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In the CorralFeb-Mar 2005 Current Chute Boss - and Future Chute Boss!
Kyle Bowers scored a lofty 81.5 on Chute Boss, and due to the high level of talent at the Finals, just finished out of the money. "Laramie knows horses, and she knows a good bucking horse when she sees one," Wayne Vold commented on his return from the NFR. "She's a nice girl and she's handy." How is Wayne Vold as a partner? "He's pretty nice," Laramie says. "He helps out with Chute Boss a lot. He takes things pretty seriously." When asked how it felt to have a horse in the CFR, Laramie said, "She's my first bucking horse, and my first horse to go to the Finals so I'm pretty excited." Behind the chutes, action is in her blood as her parents, Darcy and Tammy Hollingsworth, raise bucking horses on their Bar Anchor Ranch of Rocky Mountain House, and have a healthy crop of foals out of Grated Coconut, the Bareback Horse of the World (2003) and Bareback Horse of the Year (2004). Chute Boss has recently returned to the Bar Anchor Ranch for maternity leave. "Laramie is so modest," her mother Tammy admitted. "She's a great help around here. When she was four-years-old, she asked Santa for a pitchfork so she could help with chores. By the age of ten, she was bringing in over 100 head of horses by herself, and she's just a slip of a girl." Laramie's rodeo career is already taking off at high speed. She currently barrel races her dad's former pick up horse in the Ponoka Roping and Riding Club and the Alberta Barrel Racing Association. "I want to ride bucking horses," Laramie admitted, "but my Dad won't let me." Canadians Strut Their Stuff at NFRBareback bronc rider Davey Shields Jr. of Bashaw, AB made his fourth trip to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas and, after drawing a series of less-than-stellar horses, scored big on Reg Kesler's bronc, Order Up, taking the first place win at Saturday's performance. Included was a cheque for close to fifteen grand and a buckle. Shields finished second in the aggregate and sixth in the world with an incredible $134,883 year end total. In a hard fought battle at this years' exceptional Canadian Finals Rodeo, Shields just missed the Bareback Championship by a mere half point to the incredible performances of rodeo phenom, Roger LaCasse. Shields was soon ridin' high and won the bareback at Regina's Agribition. Kyle Bowers, bareback rider from Brooks, AB, had his first trip to the NFR and did really well, finishing 11th in the world. Rod Warren of Big Valley, AB won first in the NFR aggregate in Saddle Bronc, while Rod Hay (saddle bronc) finished seventh in the world standings. Barrel racer Deb Renger also brought home a cheque, as did Lee Graves in the Steer Wrestling. Canadian born barrel racer, Molly Powell finished 2nd in the world standings. Ready, Set, Draw!Congratulations to Barb Robson of Airdrie, AB, and Kathleen and Peter Wall of Didsbury, AB, winners of our draw for a mounted 2004 CFR poster featuring the artwork of Henri deGroot. Wilma Halvorson of Metiskow, AB was the winner of the Ash Cooper print and a very excited Karen Klein of Kindersley, SK is the winner of Lammle's $500 gift certificate. A special thank you to everyone for taking part in our survey! Abe Zacharias Opens for Paul Brandt
Abe is somewhat of a hometown hero having appeared on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. He was the 1997 winner of the Golden Heart Award as male vocalist of the year, awarded by the Country Gospel Music Association in Knoxville, Tennessee. It turns out that Paul was a fan too, having grown up listening to his gospel albums and cited Abe as one of his inspirations for getting into professional music. Altogether, Zacharias has now recorded 12 albums. His latest CD entitled Songs of the Sage and Saddle was recorded last April. Mike Copeman Wins PRCA Photographer Of The Year!
Ann Blyker from PRCA headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO credits Copeman as a leader in new technology and instrumental in helping other photographers and the PRCA go digital. "Mike has been the NFR photographer since 1998, and he provides a top-notch service and is great to work with," she stated in a recent interview. "His photographs are always in-the-moment, incredibly crisp and of unbelievable quality." Copeman was also imported to shoot the Olympic Rodeo in Farmington, UT during the Salt Lake City Olympics. "We knew he would deliver the shots," said Blyker. Mike Copeman's "Best of 2004" photography was featured in the Dec/Jan issue of Canadian Cowboy Country magazine. 2005 Alberta Beef Producers Environmental Stewardship Award Winners
"We're trying to achieve a sustainable farm that our kids can continue to make a living off of it without disturbing the environment," says Vince Lohman of their attitude toward environmental stewardship and their goals. The Lohman ranch edges the Little Red Deer River with six quarters of hay, cropland and pasture and includes a 120-head cow herd and a small custom feeding and calving business. Because of their proximity to the river, the Lohmans have continuously improved their watering systems - reducing cattle access to the river and converting their dugout watering system to a series of stock waters fed by a pipeline. Other key elements of the Lohman's environmental planning include soil erosion and grassland conservation. Planting of shelterbelts had decreased soil erosion. Rotational grazing, managed by electric fencing and rotational cropping help nutrient retention in the soil and plants. The Lohman's have taken an aggressive, proactive approach to stewardship on their operation, but they also actively share their experience and knowledge with others through their involvement with the Friends of the Little Red Deer River Society, Friends of the Eastern Slopes Association, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Grey Wooded Forage Association, local agricultural societies and 4-H clubs. CD Release - 100 Years In The Making!
