By:  Tammie Hiatt

When Katie Hulsey purchased her IPRA card, her goal was to win the rookie of the year title and qualify for the International Finals Rodeo.  So far, so good.  The 20-year-old Haleyville, AL cowgirl is currently doing both.  Katie leads the rookie race and holds the number four slot in the world standings.

Barrel racing comes easy for Hulsey, “Since I was big enough to do it by myself, I have been running barrels.  My parents, Joe and Karen, both run barrels and it has always been part of my life.  My older brother, B.J. ran barrels too, but he didn’t stick with the horses like I have.”

“I’m excited about this year in the IPRA,” said Katie.  “I’m trying to just take things week by week and see how it goes.  I plan to stay pretty close to home; I doubt that I go to any of the Canadian rodeos this year.  If I win money, then I enter for the next weekend.”

“Last year I had my SPRA card and went to five rodeos and won enough to make their finals.  I asked my Mom if I could buy my IPRA card if I had a good finals.  I went into the finals in 10^th position and ended up sitting third.  We just really started doing great,” said Hulsey.

“I love my horse to death!  Diamon is so special to me.  His registered name is “Heza Streakin Diamon”.  He’s a 12-year-old gelding out of a grandson of Streakin Six and a thoroughbred mare.   He was bought for me as a colt but I didn’t start riding him until 2008.  Dad trained him and hauled him to the NBHA’s, he was too much horse for me when I was younger.”

“I finally got to take him over and have been riding him for 5 years now.  I tell my Dad that I always get his hand-me-downs,” Hulsey laughed.  “Diamon loves to run barrels, he tries hard every time.  He loves a big pattern where he can really stretch out and run.  He does fine in small pens, but tends to get ratey.  He has a fun personality and is spoiled rotten.  If you make him mad, he’ll let you know it.”

Photo credit: John Moon, Seven Springs Photography

“The first year I was running him I went to the NBHA’s.  He and I started our rodeo careers at the same time.  The first one I entered was a first for both of us and we won it, I was hooked after that.  He loves the rodeo crowds and excitement,” said Katie.  “I definitely prefer running at rodeos over the barrel races.”

“My family really likes the Streakin Six bloodlines.  I have a full brother to Diamon that I am just starting to season at the rodeos.  We have three broodmares that we raise colts with.  We usually have between 12-15 colts that we are working with all the time.  My Dad’s job keeps him from riding much at the house now, so I mainly ride the colts and get them ready and he hauls them for me. “

“In the past we have taken some of the colts to the futurities, but we’re not doing that now.  It’s so expensive to do and with his job, we’ve just changed the way we are doing things.  I like to take my time with the colts and go slow, I want them to last and have long barrel careers,” Katie states.

“I used to have some superstitions, like I would not wear a shirt again if I didn’t do good in it.  Now, I’ve decided that it’s just not worth it, and just take what I get,” said Katie.  “I guess I out grew that phase.”

Katie has a realistic outlook on her future.  “I am taking online college classes.  That lets me have quite a bit of freedom to go to rodeos and keep up with my colts.  I’m not sure on a major just yet,” said Katie.  “My mom is an accountant and I work with her during tax season.  I’m leaning toward accounting, but haven’t made a decision yet.  What I do know is that I have to pay my way to the rodeos, so if I am not winning, I’m staying home!”

“I hope to be in Oklahoma City in January, that I know, said Hulsey.

All positions, with the exception of gateman, must work the position applied for at a minimum of five (5) first approved IPRA rodeos in 2013 to be eligible to apply.

The final selection for each position will be made during the August 2013 phone conference.  Contract personnel who have qualified for IFR44 as a contestant in any of the sanctioned events and who will compete in the IFR in their respective event or events will not be selected for any personnel position.  Persons contracted to work IFR44 must be an IPRA member in good standing & must purchase renewal membership for 2014 before the first performance of IFR44.

All applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, August 5, 2013.

Click here for IFR44 Personnel Application

 
Mark Kreder, Jr – 2012 IFYR BB Champ & IFR Qualifier

The International Pro Rodeo Association and the International Finals Youth Rodeo are pleased to announce that a major change has been made for the 2013 edition of the “World’s Richest High School Rodeo”.

Mike Jackson, Operations Manager of the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center recently announced that Kevin Hampton and Hampton Rodeo Company of Springdale, AR have been selected as the 2013 IFYR stock contractor.

For the past 15 consecutive years, Hampton has earned the highest level of accreditation a stock contractor can attain, IPRA Stock Contractor of the Year.  .

