PBR Finals

Congratulations to Guilherme Marchi on his 2008 PBR World Championship. Actually I'd dare to say he might also wrap up the Finals title as well. I know he's waited a long time for this to all come together!

What a weekend!

So here I sit broke. Wishing I could get to a few of the shows around. What shows you ask?

Well about 50 miles are 1&1/2 hours depending on traffic is the first ever New Mexico Stampede PRCA Rodeo in Rio Rancho, NM. Yeah ok so I'm not big on Rio Rancho so I'd take my next option which is the PBR/ABBI competition in Amarillo, TX which is only 300 miles away. Well 290 to the motel I normally stay at! And if I was real rich, well then, I'd be off to the CBR finals in Las Vegas at the South Point Hotel. Well I'm not rich so I guess I'll stay home and get things cleaned up before my season hits and I'm too swamped to do anything on the weekends.

Oh well on the 2nd the Casper Baca Roughstock series starts. Oh heck talk about another busy weekend. But that's for a whole other post!

Prime Time

Look who is coming to Prime Time:

The PBR Look for our friend Kent "FotoCowboy" Kerschner in the background!

The PBR kicks off the new season

With over 30 dates scheduled and a finals starting at the end of October the Professional Bull Riders kicked off their 2008 season.

Mike Lee kicked off the first event by riding all three of his bulls. In fact there where more 3 for 3's than I'd seen in a while. So after listening to all the this person is a front runner or this person could be a champion, let's pick our favorites.

I'll go out on a limb and say Travis Briscoe. Yes I'm picking a friend but I've seen what getting on them bronc can do for your skills and confidence. Good Luck Travis.

It's all part of the game

Marketing, it is all just part of the game. When you look around it's important to look at people who have been successful in your business. For 2007 the New Mexico Department of Agriculture voted the New Mexico Pecan Company its top marketing company. Read the official release below:

New Mexico Pecan Company of Mesilla, New Mexico, is being honored as Marketer of the Year for 2007 by New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA).

New Mexico Pecan Company began operations in 1990 as an extension of Frank Salopek Farms to market shelled and flavored pecans from a retail perspective. The sales of the value-added pecans created new opportunities for New Mexico Pecan Company to expand their marketing objectives by attending trade shows both domestically and internationally. It was at these trade shows, meeting with foreign buyers, where New Mexico Pecan Company developed an innovative approach to sell in-shell pecans to the Chinese market. After lengthy negotiations with several Chinese companies, New Mexico Pecan Company sold their entire production to China, making this the largest documented sale of New Mexico pecans to China. The success of this initial sale opened the door for other New Mexico producers to explore this exciting market with confidence and long-term commitments.

“The Marketer of the Year recipients must demonstrate creative and innovative marketing with success in the market place. New Mexico Pecan Company has established national recognition for shelled and flavored pecans and expanded its market share throughout the region,” says I. Miley Gonzalez, New Mexico secretary of agriculture.

So what does this have to do with rodeo? Well do you want to make money at it or just piddle at the sport? How many people with talent and ability who tried to travel never made the big show because they ran out of money? How many who where slightly above average made enough to keep going because their sponsors helped them out just enough? Trust me if you talk to some of the greatest to ride they'll have stories about the guys who were very good and they still don't know why they never got that Gold Buckle!

Ok, ok so your half sold on the idea of marketing yourself, your breeding program or your event, but now what?
1) Simple, do a little studying! Go out and see who's being successful ask them questions, see what's working. Then check out the things you don't think you'd do and try to figure out why their doing whatever it is like that? Sometimes things seem silly, stupid or just plain wrong but that doesn't mean it is.
2) Next go out and develop a plan to be successful, ya ever gotten in a car driven someplace you've never been before and did it all on time without a map or asking questions?
3) Next get confidence in yourself, when you present yourself and your plan to others you need to have confidence that you’re selling a million dollar package! Heck when it comes to selling yourself you'd better get use to it because that's what the fans and sponsors want! Yes you will sometimes feel like that stereotypical used car salesman, guess what you are! Now get out their and talk to EVERYONE about sponsoring you. Don't think anyone is too small or too big, too local or too unrodeo. Money is money and advertising is advertising. Let's take a look at the recent sale of the PBR to Spire Capital. Where in the world do you think Spire Capital would have gotten the idea to buy the PBR? Is it a western company, maybe western New York City!
4) Now when you go to ask for the sponsorships, partnerships or any other ships, take care to how you approach them.
a. Are your clothes cleaned and pressed?
b. Are you in appropriate rodeo attire?
c. Hat cleaned? Boots Shined?
d. Do you have your plan neatly typed and double checked for spelling errors, do you show them in the plan how they will benefit from handing you a check or two?
e. Do you have your sales pitched practiced? Just like riding a bull, practice makes perfect!
So sure there is a lot to this marketing gag, but there are lots of benefits to it if you'll spend the time!

