Notes from around the rodeo arena

| Wednesday, September 20, 2006

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Column by Jim Thompson, Special to the Journal

From Rhonda Stearns, news of interest: The National Cowgirl Hall of Fame at Fort Worth, Texas has announced their 2006 class of honorees.

Tri-State Country is honored through the posthumous induction of Esther Hobart Morris of Wyoming (1814-1902), known as the mother of women's rights and honored in Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.

* I mentioned Jim Aplan's selection as an honoree of the Casey Tibbs Hall of Fame in Ft. Pierre. Jim and his wife Peg attended the Clown Reunion in Pendleton, Ore., recently during the Round Up. Jim was introduced to the crowds each day. And I understand now that Birch Negaard will be honored by the Casey Tibbs Hall as well.

* J.D. Yates of Pueblo, Colo., had never roped in the Wyoming Steer Roping finals during Don King Days in Big Horn, Wyo., until this Labor Day. And he won, outlasting Ora Taton of Rapid City in the four-header. J.D. also came close to Glenn Barlow's four-head record of 62.8 seconds. J.D.'s winning time was 64.0 seconds.

Taton took the season-ending championship, beating Will McBride of Gering, Neb., and Travis Mills of Wright, Wyo., in a race that came down to the last steer on Monday.

Casey Tillard had the fast time of the weekend at 12.6 seconds in winning Round 4. Great crowds estimated at 3,500 for the two days watched the action.

* Del Irvine stopped me after the roping on Monday to ask if I'd get out information that someone had broken into his van in Rapid City and stolen a lot of personal items, including his 2000 Don King Days champions buckle. Also a gear bag, boots and other buckles. Please keep your eyes open in pawn shops for a while.

* Just to clarify my position on the PRCA handling of the WPRA barrel racers: It may indeed have been a necessary thing to split with the current women's organization, and in fact, it seems that we should have a bit better touch on that event.

However, when coupled with the decisions regarding the Canadian Pro Rodeo, the Extreme Bulls, the reneging on the Gold Card benefits, the firing of Jim Nichols, losing J.D. Crouse in the office, the abortive announcement of "we're moving to New Mexico, no we're not after all," it just seems that we have a problem in Colorado Springs.

Perhaps all of those things should have been done, but to have them in such a short period of time seems to be symptomatic of deeper-seated problems. As one steer roper said emphatically in Wyoming recently: "We need a house cleaning at the RCA!" Amen, brother, Amen!

* A person who should know first hand about this WPRA/PRCA mess expressed this to me: "I think the WPRA is in a world of hurt - they may win the battle in court, but they will lose the war. They will spend all their money on legal fees and the association will be lost. Looking at the WPRA website, it looks like they are really trying to rally support for their cause but to tell you the truth, I don't think the committees give a hoot who approves their barrel race as long as it counts for points toward the NFR or whatever."

Jim Thompson, a veteran rodeo announcer, can be heard on the daily network radio talk show "Live with Jim Thompson" across North and South Dakota each weekday at 1 p.m. Locally he can be heard on KBHB 810 AM in Sturgis.