1992

RODEO DATES: August 20th, 21st, & 22nd

Rodeo Reaps Benefits From Volunteers

"We're very proud of that, but we can't just sit back and enjoy it," arena chairman Rick Barnthouse of the foundation said recently.

That's just what it took to spur the foundation into quite a task in the past 11 months, actually nine since the announcement of the award. The entire arena has benefited from the work of the foundation volunteers, and many other persons wishing to show off even a better arena when the first Grand Entry of the 1992 101 Ranch Rodeo is brought through the gates by the Rumford Rodeo Company this Aug. 20.

"It takes a lot of work. A lot of people in town with their support and money help but the really good feeling is to find out that a number of the foundation members and volunteers get out to do a lot of work," Barnthouse said.

That work consists of new park appearance entrances to the bleachers for the rodeo fans. Plantings of trees and shrubs have given the appearance of a special attraction in town. And there have been new boards replacing some of the more worn bleacher seats.

But what really took a new look through the work of several persons were the stock pens and the catch pens. "We've had people working a lot of hours to get the old posts pulled and new ones set, in preparation for a lot of welding that has been done. By the time the painting is completed, the rodeo producers, the cowboys and the fans will be able to tell that we're not sitting back and resting on what was accomplished a year ago," Barnthouse said.

He said he was quite surprised at the time of the presentation. Barnthouse had competed in the first day of the Prairie Circuit finals, only to break an arm . He returned to the Ponca City area, and then was telephoned that he had to make an appearance at the circuit banquet a couple of days later. '"What for? I said," Barnthouse, related. "I was told that I just needed to be there, in person."

So, with arm still quite painful, Barnthouse returned to the Lazy E Arena for the banquet, took part, and to his surprise was presented the plaque that designated the Ponca City rodeo as the best in the circuit.

"That was really a great feeling. There were a lot of other people that could have been at the banquet to accept it. And there were a lot of other rodeos, Dodge City for instance, that are and have been quite good. We jumped in there with a lot of pride, and we need to keep that pride," Barnthouse said.

"What I'd like to see is to re-educate the people of Ponca City about the 101 Ranch. There's not that many people who really know what the 101 Ranch is all about," Barnthouse said.

He said too that the foundation volunteers, just like any volunteer, owes a lot to their employers. "I just enjoy doing the work. The appreciation that I have for volunteering goes to the employers of volunteers.

Ponca City has a great town for having employers that want their employee and encourage their employee to become volunteers. Working volunteers like the ones on the foundation are really hard to find sometimes," Barnthouse said.

He reminded that the foundation realizes the 101 Ranch Rodeo is not a three-day event. "It's all year long. We have to start planning right after the rodeo for the next year, begin making calls to arrange for the rodeo during the winter months, and then it's time to spruce up the arena," Barnthouse said.

And the 101 Ranch Rodeo arena received more than just a sprucing up in the past five or six months. It has been a regular overhaul job. But it will be ready for that first Grand Entry and that's what the 101 Ranch Rodeo foundation is all about.

History of 101 Ranch Coloring Contest Set

The history of the 101 Ranch will come alive later this month, thanks to Ponca City's financial institutions.

First National Bank, Heartland Federal, Pioneer Bank and Security Bank are supporting the rodeo this year by sponsoring a coloring contest for children in the first through sixth grades in Ponca City public schools.

During the week of Aug. 17th the financial institutions will take into the grade schools in Ponca City a short history of the 101 Ranch. A rodeo cowboy will talk on the sport of rodeo and a rodeo clown will entertain the students.

Students will then be given the opportunity to color a poster which will be judged in three age categories. The three categories are first and second grades, third and fourth grades, and the fifth and sixth grades. Three awards will be given to each age category and they will include a $100 Savings Bond for first, $50 Savings Bond for second prize and a coin set for the third place award.

Winners of the coloring contest will be announced at the Thursday evening 101 Ranch Rodeo performance.

Louise Abercrombie To Be Parade Marshal

Louise Abercrombie business editor and feature writer m for The Ponca City News, will serve as marshal for the 101 Ranch Rodeo Parade set for Aug. 22 in downtown Ponca City, in conjunction with the 33rd annual rodeo Aug. 20-22.

The parade will begin at 2 p.m. at Oak and Grand Avenue and proceed east on Grand Avenue to Seventh Street, according to Johnny Heinze, parade chairman.

Abercrombie is an active supporter of rodeo as well as many other events in Ponca City and surrounding area, according to Heinze. In 1982 she was be the recipient of the Ponca City at Area Chamber of Commerce's  Outstanding Citizen Award — the first woman to be so honored.

When asked to be parade marshal, Abercrombie said, "I would be delighted and consider it a privilege to act as marshal for this event with such an outstanding heritage."

"We have received a large number of parade entries, but anyone wishing to participate in the parade is still cordially invited to enter," Heinze said.

Persons having a horse, buggy, wagon, antique or classic car as well as floats and walking units are encouraged and invited to enter. He added that trophies will be awarded in various categories.

Heinze asked that everyone be in position in the staging area at Oak and Grand Avenue by 1:30 p.m. on parade day.

Anyone with questions should call the rodeo office at 765-2980 or Heinze.

Attractions Added To Ranch Rodeo

Additional activates are being made available for persons attending the 101 Ranch Rodeo to be held at the rodeo arena on West Prospect Avenue and Ash Street Aug. 20-22. Performances each night begin at 8 p.m.

The rodeo is, in part, sponsored by Coca Cola, Skoal and Coors, and draws major professional cowboys from the Prairie Circuit. Last year's event was voted "Best Rodeo of the Year" by the cowboys who participated in the rodeos of the circuit.

An added benefit to spectators this year will be drawings on the nights of Aug. 21 and Aug. 22 for tickets, airfare and hotel accommodations for two to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. To qualify for the drawing persons can get entry forms from any merchant selling Coors or inside 12 and 24 packs. Inside select 12 and 24 packs are free tickets to the 101 Ranch Rodeo, but there will also be random drawings for the tickets, according to Loretta Leathers, Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The rodeo will kick off on Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. with a barbecue sponsored by Head Country. Advance gate and dinner tickets at a discount may be purchased from the Chamber of Commerce or local financial institutions. Children under 12 will be admitted at the gate free on Thursday night of the three-day rodeo.

