WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015
A11
Hermiston
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015
Yes, that
WAS my
¿ Ust URGeR
S PORTS
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A11
HERMISTONHERALD.COM
Garrett Smith takes all-around
Stanfi eld cowboy
Travis Taruscio gets hot
run in steer wrestling
By SAM BARBEE
Staff writer
SAM BARBEE
FROM THE
SIDELINES
L
ast week I was excited and
QHUYRXVIRUP\¿UVWURGHR
7KHFOLFKpZDVUHDO
But now, days after Farm-City
Pro Rodeo, I think it would be
IXQWRUHPHPEHUWKRVHIRXUGD\V
A logical place to start would
EHP\FORWKHV%HFDXVH,ZDVJR
ing to be standing around by the
bucking chutes, I was required to
wear at least a western shirt and
KDWERRWVRSWLRQDO1RZ,ZHDU
a hat just about every day, but
it’s a baseball cap, not a wide-
EULPPHGJDOORQQXPEHU
So after working the Herm-
iston Herald/East Oregonian
booth at the fair on Wednes-
day, circulation manager Marcy
Rosenberg walked me down to
a booth selling cowboy hats and
helped me picked one out, and
gave me tips on how to wear it
DQGVWRUHLW
The next step, then, was to
JHW D VKLUW DQG VRPH MHDQV 1RZ
I have jeans, but none that would
be acceptable at a rodeo, so I
blundered around Wal-Mart until
,IRXQGHQRXJKVKLUWVWKDW¿WDQG
ZDV RQ P\ ZD\ , PDGH D ELW RI
a mistake, though, waiting until
:HGQHVGD\WRSLFNXSURGHRJHDU
It was a bit like going to a depart-
ment store on Halloween night to
get a costume (something I did of-
ten) and having to settle on what
ZDVOHIW1RWPXFKLWWXUQHGRXW
EXW,PDGHLWZRUN
Right before I went to the
fairgrounds, I had to swing by
WKHRI¿FHWRJUDEDSHQDQGP\
SUHVVFUHGHQWLDO)HOORZUHSRUWHU
Sean Hart was there and laughed
ZKHQ , ZDONHG LQ WKH URRP +H
said I (somewhat) looked the
part, which was good enough for
me as I left constantly adjusting
WKHVWUDZWKLQJRQP\KHDG
At the rodeo, it was a chore
WRNHHSXS,ZDVGRLQJP\EHVW
to keep my head above water,
WKRXJK,MXVWPDQDJHGWRGRLW,
HQMR\HG LW WKRXJK , OLNH OHDUQ
LQJDQG,OLNHGRLQJQHZWKLQJV
, OHDUQHG D ORW WKDW ¿UVW QLJKW
about terminology, about struc-
ture, about how to avoid horse
H[FUHPHQWRQWKHJURXQG7KHUH
ZDVDORWRILW
As the week wore on, I grad-
XDOO\EHFDPHPRUHFRPIRUWDEOH
Friday night was windy and
threatened to take my hat from
me, and it almost did on the
ZDON LQ 1R RQH HYHU WROG PH
aloud I looked out of place, but
I’m sure some people could’ve
¿JXUHGLWRXW
But the thing I was most wor-
ried about was talking to the
FRZER\V,NQRZLWFDQJHWDUGX
ous explaining simple concepts
that anyone who follows rodeo
would know, but everything was
IUHVKWRPH
And you know what? The
FRZER\V ZHUH DOZD\V JUHDW
They were patient, friendly
and always willing to help me
understand their passion bet-
WHU,ZDVDQRXWVLGHUEXW,ZDV
QHYHU WUHDWHG OLNH DQ RXWVLGHU ,
was never scoffed at if I asked a
question they deemed to be be-
QHDWKWKHP7KH\ZRXOGMXVWQRG
RUVPLOHDQGH[SODLQ
Plus, you’ve never seen bull
riding until you watch it from
EHKLQGWKHFKXWH
— Sam Barbee is a sports
reporter for the Hermiston
Herald and East Oregonian
based in Hermiston. He can be
reached by phone at 541-564-
4542 or by email at sbarbee@
hermistonherald.com. Follow
him on Twitter @SamBarbee1
and follow Herald Sports @
HHeraldSports.
STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY
Garrett Smith, of Rexburg, Idaho, won all-around cowboy honors Saturday at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston. In
the bull riding event, he stayed aboard for eight seconds for a score of 79.
)aUm&Lty a SRSXOaU, LmSRUtaQt
stRS Oate LQ the URGeR seasRQ
Prize money, livestock,
fans and hospitality
keep contestants
coming back
See RODEO, A12
SCOREBOARD
Farm-City Pro Rodeo
Hermiston, Ore., Aug. 12-15
All-around cowboy
Garrett Smith, $1,049, bull riding and steer wrestling.
Bareback riding
1. Bobby Mote, 88 points on Calgary Stampede’s Special Delivery, $6,077; 2. (tie)
Richmond Champion and Will Lowe, 86, $4,051 each; 4. (tie) Evan Jayne and
Winn Ratliff, 84, $1,823 each; 6. (tie) Seth Hardwick and Tim O’Connell, 83, $912
each; 8. (tie) Jake Vold, Teddy Athan and Orin Larsen, 82, $203 each.
Steer wrestling
First round: 1. Kyle Irwin, 4.1 seconds, $1,853; 2. Ty Erickson, 4.5, $1,611; 3.
Shawn Downing, 4.7, $1,370; 4. Dru Melvin, 4.8, $1,128; 5. Sean Santucci, 5.0,
$886; 6. Blake Knowles, 5.1, $645; 7. Tyler Waguespack, 5.3, $403; 8. Sean
Mulligan, 5.4, $161. Second round: 1. Travis Taruscio, 4.3 seconds, $1,853; 2.
Luke Branquinho, 4.4, $1,611; 3. Tyler Pearson, 4.6, $1,370; 4. (tie) Nik Hamm
and Ty Erickson, 5.0, $1,007 each; 6. K.C. Jones, 5.1, $645; 7. Brad Johnson,
5.2, $403; 8. Jule Hazen, 5.3, $161. Average: 1. Ty Erickson, 9.5 seconds on two
head, $2,780; 2. Shawn Downing, 10.3, $2,417; 3. K.C. Jones, 10.6, $2,055; 4.
(tie) Tyler Waguespack and Kyle Irwin, 11.0, $1,511 each; 6. Sean Santucci, 11.6,
$967; 7. Tyler Pearson, 12.1, $604; 8. (tie) Blaine Jones and Brad Johnson, 13.2,
$121 each.
By SAM BARBEE
Staff Writer
Thee 28th running of the
Farm-City Pro Rodeo was big-
ger and better than ever, with
award-winning stock and world
champion cowboys putting on
DVKRZIRUORFDOURGHRIDQV
But what do the cowboys
think of Farm-City? Obvious-
ly they like it, or they wouldn’t
FRQWLQXHWRVTXHH]HLWLQWRWKHLU
schedules when most were ei-
ther going to Omak, Washing-
ton, or Cody, Wyoming, imme-
GLDWHO\IROORZLQJWKHLUHYHQWV
Many cowboys said the en-
HUJ\IURPWKHIDQVLVDELJKHOS
At this point in the rodeo sea-
son, things are starting to wind
down, and cowboys who are on
WKH1DWLRQDO
Ro-
SEASON Finals
deo bubble
have to put
in more events to make more
money to move up the stand-
LQJV ,W FDQ PDNH WKH PLGGOH
RI$XJXVW D JULQG 6R WR KDYH
a crowd like Farm-City’s that
can bring some energy for a
tired cowboy, it can make all
WKHGLIIHUHQFH
“They usually pack the
stands, like last time I was here
(in 2013),” bull rider from Al-
EXTXHUTXH1HZ0H[LFR6FRW
WLH .QDSS VDLG ³:HGQHVGD\
QLJKW LW ZDV SDFNHG ,W KDVQ¶W
started yet, and (the fans) are
