Jeff Solomon Wins Calvin Bohleen Memorial Award
Courtesy of the Cowboy’s Digest
Rodeo wasn’t a past time or hobby for Jeff Solomon but part of his life. But this past January, Jeff was honored with the prestigious Calvin Bohleen Memorial Award for his support and willingness to help his fellow rodeo competitor.
Montana pro rodeo circuit steer wrestling finalist Josh Granell, nominated Jeff for his generosity and support since Josh first began steer wrestling in high school, through college and now pro rodeo.
Jeff started rodeoing as a youngster, growing up one of 9 on a ranch in Havre. The son of Ed & Dorothy Solomon, it was just natural for him to end up in the arena. He competed in all events except for saddle bronc riding through the years but eventually concentrated on steer wrestling. Jeff hasn’t been traveling as much the past couple of years as he has been busy ranching in Havre and trading cattle.
Training his own steer wrestling horses through his years of competition has given Jeff the opportunity to ride some super horses. “I had 3 of the best that has ever been,” proudly said Jeff, “and I still have one”. “I also have had super hazing horses too.”
Josh Granell has been hauling his steer wrestling team. At the 2007 Montana Pro Rodeo Finals Josh won the circuit finals rodeo and went on to compete at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo on his steer wrestling horse “Rascal”. At this year’s finals Josh and fellow steer wrestler Mike Gollaher both rode “Rascal” and took home paychecks.
This award was a very special honor for Jeff as he personally knew Calvin and had traded a lot of cattle with him through the years and would see him a lot at cattle sales. “Calvin was amazing and Suze is even more amazing,” concluded Jeff.
Missoula Stampede Rodeo Named Most Improved and 2008 Rodeo of the Year in the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit
Courtesy of the Cowboy’s Digest
It didn’t happen overnight for the Missoula Stampede but the rodeo committee was honored as the 2008 Montana Pro Rodeo Most Improved AND 2008 Rodeo of the Year for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit.
The Missoula Rodeo is held in conjunction with the Western Montana Fair in August and for the past three years have increased their added money by $1,000 per year, working up to $5,000 per event at the 2008 rodeo, including equal money for each end team roping ($10,000 total). They host a hospitality tent for rodeo competitors and their families and award top notch buckles to average winners each year. Sponsors each receive bronzes for their support.
For this year’s circuit finals the Missoula Stampede mailed out knives to each of the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finalist to congratulate them on qualifying for the Montana Pro Rodeo Finals and Good Luck at the finals.
“I want to thank all the Montana rodeo committees,” said Fair Manager Scot Meader. “We get together each year and share ideas.” This helped the Missoula committee to make the changes to their rodeo to make it better for rodeo competitors. The Wolf Point Stampede has won the Rodeo of the Year Award for 17 of the past 20 years so it is an honor for the Missoula Stampede to have won not only the Rodeo of the Year but Most Improved Rodeo award in the same year!
National Finals team roping qualifier and many time Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit team roping champion, Kory Mytty commented that the rodeo committee has worked hard to make the rodeo better by increasing the added money, offering the cowboys and cowgirls the hospitality tent at the rodeo, and giving away really nice buckles each year to make it a rodeo worth attending.
The committee hopes to continue to improve the rodeo each year for fans and rodeo competitors alike and want to wish everyone a successful 2009 rodeo season and hope to see everyone in Missoula this August.
Montana
PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals
Four
Seasons Arena, Great Falls
30th Anniversary of the Montana
PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals
The 30th Anniversary of the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals will be held at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls on January 9, 10 and 11, 2009. Montana’s best PRCA Pro Rodeo contestants will compete against each other along with putting their skills on the line against some of Montana’s finest PRCA rodeo stock. Circuit titles will be on the line as the top cowboys and cowgirls will be vying for year end titles.
The contestants holding the top positions coming into the finals in each event are as follows: Bareback Riding – John Collins of Buffalo, WY with $10,712.84; Steer Wrestling – Beau Franzen of Worden with $11,601.21; Team Roping Header – Matt Robertson of Augusta with $10,352.12 and Team Roping Heeler – Kory Mytty of Lolo with $10,026.58; Saddle Bronc Riding – Jesse Kruse of Great Falls with $11,357.98; Tie Down Roping – Ryan Siemsen of Billings with $9,558.08; Ladies Barrel Race – Lindsay Knaff of East Helena with $18,929.73; and Bull Riding – Dustin Jenkins of Missoula with $13,369.69. The All Around title has Dustin Bird of Cut Bank coming in with $12,601.83 over Beau Franzen of Worden with $11,881.46.
As the three performances play out during the circuit finals, the year end titles will not be decided until the last show on Sunday, January 11th. Montana Circuit contestants who win either the year-end title or the average title at the circuit finals also qualify for the Dodge National Circuit Finals to be held in Pocatello, ID.
Download a complete list of Finals Contestants HERE
Download the Event Guide/Order Form (1mb pdf) HERE
PRCA Announces Significant new investment in Circuit System and other initiatives at Annual Membership Meeting
COLORADO SPRINGS - The annual general membership meeting of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) was held today at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. The PRCA used the opportunity to unveil a number of new and exciting initiatives to its membership.