The rodeo parade in downtown Ponca City will be held Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. and a dance immediately follows the rodeo on Friday and Saturday nights, to the western music of Dale Christenson and Prairie Fire.

101 Ranch Rodeo Parade 'Shaping Up' For Saturday

The 101 Ranch Rodeo is just around the corner. In conjunction with the rodeo, which is slated for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, is the downtown parade scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m.

The parade will start at Oak and ) Grand Avenue and proceed on Grand Avenue to Seventh Street, where it will disperse.

Participants are requested to be in the staging area by 1:30 p.m. Antique cars and trucks and other motorized vehicles, non-political, will line up starting at Osage and Grand.

Political candidates, cars and floats are being asked to go as a group starting at Palm Street. All roundup clubs, horse-drawn wagons and unattached riders will unload at West Junior High School and follow the motorized vehicles.

The color guard, in honor of the 1992 "Year of the Indian" will be the Indian American Legion Post.

The parade marshal for the 1992 101 Ranch Rodeo Parade is Louise  Abercrombie, who will lead the parade. "We will have several celebrities in our parade this year," according to Johnny Heinze, parade chairman. "Aside from Mrs. Abercrombie, Mayor Marilyn Andrews will be making her debut as mayor of Ponca City in the rodeo parade. Other celebrities include Stacy Talbott and the reigning Miss 101 Ranch Rodeo and Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Heidi Ahrens.

Several Shrine units are scheduled to be entered. This always provides a lot of fun, watching the antics of the Shriners, according to Heinze. The Po Hi  Steppers and Cheerleaders will be in the parade also.

"This is shaping up to be a nice parade," Heinze said. "There is still time to enter if you want to be a part of celebrating the great heritage we have in the 101 Ranch."

Trophies will be awarded in various categories. Anyone with questions may call the rodeo office 765-2980 or Heinze 765-6126 or 362-2565.

National Rodeo Champions To Take Part In 101 Ranch Rodeo

Three 1991 National Finals Rodeo roping champions and another that has ridden to fame without the rope will be part of the 101 Ranch Rodeo as it unfolds here Thursday.

All are entered in the timed events of the Rumford Rodeo Company produced 101 Ranch Rodeo that will be in Ponca City at the arena located off Prospect Avenue and North Ash Street. Three performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. each night, but a special slack performance will be held Saturday morning. In addition to that, there are slack performances that will be held following the regular rodeo events on Thursday night.

Making appearances during the three-day event are Fred Whitfield, calf roping champion, Guy Allen, steer roping champion, Tee Woolman, team roping champion, and "Ote" Berry, champion steer wrestler.

Whitfield is ticketed to be in the late performances on Thursday, while Berry and Woolman will appear in their specialties on Friday night, and Allen has a Saturday morning appearance set.

Rodeo insiders knew in 1990 that Whitfield was a roper to watch. And he didn't disappoint them. The Cypress, Texas, cowboy was that year's Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rookie of the year.

A year later, Whitfield marked another goal as completed when he won his first world title.

"I've had dreams of becoming the world champion," he said. "I think you've got to expect to become a world champion in order to become one. And that goes for anything you do."

Along the way to the title, Whitfield knocked down a couple of records. His 91.7 seconds in 10 calves at the National Finals Rodeo shattered the former NFR record of 102.6 seconds on ten head, and his $70,609 in Finals earnings pounded the previous mark of $52,889.

"I'd like to do it again — time and time again," Whitfield said. "Winning the average is a big boost. Tying ten calves faster than they've ever been tied before is a great feeling, too.

"I'm the first black guy to ever win the world in the calf roping, so that means a lot to me, too," he continued. "It's a great, unbelievable reeling. It all means a lot, but I don't think any of it means as much as the gold buckle. I'm going to wear it with pride."

Whitfield says determination is he key for any young calf roper.

"When I was 16, I roped against he best guys," he said. "I just kept going, kept trying, kept roping. I've dedicated most of my life to roping calves." He said he still admires many of his contemporaries. "When I was growing up, I looked — up to a lot of guys. I'd say Roy Cooper has probably been the biggest influence on my roping career so far. There  were days when I said, 'God, I wish I could rope like  or Roy Cooper," Whitfield said.

Whitfield said his 1991 season ran hot and cold — but mostly hot.

"I started out hot and won a bunch at the buildings (the indoor winter rodeos). Then I went through a spell last summer where I didn't win very much," he said. "In fact, from the Fourth of July until Aug. 19, I didn't win a dime. Then I loaded up and in about two months I put $15,000 together. I went to ten rodeos and placed at all but one."

And luckily for Whitfield, he got hot at one more rodeo in 1991 — the one that counted the most.

Check professional rodeo's record books and you'll notice one name featured more prominently than any other in the steer roping section: Guy Allen.

In 1991, the Vinita, Okla., roper added another line to his already lengthy list of accomplishments when he won his sixth world title. The latest championship ties the late Everett Shaw's record, which has stood for nearly three decades.

Additionally, Allen holds records for highest annual steer roping earnings ($46,132 in 1991), fastest single-steer roping time ever (8.4 seconds at the 1991 Beef Empire Days PRCA Rodeo in Garden City, Kan.), and quickest time on 10 steers at the National Finals Steer Roping (144.2 seconds in 1989).

In 1977, he became the youngest steer roping champion ever at age 19. And in 1983, he and his brother, Gip, and father, James, became the only trio of family members yet to compete at an NFSR in the same year.

Allen says he owes much of the credit for his record-breaking success to champions who preceded him.

"I think the guys I looked up to had something to do with it," he said.

"There was my dad, Sonny Davis, Walter Arnold, Tuffy Thompson, Charles Good and some others."

They taught him more than how to rope. Allen said.

"I admired them for what they had accomplished and what kind of people they were. They were friends back then and they still are," he said. "I know that championships aren't what make you good. What makes you good is doing the best you can."

Allen's 1991 title wasn't locked un- til the last round of the 1991 steer roping finals. Also in the running until the end were two-time champion Shaun Burchett of Pryor, Okla.; Tee Woolman of Llano, Texas; and Bob Harris of Gillette, Wyo.

"I'd like to have gone in without anyone else having a chance to catch me, but you can't always do that," Allen said. "This was exciting because at the end, all of the top- ranked guys were still right there. I'm just glad I did it, because winning six had been a dream."

