Gold Buckle Bash

Our thanks to the Casper area rodeo and ranch folks, most notably Dona Vold Larsen of Triple V Rodeo Company, for putting together the gala to honor Jhett Johnson this week. The Team Wyoming team roper won the world champion’s gold at the national finals in Vegas finishing 2011 with more money than anyone else, header or heeler, totaling a stately figure of $197,111.98. Jhett and partner Turtle Powell topped $125,600 at the national finals alone - $50K better than their closest NFR competition – Trevor Brazile & Patrick Smith.

In other words, Jhett’s buying.

Well, maybe not. He does have a wife, three boys, livestock, fuel, entry fees and food to fit in the budget.

Parkway Plaza in Casper is hosting the party to honor Jhett’s accomplishment Thursday evening at 7. Wild Bunch Productions will be showing a video recap of Jhett’s work at the finals. A few friends and supporters are expected to make brief remarks.

Jhett, whose family ranch is well west of town, will take to the podium too. He’ll be signing autographs and let us get a look at his booty. And by that I mean his national finals average champ buckle and two classy saddles – one for the average at the NFR and the world champion throne as well.

Johnson is also planning to bring Tony to town for everyone to meet. The fifteen-year-old Quarter Horse is the own son of Freckles Playboy and carried Jhett magnificently throughout 2011. Johnson says the horse was particularly well suited for the work at the finals. “He just gives 100 percent every time. I could ride clear to the end of the turn so he let me trap-rope the steers at the end of the switch,” Johnson told us today. “Tony does things few can do,” Jhett insisted. The horse came from Silver Spur Ranches in Saratoga so it was Wyoming on Wyoming for this well-deserved, and earned, world championship.

Jhett and partner Turtle are already entered in two of the early affairs of 2012 in Texas (Odessa & Houston) and plan a California run before going for another world title hard beginning in Reno where they are the reigning champs.

A dance will top off a fine evening Thursday with music by Wyoming’s own Chancey Williams & The Younger Bros. Band. There is no entry fee for the affair at the Parkway Plaza located at the Center Street exit from I-25.