The 2011 Rodeo season concluded in Vernon, Texas November 6th with the finals paying out $196,000.00.  There were 73 Skyline Silversmith buckles, Skyline Vaquero Saddles,  Don Orell stirrups for reserve champions, in addition to each final’s contestants receiving a jacket.  There were several events that came down to the wire for champions.  Congratulations to all the newly crowned 2011 champions. Karen Little smoke the finals in the barrel race by winning all three rounds and set an arena record in the third go round.  She also won the second round in the breakaway to help secure her yearend championship in the breakaway roping.  Karen took top honors  for the All Around for the year as well as the All Around at the finals.  Once again, Matt Bennett repeated his championship in the bareback riding with James Ware winning the 2011 Rookie Bareback and Zach Phillips reserve yearend.  Cassidy Boggs didn't have the finals she would have like but took home the reserve honors in the Breakaway and Hope Thompson won the rookie honors.  In the Steer Wrestling, Casey Harmon came out on top for the yearend win and James Winders took home the rookie honor and Tanner Winkler claimed the reserve honors.  Matt Carlson led the calf roping for most of the year and claimed the yearend calf roping championship with Reese Riemer being reserve champion.  Logan Dee Harkey came to the finals leading the rookie but had some miss fortune as he failed to draw a check.  Seaver Tate from Clovis placed in the second round to take the rookie honors back to New Mexico. A pair of brothers from Oklahoma Andrew and Reagan Ward  kept the team roping championship in the family by Andrew winning the Heading and Reagan the Heeling.   Casey Chamberlain was reserved champion with Chance Frazier the rookie heeler. Trey Harmon's original heeling partner, Braden Harmon, broke his leg before the finals, so Trey partnered with Ben Blue.  Another misfortunate occur as Ben lost his uncle the day before the finals so once again Trey was looking for a partner.  Darin Suit stepped up to the plate  to help Trey secure the rookie honor and reserve champion header as well as moving himself to 8th in the overall standings for the yearend in the heeling. Rookie Wyatt Barstow claimed the saddle bronc title for the year with Cody Groves reserve.  Taylor Langdon  took home the rookie honors in the barrel race with Kelly Garrison winning reserve honors.   High school senior quarterback, Colt Cleavinger came away the big winner in the bull riding to claim the yearend championship.  Jake Shannon was reserve champion and Chris McCombs took home rookie honors.  In the Ranch Broncs, Caleb Rice came from behind to claim the number one spot for the year with Jake Mitchell taking the reserve position.

A first class production takes an outstanding team to make it all work.  Thanks to the team of: Announcer, Monty Stueve, Arena Director:  Cliff Kirkpatrick, Secretary: Janie Riemer,  Rodeo Secretary:  Randye McKee Timers: Troyce Sturgess and Shawna Lamb, Judges:  Alan Hennigh, Scot Quick,  Pickup Men: Yandy Yarbrough and Todd Adams, Bullfighters: Nathan Harp and Clay Heger, and our official photographer, Dale Hirschman.  Thank you to all the people who were behind the chutes and arena helping which included Directors, Directors Wives and Husbands, and college students from Vernon College.

Contestants, if you didn’t get a chance to look at your pictures or order one from the finals, call Dale at (580) 772-3421 or contact him at www.dalehirschman.com .