As a team, Tee Woolman and Bob Harris had just about done it all. For the 101 Ranch Rodeo, Woolman will team rope with Rich Skelton of Electra, Texas.

Woolman and Harris held team roping records for the fastest time in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association history and for the quickest time in 10 steers at the National Finals Rodeo.

What they didn't have, however, was a world title — until 1991.

In a race that went down to the final round of the National Finals Rodeo, Woolman and Harris finally claimed the coveted prize.

"This is the greatest feeling in the world," said Harris, the younger of the pair. "I've won about every (rodeo) title and climbed up about every stepping stone. Now I finally won a championship."

The 1991 title was the first for Harris. It was the third for Woolman, who previously claimed the championship in 1980 and 1982.

Woolman and Harris stayed near the top of the standings most of the year, and set their sights on the title from the first day of the season.

"Last year, we won the average at the Finals and Bobby said we'd be back for a gold buckle," Woolman said. "That was our goal all year."

In an event where breakups are common, Harris and Woolman indicate no plans to part company.

"It's hard to split up the winning team," Harris said. "We rope good with each other. We're good for each other.

"We hold the world record, we hold the NFR record and now we have the world championship together. That's something I can be proud of when I'm done."

Berry, who is from Cherokee, Okla., took his second title in two years. He has won the steer wrestling three times in the past nine years, the other being in 1985.

Berry likes to think, "There's a lot more in Ote Berry. I think there should have been three more be- sides the three I have. I feel I let myself down in '86, '87, '88 and '90.1 don't think I was tough mentally like I prepared myself these last two years."

After riding Bill and Sam Duvall's horses all year in 1985, and riding Roy Duvall's horse prior to it dying, Berry turned to his own horse, nicknamed App because it is a registered Appaloosa.

Berry got hot at that time and won $21,000 in one month en route to the NFR.

Berry is preparing for life after rodeo, but he isn't ready to retire to the front porch just yet.

It's Rodeo Time!   101 Ranch Rodeo Starts Tonight

Two 1991 National Finals Rodeo champions are scheduled to appear at the 101 Ranch Rodeo opening here tonight.

The rodeo, produced by the Rumford Rodeo Company of Abbyville, Kan., under the direction of the 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation, begins a three-night stand.

Kicking off the program tonight will be a barbecue at 6 p.m. at the 101 Ranch Rodeo arena, located at North Ash Street and West Prospect Avenue. The evening has also been designated family night, with tickets for adults $4.50 at the gate, $2.50 for children, but youngsters 12 and under free.

The rodeo parade will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in downtown Ponca City, running from west to east on Grand Avenue, from Oak Street to Seventh Street.

Fred Whitfield, of Cypress, Texas, who won the calf roping championship in Las Vegas a year ago, is scheduled to show his stuff during the slack performances after the main rodeo tonight. Whit-field is currently No. 1 on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association leading money winners, with less than a $500 edge over Cliff Williamson of Canada. Whitfield has $51,174 to date in 1992.

Another 1991 champion to appear tonight will be Tee Woolman of Llano, Texas. However, Woolman will not be in his specialty, team roping. He'll get into that act on Friday, with a new partner Rich Skelton of Electra, Texas, but won the team roping championship with Bob Harris of Gillette, Wyo. Woolman will participate in the steer roping tonight.

There are two of the top five barrel racing money leaders scheduled for the 101 Ranch Rodeo arena tonight. They are Deb Mohon, Gladewater, Texas, $41,949 currently in second place behind 1991 champion Charmayne Rodman of Gait, Calif., who has $63,605. Vana Beissinger of Lake Worth, Fla., who has $34,698 for fifth place, is another ready to ride tonight.

Some present top money winners on the national circuit will appear tonight at the 101 Ranch Rodeo. They include Bob Logue, Cumby, Texas, with $32,455, which currently puts him tenth in the bareback riding event.

Others include bull riders David Bailey, Tahlequah, 11th with $31,789 and Mike Erickson, Choctaw, 14th with $29,379.

Rodeo-goers will have a fill of calf roping money winners, with most of them in the slack performances following the regular rodeo. Besides Whitfield, others tonight include Shawn McMullan, Iraan, Texas, fifth at $49,530; Lanham Mangold, Lacoste, Texas, eighth, $45,766; Jerry Jetton, Stephenville, Texas, 10th, $38,112; and Rabe Rabon, Okeechobee, Fla., 11th, with $37,630.

In steer wrestling tonight, one of the entries is Jim White of Norman, Okla., currently ninth on the money list at $28,143.

Steer roping money leaders here tonight besides Woolman include Roy Angermiller of Uvalde, Texas, 12th, with $7,666.

Several area performers are set to be here tonight. Lyle Sankey, a popular Rose Hill, Kan., performer of earlier years, is now out of Bran-son, Mo., and an entrant in the saddle bronc riding. Ervin Williams of Tulsa was an NFR performer in 1991 in bull riding.

In calf roping, Short Rising of Winfield will be among the entrants, as will Hank Hainzinger of Ponca City in the slack. A Gushing roper, Roger Branch is scheduled for a slack performance as well as Grady Potter, of Arkansas City.

A couple of area steer wrestlers include Russell Pappan of Arkansas City and Bob Juden of Winfield during the regular performance. Slack entrants include Mike Swope of Newkirk, Brock Hibb of Alva, and the rodeo producer, Bronc Rumford of Abbyville, Kan.

Rumford will join Glenn Smith of Redfield, Kan., during the team roping Thursday. It includes Winfielders Rising and Billy Webster. Branch of Gushing will team with Mike Perry of Enid in the slack team roping event.

A couple of barrel racers are from Ponca City, including Teresa Avery and Alicia Burns, expected to appear in the slack after the performance tonight.

There are 29 entries in the bare-back riding, with ten scheduled to appear tonight. A total of 36 entries are in the saddle bronc riding event with 11 set to come out of the chute tonight. There are 56 total entries in the bull riding, with 15 each night, plus 11 more tonight during the slack performances.

A total of 67 entries signed up for the calf roping, with ten each night, and 37 more during slack tonight. The steer wrestling was almost as popular, with 66 entries, including ten each night, and 36 more during slack tonight. There are 37 teams in team roping, ten teams each night and seven more on the schedule tonight during slack. The steer roping has 50 entries, with slack mostly Saturday morning starting at 10 a.m.

