welty of Leedey, 68.

Tonight's entries include Bruce Ford of Kersey, Colo., in the top 15 of the Aug. 12 World Standings.

There's a two-way tie at the top of the saddle bronc riders following  Thursdays event. Bryan  Wright of Weatherford and Clay Jowers of St. Cloud, Fla., each had a 75, while Derek Clark of Colcord had a 73. They'll be tough to beat, but some top performers tonight include Robert and Dan Etbauer, both of  Goodwell; Paul Peterson of Guymon and Gary McDaniel of Tensleep, Wyo.

There were some exciting efforts in the team roping, but a 6.6 could be awfully tough on the competitors tonight and Saturday. That 6.6 was turned in twice Thursday, however only one stood up before the arena judges. The team of Steve Northcott, Odessa, Texas and Charles Pogue of Ringling, Okla., had the 6.6. And then Monty Petska of Carlsbad and Tee Woolman of Llano, Texas, had a 6.6 erased into a 16.6 as the rope barrier caught them speeding, as announced by the rodeo announcer Wayne Wyse.

The girls barrel racing riders may have to break the 17-second barrier as they take on those three barrels in the arena floor tonight and Saturday. That's because Kim West of Oklahoma City and Colette Baier of Hardtner maintained their pace of leading money winners on the circuit. West had a 17.09 and Baier had 17.18. Right behind were Mardee Hollenbeck of Pratt, Kan.,  17.56 and Wanda Adams, of Plains, Kan., 17.65.

Other bull riding efforts following the lead of Wilkins, include a pair of 71s, turned in by Mike Vohs of Bucyrus, Kan., and J. Paul Ganzel, Claremore. Also showing off with some good scores were Bobby DelVecchio, Weatherford, 68; Don Gross, Welch, 67; and David Berry, Locust Grove, 65.

Besides Hedeman scheduled for tonight, Saturdays performers include Beaver Jernigan, Dripping Springs, Texas, and Stu Sellars, Minneola, Fla., both in the top 15 at times this season.

Making it possible for the riders and ropers to have those good times were the Alsbaugh Rodeo stock contractors. Walt Alsbaugh was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Saturday.

Making their appearances after the Grand Entry and continuing to look for the 1990 101 Ranch Rodeo Queen crown were seven contestants. They included Heidi Kristine Ahrens, Collinsville; Sheena Barnes, Siloam Springs, Ark.;
Becki Michelle Boechman, Okeene; Staci Greenwood, Ponca City; April Hutson, Ponca City; Trudi L. Heimick, Claremore; and Debra Patton, Sayre.

Rodeo fans will find out who will be the 1990 101 Ranch Rodeo Queen at coronation time following the calf roping event on Saturday night.

Additional fun came from the specialty act of Gary Parli in "01' Nellie T" and his bullfighting associates, Lefty Graves and Scott Paulsen. And the buffalo races were enjoyable between the steer wrestling and team roping events. There were some key Ponca City officials pulling the chutes for the buffalo riders.

Additional entertainment came from the Ponca City Wildcats Cowboy Rodeo Band, under the direction of Steve Workman.

Final Ride Was Best For 101 Rodeo Fans

The final scored ride may have been worth the wait for 101 Ranch Rodeo fans here Saturday night when Mark Boor of Medicine Lodge became the only Saturday contestant to overcome earlier scores or times of the three-night performances.

Boor did it by dislodging the 1989 National Finals Rodeo bull riding champion Tuff Hedeman from his "101" lead ridden on Friday. Boor had an 84 compared to Hedeman's posted 81 to claim the top payoff for bull riders, $960.30. Runner-up Hedeman settled for $746.90.

The 101 Ranch Rodeo completed the three-night stand to over 5,000 rodeo fans that came through the gates on what was the tail end of a rather stormy afternoon. Rain left the arena floor watery in spots and very muddy elsewhere. It made for slower times in all of the timed events, and possibly lower scores in the riding events except for that final ride.

And the youngest of seven queen candidates became the 1990 101 Ranch Rodeo Queen. Sheena Barnes, 15, a high schooler from Siloam Springs, Ark., claimed the title.

Ponca City's Teresa Avery became the darling for the local rodeo fans however in the girls barrel racing. The first two nights of competition had produced much faster times of the clover-leaf event, including 11 sub-18 second rides. But Teresa A very, who heard several earlier Saturday riders post 18second plus rides, got a 17.80 and that got her tenth place in the event. It was worth the final spot of money winning efforts for barrel racers, as ten spots paid off compared to the six in each of the six cowboy events.

Higher prizes were also noted with the Coors Chute-Out providing' extra money this year. That accounted for most of the reason for nearly all of the entries to show up for the Art Alsbaugh produced rodeo.

And the more than 5,000 that braved threatening skies that"l turned sunny right at Grand Entry time boosted the three night total oj above the 13,000 mark. "That's the' best we've done in a while," Gary. Davis, 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation president said.

Winning the calf roping was Chris Lybbert, Argyle, Texas, who made his 9.9 Thursday stand up for $998.61 first place money. That came from a total payoff of $3,443.50 from 41 calf roping entries.

In the steer wrestling, Ote Berry, Checotah, and leading money winner for the 1990 NFR, took $900.16 home on a 4.5 time Thursday night. That came from the $3,104 as a result of 36 entries.

Team ropers Steve Northcutt, Odessa and Charles Pogue of Ringling maintained a Thursday time of 6.6 to get $1,037.90 each as a result of the 38 teams entering that produced over $5,100 in prize money.

Friday's leader, Vernon Gardner of Hartford; Kan., with a corrected, score of 80 took first in the bareback entries. He got $946.32 from the total I purse of $2,628.70 on 30 entries. The saddle bronc title was divided between the two Thursday leaders, Bryan Wright of Weatherford and Clay Jowers of St. Cloud, Fla., each with a 75. That gave each rider $853.60 for their efforts on the total purse of $2,667.50 from 34 entries.