DOUHDG\ IHHOLQJ LW DJDLQ -XVW
the energy, the vibe — it hypes
up the cowboys and keeps the
energy and momentum going
WKH ZKROH URGHR ,W¶V JUHDW
7KHIDQVDUHJUHDW7KHVWRFN¶V
JRRG <RX FDQ¶W DVN IRU PXFK
PRUH´
Others said it’s a well-run
URGHR $IWHU ZLQQLQJ 6DWXU
day’s go-round in saddle bronc,
-DFREV&UDZOH\IURP6WHSKHQ
ville, Texas, said Farm-City is
D URGHR IRU RWKHUV WR HPXODWH
That’s high praise from the
Garrett Smith didn’t know how
WRGHVFULEHLW0LQXWHVDIWHUZLQ
ning the all-around title at Farm-
City Pro Rodeo, Smith was just
DERXWVSHHFKOHVV
,Q MXVW KLV ¿UVW )&35 GRLQJ
multiple events, Smith managed
DLQ6DWXUGD\¶VVWHHUZUHVWOLQJ
SHUIRUPDQFH DQG D RQ &UD]\
Bull to join a prestigious group of
DOODURXQGFKDPSVDW)DUP&LW\
“This is awesome,” Smith
VDLG³7RZLQWKHDOODURXQGKHUH
there’s not really any words that
FDQGHVFULEHLW
hasn’t
RODEO It hit really
me yet, be-
cause every-
WKLQJMXVWJRWRYHU,¶PSUHWW\VXUH
seeing the saddle on the wall —
LW¶VJRLQJWREHSUHWW\DZHVRPH´
Currently
14th
in
the
PRCA all-around standings at
DQGWKLQEXOOULGLQJ
DWWKRVHUDQNLQJVDUH
sure to go up after his Farm-City
DOODURXQGWLWOH
“(My summer’s) been great,”
6PLWKVDLG³2QHRIWKHEHVW,¶YH
KDGVRIDU+RSHIXOO\ZHMXVWNHHS
RXUKDQGVVKXWDQGNHHSJRLQJ´
STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS
Ty Erickson of Helena, Montana, marks a 5-second time in steer
wrestling Friday at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston.
2014 collegiate All-American
and 2011 collegiate national
FKDPSLRQ
Steer wrestler Luke Bran-
quinho from Los Alamos, Cali-
fornia, who has been coming to
)DUP&LW\IRU\HDUVDJUHHG
“(The committee) makes it
real cowboy-friendly,” he said
DIWHUKLVKRWUXQRIVHFRQGV
RQ :HGQHVGD\ ³)RU D FRQWHV
WDQWWKDWPHDQVDORW´
Zeke Thurston, a 21-year-
old saddle bronc rider from
Big Valley, Alberta, Canada,
VFRUHG SRLQWV RQ KLV ¿UVW
ride at Farm-City on Wednes-
day, and loved all eight sec-
RQGV
“It’s a good rodeo, really
good production,” Thurston
VDLG³+RWWKRXJK+RO\PDQ´
Wednesday and Thursday
were hot, with temperatures
WRXFKLQJ WULSOH GLJLWV %XW
things cooled down Friday and
Saturday with wind whipping
through the arena on Friday
and temperatures dropping
low enough that the conces-
sion counter ran out of sweat-
VKLUWVWRVHOO
6WHHU ZUHVWOHU 1LN +DPP
from Battle Ground, Washing-
ton, who recorded the hot run
Thursday night, used Farm-
City as a springboard for the
second half of the rodeo sea-
son in addition to liking the
TXDOLW\VWRFNDQGIDQV
“The steers are always good
KHUH´KHVDLG³7KHFURZGLW
kinda taps off the later summer
UXQ,WZDVKDOIWLPHWKHUHDQG
now it’s the second half of the
JDPH,W¶VDOZD\VJRRGWRJHWD
JRRGVWDUWLQ+HUPLVWRQ´
All-around champ and Rex-
burg, Idaho, native Garrett
Smith, in his second Farm-