The girls barrel racing event will include 11 tonight, plus nine after the regular performance, and 10 on Friday and 12 on Saturday.

Sports Therapy Offered To 101 Rodeo Athletes

Time off for injuries is time off without pay. That's a fact understood by every professional rodeo athlete. But entry fees are paid ten days in advance and each ride offers only a small chance of finishing "in the money" and a very big chance for suffering an injury. Every ride in every rodeo entered becomes critically important.

Now a Ponca City chiropractor will be helping cowboys even up the odds for winning by reducing the effects of injury. Dr. Donald Potter volunteered to assist injured cowboys for each night of the 101 Ranch Rodeo.

For three evenings beginning Thursday, Dr. Potter and his staff will finish the day's clinic work to load up and head to the rodeo grounds. There, behind the chutes and edged between stock trailers, Dr. Potter will set up his practice for the night's work.

"We're looking forward to it," Potter insists. "I've done sports teams before, but rodeo is a first for us."

Dr. Potter became involved in the 101 Ranch Rodeo after receiving a phone call from a Dodge City chiropractor. Dr. Mark Pick, ACA Wrangler Sports Chiropractic Regional director used the recommendation of a rodeo bullfighter to make the call for help to Potter.

Potter's care of bullfighter and rodeo clown Scott Paulsen during the 101 Ranch Rodeo in 1990 left a strong impression on the cowboy. Paulsen credits Potter with keeping him on the job despite two broken ribs through daily chiropractic treatment.

Now the same therapy will be available to athletes before and during each performance. "We'll be offering physiotherapy, vibromassage, ultrasound and electric muscle stimulation for bruising. We'll also be providing chiropractic adjustment and taping," Potter ex- plains. Treatments will be available from 6:30 p.m. through each performance Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"The addition of free sports therapy to the 101 Ranch Rodeo athletes is a big draw for us," says Scott Klososky, 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation President. "Professional cowboys have over a dozen rodeos to choose from in any one summer weekend. That over 50 percent of the PKCA's World Top 20 choose Ponca City is a big compliment to the quality of such hospitality as Dr. Potter's."

Dr. Potter has been practice since 1981. He recently completed a move to larger offices at 300 North Fifth Street.

'101' Represents Cowboys Group, Too

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is the oldest and largest rodeo-governing body in the world. And there's quite a similarity in facts when it comes to the 101 Ranch Rodeo.

The 101 Ranch, with properties still in existence southwest of Ponca City, had thousands of acres, and the location of the PRCA have something in common. The "101" represents both, not because of the 101 Ranch, but primarily because of the rodeo association is now headquartered at 101 Pro Rodeo Drive in Colorado Springs.

Sanctioning by the PRCA ensures that a rodeo will be produced professionally and safely. All PRCA rodeos must meet strict standards set by the Association regarding the humane treatment of rodeo livestock.

In years past, the 101 Ranch was the place where citizens could visit and see ostriches and elephants, just to name a few of the types of animals located there. The PRCA has something in common with turtles.

Today's PRCA organization traces directly to a group called the Cowboys' Turtle Association, which was formed in 1936 when cowboys competing in the Boston Gardens rodeo refused to continue until they were assured-fair prize money and equality in judging.

Legend holds that the cowboys called themselves the Turtles because they were slow to organize.

In 1945, the name of the organization was changed to the Rodeo Cowboys Association; in 1975, it became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

In 1987, the PRCA undertook a major reorganization and its management structure and brought in a full-time commissioner to lead the sport.

The PRCA's membership base has grown to nearly 10,000 contestants, stock contractors, committees and contract personnel.

Each year, the PRCA sanctions more than 7,750 rodeos throughout the United States and Canada.

Despite professional rodeo's unprecedented growth during the past decade, the PRCA continues to preserve the rich heritage of rodeo and its central figure, the cowboy.

Today, the rich heritage of the 101 Ranch is preserved by a 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation. The foundation has worked throughout the year, just as many years past, to help provide the 33rd annual rodeo coming up Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation salutes the sponsors of the 1992 101 Ranch Rodeo.

"We are extremely pleased to be designated as a Coors Chute Out rodeo for the third year in a row. Thanks to them, our spectators and supporters, the 101 Ranch Rodeo was selected to be among only 60 rodeos in the U.S. to receive this honor. We appreciate the efforts of Don Sober; Herman Perdomo, Coors marketing, and Jim Schlimpert, area manager for the J.K. Boersma Beverage Company, in this regard," said Carey Head of the foundation.

"We are also very excited to be involved in the Skoal/Copenhagen added money program and to have them as one of our sponsors. We would like to thank the efforts of Randy Vaughn in assisting us with this," she said.

Other National PRCA sponsors who have selected the 101 to support are Coke U.S.A., through the "Coca Cola Winners Circle" program and Wrangler, through the "Wrangler Circuit. Series" program.

"The foundation also thanks our local event sponsors," Head said These sponsors are recognized by special 'Chute Heaven' box seating and are contributing $50 per event each night in added money for the event they have selected to sponsor:

— Sonny Cannon Auto Plaza, bareback riding.
— Heartland Federal, barrel racing.
— Throop Construction, bull riding.
— John B. Hayes, saddle bronc riding.
— Osage Trading Post/Blucher Boots, calf roping.
— McVay's Outfitters, steer wrestling.
— Conoco, team and trip roping.
— Ward's Air Conditioning, queen competition.
— Pemberton Dodge, stock contractor.

As a result of such sponsorships, professional rodeo has seen a lot of history change. In 1990, a 21-year-old cowboy rewrote the record books of professional rodeo.

Ty Murray of Stephenville, Texas, who in 1989 had become the youngest-ever world champion all-around cowboy, one year later became the first cowboy to win more than $200,000 in a single season.

After qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo in all three riding events — saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, and bull riding — Murray ended the 1990 season with $213.772.

Murray's accomplishment is just one sign of the phenomenal growth experienced by professional rodeo during the past several years.

Total prize money at events sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association nearly doubled in one decade, growing from $9 9 million in 1980 to $18.2 million in 1990.

Prize money at the National Finals Rodeo, the most prestigious event in professional rodeo, skyrocketed from $500,500 in 1980 to nearly $2.5 million in 1991 — an increase of 400 percent. In 1959 the year of the first NFR, prize money at the Finals was $50,000.

