The seasons are changing in the weather, in rodeo, and in life. For most, these changes are welcome and signify something new and exciting. When I was about nine years old, my friend, Cheryl and I, would sing the song “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks. We would sing with great fervor and had no idea that it was about a man dying of a broken heart and contemplating suicide. It was probably not what nine-year-old girls should be singing. We just really liked the part, “We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.” Anyway, whether we like it or not, seasons change.
The junior high and high school rodeo seasons have started and have two weekends already under their belt. The amateur rodeos are coming to a close with the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association having their finals in Dodge City, September 22-24. The Colorado Professional Rodeo Association has their finals September 29-October 1 in Montrose. Their last rodeo will be in Eads September 8th and 9th. The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association end their season October 1st.
The Kansas high school and junior high rodeo athletes kicked things off in Manhattan, where the weather was anything but pleasant. It was the hottest place in the nation that weekend, and other events were getting cancelled and postponed. Amidst horrible heat and miserable conditions, the following athletes did get into points category. On Saturday, Madison Crane of Springfield was 8th in the goat tying with a time of 8.98 seconds, Quinter Weatherred of Lakin was 7th in the tie down roping with 14.45 seconds and Jaytyn Hash of Kendall was 10th with 19.3 seconds. Heston Seufer of Holly and Treagyn Duarte of Lamar teamed up in the team roping for a 10th place finish of 23.8 seconds on Saturday and a 7th place finish with a time of 29.85 seconds on Sunday. Also on Sunday, Briley Seufer of Holly was 2nd in the barrel race with 18.79 seconds and 5th in the pole bending-23.0 seconds. Reagan Weatherred of Lakin didn’t let the heat bother her as she won the pole bending both days 21.57 seconds and 21.83 seconds, was 3rd in barrel racing, 4th in goat tying, and she was 2nd in the breakaway roping with 3.04 seconds. Conley Hall of Springfield got into the money in the team roping by placing 3rd with a time of 28.0 seconds. Hudson Crane was 4th in the goat tying. The following weekend was in Canton where Briley Seufer was in the top 5 barrel racers both days and had a 5th place finish is pole bending. Reagan Weatherred had another good weekend with a 3rd and 6th in barrels, first in goat tying, 2nd and 9th in pole bending, and 2nd in breakaway. Kai Calkins of Lakin was 6th in barrels, 9th in poles, 2nd in poles, and 4th in breakaway. Conley Hall slipped into the points in 10th in the breakaway roping. Colorado rodeo athletes were in Craig for the crack-out August 26-27 and head to Cortez for the 3-day rodeos over the Labor Day weekend.
The Colorado State Fair and Rodeo in Pueblo was August 25-28. The Belew brothers of La Junta made some noise in the tie down roping. Ryan was 4th in the first round with a 9.5 seconds and Kyle was 2nd in the second round with 8.7 seconds. Neither one was able to place in the average. Kelly Yates was 3rd in the barrel racing. The stock contractors may be letting these bulls in the bull riding get a little too rank where the cowboys can’t ride them. Only two bull riders rode over the four days. So, all the money went to the two guys that did cover their bulls. Bryce Burnell won $6822 and Cody Teel won $5930, more than any other cowboy or cowgirl at the rodeo. They get all the money that was allotted down to sixth place.
I sure do hate to see summer go, but I am ready for some cooler weather and the flies to be gone. Life is about seasons and seasons change. Embrace the change.
Happy Trails.
