Big week for special features

I've been of playing rodeo reporter for a few days, but meanwhile back at the ranch, the Capital Press staff has been putting some finishing touches on some special packages for our Sept. 22 issue. This is going to be a big one folks.

Inside this week's edition will be a 12-page special section on climate change. The package, the third part of an on-going series, looks at how a changing climate, whether part of earth's natural cycle or man-made causes, could affect all things that grow. Specifically the package will look at the impacts on the plants and animals that make up our environment and our food-and-fiber supply here on the West Coast.

The package is produced in conjunction with our sister publications in the East Oregonian Publishing Company, particularly the Daily Astorian and East Oregonian.

And that, in addition to our regular news and farm feature coverage would be plenty for most issues, but that's not all you'll find this week. We will also have a two-page special package of coverage on rural crime. Stories will look at how farmers and ranchers have been targets for specific types of crimes and will include details on how some are choosing to fight back.

And readers of some of our Northwest editions will also get a one-page photo package, featuring the work of our photo coordinator, Mark Rozin, from last week's Pendleton Round-Up.

And all this comes to you in the Friday, Sept. 22 edition of Capital Press and online at capitalpress.com.

So, I guess that means I better get back to work.

Agriculture
Climate change
Rural crime
Pendleton Round-Up

Rodeo blog links

Updated Monday, Sept. 18

If you interested in more rodeo stuff, I found a blog related to rodeo you may be interested in checking out. It's called Steve Kenyon - Rodeo Profiles.

This appears to be a new site, but I wanted to share it because it mentions Joe Beavers' win at Pendleton. But the other reason I wanted to include it is because it mentions a barrel racing event in another post that was held today. It called it the Buttercreek Classic. The arena mentioned here is just down the road from where I was staying. I didn't venture down to the arena before heading back toward Salem today, but we could hear some of the announcing over the PC system clear at my parents' business. And there was a sea of horse trailers down there.

I swear there were more trailers there than there were at the Round-Up.

As someone who grew up on Buttercreek, it's quite the thrill to know that this little country arena literally in the midst of farm fields, it is making a mark as a rodeo venue. And it's appropriate that it be a venue for barrel racers, as there have been several talented barrel racers from that little town of Echo, Ore., and surrounding areas over the years.

Here's a link to some other rodeo blogs by current and past PRCA cowboys, courtesy of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and ESPN.com's rodeo site.

I also found a link to a weekly blog from long-time Round-Up barrelman and rodeo clown/entertainer Flint Rasmussen. Rasmussen was the in-arena entertainer for eight consecutive years until this year, but did work the PBR event in Pendleton. He has a nice post about his appreciation for Pendleton fans and PRCA rodeo fans in particular now that he is working only PBR events.

You were missed in the big arena Flint, but your fans and friends understand and support your decision to put your family first (and realize getting a nice paycheck to do that doesn't hurt either). You can read the story I wrote about Rasmussen's final year at the Pendleton Round-Up here at this link.

Rodeo
Blogging
Agriculture

Round-Up parting shots

Well, the Pendleton Round-Up is done for another year. The rodeo anyway. The revelry and celebration will continue well into tomorrow morning and for many the hangover will linger far longer than that.

So with this year's Round-Up done, and before I decide if I'm going to go out and tie one on fan-style, I thought I'd share a few observation from the final day in Pendleton.

***

First of all, I want to do a little bragging. I want it recognized that I predicted way back on Thursday that Joe Beaver was likely to be the all-around champion. OK, to be completely accurate, I couched my prediction in some wishy-washy language. Here's what I wrote in Thursday night's results post:

"Former world champion all around cowboy Joe Beaver also sits on top of the team roping standings, which may make him the early favorite for the all around title at the Pendleton Round-Up this year."

Next time I need to show more courage in my convictions.

***

And one other little bit of bragging, if you'll allow me the indulgance. I can't say for sure, because I haven't been searching every website on the planet, but I think it is fairly safe to say that over the last three days we have offered some of the fastest and most complete Round-Up results of any website anywhere. Part of that is do to the assistance of Jodi on Butch Thurman's media staff in the media office (thanks Jodi, we owe you big time). I don't think the world has been holding its collective breath waiting to find out who's leading what events which day, but I take some pride in the fact that surfers of the blogosphere have had the ability to keep up on what's happening with the rodeo pretty well for the last three days of the run. The only ways to have gotten the information faster would have been to actually be at the rodeo, listen to the radio broadcast on the local Pendleton station, or have someone who was there relay the data to you.