Attendance as well as prize money continues to grow.

In 1965, the first year attendance records were kept at the National Finals Rodeo, 47,000 people watched the event. By 1974, NFR attendance had reached 89,200, a sellout of Oklahoma City's, Jiin Norick Arena. In 1979, when the finals moved to Myriad Arena in Oklahoma City, the number of spectators grew to 117,070, again a sellout of the arena.

The NFR moved to Las Vegas in 1985, and since then attendance has increased every year, topping 171,000 in 1990.

Joe Miller Jr. Guest Speaker For 101 Old Timers Meeting

JOE C. MILLER JR. holds a poster of the movie "The Cherokee Strip" that was made on the 101 Ranch in 1923 and starred his father, who is pictured on the poster. The saddle shown on the poster is the famous $10,000 saddle that belonged to Joe and it was displayed whenever the movie was shown.

Guest speaker for the 101 Ranch Old Timers and Collectors Meeting set for 10 a.m., Saturday at Hutch-ins Memorial will be Joe E. Miller Jr., son of Joseph Carson Miller, one of the three Miller Brothers who owned the 101 Ranch.

Joe Jr. traveled with the 101 Ranch Wild West Show in 1927 and 1928 following his father's death in 1927. His wife, Lucille, also traveled with the show. Joe and his brother, George, helped their Uncle Zack with the management of the show.

Ruth and Jerry L. Murphey, 101 Collectors, will have many of their prize items on display and for sale at the meeting. Rare posters, programs and pictures of movies that were made on the 101 Ranch, have been found and will be on display.

Plans will be discussed for the 100th anniversary of the 101 Ranch in 1993. There will be an 101 Ranch Wild West Show of Collectables at the E.W. Marland Mansion and Estate Aug. 21, 1993. For the first time, in one place, there will be collectors and dealers of the 101 Ranch, Tom Mix, Buffalo Bill, Texas Jack, Pawnee Bill, Will Rogers, plus other cowboys, cowgirls, Indians, western movie stars such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Annie Oakley and others.

Riders, Ropers Hang Up Top Scores

It was a good first night of the 1992 edition of the 101 Ranch Rodeo Thursday, but there's a bundle of quality talent waiting in the wings for tonight and Saturday as the second and third nights are un- raveled at the arena on West Prospect Avenue at Ash Street.

Performances begin at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday. The annual parade begins at 2 p.m. Saturday on Grand Avenue.

A 1991 rookie in the bareback event stole the show Thursday night, but no less than six present high-money leaders are scheduled to ride in that event tonight.

A 73 the first night in the saddle bronc riding event is not expected to hold up, since two of the top eight leading money-winners are scheduled tonight.

Rodeo fans who stuck it out until shortly after 10:30 p.m. Thursday were rewarded for their efforts, when the best ride of the night on a bull came from Randy J. Queen of Oklahoma City, on a score of 78. That may not hold up even tonight, with two of the top eight scheduled.

The calves seemed to get the best of the performers in the calf roping event, as they sped out of the chutes and caused double-digit figures — 11.1 being the best of 10 contestants. That didn't survive some of the performers in the slack held three hours later.

The No. 1 money leader at the present time is scheduled to make an appearance in calf roping on Saturday. He is Roy Cooper, well-known roper from Childress, Texas.

Steer wrestlers who were able to drop down off their steeds and turn that critter over were rewarded with great times, from 4.0 to 5.5 in the first night of performances. Five others got within those times during the after-rodeo slack.

But the 1991 world champion, "Ote" Berry of Checotah, is scheduled to appear tonight and another National Finals Rodeo finalist of 1991, Roy Duvall, also of Checotah, is expected Saturday.

Probably one of the best times in any single event came in the team roping when Steve Purcella of Roswell, N.M. and Tyier Magnus of Killeen, Texas, combined their efforts for a 6.1. Second was held by Gene Calvin of Latham, Kan., and Steven Orth of Wichita, who did the trick in 7.8.

But tonight's scheduled performers include No. 10 through No. 13 on the top money list, and 1991 world champion team roper Tee Woolman, Llano, Texas, who was unable to be ready for his call on Thursday in the steer roping.

In the steer roping, the only event where entrants are required to have two go-rounds, the No. 6 and No. 8 money-winners this year, Keith Hudson of Sonora, Texas and Paul Rice Junior of Pendleton, Ore., respectively, will set their sights on Thursday's best time of 15.0, turned in by Chris Girdley of Fittstown, Okla.

A lot of top money leaders in steer roping will appear during Saturday morning's special slack event, where steer roping will be the only event held.

Wetumka, Okla., cowgirl Angie Meadors put the standard down to 17.28 in the barrel racing event Thursday night. That'll be tough to overcome, since most everyone else was half-a-second slower. Kim West of Oklahoma City, No. 11 on the present money leader list, will perform tonight however.

D.J. Johnson of Hutchinson, Kan., had the top bareback score at 79, followed by Tyrone Crouch of Leoti, Kan., with a 76 when he got a re-ride. Crouch's bull stumbled midway through the ride, qual-ifying Crouch for that re-ride.

The six contestants who are on the top money list scheduled in bareback riding tonight include Todd Little, Hackberry, La., No. 7; Denny McLanahan, Canadian, Texas, No. 10; Chuck Logue, Decatur, Texas, No. 11; Lance Crump, Cooper, Texas, No. 13; Shawn Frey, Norman, No. 14; and Brian Hawk, Euless, Texas, No. 17.

Dan Etbauer, Goodwell, who is No. 3 in the saddle bronc money winners currently, will challenge the 73 posted by Cole Hardin of San Angelo, Texas. Craig Latham of Texhoma, Texas, who is No. 8, will do the same.

Queen's 78 in bull riding is likely to be challenged by No. 2 Cody Custer of Wickenburg, Ariz.; and No. 8, David Fournier, Decatur, Texas, tonight.

During the main performance Thursday, Jason Lahr of Emporia had an 11.1 in calf roping. Terry Choate of Newcastle, Okla., wiped that out with an 11.0 in early slack performances. Then Kevin Loyd of Wichita cut in front of that with , 10.9, and it lasted very little tim. when David Lawson of Newcastli had a 10.7. Several others went and when 1991 world champion Fred Whitfield of Houston posted . 10.6, those remaining to witness the slack, thought it was all over. No quite! The next roper, Lanhan Mangold of LaCoste, Texas had 10." and then Raymond Hollabaugh Stamford, Texas popped out with i 9.6, only to be outdone by Dr. Terrel Phillips of Edmond, at 9.5 the fina roper of the night. There were 6' entrants.

