Colorado Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA) Archives

Associations

Colorado Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA)

Members

Meet the Member Heidi Geesen

story by Siri Stevens Heidi Geesen is the new secretary for the CPRA. She will take over her duties February 1. One thing is for certain, Heidi is not new to rodeo. She has been competing since she was five, working her way through the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association (1994 Wyoming state high school goat tying champion), then moving to college at Casper where she was a three time Central Rocky Mountain region goat…

Meet the Member Jenna Pruitt

story by Siri Stevens Jenna has competed in the CPRA for 7 years, winning Rookie of the Year in 2011 and average in the barrel racing at this year’s Finals. The stay-at-home mom to 10-month-old Chloe Rose spends her time traveling with her PRCA tie-down roping husband, Riley, or home on the ranch near Gering, Nebraska. Her sister, Nicole Waggoner, talked her into getting back into chasing cans in the CPRA this year very late…

Meet the Member Jase Staudt

story by Siri Stevens Jase Staudt is leading the All Around for the CPRA. “The CPRA is a great association – I like the rodeos, they have great stock and a great board of directors to put the best rodeos on. I can work and still go to the rodeos – usually three a weekend. They have great added money and the rodeos are very competitive – there’s a lot of talent at them.” The…

Meet the Committee Montrose County Fair & Rodeo

story by Siri Stevens Montrose County Fair & Rodeo is celebrating 132 years, more than 15 of those being a CPRA sanctioned event. Held the last week of July, the rodeo is usually a two-day event, but this year the fair was shortened by a few days and the weekend will be packed with not only a rodeo, but the livestock sale will happen after the morning slack. Then there will be fiddle contest before…

Meet the Committee Cowboy Up in Kiowa

story by Siri Stevens Cowboy Up in Kiowa began in 1995 after starting as the Elbert County Rodeo for the first two years. This award-winning rodeo has grown over the years, winning the CPRA’s Super Purse rodeo four times in a row now along with 20 other awards over its history. According to board president, Angelique Dieker, the formula for success is pretty simple: “We believe in taking care of the contestants, our volunteers and…

Meet the Member Nicole Waggoner

story by Lily Weinacht Nicole Waggoner didn’t expect to be the CPRA Barrel Racing Champion last year. The 22 year old from Pueblo West, Colorado, went into the finals sitting second, aiming to win the average, but she climbed to first place in the year-end standings after winning the first round. Her horse pulled a shoe, but she was able to finish out on her bay mare, who was just coming back after a summer…

Meet the Member Sharon Mowry

story by Jodie Calhoun Sharon Mowry owner of Diamond S Rodeo Productions in Evergreen, Colorado has joined the Colorado Pro Rodeo Association to handle sponsorships, advertising and marketing for the upcoming 2018 season. Prior to joining the CPRA, Sharon worked with the Mile High Rodeo Association, the host committee for the CPRA Finals, during the 2016, 2017 Finals Rodeo. Although not a great rider and definitely not a competitor, Sharon’s love for the sport of…

Meet the Member Zach Devol

story by Lily Weinacht “I love the whole aspect of being around rodeo and being a part of it, and I love fighting bulls,” says Zach Devol. The 24-year-old bullfighter from Elbert, Colorado, started out as a competitor, entering both roughstock and timed events in the NLBRA. He went on to rodeo for Otero Junior College and found instead that his niche was face to face with the bovine athletes. “At our college practices, we…

Meet the Member Branden Edwards

story by Lily Weinacht Branden Edwards wears several hats in the rodeo world, from CPRA vice president, to team roper and rodeo announcer. Yet before his voice carried over the sod and grass of rodeos and fairgrounds, it was serenading audiences in Seattle, where Branden worked as an actor, performer, and singer for several years after college. “I have a degree in vocal music with an emphasis in opera and vocal performance,” says the 32-year-old…

Meet the Member Harry Ash

story by Lily Weinacht A difference of hemispheres is no match for a cowboy’s dedication to his craft, especially in the case of Harry Ash, a native of Bowral, New South Wales in Australia. The 23 year old first came to the United States three years ago on a rodeo scholarship to Odessa College in Texas, thanks to his rodeo coach, CJ Aragon. This past year was the first time Harry was able to stay…

Meet the Member Ryan Belew

story by Lily Weinacht La Junta, Colorado, native Ryan Belew is the 2017 CPRA Finals Tie-Down Roping Champion. At first, the 28-year-old wasn’t sure that he would be able to enter the finals, but as soon as everything fell into place, he was on his way to Colorado Springs, where he and his horse Boots ran 36.60 on three head. “I liked the finals location. I was invited to the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo…

Meet the Member Conner Rowley

story by Lily Weinacht Bullfighter Conner Rowley is working the CPRA finals for the third consecutive year this September, protecting bull riders alongside his friend and fellow bullfighter, Zach Devol. “The (finals) atmosphere is different because all of my good pals are there, but I’m doing the same thing—I’m there to do a good job. You’ve got to be consistent,” says Conner. The 21-year-old from Westcliffe, Colorado, was 15 when he fought his first bull.…