Happy Trails with Dawni O’Bryan: The Antelope Stampede and the Sunflower

At first glance, one might think this article is about the wildlife and horticulture of the plains. It is actually about the “wild life” of rodeo for both college students and barrel racers of the area.

The Antelope Stampede, aptly name by former Lamar Community College student Mario Baleztena, is scheduled to make the arena dust fly October 18th-20th. There will be a fundraiser barrel race jackpot on Thursday the 17th and a fundraiser breakaway roping and muley roping on Saturday after the performance. The slack days and times are Friday at 1 pm and Saturday at 8 am. The performance days and times are Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 2 pm. The short round of the top ten contestants in each event is scheduled for Sunday at 10 am.

I attended a practice session for the Lopes and got to visit with Coach Greenlee and some of the LCC rodeo athletes. They are excited to host a college rodeo and not having to travel six plus hours to compete. My article last month on Coach Greenlee gave some background and insight into his vision for the team. At team roping practice, I met Gavin Wash from Alpine, TX who is a sophomore team roper that ropes with Brock Feyder of Laramie County Community College. Garrett Harms is also a team roper from Ogallala, NE and was drawn to LCC by the horse program. Rangle Osborn is team roper from Mountain View, WY and was drawn to LCC by the willingness to help him in whatever way possible. He was impressed by the respectful attitude at LCC, and it “just felt right.”

Jackson Brown, a returning sophomore from Strasburg, ropes with Jessica Miller from Otero Junior College. Jack Kissel of Limon is a two-eventer in the saddle bronc riding and team roping. Coach Greenlee is coaxing Kissel toward a little bareback riding, as well. Not sure Coach is having any luck. Gracie Wilson is from Center in the San Luis Valley and competes in barrel racing. Emily Hooper came to LCC all the way from British Columbia for barrel racing. Both young ladies were drawn to the southeast Colorado juco for the horse training program. I knew of Joe Autry from Colorado High School Rodeo where he competed with my kids. Autry is from La Veta and works both the tie down roping and team roping. His partner is Osborn. Autry has roots in southeast Colorado with his parents, Crystal and JJ Autry, and grandparents, John and Bev Ming of Kim. Autry was recently married to his high school sweetheart, Destiny Valdez, and is excited to live this cowboy lifestyle with his new bride. I encourage you to go out and support the LCC cowboys and cowgirls this weekend at the Sand and Sage Fairgrounds and enjoy the fall rodeo ambiance.

The 25th Annual Sunflower Futurity, Derby, and Open barrel race jackpot was held in Scott City, Kansas October 4th-6th. Barrel racers from Kansas, Colorado, Texas, and Nebraska converged on the small town that boasts the nicest indoor arena around for the event. Producer Susan Boulware offered a Futurity division for five-year-old horses and a Derby division for 6-8 year-old horses. Then there was an open jackpot and a youth jackpot. Winning the open on Saturday was Lorie Diodosio from Fowler with a time of 14.367 seconds and $559. Running in the 1D with the big girls and coming in 4th was Stealy Lord of Lamar with a time of 14.643 seconds and $220. Winning the 2D was Lindsey Dorenkamp of Bristol with a time of 14.956 seconds and $479. In the 3D, Karisa Brookshire of Lamar was second with a time of 15.401 seconds and $261 and 4th was Lindsey Dorenkamp with a time of 15.429 seconds and $125. Lord won the youth and another $204. Sunday jackpot saw Canadian, TX cowgirl Tamara Reinhardt takes the win with a time of 14.358 seconds and $559. Fourth in the 1D was Angie Hoss of Lakin on her 6-year-old derby horse and $220. Fifth was Leslie Morris of Springfield on her derby horse and $118. In the 3D, Julie Dorenkamp of Lamar was 4th with a time of 15.505 and $125. There were approximately 100 runners in the open each day and 13 futurity horses and 27 derby horses.

Before the awards, Vera Hammons of Eads, was honored as one of the futurity pioneers of this area on her great horse Savage Stinger. Many friends and competitors stopped by to give her a hug. Even though she is now in a wheelchair, her heart will always be on the back of a horse. Happy Trails.