No. 11 on the current money list Rusty Sewalt of Magnolia, Texas will have his work cut out in that calf roping event tonight, but R.O. Cooper of Childress, Texas, may also have a say in it.

J.T. Eckstrum of Marlin, Texas has a 4.0 in steer wrestling. Sarc Duvall of Checotah has a 4.1 for second. There were 66 entrants ii steer wrestling, 37 teams in team roping, and 50 in the steer roping which created a lot of slack performances.

There will be a rodeo dance following tonight's performances in the arena, and again on Saturday.

The rodeo was spiced with the entertaining of announcer Lynn Phillips of Enid and the antics and thrilling protection given the bull riders by bullfighter Kevin Rich and rodeo clown Ted Kimsey.

And there were beautiful cowgirls. Stacey Talbott, Miss Rodeo America, of Laramie, Wyo., and Heidi Ahrens, Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, who got her start here at the 101 Ranch Rodeo as queen a year ago, were present as were the seven queen contestants. They are Jennifer Olsen, Heather Wedding, Julie Shannon, Casey Seal, Stacie Crouch, Robin Bailey and Kristy Smith.

Rodeo fans were again entertained by the Rumford Rodeo Contractors to produce a show that opened the activities, telling of the 101 Ranch heritage. It even included a team of oxen, breaking the sod, and other special events of that time when the 101 Ranch made famous it's Wild West Show.

And the official Wildcat cowboy band kept the show moving and provided prerodeo concert entertainment.

Most Leading Scores Remain Intact Friday

Thursday night leaders remained intact with one exception at the 101 Ranch Rodeo Friday night, while rodeo fans awaited a final performance on Saturday night at the Ponca City arena.

Saturday performances opened at 10 a.m. with a number of steer roping efforts completed. The well run Rumford Rodeo Company production was evident with the number of entries swelling again for the second year in a row, creating a heavy schedule of slack.

Slack is to allow all of the contestants to participate, but not take up much time of the actual rodeo produced. Bronc Rumford said that slack helps get the numbers up as far as contestants, but the rodeo companies attempt to keep a rodeo within reason for the fans. "That means we try to cut it to a two-hour performance, and about two and a half hours is a limit," Rumford said.

Bronc Rumford is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Rumford, of Abbyville, Kan. The 101 Ranch Rodeo foundation contracted with the Rumford a year ago and have not regretted the contract.

To keep away from stretching a regular performance out, slack time is required, either a day early, or after the regular performances each night. The Rumfords chose to have it one night, on Thursday, with only a few on Saturday morning to finish up the slack in one event.

That way, fans still get a great chance to see a full performance and most of the top money winners in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association who enter the rodeo.

There was no lack of top money winners at the rodeo Friday, particularly in the bareback event, where six of the eight that were signed up were in the top 17 on the national listing of money leaders. But they couldn't overcome that 79 posted by D.J. Johnson of Hutchinson, Kan on Thursday night. And Tyrone Crouch of Leoti, Kan;, also stayed in the money, with his 76 from Thursday, despite Lance Crump of Cooper, Texas, wedging in between with a 77.

That's what No. 13 is good for in the top money lists. Crump was No. 13 on the list and it didn't bother him having to be in that spot. He may get out of it, with enough winnings this week.

The lone leading score from Thursday night that didn't hold up was that of Cole Hardin of San Angelo, Texas, who had a 73. Billy Etbauer of Ree Heights, S.D., got a great ride posted for a 75. Etbauer and his brother Dan Etbauer (another Friday saddle bronc participant) of Goodwell, Okla., are brothers to world champion Robert Etbauer, so there's quite a bit of savvy when they get on the broncs.

Randy Queen of Oklahoma City salvaged his 78 in the bull riding from Thursday, when the best anyone could do was a 76 by Junior McManus of Monticello, Ark., who just happened to be on Cajun Moon, one of the Rumford Rodeo Company bulls heading for the National Finals Rodeo.

Calf ropers had a tough time, the best from Pudden Payne, Oklahoma City, with a 10.6 and Rusty Sewalt of Magnolia, Texas at 10.7 on Friday night. That couldn't compare with the 9.5 turned in by Dr. Terrell Phillips, Edmond, Okla., during slack on Thursday. Phillips — the brother to 101 Ranch Rodeo announcer Lynn Phillips — did it on the final calf Thursday night (make that 1:58 a.m. Friday morning).

J.T. Eckstrum of Marlin, Texas, remained on top in the steer wrest- ling with a 4.0 on Thursday. Sam Duvall of Checotah has a 4.1 and Lawson Essex of Quapaw, Okla., a 4.3. That's all better than world champion "Ote" Berry, also of Checotah, who had a 4.8 on Friday to thrill the large crowd. That 4.8 is the same as Bronc Rumford, but just a little off another Checotah wrestler with a 4.7, Todd Greer.

The 6.1 by Steve Purchella of Roswell, N.M. and Tyier Magnus of Killeen, Texas, Thursday in team roping withstood the Friday efforts of Bret Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo. and Mark Simon of Florence, Ariz., at 7.5 and Pueblo, Colo., ropers Jay Wadhams and Dick Yates, who had a 7.7.

Steer roping continued to prove difficult, with a 15.0 by Chris Girdley of Fittstown, Okla., on Thursday. Best on Friday was Red Miller of Satanta, Kan., with an 18.8.

And, in the barrel racing, Angie Meadors of Wetumka, Okla., stayed on top with a 17.28. There were a couple below 18, including Collette Baier of Hardtner, Kan., at 17.80 and Patti Taylor of Derby 17 95

Huge Crowd Sees Final Rodeo Events

A standing room only crowd, estimated by officials to be in excess of 10,000 fans, jammed the rodeo arena at West Prospect Avenue and North Ash Street Saturday night for the final night of the 1992 101 Ranch Rodeo.

Fans weren't disappointed either, as they witnessed some of the best rides of the three performance rodeo. Eight champions were crowned in the eight-event rodeo of the Rumford Rodeo Company production.

