News

  • CNFR 2022 Information Available at CNFR.COM

    June 3, 2022

    Visit CNFR.com for latest information and results.

    Continue reading →
  • COLLEGE RODEO ON NATIONAL TELEVISION

    August 17, 2021

    Walla Walla, WA College Rodeo will be in the television spotlight this August.  The best action from the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s premiere event, the College National Finals Rodeo, will be featured on ESPN U.  ESPN U will be airing two hours of collegiate rodeo competition from the 2021 College National Finals Rodeo, held in Casper, Wyoming, this June.           

    The college rodeo action begins airing on Thursday, August 19th at 8:00 p.m. EASTERN time.  The second show will begin at 9:00 p.m. EASTERN time.

    A second airing of the action will be on, August 21st at 9:30 p.m EASTERN time and 10:30 p.m. EASTERN time.  A third is scheduled for August 22nd at 9:00 p.m. EASTERN and 10:00 p.m. EASTERN. 

    The exciting action of the finals also includes interviews and features from the entire finals week and portions of the awards ceremony.

    The NIRA is pleased to have the support of the following sponsors for the programming:  Cinch Jeans & Shirts, Wyoming Division of Tourism, Platinum Performance, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, RAM, Visit Casper, the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Foundation, and Cactus Gear, Cactus Ropes, Cactus Saddles, Heel-O-Matic and Resistol Hats.

    College National Finals Rodeo on ESPNU

    Show #1 - Premieres

    Thursday, August 19th, 8:00 p.m. EASTERN time

    Show #2 - Premieres

    Thursday, August 19th, 9:00 p.m. EASTERN time

    Additional airings:

    August 21st: 9:30 p.m. EASTERN and 10:30 p.m. EASTERN

    August 22nd: 9:00  p.m. EASTERN and 10:00 p.m. EASTERN

    Continue reading →
  • 2021 SCHOLAR AMERICAN HONORS ANNOUNCED

    July 15, 2021

    Walla Walla, WA – The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association is pleased to announce the 2021 Scholar American recipients. The honor is bestowed on NIRA members that have earned points at a 2020-2021 NIRA sanctioned rodeo, been in college for more than one term, earned a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, and have been nominated by their rodeo coach. They are as follows:

    BlakeAfdahlMesalands Community College
    ThomasAllenTarleton State University
    BridgerAndersonNorthwestern Oklahoma State University
    MacyAndersonSouthern Utah University
    JessieArmstrongVernon College
    TaylorBaldwinSam Houston State University
    EliBargerWestern Oklahoma State College
    BrettBarthlomewUniversity of Montana, Western
    KassideeBatesSouthern Utah University
    BrightonBaumanHill College
    ZoieBedkeIdaho State University
    ShayaBieverVernon College
    PaytonBladowCal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo
    ElizabethBolichMontana State University
    JadeBooteDickinson State University
    SydneyBottomOklahoma Panhandle State University
    CodieBowenNew Mexico State University
    MeganBoydIdaho State University
    MadisonBrennerMontana State University
    ShantellBrewerMontana State University
    ToriBrowerVernon College
    AmandaBrownEastern New Mexico State University
    LacyBrueningSouthwest Texas Junior College
    KysanBucknerSam Houston State University
    TrinityBushnellUniversity of Montana, Western
    HadleyButlerSul Ross State University
    HaydenCapeWest Texas A&M University
    CheyanneCarlUniversity of Montana
    ColtonCarlsonSouth Dakota State University
    AlexandriaCawthonTarleton State University
    CatherineClaytonCochise College
    HadleyClearmanTarleton State University
    McKennaClingmanColorado Northwestern Community College
    ChadronCoffieldUniversity of Wyoming
    BailyCoombsEastern Wyoming College
    KayleeCormierMcNeese State University
    HolliCoveyUniversity of Tennessee, Martin
    BryanneCudeTarleton State University
    JaceeCurrinMontana State University
    KolbyCurrinMontana State University
    HayleyDanleyTarleton State University
    ColeCurryEast Mississippi Community College
    AimeeDavisCuesta College
    PaigeDawsonTarleton State University
    TreyDempewolfSheridan College
    MadelineDickensTarleton State University
    KateDickinsonOklahoma Panhandle State University
    MaddeeDoerrCochise College
    JillDonnellyCochise College
    EmmaleeDuboisUtah Vally University
    FallonDyerMissouri Valley College
    JordiEdensHill College
    ClayElkingtonCentral Arizona College
    CashlynEnglishUtah Vally University
    MatthewFentonSheridan College
    MaxFilingerMissouri Valley College
    MaceyFillmoreUtah State University
    IsabellaFossumMontana State University
    RyleeGannonThree Rivers College
    RyleeGeorgeFresno State University
    AlexisGhormleyTexas A&M University
    DallyGoemmerNew Mexico State University
    JosieGoodrichWashington State University
    JackGriffinTexas A&M University
    HadleyGrossColorado Northwestern Community College
    JennaGroverSam Houston State University
    ColtonGuinCentral Arizona College
    KelseyHallinOklahoma Panhandle State University
    AnnabelleHamptonCentral Arizona College
    MezaHamBlack Hills State University
    RileyHannumBlack Hills State University
    TaylorHansonBlack Hills State University
    SydneyHarrisTexas A & M University
    RebekahHartleyCentral Wyoming College
    KaitlynHarwellNew Mexico State University
    ShelbyHenryVernon College
    AbbyHepperSouthwestern Oklahoma State University
    Molly CateHepperMontana State University
    McKennaHicksonWeatherford College
    CaraHilzendegerSouteastern Oklahoma State University
    CodyHoganUniversity of Tennessee, Martin
    SebastianHotalenDixie State University
    ToriJacobsSouth Dakota State University
    KaylaJohnsonOklahoma Panhandle State University
    SavanaJohnstonBlack Hills State University
    ShelbyJoiceUtah Vally University
    HavenJonesIdaho State University
    KenzieJonesKansas State University
    RussellKayCollege of Southern Idaho
    CodyKeathleySouthwestern Oklahoma State University
    BristanKennedyTexas Tech University, Lubbock
    MorganKesslerSul Ross State University
    RileyKittleCisco College
    SophiaKnoxWestern Oklahoma State College
    AshleyKoenigMontana State University
    SageKohrMontana State University
    ChanciKraftBlack Hills State University
    KeniLabrumFrank Phillips College
    TaylorLagasseSouthwestern Oklahoma State University
    NicholeLakeSul Ross State University
    MontanaLandisUtah Vally University
    LariatLarnerOklahoma State University
    TatumLauingUniversity of Montana, Western
    NatalieLeisingerUniversity of Wyoming
    KelseyLensegravUniversity of Wyoming