“I am very excited to be a part of this rodeo.  It is a proving ground for future world champions and I can’t wait to be a part of this event,” said Hampton.  “I think my IFYR horses and bulls will compliment the rider’s skills and make for an exciting competition.”

“The IFYR is looking forward to working with Hampton and want to welcome him aboard,” said Mike Jackson.  “We hope the rough stock riders will enter up and come to Shawnee in July to see all that we have to offer them as contestants.”

Another new feature for the 2013 IFYR contestants is the ease of being able to enter and pay online at www.ifyr.com.  The complete process of entering events, reserving stalls, and camping spots, can all be handled with a click of the mouse.

The eleven-performance rodeo will kick off on Sunday, July 7 at 8:00 p.m.  Followed by two performances daily, Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., with the short go taking place on Friday, July 12^th at 7:30. 

In addition to the rodeo, a free western trade show opens on Sunday, July 7 at 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. and is open daily Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

For more information call 405-275-7020 or visit the IFYR website www.shawneeexpo.org.

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By:  Tammie Hiatt

 Gay, GA will be home to the IPRA Southeast Region Finals on November 1 & 2, 2013.  After holding their first IPRA rodeo in 2012, the committee was very excited to have the opportunity to step up to the next level of rodeo competition.  IPRA contestants that are in the top 10 of their event are eligible to compete in their region’s finals. 

 “It’s going to be a very big deal,” said Susan Pritchet, rodeo chairperson.  “We are really working hard to make this a great event.  It’s going to be all about the contestants at this rodeo.”

 “We will have $1,500 added per event, including breakaway roping.   We will also have trophy buckles for the winners,” said Susan.  “We are very, very excited to be able to do this rodeo. “

 The town of Gay, GA has a population of 100 people, give or take, but the events the community hosts have definitely put them on the map.  Twice a year the Cotton Pickin’ Fair draws entertainers and artists to the tiny town to bring back a bit of nostalgia to present day fair goers. 

 “Our town is just a little drive through town.  We have a post office and a convenience store, that isn’t always that convenient, “ laughed Susan.  “It’s a quiet little town, except when we are having an event.  We always welcome all of the visitors, but are glad when it quiets back down.”

 “The rodeo will be held at the Quercus Cattle Company’s covered arena.  The arena is 52,000 sq. ft.  We host a variety of horse events, from clinicians to ropings.  I’ve been involved with several of the high school rodeos we have put on,” said Susan. 

Southeast Region Cowboy, Justin Thigpen, pictured competing at IFR43.

 “It’s a totally self-contained facility.  We have concessions, cabins and bunkhouses available and we have just added 40 r.v. hookups.  When we are having an event, people will come out to the arena just for the food.  Our ranch manager does the bar-b-que and people love it.”

 “We are working on an entire week of events leading up to the rodeo,” said Susan.  “Since Halloween is the night before the rodeo, we are talking with the area churches on having their “Trunk or Treat” night at the arena.  My goal is to have 100 cars there for the kids.  We’re also planning a gospel night on Wednesday and we are trying to put together a match barrel race for Tuesday.  We’ll have more information on these activities as it gets closer.”

 “We are getting a lot of sponsorship involvement as well.  The Meriwether Department of Safety, Ram Rodeo, Priefert, Georgia Power, Southern River Electric and several local sponsors are wanting to get involved.”

 “Robin Brooks and Southern Rodeo Company will be producing the rodeo.  Proceeds from the rodeo will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.  It is a wall listing local people that have been killed in action.  We also help buy fire equipment for the Meriwether Department of Safety,” said Pritchet.

 “This will be a rodeo worth qualifying for,” said Susan.

 For more information on the IPRA visit www.iprarodeo.com and on Facebook “Like” the International Professional Rodeo Association’s page and the Southeast Region Finals Rodeo’s page.

Photo Credit: John Moon, Seven Springs Photography

The past two years have been very trying ones for Pam Williams.  But the Skiatook, OK cowgirl knows how to weather a storm and puts her trust in God to guide her future.

“In 2010, I broke my arm in a fall at home.  Eight months later, I was in Denton, TX and I was trying to make a slow, practice run on my mare. She decided otherwise and turned out from under me on the first barrel and yard-darted me sliding on my hands and knees about 20 yards.  I had broken my other arm.  It was a long and painful drive back home and another surgery.  Now I’ve got plates and screws in both arms,” recalls Pam.