So, thanks for reading, and thanks to the media relations folks at the grounds for their help.

***

Today, I had not planned to go "cover" the Round-Up. My original plan was to go and "enjoy" the Round-Up. In fact I didn't take the laptop or my camera. I did, however, take a pen and my notebook, just in case I decided to take some notes for posting on the blog later. I'm glad I took them, because my plan fell apart.

Specifically, my plan was to go check out the Let 'er Buck Room and see if it is as wild and rowdy as everyone says. My history with the Round-Up goes back to when I was a kid and going to the rodeo and affiliated events with my family. As a young adult, I started working at the Round-Up as a photographer for the East Oregonian. So I was always either too young or too busy during Round-Up to go. So this year, which has been my second year covering the event for the Capital Press, I decided I was going to take off Saturday and go find out if the truth can live up to the legends.

There were a couple of flaws to that plan.

First of all, I needed to bring along a runnin' buddy, or a wingman. I did not have a wingman. Venturing into the Let 'er Buck Room at the Pendleton Round-Up is probably not a good idea.

Secondly, it was Saturday and there were massive number of people everywhere, in the grandstands and on the grounds. I don't know when it started, but there was a long line out the door of the Let 'er Buck Room already at 12:30 this afternoon. So, I decided to go enjoy some of the rodeo and come back. It was even worse later. Needless to say, the Let 'er Buck Room is still largely a mystery to me.

Note to self: Next year go to the Let 'er Buck Room earlier in the week and find a wingman!

***

Depending on what spectator you asked in attendance at today's Round-Up, you might get a lot of different descriptions of what the highlight of the day would be. Some might say it was Mike Moore's 92-point ride in the bull riding. Some might say it was seeing Linzie Walker make the fastest run of the week in the barrel racing. Others might say Joe Beaver winning two events and the all-around title would top their list. I don't know what the folks inside, or waiting in line for the Let 'er Buck Room would say was the highlight, but you can bet in would have nothing to do with the rodeo events.

But I think you would find almost universal agreement among those in the arena who would say one of the highlights of the day had to be the military flyover at the start of the rodeo.

At precisely 1:15 p.m., two F-15 Eagle fighter jets from the Oregon Air Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing flew over the arena coming in from out of the west. And it was hard to tell which was louder, the roar of those jet engines overhead of the roar of the crowd. But that wasn't then end. As the flags of the United States, Oregon and Canada were being brought into the arena on horseback, the fighters came back for another pass, this time from east to west. If anything, they were even lower, loader and faster on the second pass, and the crowd got louder and wilder too.

***

If any of you have Round-Up stories you'd like to share, feel free to add them onto the comments. And if you have photos you'd like to share, we'd love to look at those too. So e-mail them to me at via e-mail. You never know, we may even post some of them here, or on the Capital Press main website.

That's all for this 2006 installment of Round-Up coverage (unless I think of something else I forgot to add later). Until next year, Let 'er Buck rodeo fans.

Pendleton Round-Up
Rodeo
Agriculture

Joe Beaver is Round-Up's top cowboy

PENDLETON, Ore. -- Joe Beaver of Huntsville, Texas, the eight-time world all-around champion now has the Pendleton Round-Up all-around title to add to his list of accolades.

Several familiar names were added to the list of Pendleton champions today, however all but one of them are first time winners of the event buckles that they collected.

Beaver was leading in two events going into today's final round in Pendleton, but didn't rest on his work from earlier in the week. Beaver turned in a 9.9-second run in the calf roping to edge out Josh Peak for the crown.

Peak's time of 9.2 seconds was the fastest of the round, giving him a total time of 29.9 second on three calves for the week.

Beaver, who was leading the event going in to today's short go round, had the second fastest time of the day, and recorded 29.1 seconds on three calves throughout the week to win the 2006 Round-Up calf roping title. It's the first time he has won that event title in Pendleton.

