Lincoln PBR

If your looking for something to do this weekend, how about watching the boys of the PBR in Nebraska'a capital city. Guys like Cord McCoy, Kasey Hayes will be there. Bulls from Bergers, HyLand Cattle Co., and Mark Ward. PBR legends the iron man JW Hart and Rob Smets wll be there giving autographs and doin their thing. Make sure and say hi to me after the event. Lancaster Event Center on saturday night feb.27 and 7:30 p.m.

See you there,

Travis

My rodeo soapbox

What keeps a rodeo exciting? The Livestock? The Cowboys? Clowns?

All the above I suppose, those things are an intricate part of America’s #1 sport.

We are only able to enjoy our game because of …drum roll….SPONSORS!!

Sponsors are so crucial to rodeo at every level. One of the most important things I do as an announcer is promote sponsors. I know without them the rodeo would not happen.

Why do the sponsors donate? Maybe they are just huge fans of the sport. Certainly, they understand the economic impact a rodeo brings to a community. When it is rodeo time in towns all across Nebraska, the size of the town often doubles or triples those weekends. What a great time to shine the spotlight on your community and local businesses. Here is where I stand on my soapbox. You ever heard the following sayings? “Don’t slap the hand that feeds you” or “I scratch your back, you scratch mine”. They mean if you enjoy an event support the one’s that make it possible. In other words, if you love rodeo do business with its sponsors.

If you follow the very successful PBR, then you know their series is called the Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler. I’m appalled the last two times I have seen PBR President Ty Murray he has been wearing Levi’s jeans. Can you believe that? To me that would be like a U.S Marine wearing an Iraqi officers uniform. Working at the John Deere factory and going home to mow the lawn with a Snapper. Another example might be, being a teacher at a Public School yet home schooling your own kids. Do you get my drift? Understand where I’m coming from? Its not that I have a problem with Levi’s, Snapper or home schooling kids, it just the hypocrisy of making a living from one source but supporting brand X. What does this rambling mean? Well let’s make it simple, if you are a member of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Assn. Then take a look at their sponsors and when you have an opportunity to utilize the goods or services they provide,   and then do it. They have real estate companies, auto dealerships, trailer dealers, insurance agents, feed companies, windmill companies etc. etc. Chances are in a year’s time you will be need to business with a service they provide.

Whether you’re involved with Nebraska State Rodeo Assn., Mid-States Rodeo Assn., or the PRCA support their sponsors. Let’s prove to them their sponsorship is not an expense but an investment and an investment they will continue to make for years to come.

Comments are always welcome and I look forward to them.

Western Regards,

Travis Schauda

Rapid City Wrap-Up

Once Again the Steer Wrestlers from the Cornhusker state performed well at a winter rodeo. During the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City five different bulldogger fielded financial success on the first stop of the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour. Round 1 had Valentine’s Linn Churchill place second while McCook’s Garrett Nokes and Nebraska native Todd Suhn shared third place money. In round 2 it was 5X Linderman award winner Kyle Whitaker from Chambers place 3^rd and I watched Jeff Johnston of Seneca stop the clock in 3.7 on Friday night which was good enough for 6^th.

Kyle’s efforts captured  2^nd in the average to win over $3000.00 for the rodeo. Suhn also cashed in the average. Currently Suhn is in 10^th place in the PRCA world standings and Kyle’s early season success finds him in 15^th place.

The team roping had rodeo legend Paul Tierney add to his career earnings. Tierney, a native of Broken Bow NE, was recently inducted into the Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame,  was able to place in the average and win a little over $1000.00. Tierney’s sons, Jesse and Paul David outdid him though winning $2825.00 placing second in round 2. Arthur native Bret Trenary placed in a round and the average to win about $2800.00,

The only success in the tie down roping came from Alliance native Ryan Watkins. Watkins who is fresh off of his first Wrangler National Finals placed 6^th in a round.

She’s Back!!! I’m talking about 67 year young June Holeman of Arcadia Nebraska. This grand lady of rodeo took her veteran horse Sparky to a place she has had success before and was able to place in both rounds and second in the average for grand total winnings of $3629.00. Nobody is a bigger June fan than I am. Even at 67 the other contestants don’t outwork her or put forth a better effort than June. Go June Go!!! Rachael Reichenburg of Hershey was able to place right behind June in round 3 and win $1183.00.

Maybe your wondering where is 2006 World Champion Dean Gorsuch this season. I can tell you he’s close. He was one place out of winning money in both Denver and Rapid City. Hopefully he can earn the big money up for grabs in San Antonio.