“Then in 2011, we found out my dad was terminal and we lost him last year.  I only went to a few rodeos in 2012, mainly just to escape from what was going on in my life. It was so hard for me to focus on anything when my Dad was so bad,” she said. 

“We went to Memphis this past December, I didn’t win any money, but I felt like the old “me” again.  Everything changed at that rodeo, it was like God flipped the switch and I got the fire back,” Pam said.

“But I was truly blessed at the National All-Region Finals in Montgomery, AL in March.  I ended up 2^nd in the average.  That really changed my plans.  2012 was the worst year of my life, but I was truly blessed at Montgomery and God has put me with people that have helped me change everything.”

“After I broke my arms, I didn’t know if I would be able to get back on my mare.  I had to dig deeper than I’d ever thought I could.  My husband, Boop (David) is so supportive and encouraging to me.  He told me I could do it.  I only had a couple of runs under my belt before going to Montgomery and I was scared to death.  I was praying as we were running down the alley. “

 
“My mare, Jetta Bug (Bug) is 18.  I got her off of the track as a 2-year-old and I trained her myself.  I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.  She was only the third horse I’d ever had.  Boop got me my first barrel horse when I was in my 30’s.  The next year I got another one that was a team roping horse, I trained him and won my first saddle.”

“Bug wanted to be a barrel horse.  I didn’t start rodeoing on her until she was 13.  We spent a lot of time hauling our four kids to junior rodeos and going to team ropings.  I just kept messing with her and getting her solid.”

“She tries to always work for me and I never worry about ground with her, she’s like a cat.  She doesn’t like hard ground, but she’ll still try.  She’s definitely a rodeo horse, if I take her to a jackpot, we might end up in the 3D,” laughed Pam.

“She’s a crop out paint that is Easy Jet bred.  If I could find 10 more just like her, I’d buy them.  I’m choosey where I go with her because of her age.  I know God will bring me another horse when I need one.”

“We travel with Ralph and Sallye Williams, who are my brother and sister-in-law.  The four of us have gone a million miles together.  Sallye helped me a lot when I was getting started.  Rodeo is such a mental game and they’ve supported Boop and I so much.  When we first started going with Ralph and Sallye I always joked that she was hauling her added money with her!”

“I really hope to qualify for the IFR this year.  We plan to go to the bigger rodeos this spring and see what we get done.  Boop and I both work, so we can’t be gone for too long, but I’m excited to see how it all turns out.  If I don’t make the IFR, it’s not the end of the world.  I’m just enjoying the journey,” says Pam.

The Southern Livestock Exposition hosted the IPRA’s National All-Region Finals March 7 – 9. The top four contestants from each of the IPRA’s regions were invited to Montgomery, AL to compete for over $69,000 in prize money and awards.

When the dust settled and the final tallies were in, Louise MacIntyre of Rockmart, GA had earned her first NARF barrel racing championship. The veteran contender edged out Pam Williams of Skiatook, OK by 64 one/hundredths for the average win.

“It was a really close barrel race,” said Louise. “I was so excited to win this rodeo. My mare had been injured and I had been off of her for a year and a half and I’ve just started back running her. I’m so excited to know that she is back!”

“I ended up 8th in the first go, it was so close, there were 5 of us within a tenth of each other. My goal was to just get solid runs and hopefully place in the average. I really don’t like to set goals, I just go and do the best I can and I love it when we do good,” she said. “I won the second go and the average.”

This win landed MacIntyre solidly into the world standings and has changed her game plan for the coming rodeo season. “I had made plans to go quite a bit this year, but now this makes me want to hit the road sooner,” she said.

MacIntyre and husband, Johnny Sims, have been breeding and raising barrel horses since 1978. “The three times I competed at the IFR, I rode three different horses and I raised and trained each of them and they were all related,” said Louise. “It all started out with my stud named Blackjack Cash. He’s the old-time foundation running horse blood. The mare I am riding now is named Candy’s Cash Streak. She is 14. I broke her when she was 3 and started running her at the rodeos when she was a 4 year-old.”

“I rode her mom at one IFR, her name was I’m A Candy Cash and I rode my mare’s aunt, Cash Can Do, at another IFR,” explained Louise. “Blackjack is gone now but we have a son of his that we are breeding. His name is Me Go Hookin Cash. These horses are good minded and quick to learn. They are not always the fastest, but they are workers.”

“They have a willingness to please. Everything young that I am hauling now is out of Me Go. He’s done an awesome job for us and we have some great young horses out of him. We have about 15 – 20 head at all times that we have raised, trained and compete on. We run barrels and poles on everything and we spend a lot of time riding trails,” said Louise.