Just three events later Beaver and his partners Nick Simmons of Colcord, Okla., were able to rope just fast enough to tie for the championship in that event as well. Their time of 6.2 seconds was fast enough to tie them with Jake Stanley of Hermiston, Ore., and Russell Cardoza of Knights Ferry, Calif., who had the fastest team roping run of the day at 5.5 seconds. None of the four co-champions in the team roping have ever won the event in Pendleton before. However, Stanley's win continues a long history of local cowboys based in Umatilla and Morrow counties who have won event or all-around titles at Pendleton.

Defending world champion Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas, rode the Sankey bucking horse Tee Pee to an 86 point score today to win his first bareback title at Pendleton. Andy Martinez of Pavillion, Wyo., had the top ride of the day with an 89 on another Sankey horse, Owl Hoot Trail, and finished second in the event.

Canadian cowboy Rod Hay of Wildwood, Alberta, maintained his lock on the saddle bronc title, which has owned outright or split every year since 2003. Hay was co-champion in 2003, 2004 and won the title outright last year. He splits the 2006 title with Cody DeMoss of Heflin, La., Hay and DeMoss both scored 85 point rides today along with Bradley Harter of Weatherford, Texas, but since Hay and DeMoss were tied with higher scores than Harter going into the round they ended up sharing the title. For DeMoss, it is the first time he has won the saddle bronc title in Pendleton.

Defending steer wresting champion Tommy Cook of Heber City, Utah, who has won the title the last two years in his event wasn't able to make it three in a row, in spite of his lead going into today's final road. Brad Gleason of Touchet, Wash., turned in a 7.1 second run to steal the title from the defending champ. The best run of the day went to Chancey Gartner of Pasco, Wash., with a 4.5-second performance, but because he had only qualified on one steer going into today's round, Gleason's combined 17.9-second on three head was the fastest of the field. Gleason is also a first time champion at Pendleton in his event.

In the steer roping, Cash Myers run of 13.3 seconds was only one-tenth of a second off the fastest run of the day, but it was fast enough to earn him the title in the event. The fastest time of the day was 13.2 seconds, which was turned in by Scott Snedecor of Uvalde, Texas. Myers of Athens, Texas, was the 2005 all-around champion of the Round-Up, but this is his first steer roping crown.

In the bull riding, the highest score of the day also produced that event's champion. Mike Moore of Kankakee, Ill., turned in a 92-point ride on Western Rodeos' bull Poison Ivy. Moore was one of only four cowboys able to get a qualified ride out of the rank pen of bulls put in for the final round, but all of those who were able to stay on were rewarded with high scores. The lowest qualified ride of the day earned an 84.

In the barrel racing, Linzie Walker of Conway, Wash., turned in not only the fastest run of the day but the fastest run of the week on what has been described as the largest barrel racing venue in professional rodeo. Walker's 28.02-second run was nearly half a second faster than her nearest competitor. And, it is Walker's first barrel racing title in Pendleton.

Pendleton Round-Up
Rodeo
Agriculture

Review of top hands heading into Saturday's final round

There's only one day left at the Pendleton Round-Up, and the way things shaped up Friday will have an impact on Saturday's championship round. Here's what happened Friday with a look at how the top 12 shape up going into Saturday's final round.

In the bareback event, Scott Montague had the top score Friday with an 85. Here's how the top 5 looked Friday.

1. Scott Montague Fruitdale, SD 85
2. Andy Martinez Pavillion, WY 83
2. Kelly Timberman Mills, WY 83
4. Justin McDaniel Porum, OK 80
5. Zach Curran Arvada, CO 79

And here's how the top 12 shape up for Saturday's short go-round in the bareback event.

1. Will Lowe Canyon, TX 88
2. Tom McFarland Wickenburg, AZ 87
3. Scott Montague Fruitdale, SD 85
4. Silas Richards San Augustine, TX 85
4. Heath Ford Greeley, CO 84
6. Kelly Timberman Mills, WY 83
6. Andy Martinez Pavillion, WY 83
8. Tyler Barnes Prineville, OR 81
9. Jason Jeter Mansfield, TX 80
10. Zach Dishman Beaumont, TX 80
11. Justin McDaniel Porum, OK 80

In the calf roping, local favorite Brad Goodrich came out on top Friday. Here's how the top 5 shaped up after Friday's performance.

