Kelly Timberman from Mills, WY is returning for his seventh straight national finals and he does so using a riggin’ that is called the “Wyoming High Lift.” Timberman worked with Barstow Rodeo Equipment Co. to perfect the piece after four-and-a-half years of tinkering. Kelly calls the new, flexible, riggin’ extremely horse friendly. He won the Chris LeDoux Tribute Rodeo last month in Casper on the maiden voyage for the equipment.
Bobby Harris returns to the national finals after taking an eight year break from the hard road work necessary to get there. He won the team roping (heeler) world championship in 1991 and at 47 he is the oldest male contestant at the national finals this time. Harris teaches roping schools and clinics across the country. Many of the best young guns out there today are grads of Harris’ training.
We’ll have video features about Bobby Harris and Kelly Timberman – from their home places and elsewhere – produced by next weekend. You can also watch for our features on our partner television stations’ news/sports broadcasts during the national finals. Those outlets are: KTVQ, Channel 2 and KULR 8 in Billings; KCWY, Channel 13 in Casper; KGWN, Channel 5 in Cheyenne, KOTA, Channel 3 in Rapid City and KIDK, Channel 3 in Pocatello/Idaho Falls. Because my work history includes a long stint as a reporter and radio news director under an air-name – Curtis Scott – that is the name I still use for television and radio. Old habits are difficult to discard. Mike McCrimmon is our video pro and we work side-by-side throughout the year but most heavily during the NFR.
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| Miss Congeniality 2008 |
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo livestock shows a good number of Wyoming-raised animals including NFR vets Miss Congeniality (saddle bronc – Powder River Rodeo Co., Riverton; Kid Twist (bull – Burns Rodeo Co. Laramie; and Power River’s bareback horse called Showboat. Burch Rodeo Co. of Rozet brings the most Wyoming livestock to Vegas including their bareback horse known as Big 85, six saddle bronc horses featuring Lunitic Fringe – the bronc that carried Rod Hay to the win in the $50K round at Rodeo Houston this year – and three bulls. Triple V Rodeo Co. of Casper has a bull at the 2010 NFR that goes by the moniker Really Red. Here is the book on that critter as provided by Dona Vold Larsen: “He’s a solid red-horned bull weighing 1700 pounds and a ranch-raised six-year-old. He’s been ridden infrequently and is noted for gathering up and hooking cowboys and the bullfighters.” That should make for some excitement in the Thomas & Mack Center arena.
The Wyoming Office of Tourism will once again team with Wrangler retail at their Cowboy Christmas store (booth 425) in the Las Vegas Hilton Convention Center. We’ll have Team Wyoming members on hand for you to greet, meet and cheer on to a successful finals and a winning 2011.
Signing schedules are subject to change but here’s how things looks like right now: Click to view larger image
Our annual “Salute to Team Wyoming” breakfast in Las Vegas is Friday morning. Governor Dave Freudenthal and First Lady (now federal judge) Nancy Freudenthal will be on hand for the event. Gene Bryan will emcee. Gene, a mentor and a former Wyoming tourism director, was one of the leaders who helped the NFR get off to a successful start in Las Vegas after its long tenure in Oklahoma City.
chuck.coon@visitwyo.gov or mailto:lori.hogan@visitwyo.gov
There is no charge.
I wish I could be there to see them in action!
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