    DanielleLichteOklahoma State University
    MadisonLindbergSheridan College
    AlyssaLockhartTexas A&M University, Commerce
    AyshaLongOklahoma State University
    MableMcAbeeSouthwestern Oklahoma State University
    McKenzieMcBeeMissouri Valley College
    ShannonMcBrideNorth Dakota State University
    EmilyMcDeavittTarleton State University
    CashaeMcGeeBlack Hills State University
    KassidyMcKeeTarleton State University
    McKennaMcNeillOklahoma State University
    ShayneMalloryUniversity of Tennessee, Martin
    MayceMarekWharton County Junior College
    VinellMarianoNew Mexico State University
    ShacieMarrEastern New Mexico University
    CaxtonMartinHill College
    TaylorMasonMissouri Valley College
    AlliMastersNortheastern Oklahoma A&M College
    TaycieMatthewsEast Mississippi Community College
    BodieMattsonGillette College
    ShaunMentaberryCollege of Southern Idaho
    MorganMerrillOklahoma State University
    MyleeMickelsenIdaho State University
    AnaMinnickMissouri Valley College
    JacxsonMirabalUnversity of Wyoming
    JackMitchellTarleton State University
    KayleeMitchellEastern New Mexico University
    TaylaMoeykensMontana State University
    ZaneMunozCochise College
    KynseeMussmannUniversity of Montana, Western
    TalynNevilleUniversity of Montana, Western
    JacquelineNicholsCentral Arizona College
    SamiO'DayKansas State University
    BretOlsenUtah Vally University
    CollinPalmerBlack Hills State University
    MitchellParhamFresno State University
    EmilyPauleyBlack Hills State University
    HarleyPerkinsSam Houston State University
    BeauPetersonOklahoma Panhandle State University
    JaymePetersonGillette College
    WadePettijohnOklahoma Panhandle State University
    BrooklinQuisenberryCuesta College
    CheyenneRadojitsNew Mexico State University
    ColtRamseyCollege of Southern Idaho
    PaigeRasmussenMontana State University
    ShelbyRasmussenMontana State University
    JaycieRauBlack Hills State University
    TeaRecanzoneBoise State University
    LukeRhodesMissouri Valley College
    RileyRiekenPanola College
    WadeRobertsOklahoma Panhandle State University
    RudyRodriguezWestern Oklahoma State College
    BetsyRoemerMissouri Valley College
    KayceeRogersUniversity of Montana, Western
    GracieRothConnors State College
    MyraRudolphCentral Wyoming College
    LexieRussellOklahoma State University
    JustinSailorsUniversity of Tennessee, Martin
    CelieSalmondMontana State University
    Molly CateSalmondMontana State University
    SherrickSanbornCochise College
    JoseeSaultsEastern Wyoming College
    MadelynSchauerEastern New Mexico University
    KaileySchmidtUniversity of Tennessee, Martin
    TJSchmidtOklahoma Panhandle State University
    PaytonSchoeppachCuesta College
    JaredSchultisUniversity of Wyoming
    SaigeSealyCisco College
    SadieShakeColorado Northwestern Community College
    BrookeSmithUniversity of Montana, Western
    PaigeSmithSam Houston State University
    SierraSmithSouthwestern Oklahoma State University
    GavinSoileauMcNeese State University
    SadieSturmanCentral Wyoming College
    TristanSullivanSouthwest Texas Junior College
    WyattTarverUniversity of Wyoming
    SydneyTheobaldBlack Hills State University
    DeanThompsonWestern Texas College
    JaceyThompsonUniversity of Wyoming
    JadenTrimbleNorthwestern Oklahoma State University
    GrantTurekGillette College
    JakeVanceTarleton State University
    KathrynVarianCal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo
    KarliVerhulstBlack Hills State University
    ChrisVillanuevaSam Houston State University
    BoVocuNew Mexico State University
    HannahVogelMontana State University
    HaleyVollmerKansas State University
    DerekWadsworthCollege of Southern Idaho
    EmilyWadsworthUtah State University
    SadieWaldronMissouri Valley College
    EmmaWattsSouthwestern Oklahoma State University
    AmyWeichNew Mexico State University
    ShelbyWeltzCentral Wyoming College
    JaiceeWilliamsBlack Hills State University
    MichelleWilliamsMontana State University
    KayceeWindsorTarleton State University
    SadieWolaverSouthwestern Oklahoma State University
    TregWolsteinMontana State University
    McKennaWoodWest Hills Community College
    DrakeWycherleyWeber State University
    Continue reading →
  • College National Finals Rodeo Crowns 2021 Champions