1. Brad Goodrich Hermiston, OR 10.1
2. Scott MuCulloch Galt, CA 11.2
3. Johnny Sloan Ellensburg, WA 13.3
4. K.C. Jones Decatur, TX 13.6
5. Trevor Knowles Mount Vernon, OR 17.2

And here's the top 12 who will compete for the calf roping title on Saturday.

1. Joe Beaver Huntsville, TX 19.2
2. Dean Edge Rembey, AB 19.9
3. Kyle Hughes Olney Springs, CO 20.4
3. Tim Pharr Resaca, GA 20.4
5. Brad Goodrich Hermiston, OR 20.6
6. Ty Holly Mount Vernon, OR 20.8
7. Jerome Schneeberger Ponco City, OK 21.1
8. Cash Myers Athens, TX 21.3
8. Fred Whitfield Hockley, TX 21.3
10. Jerrad Hofstetter Athens, TX 21.5
11. Josh Peek Pueblo, CO 21.7
12. Jeff Chapman Athens, TX 22.0

In the saddle bronc event, two Mid-Columbia cowboy ended up in the top 5 on Friday. Here's how Friday's top 5 finishers fared.

1. Jeb Knox Prosser, WA 87
2. Matt Marvel Battle Mountain, NV 82
2. Jess Martin Dillon, MT 82
4. Rusty Allen Lehi, UT 81
5. Gary Alger Pendleton, OR 79

Here's a look at who will be competing for the top money in Saturday's go-round.

1. Jeb Knox Prosser, WA 87
2. Steve Dollarhide Wikieup, AZ 85
3. Bryce Miller Buffalo, SD 84
4. Rod Hay Wildwood, AB 83
4. Jesse Bail Hermiston, OR 83
4. Cody DeMoss Heflin, LA 83
4. Jake Griffin Daniel, WY 83
8. Jess Martin Dillon, MT 82
8. Matt Marvel Battle Mountain, NV 82
8. Josh Reynolds Corvallis, MT 82
8. Bradley Harter Weatherford, TX 82
8. Tyler Corrington Hastings, MT 82

In the steer wrestling, Sean Mulligan was the top man on Friday. Here's how the top 5 rounded out.

1. Sean Mulligan Coleman, OK 5.0
2. Todd Suhn North Platte, NE 5.1
3. Levi Wisness Keene, ND 5.2
4. Brandon Christensen Hermiston, OR 5.9
5. Dane Hanna Denver, CO 6.9

And here's a look at who wil compete for the steer wresting title tomorrow.

1. Tommy Cook Heber City, UT 10.1
2. Todd Suhn North Platte, NE 10.4
3. Brad Gleason Touchet, WA 10.8
4. Josh Peek Pueblo, CO 11.5
5. Brandon Christensen Hermiston, OR 11.8
6. K.C. Jones Decatur, TX 11.8
7. Levi Wisness Keene, ND 11.9
8. Steven Campbell Midwest, WY 12.6
9. Chancey Gartner Pasco, WA 13.8
10. Sean Mulligan Coleman, OK 14.1
10. Dane Hanna Denver, CO 14.1
12. Curt La Duke Bozeman, MT 14.2

Teams from the Nortwest dominated Friday's team roping competition. Here's how the top teamsw fared on Friday.

1. Charly Crawford Prineville, OR 5.1
Kinney Harrell San Angelo, TX
2. Jared McFarlane Adrian, OR 6.4
Trevor McCoin Condon, OR
3. Josh Bruce Jordan Valley, OR 12.5
B.J. Campbell Benton City, WA
4. Bobby Mote Culver, OR 15.8
Jim Crouch Bend, OR

And here are the top 12 teams who will compete Saturday for the team roping title.

