Wrangler Champions Challenge Finale selects eight Barnes’ animal athletes
TWO STATES, SEVEN PERFORMANCES IN FOUR DAYS FOR BARNES PRCA RODEO
Omaha, Neb. (Sept. 14, 2017) – Animal athletes from Barnes PRCA Rodeo are in high demand between September 28 – October 1, 2017. Marty Barnes and his son Westin Barnes will take part in seven rodeo performances in just four days in Iowa and South Dakota.
Barnes PRCA Rodeo is providing livestock for two Great Plains Regional Rodeos at Iowa Central Community College and Iowa State University. Also, eight of their top bucking horses and bulls were selected to compete at the Wrangler Champions Challenge Finale in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on September 29 and 30
Marty Barnes, the owner of Barnes PRCA Rodeo, said, “we are honored to have some of our animals selected and excited to be part of the Wrangler Champions Challenge Finale.”
Bareback horses 1Z8 Hawley Falls, 6H9 Undergrad, J2 Frankie Scott and Saddle Bronc horse 317 Red Horse Crossin’ will be representing the Rafter B Bar brand. Four bulls 27 Ralco’s Microfused, 28 Rafael’s Red Chain, 221 Ralco’s Centrifuge and 16 Butter Biscuit will be in the draw on Saturday night during the premier event sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
The brown gelding, 1Z8 Hawley Falls, named after the American Heroes PRCA Rodeo (Hawley, Minn.) was an ATM for cowboys this season. Reigning World Champion Bareback Rider Tim O’Connell won Palestine, Ill. on 1Z8 Hawley Falls. Tennessee cowboy Tyler Waltz won second during the 63rd Buffalo PRCA Championship Rodeo (Buffalo, Minn.) in late June. Wyatt Bloom from Bend, Ore. drew Hawley Falls at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo (Kississimee, Florida) to split second in the first round this past April.
“I look at the draw and get excited about it,” said O’Connell, “when you only have to put 11 horses together, it makes for a great rodeo. I would be ecstatic about drawing a Barnes horse. The horses he (Marty Barnes) has in the draw fit in there very well. There is a good chance it will be more of a riding contest than a drawing contest.”
Rodeo fans at five Great Lakes Circuit events this season saw 6H9 Undergrad be the elite bronc.
Two-time Wrangler National Finals qualifier Tanner Aus from Granite Falls, Minn. drew the bay gelding twice this season. He was the Bareback Champion at the 63rd Buffalo PRCA Championship Rodeo (Buffalo, Minn.) in June and Co-champion at the Minnesota Horse Expo & ProRodeo (St. Paul, Minn.) in April. The French cowboy Evan Jayne from Marseille, France was the Co-champion at the Heart Of The North Rodeo (Spooner, Wis.). Waltz was Co-champion at the Midwest Horse Fair & Rodeo (Madison, Wis.) and Tanner Phipps won American Heroes PRCA Rodeo (Hawley, Minn.) in early June on 6H9 Undergrad.
RNCFR and Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo selected bareback horse J2 Frankie Scott adds the WCC selection to her rodeo resume now. The bay mare won Wapello PRCA Rodeo (Wapello, Iowa) and was the reserve champion bronc at Cherokee Chamber PRCA Rodeo (Cherokee, Iowa) and helped Chad Rutherford from Lake Charles, Louisiana win second in Palestine, Ill over Labor Day weekend. O’Connell said, “this is the one that has alluded me in the draw,” referencing J2 Frankie Scott in a telephone call from the Pendleton Roundup. “We have missed each other quite often. I think that is Marty’s best horse and he sure has a good pen of horses,” added O’Connell.
O’Connell is leading the 2017 PRCA World Standings. He is within five dollars of earning $200,000 during the regular season with two weeks still left. When asked further about J2’s style he said, “She looks strong, and kicks hard every jump. She gives you good timing, and you can be in the mid-80s. I think that horse is NFR worthy.” Perhaps the duo will meet in Sioux Falls at the Wrangler Championships Challenge in a few weeks. O’Connell rides for Team Justin in the format series of the Wrangler Champions Challenge.
Six-time selected WNFR, plus the reigning 2016 Great Lakes Circuit Finals Saddle Bronc of the Year and 2017 RNCFR selected mare Red Horse Crossin is also joining her equine teammates on the trip to Sioux Falls. Notably, Red Horse Crossin’ won several Great Lakes Circuit rodeos this season. A highlight was her 88-point performance at the Georgia National Jr Livestock Show & Rodeo (Perry, Georgia) in February. Curtis Garton from Kaitaia, New Zealand rode her to tie the previous arena record held by Marty Barnes.
The Barnes’ bull herd represents stock selected for the 2016 GLCFR and 2017 RNCFR. Number 28, Rafael’s Red Chain, has a 78% buckoff percentage. Number 27 Ralco’s Microfused was rode for paychecks and high scores this season. In Florida the bull was ridden for 84.5-points at the RNCFR; 85-points at the Lyon County Fair PRCA Rodeo (Marshall, Minn.). His buckoff percentage is 62%.
221 Ralco’s Centrifuge is leading the PRCA for the highest-marked bull ride this season with 92-points set in Wapello, Iowa. Rodeo fans in Merrill, Wisconsin witnessed his buckoff percentage increase to 64% during the Wisconsin River Pro Rodeo in early June.
Finally, 16 Butter Biscuit with a 70% buckoff rate is the desired draw for cowboys. In April he was rode for 88-points in St. Paul, Minn. During the 2016 GLCF Brett Stall, two-time NFR, and three-time RNCF qualifier won the first-round in Lousiville, Kentucky on the cross-bred bull.
Barnes PRCA Rodeo continues to be in an elite class of Pro Rodeo Stock Contractors. They are one of only two firms across North America selected to provide livestock for every National Finals Rodeo, since its inception in 1959.
Media Contact:
Gretchen Kirchmann
Kirchmann Media Group
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