City, remembers the treatment
FRQWHVWDQWVUHFHLYH%HKLQGWKH
bucking chutes, trays of ribs,
sandwiches, fruit and beverag-
HVDUHDYDLODEOHIRUFRZER\V
“We get great hospitality
KHUH´ 6PLWK VDLG ³7KH\ KDYH
food behind the buckin’ chutes
IRUXV7KHUH¶VQRWPDQ\SODFHV
WKDW \RX FDQ JHW WKDW$QG WKH
IDQV DUH JUHDW KHUH 7KLV LV DQ
DZHVRPHURGHRWRFRPHWR´
Second-ranked steer wres-
tler and average champ Ty
Erickson of Helena, Montana,
called Farm-City a “big” ro-
GHR
“It’s such a big and presti-
gious rodeo,” he said, “It’s one
of the best rodeos we go to all
IDOO *X\V FDQ¶W PLVV WKLV UR
GHR,W¶VMXVWWKDWJRRG,ÀHZ
in from Billings, Montana,
(Friday) just so I could be here
DQGFRPSHWH´
What makes it a can’t-miss
event?
“The added money,” Erick-
VRQ UHSOLHG ³,W¶V DOZD\V QLFH
to come to a rodeo like this
where people love to watch
URGHR DQG FRPH WR VXSSRUW LW
Us contestants love it when
the stands are full and we get
WRFRPSHWHLQIURQWRISHRSOH
7KDWDOZD\VKHOSV´
Team roping
First round: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Martin Lucero, 4.3 seconds, $1,958 each; 2. Riley
Minor/Brady Minor, 4.6, $1,703; 3. Bubba Buckaloo/Russell Cardoza, 4.8, $1,447;
4. JoJo LeMond/Dakota Kirchenschlager, 5.0, $1,192; 5. Chad Masters/Travis
Graves, 5.1, $937; 6. Garrett Rogers/Jake Minor, 5.2, $681; 7. (tie) Guy Gregg/
Shane Crossley, Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes and Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 5.3,
$199 each. Second round: 1. Tyler Wade/Kinney Harrell, 4.3 seconds, $1,958
each; 2. (tie) Cody Snow/Dugan Kelly and Tom Richards/Cesar de la Cruz, 4.6,
$1,575 each; 4. Derrick Begay/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 4.7, $1,192; 5. Ryan Opie/
Cully Stafford, 5.3, $937; 6. (tie) Bryce Palmer/Monty Joe Petska and Luke
Brown/Kollin VonAhn, 5.6, $553 each; 8. Kaleb Driggers/Martin Lucero, 5.8, $170.
Average: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Martin Lucero, 10.1 seconds on two head, $2,937
each; 2. Luke Brown/Kollin VonAhn, 11.0, $2,554; 3. Bryce Palmer/Monty Joe
Petska, 11.1, $2,171; 4. Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 11.5, $1,788; 5. Blaine Vick/
Twister Cain, 12.8, $1,405; 6. Bryan Reay/Andy Carlson, 13.5, $1,022; 7. Cody
Snow /Dugan Kelly, 14.5, $639; 8. Derrick Begay/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 15.1,
$255.
Saddle bronc riding
1. (tie) Doug Aldridge on Calgary Stampede’s Lynx Mountain and Zeke Thurston
on Kesler Rodeo’s Navajo Sun, 85 points, $4,683 each; 3. Jesse Wright, 84,
$3,004; 4. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Jake Wright, 83, $1,590 each; 6. Sam
Spreadborough, 82, $884; 7. Cody Wright, 81, $707; 8. (tie) Isaac Diaz and Ben
Londo, 80, $265 each.