PRCA Chairman of the Board Keith Martin announced the Board’s unanimous decision to bolster the PRCA Circuit System, which, in Martin’s words, is “the backbone of the PRCA.” Starting in 2008, the PRCA will contribute an additional $500,000 per year into the PRCA Circuit System. The 12-circuit system includes the Badlands, California, Columbia River, First Frontier, Great Lakes, Montana, Mountain States, Prairie, Southeastern, Texas, Turquoise and Wilderness Circuits, as well as the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which is a vital part of the circuit package.
The PRCA has committed to matching up to $3,000 per event in added money at every Circuit Finals Rodeo, in each of the six standard PRCA events, which are bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and bull riding. Equal money of up to $6,000 will be made available in the team roping event. The four circuits — Columbia River, Mountain States, Prairie and Texas — that also include steer roping will be entitled to the same matching benefit in that event, for a total potential PRCA commitment of $264,000 per year in additional added money. The PRCA Board of Directors believes that this initiative will encourage Circuit Finals Rodeo committees to increase their contribution as well. The PRCA’s matching prize monies will be added to the committee contributions.
In addition, the PRCA announced that it will pay the entry fees of all PRCA contestant qualifiers at the 2009 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo.
“These initiatives show the PRCA Board’s firm commitment to support and strengthen our Circuit System, which is a core component of our business,” Martin said. “Wrangler National Finals Rodeo contestants do not have to pay entry fees to compete at the NFR, and now our circuit contestants will no longer have to pay entry fees to compete at our Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo. We are all part of the PRCA Circuit System, whether we are contestants, committees, stock contractors, sponsors or contract personnel. These improvements to the Circuit System are good news for all of us, because they take this important part of our business to the next level.”
The PRCA will provide $92,400 to cover all DNCFR entry fees for PRCA contestants, which are $550 per qualifier per event. The PRCA will also contribute additional monies to the DNCFR fund, which when added to the sponsor and DNCFR committee commitments will bring the total DNCFR payoff for the six PRCA events to $500,000 in 2009. The total payout in those same events at the 2008 DNCFR was $350,350. The PRCA also announced more welcomed news for cowboys and fans, confirming that the scheduling conflict between the DNCFR and RodeoHouston has been eliminated. The 2009 DNCFR will be held April 8-11 in Pocatello, Idaho.
“These actions represent the beginning of our initiatives,” Martin said. “It’s definitely not the end. Fuel prices are hurting everybody right now, but they’re really impacting our contestants. This $500,000 commitment of additional PRCA funds will help.”
Martin had more good news for PRCA members at the meeting, including an additional $300,000 shot in the arm of the PRCA judging program.
“Judging is such an important part of professional rodeo,” he said. “We are all working hard to increase the competitive opportunities available to our contestants, but we also want to make sure that money ends up in the hands of those who deserve it most. Competitive integrity is vital to every professional sport.”
Martin also reported that overall entries at Heartland ProRodeo Series events have increased by 8.4 percent to date in 2008, with a 16 percent increase in bareback riding alone. The new Heartland ProRodeo Series concept is working, and the boosted bareback riding entries are an encouraging trend, as the number of professional bareback riders has declined in recent years.
Finally, the PRCA announced a major membership initiative designed to reward top high school rodeo contestants throughout the United States. The PRCA will waive permit dues for every National High School Rodeo Association state champion in each event that is part of the PRCA.
“We wanted to reach out to the next generation of cowboys, and let them know how much we value their participation in our sport,” Martin said. “This will give almost 300 cowboys per year a head start in pursuing a career in professional rodeo.
“All of these initiatives reinforce the fact that the PRCA Board of Directors and staff are making every effort to meet the needs of its membership. We’re working hard to get the job done, and we’re making progress. The PRCA is financially sound, entries are up and attendance is on the rise at our rodeos. Our foundation is solid, and we’re in strong position to continue to grow the great sport of professional rodeo.”
Calvin Bohleen Memorial Award Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo The Calvin Bohleen Memorial Award was set up to honor those who have been mentors in helping someone become a success in Pro Rodeo. The award is a Con Williams structure donated by Suze Bohleen in memory of Calvin. The 2007 award will be presented at the Circuit Finals in Great Falls, January 11, 12, and 13, 2008.
Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finalists - To submit a nomination, please write a letter about this special person and submit it to the Circuit Board of Directors at RR 1, Box 54, Geyser, MT 59447 by January 1, 2008. Items to include in the letter are as follows:
1. Who saw the talent and potential in you and gave you the
support you needed to get where you are in rodeo today?
2. Who has helped you through a really tough time, Professionally, Emotionally, and Personally?
3. What has this person done to help you be as successful as you are today?
This award helps pro rodeo contestants thank someone who gave them a helping hand or boost in becoming the best they could be in pro rodeo. The person chosen for this award will be chosen by the Circuit Board of Directors from the nomination letters. |