    July 13, 2021

    CASPER, Wyo. (June 19, 2021) The 72nd annual College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) crowned 2021 individual, all-around and team champions during the final round of competition Saturday at the Ford Wyoming Center.

                Cole Franks of Clarendon, Texas, turned in the highest-marked ride of the week – 85 points on Vold Rodeo’s horse Misty Frontier – to win the final round of bareback riding and the national title. Franks, a sophomore agricultural business major at Clarendon College, came into the final round two points behind leader Jacob Lees, a Californian representing Western Texas College.

                Franks was crowned the 2021 CNFR All-Around Cowboy and the 2021 Men’s Rookie of the Year. He was the only cowboy to qualify for the final round in two events – bareback and saddle bronc riding.  Franks was competing at his second CNFR. His father Bret, the rodeo coach at Clarendon College, is a former CNFR and National Finals Rodeo saddle bronc rider.

                Tie-down roper Macon Murphy of Keatchie, Louisiana, was another second-generation CNFR athlete to win a 2021 title. His parents K.C. and Julie competed at the CNFR in the late 1980s with K.C. being a member of Montana State University’s 1988 national championship team.

                Murphy, who was part of the 2019 national championship team for Panola College,  roped and tied his calf in 9.8 seconds. Leader Caleb Berquist had a great opportunity to make a solid run and win the title, but he drew a kicking calf and could not finish fast enough to beat Murphy.

                The battle for the championship in breakaway roping came down to two freshmen. Zoie Bedke of Oakley, Idaho, trailed Grace Felton of Susanville, California, by three-tenths of a second as the round began. Bedke, a physical therapy major at Idaho State University, caught her calf in 2.4 seconds giving her a total of 10.3 on four runs. Felton, an agricultural business major at Lassen College, also caught her calf in 2.4 seconds, but she started too quickly and was assessed a 10-second penalty. Bedke took the title home to Idaho.

                In saddle bronc riding Dylan Schofield of Philip, South Dakota, scored 84.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s horse Popsicle to take the lead in the final round. Schofield, a junior welding major at Western Texas College, came into the round trailing Clarendon College’s Cash Wilson by 6.5 points overall. Vold Rodeo’s horse Ima Be threw Wilson in the dirt and Schofield earned the national title.

                Gavin Soileau of Bunkie, Louisiana, was the first national champion to hold onto first place Saturday night. The junior agricultural business major from McNeese State University wrestled his steer to the ground in 4.2 seconds which was good enough for second in the final round. His total time of 19.2 seconds earned him the national steer wrestling title to go along with his two National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) southern region championships.

    In goat tying Jill Donnelly of Surprise, Arizona, came into the final round in third place. The junior business administration major clocked a time of 6.5 seconds, giving her a total of 26.4 seconds. When leader Paige Rasmussen of Montana State University clocked a time of 6.3, it looked as if she would win the national title, but the goat failed to stay tied, disqualifying her. Donnelly, who carries a 4.0 grade point average, was competing in her second CNFR and won the national title to go along with her NIRA Grand Canyon region championship.

    The team roping finalists had tough time connecting. Until the final two teams rode in the box, only one qualified time had been made. The championship came down to two pairs of brothers. JC and LJ Yeahquo of Crescent, Oklahoma, trailed Kellan and Carson Johnson of Casper by one-tenth of a second. The Yeahquos, who both major in business administration at Western Oklahoma College, roped their steer in 6.9 seconds, giving them a total of 27.7. The Johnsons, who major in psychology and education respectively at Casper College, brought the hometown crowd to their feet when they caught their steer in 6.0 seconds to win the national title by one second.

    Tayla Moeykens of Three Forks, Montana, came from fourth place to win the barrel racing title. Her time of 13.99 seconds was the fastest of the week and won the final round. The freshman business and marketing major at Montana State University also won the first and the third rounds of barrel racing and earned the Women’s Rookie of the Year title.

    Tristen Hutchings of Blackfoot, Idaho, left no doubt as to who should win the bull riding title. The junior animal science major at Sul Ross State University in Texas rode Vold Rodeo’s bull Milk Mustache for 90 points to win the final round. He was the only athlete to ride three of four bulls in Casper.

                Montana State University won the women’s team championship with Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s team as reserve champions. Reserve champion men’s team was 2019 champion Panola College.

                Plans are underway for the 73rd

    2021 COLLEGE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO CHAMPIONS

    Bareback – Cole Franks, Clarendon College, 330.5 points

    Tie-Down Roping – Macon Murphy, Panola College, 39.1 seconds.

    Breakaway Roping – Zoie Bedke, Idaho State University, 10.3 seconds

    Saddle Bronc Riding – Dylan Schofield, Western Texas College, 310 points

    Steer Wrestling – Gavin Soileau, McNeese State University, 19.2 seconds

    Goat Tying – Jill Donnelly, Cochise College, 26.5 seconds

    Team Roping – Kellan and Carson Johnson, Casper College, 26.7 seconds

    Barrel Racing – Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 56.84 seconds

    Bull Riding – Tristen Hutchings, Sul Ross State University, 241.5

    Men’s All-Around – Cole Franks, Clarendon College, 195 points

    Women’s All-Around – Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University and Jill Donnelly, Cochise College 180

    Men’s Team – Clarendon College, 890 points

    Women’s Team – Montana State University, 590 points

    Men’s Rookie – Cole Franks Clarendon College 395

    Women’s Rookie – Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 320

    Men’s AQHA Horse of the Year – Bridger Anderson, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, “Teller I Pass”

    Women’s AQHA Horse of the Year – Jaylie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, “Feelin the Firewater”

    CASPER, Wyoming---The following are final round and overall winners at the 72nd annual College National Finals Rodeo, June 19, 2021, courtesy of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Complete results are available at www.collegerodeo.com.

