Meet the Member Wes Bray
story by Lily Weinacht Wes Bray clinched his goal for his final season of high school rodeo, finishing in the top 20 in the nation […]
Ellie pole bending at the 2018 NHSFR - Acentric Rodeo
story by Lily Weinacht
“Rodeo has always been a big part of my life, and I think the most significant part of it is the sportsmanship and the relationships it makes. Traveling all over the state of Wyoming allows you to meet so many people, and they will have an everlasting impact on your life,” says Ellie Bard. The 18-year-old from Sheridan, Wyoming, who is the 2018/2019 WHSRA Student President, is equally passionate about helping her fellow teammates build the same relationships. “We’re all a part of a wonderful association and it’s such a good way to connect,” explains Ellie, who also carries flags at each rodeo and helps field questions from WHSRA members.
Prior to serving as the president, Ellie was the student breakaway roping director, and during the 2018 NHSFR, she represented the WHSRA in pole bending, barrel racing, and breakaway roping. She won her first state title last season as well, clinching the 2018 WHSRA All-Around Cowgirl and Reserve Pole Bending Champion titles, along with winning the average in barrel racing. “I didn’t realize qualifying in the barrel racing was in reach—I missed all the fall season (in barrels) and just started in the spring working to connect with my horse, but I had a really good state finals. It was a really special experience going out to Nationals and showcasing that what Wyoming has is definitely something to be proud of.”
Barrel racing and breakaway roping are particular favorites for Ellie, but she also enjoys pole bending, goat tying, and team roping with heeler Chance Stevie from Cora, Wyoming. “I think we have strong breakaway competition in Wyoming. It’s a very teamwork based event, and there are so many connections that need to be made between you and your horse to be successful.” Ellie hauls five horses down the road—one per event—and even goes to Wickenburg, Arizona, each year for quality riding time in the winter. “My barrel horse, Czech, has changed my rodeo career exponentially, and every time we run, he has a heart of gold. My pole bending horse, Bizee, I’ve had since my eighth-grade season, and it was definitely a rough start at first, but we’ve created something special.” She also breakaway ropes on Boone, heads on Gray Dog, and ties goats off Dobey. “I really couldn’t do it without all five teammates behind me.”
Ellie further attributes her success to the support of her family and friends. “My parents, Irv and Cathy Bard, especially are out there every day practicing with me and helping me exercise horses. They’ve pushed me to be the competitor that I am, and I couldn’t have done it without them. They’ve both competed in rodeo, and I grew up on my grandparents’ big ranch outside of Sheridan until we moved to town a few years ago. The Kohr family from Gillette has helped me exponentially over the last few years. We met them through the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association a few years ago and we’ve been family friends ever since.”
A senior at Big Horn High School, Ellie goes to school four days a week, and is a full-time college student as well as high school student. “I take a lot of college courses through Sheridan College, and I’ll be graduating with an associates in general science before graduating with my high school diploma.” She plans to start on her associates degree in pre-pharmacy next, and college rodeo. “For the next season, I would like to be consistent in all my events, and I need to work on my mental focus to have that competitive edge. The rodeo family is something special, and being a part of that outside the rodeo arena is truly incredible. Rodeo is the key aspect of my life.”
story by Lily Weinacht Wes Bray clinched his goal for his final season of high school rodeo, finishing in the top 20 in the nation […]
story by Lily Weinacht WHSRA athlete Karissa Phillips is taking her skills and lessons learned from high school rodeo to the college level this fall. […]
story by Lily Weinacht Dalton McCaslin concluded his senior year in the WHSRA as the 2019 state bull riding champion. “I knew I had to […]
Phone: (620) 465-2297
Fax: (800) 672-4501
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.