And Saturday fans were also able to witness the crowning of Julie Shannon, 19-year-old daughter of Don and Sharon Shannon of Okemah, as the 101 Ranch Rodeo queen.

Special stars aided in the rodeo, including Miss Rodeo America, Stacey Talbott of Laramie, Wyo., and Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, Heidi Ahrens, who was the 101 Ranch Rodeo queen a year ago. Besides showing off their beauty, they aided in the arena to add a pretty touch to get the un-roped and turned loose roped calves and steers into the north catching pens both Friday and Saturday. They were joined by Miss Shannon later in the evening.

Rodeo fans got to see something else that was special to the 101 Ranch Rodeo foundation, that of the riding of a bull by Scott Klososky, foundation president. Klososky had taken a challenge from the rodeo crew the previous night to attempt to ride a bull, which would be his first ever, and proud man that he is, he did not back down the next day.

Klososky was put into the lineup, and drew a tough bull. Thrown at the end of the second jump, Klososky realized bull riding was not as much fun as it had appeared, but quite challenging when the bull planted a foot in his stomach area, before bullfighter Kevin Rich and clown Ted Kimsey were able to clear the area. "It was my first ride ever. I've always wanted to try it, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger. I've been thrown by my horse before, but the (bull) ride was nothing like that," Klososky said.

Dion Pope, Hutchinson — who thrilled the crowd each night by wrestling a big 850-pound steer during a pre-rodeo pageant — had to turn his much smaller steer over twice in the regular steer wrestling competition to satisfy the arena judge in qualifying the time. He still had a respectable 11.9, but was out of the money, although a decided crowd-pleaser.

"Ote" Beery of Checotah, 1991 National Finals Rodeo champion, told the rodeo fans in a short inter-view from Lynn Phillips, the rodeo announcer working in the arena, that he got out a little late on the barrier. "My steer then came at me, and that took just enough time to adjust," Berry said. Not bad, however, for a 4.8 and three-way tie for fifth money — with the winning time being 4.0.

Phil Haugen of Weatherford came in Saturday, rode one of the big saddle broncs for a 72 and fifth place tie and then went to the timed calf roping event moments later and picked up third money, with a 10.0.

Checotah produces some quick ropers, with three calf ropers of the top five (including ties). Sam Duvall was second at 4.1; Todd Greer fourth at 4.7; and Berry tied for fifth with 4.8.

For what it's worth, six champions performed on Thursday, one on Friday and the team roping champ came during the Saturday morning slack.

But Saturday night performers were right up there. Take Shawn Wright of Weatherford for instance. His 76 in the bareback bronc event put him in a tie for third, nabbing $439.31.

Matt Reed of El Dorado, Kan., came close Saturday in the saddle bronc riding with a 74, which earned him second money in that event, at $740.14. Two other performers, Haugen and Joe Nichols of Guymon also had 72s in the saddle bronc for a tie at fifth with Jimmy Hall of Durant.

In the bull riding, Steve Gray of Prague, Okla., got a 76 and that earned him a tie for second money, with Junior McManus of Monticello. Ark., each earning $829.88.

Haugen was the only Saturday entry to get into the money listing for calf ropers, finishing third for $941.14.

In the steer wrestling, Medicine Lodge, Kan., bulldogger Mike Jones also had a 4.8 that tied him for fifth with Berry and rodeo producer Bronc Rumford. They got $229.01 each.

A pair of team ropers were successful in getting into the money on Saturday. Gary Detrick of Ames, Okla., and Dennis Gates, Leedey. Okla., pulled off the trick in 6.8 for second money of $794.33 each; while Rodney Crick of Turtle, Okla., and Steve Childers of Cushing each got $529.55 when they were able to stop that steer in 7.3 for third.

Neil Worrell of Fredonia, Kan., won the first go-round of steer roping with an 11.3 — but his 11.3 would have gained only sixth money in the second go-round. Kelly Casebolt of Pawhuska took the second go-round with 10.1. Rocky Garnett of Hutchinson, Kan., had the best average with a total of 25.0. All three took home $1,051.06 apiece, with Garnett getting an additional $253.70 splitting fifth and sixth money with James Alien of Vinita in the first go-round.

Lanita Powers of Guthrie jumped into second place in the barrel racing event riding to a 17.59 on Saturday. Other Saturday placers were Julie Mattox, Wichita, eighth and Jodi Loosenart, Byron Center, Miss., ninth. Mattox had 17.83 and Loosenart had 17.94.

The number of places for money winners depended on the number of entries in each event. Money winners in the rodeo included:

BAREBACK BRONC (29 entries) — 1. D.J. Johnson, Hutchinson, 79, $1,171.48; 2. Lance Crump. Cooper, Texas, 77, $878.61; 2. (tie) Tyrone Crouch, Leoti, Kan., 76, $439.31; and Shawn Wright, Weatherford, 76, $439.31.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING (33 entries) — 1. Billy Etbauer, Ree Heights, S.D., 76, $894.33; 2. Matt Reed, El Dorado, Kan., 74, $740.14; 3. (tie) Cole Hardin, San Angelo, Texas, 73, $508.85; and Paul Peter- son, Guymon, 73, $508.84; 5. (tie) Jimmy Hull, Durant, 72, $143.92; Phil Haugen, Weatherford, 72, $143.91; and Joe Nichols, Guymon, 72 $143 91.

BULL RIDING (53 entries) — 1. Randy Queen, Oklahoma City, 78, $1,119.37; 2. (tie) Junior McManus, Monticello, Ark., 76, $829.88; and Steve Gray, Prague, Okla., 76, $829.88; 4. (tie) Ervin Williams, Tulsa, 74, $443.89; and Mark Cain, Atoka, Okla., 74, $443.89; 6. (tie) Lynn Uptmore, West, Texas, 73, $96.50; and Jerome Davis, Odessa, Texas, 73, $96.50.

CALF ROPING (65 entries) — 1. Terrell Phillips, Edmond, 9.5, $1,437.24; 2. Raymond Hollabaugh, Stamford, Texas, 9.6, $1,189.44; 3. Phillip Haugen, Weatherford, 10.0, .$,9A1..6-C,, 4. Lanham Mangold, LaCoste, Texas, 10.4, $693.84; 5. (fie) Fred Whitfield, Houston, 10.6, $347.42; and Pudden Payne, Oklahoma City, 10.6, $347.42.

