On The Trail Archives - The Rodeo News

On The Trail

On The Trail with J.J. Elshere

South Dakota native J.J. Elshere finished 16th in the PRCA saddle bronc riding standings in 2018, and won his fifth Badlands Circuit Saddle Bronc Champion title in October. While J.J., short for Jeremy James, is also a four-time WNFR qualifier and the 2006 WNFR average champion in the saddle bronc…

On The Trail with Tyler Waltz

Born and raised in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, Tyler Waltz was the oddball through high school, focusing on rodeo instead of other sports. “I grew up with Jeff Askey and he and I had rodeo in common.” Tyler worked every event in high school, trying to make his childhood dream of…

On The Trail with Nate Jestes

Nate Jestes grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado. “I lived in town and spent my childhood playing sports.” Since the age of 6, Nate played hockey, baseball, and soccer as well as wrestling, track/field, and golf. When he got into high school, he concentrated on football and lacrosse, receiving academic…

On The Trail with L.A. Waters Quarter Horses & The Outhier Family

Mike and Kristy Outhier are continuing the brand that Kristy’s parents began – LA Waters Quarter Horses. “My dad (Lou Waters) put himself through college as a cotton farmer,” said Kristy. “When they moved to Boston, mom (Wanda) helped put him through business school – they had a $20 per…

On The Trail with Nellie Miller

Annelle (Nellie) Miller gets home as often as she can. “This year I didn’t have to travel near as much,” said the mother of two. “We had a pretty good start in the winter so we could pick and choose where we wanted to go.” Nellie has fit motherhood into…

On The Trail with Lacee Curnutt

Lacee Curnutt from Talihina, Oklahoma, grew up riding on a ranch. Her grandfather, Don Huddleston (Back When They Bucked, page 18)raised her riding with him on the southeast Oklahoma ranch. “My grandpa went to the NFR 8 times and even though he had retired by the time I started hazing,…

On The Trail with the Dickens Family

story by Shiley Blackwell Last month, college junior Maddy Dickens was racing to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association barrel racing reserve championship on her main mount, Bucky. This month, you can catch them on the WPRA rodeo trail. “It’s all I’ve ever done,” she says. “When I take a step…

On The Trail with Cort Scheer

Cort Scheer is building his retirement one bronc at a time. The Elsmere, Nebraska, cowboy will top $1 million by the end of this season and he has managed his earnings well, investing in cattle for his family’s ranch in Nebraska and a piece of property in Stephenville, Texas. “I…

On The Trail with Rowdy Norwood

Rowdy Norwood of Amarillo, Texas, makes his debut at the 2018 NLBFR in July leading the senior boy rookie standings with 3,207 points separating him from second place. Rowdy, 16, originally joined the association with the goal of qualifying for the 2019 Jr. Ironman. He put his nose to the…

On The Trail with Cole Futrell

Rodeo roots run deep for young North Carolina cowboy, Cole Futrell. The Kidd, Tucker, and Futrell families have had an influence on the sport in the southeast. Cole, a first-year, youth IPRA member, is 16-years-old, and was born in Charlotte, North Carolina where his start in life was on his…

On The Trail with Justene Hirsig

Justene Hirsig from Cheyenne, Wyoming, turned 21 a year ago, and it’s been a great year for her. She won The Wrangler Team Roping Championships All Girl roping with Jimmi Jo Montera as well as second with Lee Sherwood. “I was first, second, and third high call,” she said. She…

On The Trail with Frontier Rodeo Company

story by Cassandra Robledo Jerry Nelson’s love for rodeo began in 1991 when a friend invited Jerry and his family to their ranch in south Texas. As the son of a professional baseball player and raised in the city, he didn’t know a thing about rodeo. “The first rodeo I…