    Bareback Riding: (final round) 1, Cole Franks, Clarendon College, 85 points on Vold Rodeo’s Wrangler Valley. 2, (tie) Gauge McBride, Panola College, and Nick Pelke, Missouri Valley College, 83 each. 4, (tie) Waylon Bourgeois, McNeese State University and Kolt Dement, Panola College, 82.5. (overall winners) 1, Franks, 330.5 points on four. 2, Dement, 322. 3, Pelke, 321.5. 4, Jacob Lees, Western Texas College, 320. 5, Bourgeois, 313. 6, McBride, 309.5. 7, Dean Thompson, Western Texas College, 308.5. 8, Brody Smith, University of Montana Western, 307.5.

    Tie Down Roping: (final round) 1, Connor Atkinson, Wharton County Community College, 9.4 seconds. 2, Macon Murphy, Panola College, 9.8. 3, Kincaid Henry, Panola College, 11.5. 4, Collin Palmer, Black Hills State University, 13.3. (overall winners) 1, Murphy, 39.1 seconds on four. 2, Caleb Berquist, Montana State University, 44.3. 3, Atkinson, 47.6. 4, Palmer, 49.1. 5, Henry, 52.0. (on three) 6, Ladd King, Weber State University, 32.6. 7, Garrett Jacobs, Sul Ross State University, 33.8. 8, Levi Delamarter, Montana State University, 34.3.

    Breakaway Roping: (final round) 1, Zoie Bedke, Idaho State University, 2.4 seconds. 2, Hannah Phillips, Sam Houston State University, 2.7. 3, Catherine Clayton, Cochise College, 2.8. 4, Jayce Blake, Treasure Valley Community College, 3.0. (overall winners) 1, Bedke, 10.3. 2, Courtney Peters, Black Hills State University, 11.3. 3, Clayton, 13.7. 4, Brianna Williams, Chadron State College, 17.9. 5, Grace Felton, Lassen College, 20.0. 6, Phillips, 21.0. 7, Blake, 30.1. 8, (tie) Winter Williams, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Blair Bryant, East Mississippi Community College, 9.5 seconds on three.

    Saddle Bronc Riding: (final round) 1, Dylan Schofield, Western Texas College, 84.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Popcicle. 2, Weston Patterson, Clarendon College, 80. 3, Clayson Hutchings, Utah State University Eastern, 79.5. 4, Reed Neely, California State University Fresno, 77.5. (overall winners) 1, Schofield, 310 on four. 2, Patterson, 301.5. 3, Hutchings, 296.5. 4, Neely, 292.5. 5, Russell Kay, College of Southern Idaho, 273. 6, Scott Lauaki, Utah State University Eastern, 264. (on three) 7, Cash Wilson, Clarendon College, 232. 8, Ty Pope, Missouri Valley College, 226.

    Steer Wrestling: (final round) 1, Grant Peterson, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 4.0 seconds. 2, Gavin Soileau, McNeese State University, 4.2. 3, Trisyn Kalawai’a, Central Arizona College, 4.4. 4, Bryce Harrison, University of Montana Western, 4.6. (overall winners) 1, Soileau, 19.2 seconds. 2, Peterson, 27.8. 3, Harrison, 29.2. 4, Chadron Coffield, University of Wyoming, 29.8. 5, Seth Peterson, University of Wyoming, 32.1. 6, Kalawai’a, 33.5. 7, Gus Franzen, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 35.4. 8, Sterling Lee, Mid Plains Community College, 40.9.