Kids from Believe In Tomorrow visit the PBR

Believe in Tomorrow Kids visit the PBR:

Normally on Sunday mornings I like to sleep in. But last Sunday was a little different. I had gotten media credentials to cover the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, NM. Not that I would have gotten up much earlier than normal to make it to a 2pm performance, but thanks to a wonderful lady at the PBR, Mrs. Edmonds, I was invited to come early and cover the visit from the kids of the “Believe in Tomorrow” Organization. It was truly an event that made my whole weekend.

When I arrived Sunday morning, Mrs. Edmonds was busy as usual. But Rocky McDonald must have asked a few times or more “are they here yet?” Come to find out one of these critically ill kids is from a Spanish speaking family and Rocky would be their interpreter. This was no act; he was seriously waiting to interact with the kids!

Todd Pierce of the Pro Bull Riders Outreach showed the kids and their families a behind the scenes look of the PBR. With Rocky acting as interpreter for those who needed him! After the initial tour the kids were escorted to a production area with Mike Lee where they promptly branded his chaps with their hand prints! It was quite the site to see Rocky and Mike helping these young angles clean their hands. Then Mike offered one of the more sincere prayers I’d heard in a long while.

From there they were taken to the bull pens to see the bulls. I almost wondered who was the biggest hit, Rocky and Lee or the bulls? Here is where I got to do more than just take pictures. While Todd and Rocky were busy answering the kids' questions, I had several of the kids family members ask about the animals. I assure you I talked about how great the breeding program is and how there is always a future in rodeo if they work hard enough. But this is only the mid point in the story!

Watching how Frank Newsome told the one little girl that he had to have a hug, or Cord McCoy or McKennon Wimberly jump in to help by showing gear and shaking hands, or all of the riders saying high and or sign autographs was nothing but second nature to me. Guess I’ve just been around rodeo to long to know there is any other way. But when CEO of the PBR, Randy Bernard knelt down to talk to one of the younger boys, well I guess I’ve been around the corporate world to much as well! Randy was soon joined by fan favorite Adriano Moraes who with Mr. Bernard’s help had this young man smiling from ear to ear!

Later during the event, as Mike Lee marked his bull for an 89.5, I know I heard the volume in the building go just a little louder! And as I left that day I ran into the oldest boy on the tour and his mom. As I thanked them for coming out and asked if they had a good time, I about teared up as she said yes a wonderful time. It sure was for me!

I’d like to say thank you for everyone who let me tag along: Mrs. Jodie Edmonds, Todd Pierce, Rocky McDonald, Mike Lee and the entire PBR. You reminded me what being a cowboy is all about!

Rocky McDonald takes second stage as the kids get to see the bulls up close and personal!

CEO Randy Bernard stops to talk to one of the kids!

Ty Murray invitational - Albuquerque, NM

The Professional Bull Riders rock n’ rolled into Albuquerque for the 2007 Ty Murray Invitational March 30th thru April 1^st. Some may wonder why this is one of longest continuous venues the PBR visits. But all question marks are soon washed away as the standing room only crowd roars into action. As President of the PBR and the events name sake Ty Murray said not only do the residents of Albuquerque support and love bullriding, but with the neighbors of the nearby Navajo Reservation, it’s a guaranteed good time! And with fans from all over the country making the trek to the Duke City, no one went away disappointed!

Friday night kicked off with a bang as local favorite Travis Briscoe of Edgewood, NM scored an 82.5 on the bull Black Jack of Circle T Ranch and Rodeo. While Kasey Hayes of Liberal, Kansas and Kody Lostroh of Longmont, Colorado jumped out to the early lead with a 90 and an 89.5 respectively.

