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Reunion vital to Cowpuncher's rodeo<br>

One of the most important facets of the 22nd annual Arizona Cowpuncher’s Reunion and Rodeo is meeting up with old friends and revisiting memories.

“This whole organization is about family,” said Mike Oden, president of the Arizona Cowpuncher’s Rodeo Association (ACRA). “We are about ranch families, kids, helping each other out, educating our youth and, most of all, making every effort to maintain our rural west and ranching heritage.”

This youngster tries his luck at wild cow riding, one of many events staged at the 22nd annual Cowpuncher's rodeo held in Williams last weekend.

The rodeo events are based around the everyday life of a working cowboy and his family. Oden said because of this, the Cowpuncher’s rodeo is a family affair.

“We have as many events for the kids and wives as for the men,” he said. “For the kids, we have gymkhana (kids events) and ribbon roping. This whole atmosphere is about family.”

This year about 750 participants from all over northern Arizona competed in the rodeo, held Friday through Sunday.

“We had a really good rodeo,” Oden said. “Every year it seems like it’s a little bit better.”

He said the way the Williams community supports the rodeo is one reason he loves returning here.

“We really appreciate all the support the town gives us,” Oden said. “We’ve had the rodeo in other places like Flagstaff, but it’s always been more successful here than anywhere else.”

This year, the rodeo was dedicated to Dave Ericsson, one of the founding fathers and driving forces behind the first Arizona Cowpuncher’s Reunion and Rodeo.

Ericsson said he’s been ranching his whole life.

“I was born on a ranch,” he said. “I don’t remember when I started (participating in rodeos). It was always just a part of me.”

The first rodeo, in 1978, was call the Old Time Cowboys Reunion and was for real working cowpunchers from northern Arizona. At first, cowboys had to provide a paycheck stub or other verification to prove they worked on a ranch. Even then the rodeo was family oriented.

“It (the rodeo) wasn’t to make a lot of money — it was to have a reunion and for everybody to get together,” Ericsson said.

Todd Howell, co-owner of the Wild West Rodeo and board member for the ACRA, said he and his brother, Dallas, have attended every Cowpuncher’s Rodeo.

“This is just a family rodeo,” he said.

Howell said the rodeo is a chance for his family to see lifelong friends.

“We see them once a year, right here,” he said.

The increased number of rodeos held in Williams is another factor that is making Williams well known as a rodeo community, Oden said.

“This (the different rodeos) is going to do a lot for the town,” he said. “Williams is going to turn into another Cody, Wyo. — It will do nothing but get better.

“This could be the rodeo capital of northern Arizona.”

Oden mentioned the Wild West Rodeo, a weekly summer series in town, the Labor Day Rodeo, along with his rodeo, bring a lot of people to Williams.

A special cow-riding event was added to this year’s schedule to help support the Cowpuncher’s Crisis Fund and a scholarship program the ACRA helps to maintain.

“We raised over $1,200 with that event,” Oden said.

“The scholarships are for kids who have been raised on a ranch and are trying to go to school,” said Jiminell Cook, secretary for the rodeo. “The crisis fund is for any cowpuncher or cowboy who is in need of finances due to a crisis.”

Over the three-day event the ACRA should bring in proceeds totaling around $10,000, Oden said. He said this money, minus the amount to put on next year’s rodeo, will be applied to the crisis and scholarship funds.

“All the money from these events goes towards those programs,” he said.

Every year five or six scholarships are given out to young cowpunchers so they can attend college. The crisis fund started in 1999, and was set up to help working cowboys during a crisis situation, like an illness or accident.

The two people who are behind the scenes at the rodeo are the secretaries, Oden said.

“They are the unsung heroes of the association — they get the job done,” he said about Trina Runston and Cook. “They make our jobs really easy.”

This is Oden’s third year as president. He is stepping down from the position but will serve on the ACRA board next year.

“For many of those who attend and compete in this rodeo, cowboying is a family heritage and part of a culture that has been passed down for several generations,” the Cowpuncher’s program states. “This association strives to keep that culture and heritage a part of the rodeo and reunion.”

Top contenders

The top contestants based on a three-day average are as follows:

Team tying — Wade Duey & Will Hamilton

All girl team roping – Tracy and Kari Reidhead

Wild horse race — Will Wells, Destry Haught & Gary Walker

Dally calf roping — Joe Campbell

Saddle bronc riding — Brooks Cameron

Both ends over 60 — Pat Lauderdale & Dan Martin

16 & under mixed — Laura Pendley & Bill Hamilton

Wild cow milking — Terry Blanton, Tom Johnson & Tracy Tomerlin

12 & under roping — Joe Campbell & Hugh R. Campbell

Century team roping — Burl Underwood & Huck Sandness

Ribbon roping — Jack & Shannon Fuller

Steer riding — Justin Scarbrough

All-around cowboy — Sam Hambrick

All-around cowgirl — Toni Tyree

All-around over 50 — Bill Hamilton

All-around 16 & under — Tom McFarland

All-around 12 & under — Hugh R. Campbell

Incentive ribbon roping event for runners 10 years & under — Chelsey Birch


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