“We sell a lot of horses but I have to make sure they are getting good homes before I will sell one. It’s more like I place them rather than just selling them,” she laughs.

Louise and Streak may add another page to the IFR and MacIntyre history books if they qualify for IFR44, marking the appearance of another generation of Candy horses to run at the IPRA’s big show.

Visit the IPRA”s website at www.iprarodeo.com to keep up with rodeo listings, results, and standings.

Jerry Belles was recently presented with the “Most Deserving Old Timer” award at the Annual Red Doffin Old-Timer’s Reunion on Friday, January 19, 2013 during the 43rd edition of the International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.

“This was a very humbling thing for me,” said Belles. “When I look at the names on the list of the people who precede me, I realize that I have some kind of history with so many of them. J.O. Cravens sold me my first IRA card in March of 1961 and I haven’t missed a year since. I was at a rodeo in Davie, Florida and I won 3rd and J.O. told me I was 3rd in the world. I laughed because it was the first rodeo of the year.”

Aging is not a factor to Jerry Belles. The calendar may say that he is 72 years old, but he views getting older as just more opportunities to do what he loves; and what Belles loves is standing behind a microphone calling the play by play action as it unfolds in the rodeo arena.

Jerry’s start in the rodeo world started as most things do, by accident. While in high school, he began working at a riding stable in West Miami, Florida. “I worked at the stables after school, I took out trail rides and cleaned stalls. I had to be at the stables right after school, but the dress code at the Coral Gables Senior High School did not allow jeans or boots. I had to go to the Dean’s Office to be allowed to wear my work clothes to school,” said Jerry.

“I got to riding horses at the stable and there were a couple of colts that would buck and that’s where it started. In 1957, I entered my first rodeo. I entered the bull riding and the bareback riding. I sold a saddle to have money for my entry fees. The stock was just gathered from a ranch, it wasn’t real rodeo stock.”

“The next stepping stone in my rodeo career came at Lake Worth, Florida. The Wild West Show came to town. That’s where I met Bobby Rowe; he was in charge of the livestock and putting on the show. They had a jackpot bull riding and the entry fee was $10. There was about 8 or 10 of us entered. I drew this big white brahma bull with wide, wide horns. He was branded #1 and his name was Jim. I’d heard stories that he was really mean and that he would spin and pull you down in the well and that he’d hit a guy in the temple and killed him. I said I wasn’t getting on him, no way,” explained Jerry.

“Mr. Rowe came up to me and said if I didn’t get on him he’d whip me in front of everybody. Well, I rode the bull and won $90 and that was the start of my bull riding career. I thought I would never have another poor day,” laughed Belles.

“I’ve gotten on over 3,000 bulls in my career and I can remember their names and what I did on each of them, but I can’t remember what I’m sent to the store to get,” laughed Jerry.

“I was running for a title in the SRA in Spartanburg, SC and Jack Cudd was putting on the rodeo. I was busy getting my saddle bronc saddle ready and working rosin into my swells when Jack came up to me and said he was in a bind. His announcer was broke down and couldn’t get to the rodeo. He said the guys I travel with had told him I had announced a horse show and said I could probably announce the rodeo. I said, “Jack, I said walk, trot, and canter for 30 minutes!” recalled Jerry.

“I did announce the rodeo, the best I could. When I got to my event and it was my turn, I told the crowd that I would be the next contestant and that we’d be having a little intermission while I got on my horse. In the bull riding, I was the last bull rider and did the same thing. I ended up splitting second and third in the bull riding. I started announcing regularly after that.”

“I’ve won money in every event in rodeo,” said Belles. “Bareback riding was my least favorite event, I just hated it. I’d worked on ranches all over south Florida catching cows in the swamps so I was a good roper. Bull riding was my favorite event and I’d like to try it again. I loved it. I remember one day I got on 26 bulls trying them out for Maggie Zinser and J Bar J Rodeo. We were in a set of cattle pens with a covered dip pen and when one would get me close to it, I’d have to duck my head. I just craved riding bulls.”

“I’ve fought bulls, picked up, set up and tore down for Longhorn Rodeos for several years. That made me a better announcer. I knew what it took to win and what it took to live. It was my life,” Jerry reflected.

“I met Bruce Lehrke through Lenore and Bobby Rowe. Bruce was the promoter for Loretta Lynn’s Longhorn Rodeos and he had just bought it from her and was looking for a full time announcer. I got the opportunity to co-announce with Bruce at Richmond, VA and Winston Salem and he hired me and I was with him 38 years.”