But the true story Friday night wasn’t the human athlete but the four legged one. Friday night was an ABBI Classic event, where three and four year old bulls competed for their own prize money. While many people may have been unaware of this at the start, by the end of the performance the crowd had their favorite new star! Led by Troubadour of Julio Moreno these young bulls showed what the future holds for the PBR.

Saturday night proved a little more challenging for the bulls as 20 riders roared out of the chutes for marked rides. World Champion and Fan Favorite Adriano Moraes won the second round with an 88.25 on Stray Cat of Diamond S Bucking Bulls. After the event most of the capacity crowd made its way to the Sandia Resort and Casino for a concert by Jason Michael Carroll to support the Resistol Relief fund.

Sunday afternoon proved to be the BIG day. With a standing room only crowd, the boys and bulls put on a show worthy of the national television exposure on Versus. With rides by local favorite LJ Jenkins from Texico, NM who had been out most of the year with injuries and other fan favorites like Mike Lee (who earlier in the day had gotten his chaps branded by the kids from the Believe In Tomorrow Organization), Adriano Moraes, JB Mauney and event leaders Kasey Hayes and Kody Lostroh the final round was set to be a big time show of force.

To bad no one bothered to tell the bulls that they should be scared. With a list of who’s who of riders, the list of the bulls was even more daunting! Led by perennial favorites Walk This Way and Bells Blue, only two riders struck gold. With the final round half over Guilherme Marchi hit pay dirt by spurring Black Smoke of Page and Teauge for a whopping 92.25. But a few riders later Adriano Moraes topped Hot Stuff from Diamond S Bucking Bulls for an 89.25 to win the event.

picture is not to be duplicated or copied. All rights reserved.

Believe in Tomorrow Organization

I was allowed to cover the PBR here in Albuquerque for one of the trade papers. Jodie Edmonds from the PBR invited me to cover the "Believe In Tomorrow" Kids as they had a tour behind the curtains.

As Todd showed them around, one of the families spoke Spanish so Rocky McDonald interpreted for them. Mike Lee had his chaps "branded" by the kids and had a very nice prayer with them and their families. Frank Newsome and every cowboy they talked to took their time to say hi, give autographs and hugs. Heck even Randy Bernard took his time out (knelt down to the kids level) to talk to one of the young men.

I know a few of the younger family members who were in the group asked some questions while we were back in the pens. I was proud to be the one they turned to and I assure you I really talked up the bucking bull industry.

Sorry but to me this is the perfect representation of what rodeo/bull riding is all about. So thanks to everyone who allowed me to tag along. It really made my day!

Ty Murray Inventational PBR from Albuquerque, NM

Well the first night of the Ty Murray Invitational is now in the books. This three day event takes the first day to showcase the other great athletes of the PBR. The great American Bucking Bull! With the ABBI bringing in the classic bulls for the show, it proved to be a show stopper!

Led by Julio Moreno's T11 Troubadour who scored a whopping 90.5, the bulls only had a 15 hitter! More than 2/3Rd's of all riders hit the ground! While many riders were late arriving in Albuquerque because of Tornado's in the Dallas Ft. Worth area. There were plenty of young local riders who tried to put their skills to the test against these great young four legged superstars.

Not all riders faired so poorly though. McKennon Wimberly led most of the round with an early 86.75 on Razzle Dazzle until changes in the leader board came in rapid succession at the end of the night. First Scott Schiffner from Strathmore, AB, CN took the lead with an 87.5 only to watch it disappear a few rides later when Kasey Hayes of Liberal, KS took over with an 89.25 only to watch it disappear on the next ride when Kody Lostroh of neighboring Colorado spurred out an 89.5

PBR Sells Controlling Intrest

The PBR and Spire Capital have announced that Spire Capital will be buying controlling intrest in the PBR. While a whole lot of people see this as a positive, I have to wonder about selling off to some dude from 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 4200 New York, NY 10112. They sure can't get salsa right, sure hope they're better with bullridings!

Guthrie & OKC PBR's

This week we have lots of friends riding at the big Guthrie PBR event which is a direct tie in to OKC Cup event. So we would like to give them all a shout out and wish them lots of luck.

Bo Selman
Craig Chavez
Hawk Tucker
Justin Adams
Rankin Lindsay
Rick Navarrette
Rowdy Sanders

We hope that these boys put some new faces on TV real soon!