It's a great compilation CD featuring mainly well-known Alberta artists such as the Corb Lund Band, Matt Masters & the D Rangers, Nothing But Trouble, Tom Phillips, The Swiftys, Dave Bauer, Sid Marty, Carolyn Mark and Her Gentlemen Callers and Agriculture Club, just to mention a few. Two U.S. bands, Drag the River and Chad Rex and the Victorstands were also asked to join in on the CD. "We're also big fans of theirs," said Darell. The dramatic story of the disaster have fascinated both musician/producers for many years and with 2005 being Alberta's Centennial Year, the time was right to produce the CD. Darell told us that the response has been "awesome," and has not only created awareness of the worst mining disaster in Alberta's history, but also provided a vehicle to promote the tremendous talent of mainly Alberta artists. For more information about the Frank Slide and to order the CD, please visit www.100yearsfromthem.com and www.FrankSlide.com. Chuckwagon-racing Croteau Family Raising Funds for Alzheimer's
The Croteaus are a household name on the chuckwagon circuit, with Bert qualifying for the $50,000 Dash for Cash at the Calgary Stampede and Rae Jr. setting new track records and winning numerous shows on the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour. The dynamic father and son team have set new precedents with this fundraiser. This year all the proceeds from the calendar sales will be donated to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta/NWT. "A worthy cause which is very near and dear to our hearts as a close family member has recently been diagnosed with this disease," said Bert in a recent interview. The Croteau family feel it's important to give something back to the community that has been so supportive over the years, but with their busy schedules it's hard to find time to dedicate to local service groups. The calendar is their way of contributing. Action-packed, beautifully photographed calendars sell for $10 and are available at many businesses in Bonnyville, including Lakeland Co-op. To have a calendar mailed to you, call Carrie at (780) 847-4274. To contribute directly to the society, log on to: www.alzheimers.ab.ca. Laura Vinson To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award!
Born and raised near Jasper National Park, Laura's authenticity as a performer has led to her longevity in a notoriously fickle business. This multi-award-winning, internationally-acclaimed musician and songwriter, Laura Vinson and her band, Free Spirit, will be performing at the awards ceremony, taking the audience on a cultural, musical journey, blending her Metis heritage of Cherokee, Cree, English and French with the traditional dances, songs and stories about First Nations people. Included in the lineup will be her poignant song Louisiana Purchase, that tells a true story about her Cherokee Great-Grandmother who was purchased by her American husband for a 'good horse and some blankets.' The award show and concert featuring Laura and her band, Free Spirit, takes place May 14th at the Rimbey Rec Center. For more information or advance tickets contact Dianne Brandson at 780-682-2295 or write AWOCM Box 57 Winfield, AB T0C 2X0. Eunice Threlkeld
Along with their many accomplishments, Dick and Eunice were both popular banjo pickers on the cowboy poetry stage, performing across Western Canada. Eunice was a charming, delightful storyteller and a consummate hostess, who welcomed everyone to their camp at the gatherings. She will be greatly missed. |
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Laramie Hollingsworth sure has an eye for good horses - bucking horses, that is. This 11-year-old Central Alberta dynamo is Wayne Vold's almost-equal partner in Chute Boss, the 4-year-old bareback sensation that made her debut at this year's Canadian Finals Rodeo. Wayne is the majority shareholder.
When country singing star Paul Brandt's "This Time Around" tour hit Salmon Arm, B.C., fans were treated to the opening act of award-winning country gospel singer, Abe Zacharias, local celebrity and a regular on the cowboy poetry trail. 
Congratulations to renowned rodeo photographer, Mike Copeman from Fort Saskatchewan, AB, who was awarded the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association's coveted Photographer of the Year Award. The awards ceremony was held during the National Finals Rodeo at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Some of the previous winners include Darren Carroll from Sports Illustrated.
Congratulations to Vince and Wanda Lohman of Innisfail, the 2005 recipients of the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) Environmental Stewardship Award (ESA). Their genuine love of farm life, livestock and working the land spurred them into adopting environmentally-sound strategies to preserve their operation for generations to come.
Darell Hartlen, editor of Canadian Rodeo News teamed up with Kevin James to produce a tremendous musical tribute to the Frank Slide disaster, Frank Slide: 100 Years From Them.
The hard driving Croteau family of chuckwagon racing has thrown their considerable fame behind a fundraising idea that began as a thank-you for friends and sponsors. This year they are publishing a 2005 calendar featuring spectacular western chuckwagon and rodeo pictures, as well as a special glimpse of their lives behind the scenes.
Congratulations to Canadian artist, Laura Vinson, on her upcoming Lifetime Achievement Award from Alberta's Women of Country Music!
Our sincere condolences to the many friends and family on the recent passing of Eunice Threlkeld of the 108 Ranch in B.C. Eunice passed away on December 27 after a lengthy illness. Her husband, Dick Threlkeld, an inductee in the B.C. Cowboy Hall of Fame, predeceased Eunice.