                Goat Tying: (final round) 1, Sheyenne Anderson, Missouri Valley College, 6.2 seconds. 2, Jill Donnelly, Cochise College, 6.5. 3, (tie) Heather McLaughlin, University of West Alabama, and Maddee Doerr, Cochise College, 6.8 each. (overall winners) 1, Donnelly, 26.4 on four. 2, Anderson, 26.6. 3, Doerr, 27.5. 4, Kodey Hoss, Weatherford College, 27.6. 5, McLaughlin, 27.7. 6, Kamryn Duncan, McNeese State University, 27.8. 7, Madelyn Schauer, Eastern New Mexico University, 28.2. 8, Taylour Latham, University of Wyoming, 29.4.

                Team Roping: (final round) 1, Kellan and Carson Johnson, Casper College, 6.0 seconds. 2, J.C. and L.J. Yeahquo, Western Oklahoma State College, 6.9 seconds. 3, Jase Staudt, University of Wyoming and J.C. Flake, Gillette College, 11.5. 4, Ethan Griffin, Oklahoma State University and Blayne Horne, Western Oklahoma State College, 11.7. (overall winners) 1, Johnson and Johnson, 26.7 seconds on four. 2, Yeahquo and Yeahquo, 27.7. 3, Will Eddleman, Cisco College and Garrett Jacobs, Sul Ross State University, 46.4. (on three) 4, Griffin and Horne, 24.7. 5, Staudt and Flake, 27.4. 6, Wyatt Murray, and Whitt Crozier, Panhandle State University, 29.1. 7, Jon Peterson, and Trae Smith, Gillette College, 29.8. 8, Jace Hanks, Utah Valley University and Kale Lamb, Utah State University Eastern, 36.8.

                 Barrel Racing: (final round) 1, Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 13.99 seconds. 2, Bradi Good, Weatherford College, 14.03. 3, Shai McDonald, Montana State University, 14.21. 4, Abby Hepper, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 14.24. (overall winners) 1, Moeykens, 56.84 on four. 2, Jaylie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 57.13. 3, Hepper, 57.16. 4, McDonald, 57.29. 5, Good, 57.54. 6, Karson Bradley, University of Wyoming, 57.71. 7, Payton Schoeppach, Cuesta College, 57.75. 8, Sadie Wolaver, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 61.84.

                Bull Riding: (final round – two rides) 1, Tristen Hutchings, Sul Ross State University, 90 points on Vold Rodeo’s Milk Mustache. 2, Cole Skender, Three Rivers College, 83. (overall winners) 1, Hutchings, 241.5 points on three. 2, Skender, 167.5 on two. 3, Austin Allred, Utah State University Eastern, 147.5. 4, Holden Moss, Three Rivers College, 147. 5, Stefan Tonita, Larimie County Community College, 81. 6, Quinten Taylor, Casper College, 79.5. 7, Cullen Telfer, Tarleton State University, 78. 8, Hunter Tate, Coffeyville Community College, 77.

                Men’s All-Around: 1, Cole Franks, Clarendon College, 395. 2, Seth Peterson, University of Wyoming, 185. 3, (tie) Garrett Jacobs, Sul Ross State University, and Jace Staudt, University of Wyoming, 160.

                Women’s All-Around:  (tie) 1, Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University and Jill Donnelly, Cochise College

                Men’s Team: 1, Clarendon College, 890 points. 2, Panola College, 790. 3, Casper College, 755. 4, Western Texas College, 715.

                Women’s Team: 1, Montana State University, 590. 2, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 432.5. 3, Cochise College, 403.33. 4, East Mississippi Community College, 257.5.

    Continue reading →
  • CNFR Scholarship Awards

    July 13, 2021

    A major component of the 72nd College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) June 6 -12, 2021 was awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships to members of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA).

    Winners during the competition earn scholarships, and special scholarships are awarded to NIRA members. The total given through the seven days of competition is over $150,000.

    The Walt Garrison Top Hand Award is a $2,500 scholarship awarded for loyalty, determination, integrity and leadership. Each of the NIRA’s 11 geographic regions nominate one rodeo athlete for this award then one winner is selected from those nominees. Garrison, a former professional steer wrestler and professional football player with the Dallas Cowboys, started numerous scholarship programs.