May 12, 2019
Bareback Riding
1 Donny Proffit 120
2 Riggen Myers 71.5
3 Derrick Robinson 10
4 Dimaggio Hamilton 9
5 Denton Pavlenko 9
6 Drake Amundson 9
7 Cameron Henson 8
Barrel Racing
1 Shelby Petersen 109
2 Shay Hough 102
3 Maddie Fantaskey 91
4 Taylor Nichols 89
5 Ellie Bard 83
6 Haiden Thompson 78.5
7 Cedar Kohr 75
8 Isabelle Camino 51
9 Baily Coombs 37
10 Halle Hladky 32
Boys Cutting
1 Wes Bray 111
2 Hunter Hayden 100
3 Preston Schwartzkopf 92
4 Joseph Hayden 91.5
5 Kasen York 91
6 Broc Schwartzkopf 15
7 Kall Mayfield 11.5
Reakaway Roping
1 Ellie Bard 67
2 Ellie Anderson 59
3 Jordyn Mcnamee 56
4 Rayne Grant 56
5 Kaydin Davis 49
6 Hadley Furnival 45
7 Shaylee Terry 42
8 Haiden Thompson 40
9 Hailey Hardeman 36
10 Kyra Corson 35
Bull Riding
1 Brody Hasenack 90
2 Dalton Mccaslin 84
3 Zain Fitzgerald 82
4 Wyatt Phelps 74
5 Donny Proffit 43.5
6 Matthew Fenton 41.5
7 Cjay Firnekas 41.5
8 Landen Brownlee 34
9 Tipton Wilson 28
10 Derek Grant 18
Girls Cutting
1 Ayanah Winsor 115.5
2 Emme Norsworthy 100
3 Taylor Gibson 92
4 Aniya Teppo 88.5
5 Maddie Fantaskey 34
Goat Tying
1 Tavy Leno 118
2 Haiden Thompson 109
3 Brooke Worman 92.5
4 Shaylee Terry 79
5 Karissa Phillips 76
6 Mckenna Clingman 56
7 Ellie Bard 49
8 Rayne Grant 47
9 Baylee Delbridge 41
10 Lanna Jordan 38
Light Rifle
1 Colter Nunn 30
2 Stratton Kohr 27
3 Tipton Wilson 23
4 Cody Caldwell 20
5 Peityn Manor 19
6 Alexis Wilson 14
7 Kennedy Sheehan 10
Pole Bending
1 Shay Hough 118
2 Halle Hladky 99
3 Shelby Petersen 73
4 Rayne Grant 66.5
5 Ellie Bard 64.5
6 Madison Wolff 61
7 Jordyn Mcnamee 45
8 Hailey Hardeman 44
9 Haiden Thompson 42
10 Amber Salazar 42
Reined Cow Horse
1 Clay Kinnison 38
2 Preston Schwartzkopf 32
3 Kasen York 30.5
4 Maddie Fantaskey 27
5 Tierney George 23
6 Peyton Kottwitz 21.5
7 Ayanah Winsor 19
8 Morgan Vaughan 12.5
9 Scotlyn Flitner 11.5
10 Hanna Griemsman 3
Saddle Bronc
1 Jase Longwell 63
2 Kayson Dory 49
3 Donny Proffit 38
4 Cian Ahern 20
5 Parker Manor 18
6 Wyatt Phelps 10
7 Guston Lozier 10
8 Cody Acord 8
Steer Wrestling
1 Winsten Mcgraw 98
2 Kaden Berger 78
3 Kagen King 73
4 Skyler Lubkeman 69
5 Jake Deveraux 63
6 Chase Stricklin 60
7 Danny Goold 52
8 Derrick Robinson 37
9 Chance Sorenson 33
10 Donald Quick 19
Team Roping
1 Jade Espenscheid 95
2 Coy Johnson 95
3 Kolby Bradley 62.5
4 Arye Espenscheid 62.5
5 Blake Afdahl 61
6 Clay Reiner 61
7 Carson Johnson 53
8 Teegan Leno 51
9 Bryan Lemmon 51
10 Jared Lemmon 51
11 Jase Longwell 48
12 Winsten Mcgraw 44
13 Lane Anderson 44
14 Cooper Deveraux 40.5
15 Jake Deveraux 40.5
16 Tanner Handy 40
17 Cameron Klatt 40
18 Bryton Scheller 37
19 Teagan Bentley 36
20 Dawson Mccuin 36
Tie Down Calf Roping
1 Jake Deveraux 83
2 Preston Schwartzkopf 77
3 Cooper Deveraux 69
4 Colter Ellis 67
5 Clay Reiner 63
6 Teagan Bentley 46
7 Cody Caldwell 45
8 Teegan Leno 45
9 Coy Thar 44
10 Weston Mills 43
Trap Shooting
1 Colter Ellis 28
2 Bryson Bartholomew 27
3 Carsten Hughes 25.5
4 Kolton Miller 17
5 Dawson Mccuin 12.5
6 Quincy Reynolds 12
7 Brodee Barkhurst 11.5
8 Alexis Wilson 10.5
9 Kagen King 8.5
10 Clay Reiner 7.5