Tie-down roping
First round: 1. Tuf Cooper, 8.1 seconds, $1,998; 2. (tie) Matt Shiozawa and
Timber Moore, 8.5, $1,607 each; 4. Blane Cox, 9.1, $1,216; 5. K.C. Miller, 9.2,
$956; 6. Adam Gray, 9.3, $695; 7. Robert Mathis, 9.4, $434; 8. Jason Minor, 9.7,
$174. Second round: 1. Cade Swor, 8.3 seconds, $1,998; 2. Shane Hanchey,
8.4, $1,738; 3. (tie) Caleb Smidt, Timber Moore, Justin Brinkerhoff and Cimarron
Boardman, 8.5, $1,086 each; 7. (tie) Shane Erickson and Ryle Smith, 8.7, $304
each. Average: 1. Timber Moore, 17.0 seconds on two head, $2,997; 2. Shane
Hanchey, 18.5, $2,606; 3. Robert Mathis, 19.1, $2,216; 4. (tie) Justin Brinkerhoff
and Matt Shiozawa, 19.5, $1,629 each; 6. Clint Robinson, 20.2, $1,043; 7. Jake
Pratt, 20.9, $652; 8. (tie) Dillon Holder and Caleb Smidt, 21.5, $130 each.
Barrel racing
First round: 1. Michele McLeod, 17.32 seconds, $1,814; 2. Kali Parker, 17.33,
$1,555; 3. Sherry Cervi, 17.38, $1,296; 4. Vickie Carter, 17.44, $1,123; 5. Meghan
Johnson, 17.47, $864; 6. Nancy Hunter, 17.48, $691; 7. (tie) Sydni Blanchard
and Callie DuPerier, 17.52, $432 each; 9. Alexa Lake, 17.54, $259; 10. Linzie
Lindsey, 17.62, $173. Second round: 1. Kimmie Wall, 17.05 seconds, $1,814; 2.
Callie DuPerier, 17.09, $1,555; 3. Jackie Ganter, 17.15, $1,296; 4. Kali Parker,
17.27, $1,123; 5. Pamela Capper, 17.33, $864; 6. Katelyn McLeod, 17.35, $691;
7. Brenda Mays, 17.38, $518; 8. Mary Walker, 17.45, $346; 9. (tie) Meghan
Johnson and Callahan Crossley, 17.46, $216 each. Average: 1. Kali Parker, 34.60
seconds on two head, $1,814; 2. Callie DuPerier, 34.61, $1,555; 3. Kimmie Wall,
34.73, $1,296; 4. Jackie Ganter, 34.79, $1,123; 5. Meghan Johnson, 34.93, $864;
6. Sherry Cervi, 34.94, $691; 7. Sydni Blanchard, 34.99, $518; 8. Vickie Carter,
35.00, $346; 9. Nancy Hunter, 35.01, $259; 10. Callahan Crossley, 35.14, $173.
Bull riding
1. Clayton Foltyn, 86 points on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Mr Buddy, $5,245; 2.
Dustin Bowen, 83, $4,021; 3. (tie) Scottie Knapp and Ty Wallace, 82, $2,448
each; 5. (tie) Garrett Smith and Brett Stall, 79, $1,049 each; 7. (tie) Markus
Mariluch and McKennon Wimberly, 78, $612 each.
Total payoff: $204,634. Stock contractor: Calgary Stampede. Sub-contractors:
Kesler Rodeo, Korkow Rodeos, Corey & Lange Rodeo, Kesler Championship
Rodeo and Flying Diamond Rodeo. Rodeo secretary: Debi Davis. Of¿ cials:
George Gibbs, Mike Jones, Butch Kirby and Bobby Davis. Timers: Margo
Kesler and Myrna Weber. Announcer: Randy Corley. Specialty act: John
Harrison. Bull¿ ghters: Tim O’Connor and Don Griggs. Clown/barrelman: John
Harrison. Flankmen: Mike Corey, Greg Kesler, Ken Rehill and T.J. Korkow.
Chute bosses: Butch Knowles and Dan Ackley. Pickup men: Gary Rempel,
David McMichael and Duane Kesler. Photographers: Bob Click, Kent Soule
and Kirt Steinke.
Mutton bustin’ winner
Ethan Dyer, 91 points.