Stay tuned to this blog. It won’t be long and we will be talking about Nebraska’s great youth rodeo programs. As cold as its been we are a little over 2 month away from spring rodeo. So the rope the dummys and get the horses legged up and we’ll talk to you later.

Feel free to leave your comments.

Western Regards,

Travis Schauda

The Denver Round-up

Well the famed National Western Stock Show and Rodeo is now complete. For years this huge event has brought millions of cattleman from around the globe to showcase their livestock and all things related to ranching. The annual rodeo also is a huge drawing card for fans and contestants alike. This year’s rodeo wasn’t a huge success for the cowboys and cowgirls from Nebraska. The Steer Wrestling has always been a staple event here in Nebraska. Over the years the Cornhusker state has produced; 2X World Champ Ote Berry, Harrison Halligan (considered the best hazer in the business) Dean Edelman former Cheyenne winner, WNFR qualifiers-Todd Suhn, Randy Suhn, Sean Mulligan, Linn Churchill, Drew Melvin, Garrett Nokes and the 2006 World Champ Dean Gorsuch. It seems only fitting the event with the most success at this years Denver Stock Show would be Steer Wrestling. Jeff Richardson from Fullerton NE was able to cash his first paycheck of the year in the opening round by placing 3^rd and collect over $2800. Jeff is not the biggest guy in the Steer Wrestling but has great technique, a lot of try, and is always riding a great horse. One of Nebraska’s most decorated rodeo cowboys is Kyle Whitaker from Chambers. Kyle is a third generation cowboy and between He and his dad Chip own nine Linderman awards. Kyle’s efforts earned him a trip to the short go where he placed 7^th and was fast enough on three runs to earn over $3200. Over his career Kyle has had success in the winter and good success in the summer. I would love to see him be able to put together a season that would put him into the 2010 WNFR in Las Vegas. He is very deserving.

The tie-down roping should give Jayce Johnson some confidence for this season. Jayce is originally from Lakeside Nebraska. His college career has taken him from Torrington WY to Durant OK. His address is currently Durant OK He failed to cash a check but was one of only 12 ropers to qualify for the short go.

Will Farrell (no not the actor) is a native of Wyoming but received his education at Chadron State College. Will won over $4400 in the opening round and hopefully will jumpstart his year to get back to the WNFR.

In the next few weeks Ft. Worth and Rapid City will wrap up and I’ll let you know how those with Nebraska ties do.

Let me know if there is a subject you want me to cover or contestant you want me to talk about.

With warmest western regards,

Travis Schauda

Rodeo Announcer

My goal with this blog is to keep people informed of things happening with the sport of rodeo in Nebraska. I will also try to shed some light on things behind the scenes as I see it, from a rodeo announcer perspective.

With the new calendar year starting a few weeks ago the world of professional rodeo gets in full gear for the 2010 season. In other professional sports, there is a nice size off season. In the NFL the teams that don’t make the playoffs have about 8 months of no games. The NBA, MLB, and NHL all have about 6 months of no competition. The Wrangler National Finals in Las Vegas just completed its ten rounds of action in Las Vegas in the middle of December. The day after the WNFR is over; entries open for winter rodeos in Odessa TX and the famed National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver CO.  Much like the optimism of all of us starting out the New Year, the rodeo cowboy starts out with the same kind of outlook. The ultimate goal of every rodeo contestant is to make the Wrangler NFR. Success at indoor PRCA could have a huge impact on their season. The next three months of large rodeos include; Odessa TX, Denver CO, Rapid City SD, Ft. Worth TX, San Angelo TX, Houston TX, Tucson AZ and Austin TX.  When those rodeos are complete check back here and I’ll let you know how those with Nebraska ties did.

This time of year is when all the summer rodeos make their contracts for their rodeos; the rodeo committees hire rodeo personal like announcers, stock contractors, clowns, bullfighters, judges etc. They also start securing sponsorships for the added money at their rodeo. Added money is the money put in with the contestants entry fees. As a general rule of thumb the more added money the better contestant numbers your rodeo will have. Needless to say as cold as its been lately, rodeo and the thoughts of rodeo are still alive and well in Nebraska.

Please post your comments and suggestions on this blog. Perhaps you have a question about rodeo or want to know more about some contestants. Let me know and I’ll try to answer them.

Until then with warmest western regards,

Travis Schauda

Rodeo Announcer