National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association-Alumni (NIRAA) Archives

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2021 NIRAA, Inc. Scholarship Awarded at the CNFR

courtesy of Merrill Ellis The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. awarded $42,500 in scholarships at the 73rd College National Finals Rodeo June 13-19 in Casper, Wyoming. This is the largest scholarship amount the alumni have ever awarded to college rodeo athletes. More than 400 men and women from over 100 colleges and universities competed in ten rodeo events during the seven day competition. The CNFR can be compared to the NCAA national championships in…

Meet the Member Dean Wang 1990 NIRA Champion Steer Wrestler

courtesy of Don Reichert Fourth generation Montana cowboy, Dean Wang, won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) steer wrestling in 1990 and will be honored at the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. (NIRAA) Reunion June 18 and 19 in Casper, Wyoming. The 29th reunion will be held at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center during the 2021 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR). Dean, an NIRAA life member, is from Baker, Montana where his Scandinavian…

NIRA Alumni Honorees

courtesy of NIRAA Four former National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) standouts will be acknowledged during the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming June 18 and 19. Butch Bratsky will be recognized as the 2020 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. (NIRAA) Alumnus of the Year during the June 18 performance of the CNFR and Martha Jordan will receive the 2020 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Outstanding Contributor of the Year Award at the NIRA Foundation…

Meet the Member Jerry Hawkes

story by by Don Reichert Jerry and his wife, Luz, live on a ridge east of Casper, Wyoming where Jerry says, “To fly a kite you need a lead rope to keep it in one spot. Meeteetse, Wyoming was the first place I kind of remember. Dad, a University of Arizona graduate, was with the Forest Service and they moved people around. Then down to Escalante, Utah and back to Afton, Wyoming where I graduated…

Meet the Member King of the Cowboys

story by Sage Marie Massey Most everyone in the rodeo industry has watched his flamboyant opening ceremonies, cheered on his supreme bucking stock, and knows when we say “King of the Cowboys” we are referring to Mr. Cotton Rosser. What many don’t know, however, is he was born a city boy with a cowboy dream. Rosser was born August 5, 1928, in Long Beach, California. Surrounded by asphalt and buildings, Rosser’s inspiration came from silver…

Meet the Member Randy & Sue Magers

story by Mary Fuller Randy & Sue Magers have shared a love for good Quarter Horses and rodeo since they first met at an AJRA Rodeo held in Comanche, Texas in 1963. According to Randy, it was love at first site and has continued even today after over 53 years of marriage. Both rodeoed for Tarleton in the 1960s as well as completing their Bachelor of Science Degrees in 1969. Master of Science degrees in…

Meet the Member David Craig

story by Larry Burgess David Craig died May 18, 2020 apparently as a result from a fall from a horse he was training. David was born in Clovis, New Mexico on June 5, 1947. He spent most of his childhood in Las Vegas, New Mexico with his parents, John and Wanda Craig and his three siblings, Carroll, Dan and Kathy. David began his rodeo career in high school and continued throughout his college years. After…

Meet the Member Cowboy Legend, Jack Roddy

story by Sage Massey Born on October 3rd, 1937, in the heart of San Francisco, Jack Roddy grew up riding and roping with his father. He won his first belt buckle when he was just eight years old. No one was surprised when Roddy chose to go down the rodeo trail. Roddy graduated from Cal Poly in 1959 with a degree in animal husbandry and multiple National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association titles. He was one of…

Meet the Member Martha Thompkins- Jordan

story by Merrill Ellis For most children, who have notable sports figures as fathers it is sometimes difficult to follow in their footsteps. However, this was not so for Martha Thompkins Jordan daughter of eight times rodeo world champion, Harry Thompkins. She explained, “He set a standard in the arena with all of his championships that would have been hard to surpass but he instilled in me the desire to win, to never give up…

Meet the Member Butch Bratsky -2020 NIRAA Alumnus of the Year

story by Merrill Ellis From mutton bustin’ to banking, Butch Bratsky has pulled his rope, positioned himself, and gotten the job done! The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, Inc. was lucky enough to have Butch at the helm of the organization for eight years. After stepping down in 2019, he has remained a productive board member and contributor to the NIRAA Scholarship Fund. So, it was a natural that the NIRAA Board of Directors would nominate…

NIRAA News

by Merrill Ellis As I was preparing this article for press time, the President of United States had extended the social distancing until April 30, 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic. I am hopeful and prayerful that when you read this article in the May issue of Rodeo News the United States is starting to recover from this historical outbreak. Several announcements have been made by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association during the months…

NIRAA 29th Reunion & Group to Award $35,000 in Scholarships

story by Merrill Ellis June 19 and 20 the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. (NIRAA) will celebrate 29 years hosting a reunion and providing scholarships for college rodeo athletes. The annual reunion will take place during the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center. NIRAA will honor all the NIRA national champions, championship teams, top finishers, queens, coaches, and faculty and student presidents for the years ending in “0”:…