Category Archives: TwisTed Rodeo

By Ted Harbin | Photo Credit Ric Andersen Photos Nearly 1,000 contestants had already competed days before last Friday’s opening performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. It’s an extensive change in workload for all involved, with contractors, contestants, arena workers and stock show staff spending numerous hours over four days to help  Continue Reading »

By Ted Harbin Bradlee Miller didn’t spend much time in the Texas capital city celebrating his bareback riding victory at Rodeo Austin. Instead, he had more important things to tend to 150 miles east. Not far from his home in Huntsville, Texas, stands the burned skeleton of Branded for Christ Ministry, a church founded by  Continue Reading »

by Ted Harbin It’s a 19-day spectacle with a total payout of $2,518,500, with $65,000 awarded to each of the nine champions. It culminated Saturday afternoon with the finale, which featured 10 contestants in each event battling in the championship round. From there, the top four advanced to the shootout. That’s where the big money  Continue Reading »

by Ted Harbin In a year that the Unites States celebrates its 250th birthday, it’s only natural to look at history. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the 1787 Constitutional Convention to the 27 amendments to the Constitution, there’s a patriotic theme that spreads across this land. Rodeo has its  Continue Reading »

by Ted Harbin Two seasons ago, Riley O’Rourke was still dipping his toes into ProRodeo. He was in the second year of his PRCA permit, a tryout of sorts. Once a cowboy earns enough money on a permit, he is eligible to become a card-carrying member of the association. During that stretch, the young single  Continue Reading »

by Ted Harbin About three hours before the championship round of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, tie-down roper Ty Harris reached out on social media.   “Anyone have room on a plane or a rig headed from San Antonio to Tucson short round?” asked Harris, a seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier.   Saddle  Continue Reading »

by Ted Harbin Like all professional sports, rodeo is a combination of both. Fans are drawn to the competitive nature of sports, the drive to excel athletically over an opponent, whether that’s a Seahawks’ enthusiast cheering for Seattle to win the Lombardi Trophy or an old cowboy in New Mexico hoping Stetson Wright adds to  Continue Reading »

by Ted Harbin Alva is a community of about 5,000 people and a small college, Northwestern Oklahoma State University. It’s also been a home to Bridger Anderson and Trisyn Kalawaia, who shared the steer wrestling title at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo this past Saturday night. In the tournament-style format, both stopped the  Continue Reading »

by Ted Harbin The golden piece of designed metal weighing about half a pound hasn’t even arrived, but Taylor Munsell knows exactly where it’s going when it does. “Oh, it’ll for sure go on my belt,” said Munsell, the 2025 world champion breakaway roper from the northwest Oklahoma community of Alva. “Those things are meant  Continue Reading »

by Ted Harbin There were questions and concerns. Ordinary people sought advice from medical professionals. The uncertainty was real, and what followed were cancellations and postponements with no real end in sight. On a smaller scale than the COVID pandemic five years earlier, live-event Western sports were affected by the equine herpesvirus outbreak in November.  Continue Reading »