    This year’s Top Hand is Mayce Marek of Arp, Texas, who just completed her sophomore year at Wharton County Community College in Texas and plans to continue her education this fall at Texas A & M Commerce where she will major in agricultural business. Marek was the Southern Region’s nominee and competed in goat tying at her first CNFR last week.

    The Harry Vold “Duke of the Chutes” Scholarship is presented in honor of the distinguished and respected stock contractor’s longtime association with college rodeo. Madison Deck, a West Virginia native and pre-vet student at Murray State University, received this $2,500 scholarship. Deck, who competes in barrel racing, maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

    The $2,500 Shane Drury “Nothin’ But Try” Scholarship is given each year to an NIRA member who exhibits Drury’s never-give-up attitude in the face of adversity. Drury, a bull rider who competed at the CNFR and was part of a men’s championship team, died after a battle with cancer.

    This year’s winner Brandy Schaack of Hyannis, Nebraska, competed at her second CNFR for the University of Wyoming. In 2019 when she was a junior, Schaack went through serious health challenges. She had a debilitating bout with ulcerative colitis in the fall of 2018, then in the spring suffered from leg pain. The cause was a blood infection normally seen in horses and called “strangles”. While undergoing surgery for that, doctors discovered she had stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that had spread to her liver, bones and throughout her body. As soon as she recovered from leg surgery, she began chemotherapy and two years later she was back at the CNFR in the breakaway roping.

    Three other “Nothin’ But Try” $500 scholarships have been established since Shane Drury awarded the first in 2006. The Lee Akin scholarship went to Cheyenne Bartling of Oklahoma State University. Tyree Cochran of Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo received the Betty Gayle Cooper Ratliff scholarship, and the Levi Wisness scholarship went to Tayle Brink of Black Hills State University.

    The John J. Smith Scholarship in honor of longtime NIRA commissioner John Smith is for NIRA members pursuing a graduate degree at an accredited institution. This year’s winner of the $2,000 scholarship is McKenzie Frizzell of Cochise, Arizona. She competed at the 2021 CNFR in breakaway roping and is a spring graduate of New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and economics.

    The winners of the Patty Skogan Memorial Scholarships were chosen from nominees from each NIRA region who show determination, grit and kindness while overcoming obstacles and demonstrating a welcoming attitude. Tyree Cochran, a 2021 animal science graduate of Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo who qualified for her first CNFR in team roping, and Kamryn Duncan, a sophomore early childhood education major at McNeese State University who competed at her first CNFR in breakaway roping and goat tying, received these awards.

    The $1,000 George Howard Memorial Scholarships honor the life of Howard who spent 35 years as a college rodeo coach – first as an assistant at Dodge City Community College and Southwestern Oklahoma State University and later as head coach at the University of Wyoming. Howard’s teams qualified for the CNFR every year and he coached seven national championship teams and 27 individual champions.

    Two scholarships were given in 2021. Owen Gustafson, from Browning, Montana, a senior ranch management major at Dickinson State University, and Colton Crawford, from Walsh, Colorado, a senior public relations and mass communication major at Missouri Valley College, were the recipients.

    As a timed-event athlete, Gutafson also received the $1,000 NIRA Alumni Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship. Harter competed for Arizona State University and was the 1966 NIRA champion in both calf roping and ribbon roping. He went on to a successful professional rodeo career and was a long-time supporter of college rodeo who served as the alumni president.

    No one has a background in college rodeo that is as extensive as Sonny Sikes. He competed and won national titles in the team roping and tie-down roping for Sam Houston State University. He went on to coach there and from 1962 through 1979, he and his wife, Joanne, served as the NIRA Executive Secretary.

    Because of his dedication and passion for college rodeo, the NIRA started the Sonny Sikes Pioneer Award. This year’s winner is Jade Boote of Binford, North Dakota. Boote, a senior secondary education major at Dickinson State University, competed at her second CNFR in breakaway roping. She has served as the Great Plains Region Student Director and taken on several leadership roles.

    Fundraising efforts for these awards are ongoing through the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Foundation and the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni Association.

    Continue reading →