Meet the Member Libby Berger
story by Lindsay King Third generation rodeo competitor 13-year-old Libby Berger from Udall, Kansas, has a need for speed. “Barrels or breakaway roping is my […]
Levi Burson - Allen’s Rodeo Photos
story by Kyle Eustice
When 28-year-old Levi Burson moved to Alva, Oklahoma in 2007 to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University to study Ag-Business, he never imagined he’d stick around. But nine years later, the North Loop, Nebraska native is still there, working as a plant operator for the cryogenic gas plant, Targa Resources.
He still makes it home to see his parents, Kenneth and Ronda, every once in awhile and occasionally sees his sister Jessica, 24, and brother Cody, 26. Between work and rodeo, he doesn’t have too much time for anything else.
“I started riding when I was a kid,” said Levi. “My parents had family farm and I was always a horse lover. I started taking it seriously in junior high.”
Levi took a course from a gentleman in Ord, Nebraska, Mark Wray, who trained quarter horses. He eventually went to work for him when he was 13, cleaning stalls, saddling horses, and as he got older, riding young horses. It got to where he would turn steers for Mark, so he could focus on his show horses.
“I did that until I left for college,” said Levi. “Mark took me in like one of his own kids, so I owe a lot to him.”
Last summer, Levi joined the CPRA and team ropes with his partner, Garrett England. They practice together at least a couple of times a week as his neighbor Shannon Frost’s arena or a Garrett’s place in Kiowa, Kansas.
“Garrett and I have a great chemistry,” said Levi. “We went to college together and I went to his wedding not too long ago. It makes our rodeo partnership that much better.”
While Levi is not married, he has a girlfriend of two years, Tori Bethlefs, who grew up 50 miles away from Levi. He admits they “get closer to marriage every day.” She’s undoubtedly impressed by his rodeo skills, but Levi isn’t too concerned with just one major accomplishment. He believes it’s all about the big picture.
“Because I came from a family where nobody else rodeoed, just getting to where I am today is a big deal to me,” admitted Levi. “But if I had to pick one, my most memorable moment was winning the 12 Gold Plus roping at Broken Bow, Nebraska championships with Mark in the team roping category.”
Despite his success, Levi doesn’t plan on doing it professionally. He just wants to have fun and make a little extra money on the side. In his free time, he enjoys going to concerts. From Kid Rock to the Rolling Stones, he listens to a little bit of everything.
As he continues to participate in CPRA events, he’s applying what he’s learned over the years to be the best rodeo contestant possible.
“You have to be dedicated,” said Levi. “A lot of people don’t like to admit it, but you have to learn how to lose. You have to be a good loser, before you can be a good winner.”
story by Lindsay King Third generation rodeo competitor 13-year-old Libby Berger from Udall, Kansas, has a need for speed. “Barrels or breakaway roping is my […]
story by Lindsay King Concordia, Kansas, transplant Layne Lagasse is a tried and true team roper. “Rodeo is about the only hobby I am good […]
story by Lindsay King A little later to the rodeo road than others, team roper Aaron Paul from El Dorado, Kansas, has not missed […]
Phone: 785-254-7385
Email: centralplainsrodeo@hotmail.com
Visit Our Website
TERMS:
Rodeo Newstm (ISSN 1934-5224) is published 12 times a year, semi-monthly May-Nov; once in Dec Jan, Feb., March, and April by Publication Printers, 2001 S. Platte River Drive, Denver, Colo., 80223. Iris Ink, Inc., parent company of Rodeo News is located at 3604 WCR 54G, Laporte, Colo., 80535. Subscriptions are $30 per year. Periodicals postage paid at LaPorte, Colo., and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rodeo News, PO Box 842, LaPorte, Colo., 80535.
Canada Post (CPC) publication #40798037. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Rodeo News carries advertising and editorials as a service to the readers. However, publication of advertisements and editorials in Rodeo News does not commit Rodeo News to agree with or guarantee any of the merchandise or livestock advertised.
August 9, 2019
Bareback Riding
1 Danny Weil 3015.55
2 Ty Pope 665.36
3 Dakota Procobio 331.82
4 Mike Fred 253.8
5 Colt Eck 167.63
Sadde Bronc Riding
1 Tim Williams 1457.4
2 Luke Rush 735.44
3 Sage Dierks 371
4 Cable Wareham 324.3
5 Bryce Eck 248.16
Bull Riding
1 Cash Toews 2649.83
2 Brylen Dees 1194.97
3 Richard Schleicher 998.75
4 Ivan Gutierrez 916.5
5 Jackson Ward 472.82
6 Luke Mast 161.91
Team Roping Heading
1 Jake McCullough 5416.64
2 Kelton Hill 4240.63
3 Cole Pearson 3761.53
4 Curry Kirchner 2400.83
5 Tyler Hobert 2316.61
6 Nick Becker 2069.97
7 Layne Lagasse 1724.48
8 Cole Remington 1707.04
9 Brett Christensen 1528.41
10 Troy Boone 1526.31
11 Zane Leftwich 1160.9
12 Billy Peters 1091.6
13 Ethan McDowell 812.25
14 Justin Brown 699.12
15 Kass Bittle 630.38
Team Roping Heeling
1 Linden Stueve 4647.14
2 Raylen Stueve 3761.53
3 Jaydon Laubhan 3648.96
4 Dawson McMaster 2069.97
5 Derrick Jantzen 1910.78
6 Taylor Schotte 1724.48
7 Tyler Mahlandt 1709.91
8 Mitch Murray 1707.04
9 Chase Boekhaus 1528.41
10 Tanner Nall 1526.31
11 Toby Mentzer 1369.59
12 Kyle Pontious 1160.9
13 Troy Gaston 769.5
14 Aaron Paul 699.12
15 Shawn Hollenbeck 182.4
Steer Wrestling
1 Brandon Volker 2458.88
2 Tyler Garten 1336.42
3 Ryan Swayze 963.68
4 Hunter Crawford 647.66
5 Scott Schaefer 532.98
6 Riley Westhaver 522.87
7 Joby Allen 485.74
8 Logan Mullin 355.32
9 Kyle Van Doren 155.4
Calf Roping
1 Tyler Garten 1357.38
2 Taylor Donaldson 752.89
3 Joe Macoubrie 718.16
4 Kyle Winslow 689.1
5 Zane Arnold 638.73
6 Jerome Schneeberger 611.82
7 Bryce Loyd 503.72
8 Kelly Wood 446.5
9 Travis Tetrick 384.22
10 Luke Blanton 267.9
11 Kelton Hill 142.02
Barrel Racing
1 Sarah Johnson 1379.28
2 Shauni Leftwich 1178
3 Libby Berger 1053.07
4 Amber Scales 967
5 Toni Shaw 893.55
6 Marsha Nelson 742.83
7 Cheyenne Larson 681.13
8 Jacey Bair 647.96
9 Ashley Forred 616.64
10 Katie Larson 498.31
11 Prairie Rose Robbins 474.7
12 Deb Massey 462.48
13 Britt Widrig 386.82
14 Kim Harland 344.44
15 Melissa Wanger 272.62
All Around
1 Kelton Hill 3158.77
2 Tyler Garten 2693.8
3 Joe Macourbie 1316.26