STEER WRESTLING (64 entries) — 1. J.T. Eckstrum, Harlin, Texas, 4.0, $1,423.18; 2. Sam Duvall, Checotah, 4.1, $1,177.80; 3. Lawson Essex, Quapaw, Okla., 4.3, $932.43; 4. Todd Greer, Checotah, 4.7, $687.05; 5. (tie) Bronc Rumford, Abbyville, Kan., 4.8, $229.02; Ote Berry, Checotah, 4.8, $229.01; and Mike Jones, Medicine Lodge, Kan., 4.8, $229.01.

TEAM ROPING (75 entries) — 1. Steve Purchella, Roswell, N.M. and Tyier Magnus, Killeen, Texas, 6.1, $1,059.10 each; 2. Gary Detrick, Ames, Okla. and Dennis Cates, Leedey, Okla., 6.8, $794.33 each; 3. Rodney Crick, Tuttle, Okla. and Steve Childers, Gushing, 7.3, $529.55 each; 4. Brett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo., and Mark Simon, Florence, Ariz., 7.5, $264.78 each.

STEER ROPING (47 entries) — First Go-Round 1. Neil Worrell, Fredonia, Kan., 11.3, $1,051.06; 2. Buster Record, Buffalo, Okla., 11.4, $869.84; 3. Bill Pearson, Happy, Texas, 11.9, $688.62; 4. Bucky Hefner, Chelsea, Okla., 12.3, $507.41; 5. (tie) James Alien, Vinita, 12.6, $253.70 and Rocky Garnett, Hutchinson, 12.6, $253.70. Second Go-Round 1. Kelly Casebolt, Pawhuska, 10.1, $1,051.06; 2. Guy Alien, Vinita, 10.9, $869.84; 3. (tie) Arnold Felts, Sonora, Texas, 11.0, $507.40; Todd Casebolt, Foraker, 11.0, $507.40; and Gip Alien, Pawhuska, 11.0, $507.40; 6. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, 11.4, $181.22. Average 1. Rocky Garnett, Hutchinson, 25.0, $1,051.06; 2. Guy Alien, Vinita, 26.4, $869.84; 3. Roy Cooper, Childress, Texas, 27.4, $688.62; 4. James Alien, Vinita, 29.0, $507.40; 5. Gary Armitage, Portales, N.M., 33.2, $326.18; 6. Red Miller, Satanta, Kan., 35.8, $181.22.

BARREL RACING (36 entries) — 1. Angie Meadors, Wetumka, 17.28, $768.07; 2. Lanita Powers, Guthrie, 17.59, $608.06; 3. Mardee Hollenbeck, Pratt, Kan., 17.67, $512.05; 4. Deb Mohon, Gladewater, Texas, 17.76, $416.04; 5. Sheila Zant, Harper, Texas, 17.77, $256.02; 6. Colette Baier, Hardtner, Kan., 17.80, $192.02; 7. Vana Basinger, Lake Worth, Fla., 17.82, $160.02; 8. Julie Mattox, Wichita, 17.83, $128.01; 9. Jodi Loosenart, Byron Center, Miss., 17.94, $96.01;10. PattiTaylor, Derby, Kan., 17.95, $64.00.

Earlier Saturday, the 101 Ranch Rodeo parade through downtown Ponca City was "one of the largest in the past few years," Johnny Heinze, parade chairman said. The parade was right at an hour long, and a large crowd was on both sides of Grand Avenue from the start of the parade at Oak Street to the end at Seventh Street.

Heinze said first place winners were Roosevelt Indian Dancers of Ponca City, float; Floyd Rumford of Abbyville, Kan., wagon or buggy; Marland Roundup Club, roundup club entries; Dr. John Robinson of Ponca City, antique car; Robert Husted of Blackwell, classic car; and the best unusual entry was that of the Shriners of Sumner County, "The Wheatwackers."

101 Ranch Rodeo Named 'Tops' In The Three-State Prairie Circuit

For the second year in a row, the 101 Ranch Rodeo has been named the most popular rodeo of the Prairie Circuit, something accomplished by only one other town in the circuit.

That announcement was made recently at a reception during the Prairie Circuit annual finals in Edmond where other awards were also presented. The Prairie Circuit consists of the rodeos in a three-state area, made up of Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.

"We're extremely pleased with the winning of the award again, for the second time in a row. No other rodeo has done that in the circuit, except Dodge City. That really puts us up there in a top class," Scott Klososky, president of the 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation said.

"What's really neat about the whole thing is that the cowboys who participate are the ones responsible for our getting the award," Klososky said. It's the cowboys who vote on the particular rodeo they like best, thus the 101 Ranch Rodeo Foundation apparently did a lot of things right to get the award again.

"I'm sure part of it is due to the quality of stock — the Rumford Rodeo Company of Abbyville, Kan., provided the stock and produced the rodeo; and the treatment of the cowboys while they were here — we brought them food and made things a lot easier for them throughout the rodeo grounds; plus the arena improvements — the foundation spent hundreds of hours and got considerable donations from many persons and businesses and industries to refurbish the 101 Ranch Rodeo arena; and the crowds — a standing room only crowd on Saturday night proved to be quite exciting for the cowboys," Klososky said.

"We've had a real good relationship with the cowboys," he said.

Klososky said the foundation was already hard at work for the 1993 events, and will be making every effort to make it an eventful rodeo since it will be during the Cherokee Strip Run Celebration period.

"We've already signed contracts with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to have the Wrangler bullfighter event added to the competition. McVay's will be sponsoring the event," Klososky said.

He said the bullfighter event involves just that. There will be three bullfighters each night participating against each other three of the four nights of the rodeo, which have been set so far for the 1993 rodeo. They will be participating on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. Bullfighters will draw a Mexican fighting bull and perform stunts and action in fighting the critter, for a 70-second time period.

"It has proven to be one of the more exciting events of the rodeo, and they are now getting recognition from their efforts at the National Finals Rodeo," Klososky said.

Disclaimer - The information found on these pages is only meant to be a concise chronological collection of happenings as they relate to each year's 101 Ranch Rodeo and not a complete or total recreation of each year's events and/or happenings. If you have additional information pertaining to the 101 Ranch Rodeo and would like to share it with us and others that visit this website, please feel free to submit your information to us and we will be glad to review it and consider adding it to these pages.