By Stephanie Bunker
Moapa Valley Progress
The crowds flocked to the rodeo event last week held every evening during the Fair where some of the nation’s best cowboys perform.
Attendance was high at the rodeo this year. A total of 11,657 rodeo tickets were sold this year. That is compared to 9,500 tickets sold last year. Rodeo Director, Doug Schwartz said that the Saturday night rodeo was standing room only.
“Everything went outstanding,” Schwartz said. “We had 4 excellent nights and the contestant quality was at the top level. If you look at the winners, you see last years world champions and it‘s amazing to see these guys in our small town rodeo.”
The Clark County Rodeo has become part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and is included in the Million Dollar Tour. For a cowboy to compete in the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) they must participate and place in 22 of these regular season rodeos. That makes the Clark County Fair a major stop for many of the top cowboys.
The total payout for the event was $204,329. The All Around Cowboy at the Clark County Rodeo went to Paul David Tierney he received $3,950 for being a top qualifier in team roping and tie-down roping. NFR winner Kaycee Field collected $5,244 for his 86 point ride in Bareback Riding. Chad Ferley won Saddle Bronc Riding with 88 points receiving $4,304. Dakota Eldridge got first with his quick Steer Wrestling time of 4.1 seconds collecting $2,149. Bubba Buckaloo and Cole Davision won Team Roping in 4.4 seconds and collecting $2,285 each. Tie Down winner was Logan Hofer with a time of 8.9 seconds receiving $2,065. Brittany Pozzi won the Barrel Racing with an average of 16.97 seconds winning $4,568 and the Bull Riding event winner went to Cody Campbell with 87 points receiving $4,247.
To add a local flavor to the rodeo, this local event adds a special event every year. They host the Sponsor Team Roping. THis gives the audience a chance to see local guys out there roping with the professionals. A minimum of $2,000 donation is what it takes to become a sponsor. The sponsor can pick a team or Schwartz will choose a team for them. Different teams compete against each other Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On Sunday the top 4 teams come back to compete for the title.
On Thursday the sponsor teams that competed were Chet Pulsipher and Weston Adams sponsored by Western States Contracting Inc. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) sponsored Jordan Taylor and Robert Steele. Lacy Steele and Broc Lindburg roped for Triton Security, Summer and Brad Alexander were sponsored by Enviromental Reclamation Services. Mesquite Quick Care sponsored Mike Steward and Rose Steele, while Boyd Gaming sponsored Tami Blassingame and Tony Steele.
Friday’s sponsor team ropers consisted of Reese Hoy & Jacob Hoy sponsored by Timberline Range Camps, Mo Bracken & Justin Bracken for Animal Medical Hospital, Ryan Yardley & Russ Yardley for Chapman Dodge, Merril Staheli & Steve Staheli for Star Nursery, Mike Crump & Therron Hendrickson for NV Energy, and Kaylene Blassingame & Jalea Blassingame for Cashman Equipment.
Saturday’s sponsor teams were; Kyle Millington & Theresa Bowen for Anderson Dairy, Sidney & Wes Williams for Hyrock Excavating, Kirby Leavitt & Frank Pendleton for Simplot Silica Sand Products, Cole & Troy Christensen for Commissioner Tom Collins, Doug Schwartz & Ryan Frei for America First Credit Union, and Kelly Christensen & Lukas Tom for Las Vegas Events.
On Sunday the winner of the Sponsor Team Roping was Mike Steward and Rose Steele with Mesquite Quick Care.