“There was a big “but” when Bruce hired me. He told me I had to be able to take constructive criticism or don’t take the job. Walter Cronkite was his favorite announcer and he told me he planned to make me the Walter Cronkite of rodeo. Every Saturday and Sunday for 3 years I had to meet with Bruce and his yellow legal pad to go over everything I did wrong. I said this word too much, this was bad grammar, too much accent, just on and on,” said Jerry.

“Jeanne and I made up the piano act and gave it to Lecile Harris to perform and he cracked it out at the Longhorn rodeos. Bruce pointed to Lecile and me and said be there at 9 a.m. for breakfast. We were scared to death. The act had a large breasted woman portrayed in it and we just knew we were both going home. We sat there just shaking in our boots when he said on a scale of 1 to 10, he gave it an 11 and that it was the funniest thing he had ever seen. The next night Bruce came to the announcer stand to make a suggestion and said, “just never mind, you’ll do what you want anyway.” I never had to face another legal pad again,” said Belles.

“I was always so self-conscious about what I said and did because I never knew what he was going to tell me to change. I got a letter from Bruce about two or three years before he died. The letter said that he had made me the best rodeo announcer there was, he had made me the Walter Cronkite of rodeo.”

“I have been truly blessed and highly favored in my life,” said Jerry. “For the past 4 or 5 years, my 16 year old granddaughter, Taylor, has been working with me. She’s been doing my music for me since she was 12. Taylor is consumed with rodeo and production. She flanks bulls and asked for pink flanks for Christmas.”

Jerry and Jeanne Belles have been together 52 years and call McEwen, TN their home. The couple has four children and six grandchildren. Son, Roger is the oldest at 50 and lives in Fort St. Lucie, Florida. Daughters Lori, 47 and Debbie, 46, also live in McEwen. Amy, 37, makes her home in Crawfordville, Florida. All of the girls are still active in rodeo.

By: Tammie Hiatt

When the IPRA added the Cowgirl’s Breakaway Roping to their roster of approved events in 2011, Jenna Lee Hays of Weatherford, OK was all in. “I was very excited when the IPRA added the breakaway roping. I couldn’t wait to buy my card.”

Although Hays wasn’t among the inaugural top 15 cowgirls who debuted their event at IFR42, she made up for it at IFR43. “I came into the finals sitting 10th in the top 15 and I set my goal to win the IFR average,” said the 27-year-old Hays. “My plan was to just rope smart.”

The plan Jenna put together for her first IFR couldn’t have worked any better. She turned in a solid 3.2 second run in the first round. In the second round she got the flag in 3.3 seconds and split 3/4/5. Jenna’s talent came to light in round three when she roped her calf in 2.7 seconds to take the win in the round and further solidify her average quest. Another solid 3.3 run in the fourth round clinched the average win with a total time of 12.5 on four head. “I was so excited to win the average,” Jenna said.

Photo Credit: Guaranteed Cowgirl-Peggy Gander

Roping is second nature to Hays. She comes from a rodeo family, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, father, and brother. “I have competed in barrel racing in the past, but roping is more natural for me,” said Hays. “I love breakaway roping but compete in the tie-down roping as well. It’s a lot more physical, but I love it! I’ll admit I’ve been grubbed by a calf more than once, but that goes with it. It happens and you just take it and go on from there.”

Jenna rides a 10-year-old gelding named Cricket. “He’s a little horse with a big attitude,” she said. “He’s really quick across the line and has a big stop. I got him from Tara Timms, he was her college breakaway horse and she wasn’t planning on roping anymore and didn’t want him to go to waste. I ran a few calves on him and said, let me get my checkbook! I love him.”                         

Jenna’s positive attitude toward her rodeo career and her life is something she works at every single day….literally. She’s the assistant rodeo coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK. “I served as the graduate assistant rodeo coach for two years and for the past two years I have been the permanent assistant coach. It’s a job I absolutely love. Every day I wake up excited to go to work and not many people can say that,” said Jenna.

“I graduated from SWOSU with degrees in Marketing and Sports Management. I competed on the SWOSU rodeo team and worked my way into coaching,” said Hays. “Being a rodeo coach does help me as a competitor. Sometimes the advice that I give the kids is something that I realize I need to give myself. I stress to them to go have fun and do the best they can.”