1. Joe Beaver Huntsville, TX 13.9
Nick Simmons Colcord, OK
2. Britt Williams Hammond, MT 13.9
Caleb Twisselman Santa Margarita, CA
3. Colter Todd Marana AZ 14.1
Cesar de la Cruz Tucson, AZ
3. Jake Cooper Monument, NM 14.1
Jimmie Cooper Monument, NM
5. Shain Sproul Benson, AZ 14.2
Cory Petska Lexington, OK
6. Jake Stanley Hermiston, OR 14.6
Russell Cardoza Knights Ferry, CA
7. Mikey Fletcher, Jr Okeechobee, FL 14.8
Bobby Baize El Paso, TX
8. Jake Barnes Scottsdale, AZ 15.4
Dean Tuftin Prineville, OR
9. Paul Mullins Shafter, CA 15.7
Ryan Zurcher Shafter, CA
10. Lance Brooks Shandon, CA 16.4
York Gill Memphis, TN
11. Matt Tyler Lipan, TX 16.6
Jett Hillman Jones, OK
12. Garrett Tonozzi Fruita, CO 16.7
Bret Tonozzi Loma, CO

Only three cowboys qualified in the money Friday for the steer roping event. Here's how that event finished.

1. Harold Bumguardner Torrington, WY 17.6
2. Brad Goodrich Hermiston, OR 17.7
3. Billy Ward Lagrange, WY 23.4

Here are the top steer ropers who will compet for the title Saturday.

1. Vin Fisher Jr 24.6
2. Rocky Patterson 25.7
3. J.P. Wickett 28.1
4. Cash Myers 29.3
5. Neal Wood 30.9
6. Scott Snedecor 31.0
7. Marty Jones 31.6
8. Buster Record Jr 35.4
9. Brad Goodrich 35.5
10. Kyle Lockett 36.0
11. John Alps 38.3
12. Guy Allen
12. Jess Tierney
12. Tyler Mayse

In the barrel racing, there are the top 5 ladies Friday.

Barrel Racing
1. Linzie Walker Conway, WA 28.34
2. Phyllis Wells Harrah, OK 28.68
3. Barbara West Oak Harbor, WA 28.97
4. Kyna Schrader Caldwell, ID 29.39
5. Patty Childers Arlington, WA 29.56

And here are the top 12 ladies scheduled to compete Saturday.

1. Carol Wilson Cardston, AB 28.20
2. Linzie Walker Conway, WA 28.34
3. June Holeman Arcadia, NE 28.53
4. Shelly Anzick Livingston, MT 28.54
5. Layna Kight Summerfield, FL 28.55
6. Meagan Reichert Mount Pleasant, TX 28.62
7. Sherry Cervi Marana, AZ 28.63
8. Tana Poppino Big Cabin, Ok 28.65
9. Naomi Smith Del Rio, TX 28.67
10. PhyllisWells Harrah, OK 28.68
11. Katie Davis Adrian, OR 28.70
12. Kelli Kamm Stanfield, OR 28.74

In the bull riding, here are the top 5 finishers Friday.

1. Clint Johnson Hines, OR 83
2. Kanin Asay Powell, WY 81
3. Luke Haught Weatherford, TX 77
4. Jarrod Craig Hillsboro, TX 76
5. Steve Woolsey Payson, UT 75

Here are the top 12 bull riders who will compete for the event title on Saturday.

1. Zach Oakes Tonasket, WA 89
2. Clint Craig Mena, AR 86
2. Lee Woolsey Spanish Fork, UT 86
4. Mike Moore Kankakee, IL 85
5. Dustin Elliott North Platte, NE 83
5. Clint Johnson Hines, OR 83
7. Kyle Joslin Caldwell, ID 82
8. Cody Buller Glendive, MT 81
8. J.C. Bean Goldendale, WA 81
8. Matt Austin Wills Point, TX 81
8. Kanin Asay Powell, WY 81
12. Cooper Kanngiesser Zenda, KS 80

Pendleton Round-Up
Rodeo
Agriculture

Friday is in the books

Well, another day of Round-Up is done, at least as far as the rodeo is concerned. Now it's all over by the shouting for the day, and you can expect to see and hear a lot of that downtown on Main Street.

But here's how the rest of the events shaped up today.

In the steer wrestling, Sean Mulligan had a 5-second-flat time to lead the day.

Charly Crawford and Kinney Harrell put together a 5.1-second run for the best time of the day in the team roping.

The steer ropers had another miserable day, with only three qualified rides. Harold Bumguardner was the best of the three with a 17.6-second ride, followed closely by Brad Goodrich with a 17.7-second ride.

In the barrel racing, Linzie Walker had the fastest time with a 28.34 second run.

And in the bull riding, Clint Johnson captured the top score and a spot in Saturday's short go-round with an 83-point score.

Pendleton Round-Up
Rodeo
Agriculture