San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Blogs

It’s make-or-break time, if you’re a professional rodeo cowboy.

Thirty-three rodeos are scheduled next week offering purses close to $3 million. A cowboy or cowgirl can punch their ticket to the lucrative National Finals Rodeo if they are able to develop a win streak and pocket enough money to qualify. Last year, bull rider Kanin Asay won a near-record $36,000 in about a week. The Wyoming cowboy finished 2007 with more than $72,000 and placed in five of 10 rounds at the NFR in Las Vegas. Retired rough stock champion Ty Murray of Stephenville holds the one-week record of $37,000 won in 1999.

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Two Texas cowboys walked away from San Angelo coliseum last weekend with saddlebags full of money after covering two bulls.  Harve Stewart won over $7,700 on Friday with a two bull total of 178.5, including a 90 point ride in the short go-around. The Stephenville cowboy won the San Angelo Professional Bull Riders tour stop followed by Corey Melton of Toller. Melton had a two bull total of 176.  He pocketed almost $5,000.

Stewart was the only one of 40 riders to cover his short go bull at Friday’s performance. The bulls appeared to have the upper hands both nights as several cowboys hit the dirt, including one thrown from camera range. Another cowboy spent the night in the hospital with a possible concussion before being released Saturday. Overall, the event was a success as we bucked bulls from both ends of the coliseum. The action literally moved from end to end in non-stop action. The Memorial Day weekend hurt attendance. But look for the PBR to return next year. It’s a lot of fun and we’ll research another date so more folks can see the best bulls and riders in the world.

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Let’s talk bull riding! Namely, the Professional Bull Riders tour stop in San Angelo next weekend.  80 bull riders, led by Clayton Williams of Carthage, are expected to tie on to bulls weighing up to 2,000 pounds with hopes of pocketing their share of big bucks. Not that Williams needs the money.  He leads the PBR’s Copenhagen Cup standings with $530,000 in 2008.  Williams loaded his pockets with a half million dollars at the Copenhagen cup finals in Oklahoma City earlier this year.  The 22-year old also won $215,000 at the same event in 2007.  He’ll join Bryan Richardson of McKinney in the coliseum arena.  Richardson has won $112,000 on tour this year and currently sits second in the Copenhagen cup standings. Another notable name is Mike Lee. He’s due up Friday night. He’s currently in seventh place on the main PBR tour with over $69,000 in winnings. Our PBR committee will design the coliseum in a more ‘fan friendly’ arena. Bucking chutes will be set on each end of the arena. There will be four segments of bull riding each night.  The top 10 riders each night will compete in the short go.  The gates will open on an equal number of rides from each end.  There won’t be a bad seat in the house! It’s different, plus there’s pyro starting the show and live music on the fairgrounds.  Clearwater will play Friday night with Hyatus occupying the entertainment tent on Saturday.  Good tickets are still available, but moving at a brisk pace.  You can purchase your tickets at the stock show office, 200 W. 43rd St., or telephone 325-653-5622.  Tickets are also available at Blair’s western wear and Elite Physique. Prices range from $15-$35.  Plus, on Saturday night, some lucky bull riding fan will walk away with a pair of tickets to the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas Oct. 31st-Nov. 2nd.  It’s a great way to start off the Memorial Day weekend with top notch bull riding and entertainment!

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The Professional Bull Riding tour will stop in San Angelo in less than three weeks now that our fairground guests have vacated the coliseum. Plans for the event were once on hold due to the housing of the polygamist sects’ women and children. As most of the civilized world now knows, the coliseum served an emergency shelter after authorities raided their Eldorado compound.  There’s nothing quite like driving to work through a gauntlet of satellite trucks and law enforcement. It did force me to wash my truck after seeing it on television and broadcast around the world. I now remember its white in color.

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It’s amazing the amount of organization it takes to run a stock show.  Goats, sheep, cattle, hogs, llamas and rabbits paraded around in search of a blue ribbon and a trip to the premium sale.  4,500 exhibitors showed an estimated 7,700 head of animal projects.  The numbers include two new shows this year: red Angus and pygmy goats. And then there was the Ag mechanics show.  Over 100 projects including bar-b-que pits, restored tractors, working pens, trailers and furniture were on display in the 1st Community Spur Arena.  It’s impressive the amount of work and craftsmanship created by FFA students from throughout Texas.  Some of the unsung heroes of the stock show are the numerous county agents, ag teachers and volunteers.  I found out how important as my son, Sam, showed goats this year. It would have been difficult without Extension agent, Ross Benson, and, of course, his mother. Showing livestock teaches responsibility and setting of goals. That was the main accomplishment.
My mouth dropped when walking out of the Community Medical Center livestock pavilion Friday.  There stood ‘Radar’. He has to be the biggest horse in the world.  Radar is a Belgian breed and stands 19.3 hands tall.  Or bring a ladder and climb up almost six and a half feet. He consumes 18 pounds of grain, 40 pounds of hay and 20 gallons of water.  That’s his daily diet! Radar travels the state courtesy of Priefert manufacturing and brought to San Angelo by McCoy’s Farm and Ranch supplies.
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San Angelo rodeo crowned its first champion Friday with an Oklahoman winning the steer roping title.  Chet Herren of Pawhuska roped three steers in 37.9 seconds to win the roping and deposit almost $4,000 in his bank account.  Wharton cowboy Tony Reina wrapped up second place by tying his steers in 38.2.  He also took home almost $4,000 for his efforts. 85 ropers were vying for $39,500 in prize money over three rounds.  7.5-seconds separated first place from eighth.  Due to arena requirements, the entire steer roping is conducted over three rounds in one day.  The coliseum is too narrow for steer roping. 

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