Jenna’s day consist of heading to the barn early to feed and check on the stock and prepare for practice later in the day. “We practice timed events every day,” said Jenna. “I usually work with 15-20 kids each day. Sometimes I have to point out that their attitude may be hindering their progress and with a simple change in attitude they will start doing better.”

“I have to practice what I preach to the kids and this came into play at the rodeo at Yale, OK, last summer. I’d been having a rough go for a while and I drew a bad calf. I knew what I had to do to get by him so I got a plan together and ended up winning third. That win boosted my confidence and turned things around for me.”

“I can’t wait for summer to get here. My summer schedule at school is pretty flexible so I can get to a lot of rodeos. The head coach, Mike Visnieski, is really supportive of my rodeo career and me being out there roping at the rodeos. I’m going to raise my goal a little higher this year and aim for the world championship. If I can have a good summer and rope smart, we’ll see what happens,” Hays said.

By: Tammie Hiatt

Stassi Pyne of Scotts, MI claimed her second world championship at the conclusion of IFR43. But this victory was not just about a trophy saddle and a gold buckle, Stassi acquired something much more valuable, a friend.

“I wasn’t planning on winning the world this year, but it’s really good. I had the mindset that if it happens, it happens. My main goal was to win the average,” said Pyne. “Winning it this time wasn’t a sweet victory for me, not like the first one.”

Stassi came into her third IFR trailing the number one barrel racer, Taylor Smith of Hazel, KY. Smith, a 19-year-old rookie, had been on fire the entire year and had dominated the barrel racing standings as well as the breakaway roping standings. Taylor made IPRA history as the first female to ever be named as the IPRA All-Around Rookie of the Year.

Taylor was in the driver’s seat for two world titles as well as a bundle of rookie accolades when she determined something was off with her horse, Peppy. “She competed on him in both the breakaway roping and the barrels the first two rounds and then decided something was not right,” said Stassi. “I hadn’t really talked to Taylor before this and she hadn’t talked to me, I guess we both assumed the other was stuck-up or something.”

“Rob, my husband, said I might think he was crazy but he asked if we should offer to let her ride my back-up horse, Bill. I told him I thought that was a great idea, I just wasn’t sure how to approach her,” said Stassi. “I prayed for the right words to come to me and I walked up to her and started talking to her. Taylor was shocked and thrilled at the same time. She’d seen me compete on Bill and knew he was a good horse. I’m just sorry he didn’t work good for her. He’s really hard to ride and it’s so tough to just jump on a different horse and have it all go well, especially at the finals.”

“I have gained a good friend in Taylor. We are planning to travel together this season. I’ve been there and done that and I think I can help her. She reminds me of me at that age. We have a lot in common, she and her family are Christians and she’s a very good sport. She kept her composure even though she was watching everything fall apart. I give her a lot of credit.”

“Taylor’s mom came up to me with tears in her eyes and said that was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her,” said Stassi. “We attended the church service Sunday morning and the message was to put Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. I knew I had done the right thing. Either way, this was a blessing. If Taylor had won the world, my horse would have helped her and I would have been thrilled if that had happened.”

“My kids, who are little, even learned something from this. Last night at dinner they prayed for Taylor’s horse to get better,” said Stassi. “This year, it was about so much more than a saddle and a buckle. My mom said it was so much sweeter to her because she saw what she had taught me as a child come through. I’m really looking forward to traveling with Taylor this season.”

“I want to acknowledge and thank all of my sponsors that have helped me with all of my success. They include Oxy-Gen, Purina, Thoro-Bred, Beadle Lake Large Animal Clinic, Soul Sister Hats, Back on Track, Anderson Bean Boots, Conklin Fast Track, Thera-Plates, Skito Saddle Pads, Horsecraft, Myers Chiropractic, Millbrook Tack, Galesburg Ford and Dazzle Rock Tack. I appreciate them so much,” said Stassi.

Stassi earned second in the first round with a 15.387 second run behind Sallye Williams of Skiatook, OK, who turned in a 15.289. Round two found Stassi second again with a 15.259 second run this time trailing Natalie Overholt of Burr Oak, MI’s time of 15.231. The third round was all Stassi’s when she stopped the clock in 15.424 to take the win. Carrollton, GA’s cowgirl, Terri Alexander turned in the fastest time of the finals in the fourth round with a time of 15.092. Pyne turned in a 15.505, which was good enough for a third place finish in the round and the win in the average.

For a complete list of IFR43 results visit www.iprarodeo.com.

Photo Credit: Peggy Gander, Guaranteed Cowgirl