Laughlin Entertainer: Cover Stories

This year marks the 13th Annual Laughlin River Stampede Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo and will see more than 600 of the best cowboys and cowgirls in stiff competition on Thursday, March 29, through Sunday, April 1, at the Laughlin Event Arena.

The Laughlin River Stampede has become one of the top professional rodeos in the United States...quite an accomplishment considering there are more than 700 rodeos sanctioned by the PRCA nationwide each year.

The big names in the sport will be here for good reason. There is close to $250,000 in prize money up for grabs.

Contributing to the quality of the Laughlin rodeo is the stock provided by Honeycutt Rodeo. Their horses and bulls are “stars” in their own right (such as Top Gun Skoal, the 1999 Saddle Bronc of the Year in the Turquoise Circuit of the PRCA).

“Spectators will see the very same PRCA contestants, competing for almost a quarter of a million dollars in the same traditional events as they would see at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas,” explains Roy Honneycutt, producer of the Laughlin rodeo. “The only difference is that Laughlin tickets are easier to get and cost a whole lot less.”

Another difference is the Laughlin rodeo offers something that is increasingly difficult to find on the other stops on the rodeo circuit ...something real cowboys like: riding and roping in the great outdoors. This is rodeo as it was originally intended...a sort of Wrigley field approach to the sport.

Laughlin has become a favorite stop on the PRCA circuit for other reasons besides the money.

“While the money doesn't hurt the Laughlin rodeo's popularity, a lot of the riders like to come here because of the hospital-ity...the way they are treated in Laughlin,” explains Honeycutt “That's a big reason they keep coming back.”

Special mention should be given the rodeo bullfighters and rodeo clown, the men who keep the bulls from ruining a cowboy's day. Working the Laughlin rodeo will be professional bullfighters Dusty Duba and Joe Butler, and rodeo clown Keith Isley. Isley also doubles as a specialty act with his trick riding and trick roping.

The Quadrille de Mujeres, a women's professional horseback drill team will also entertain the crowds daily.

Rodeo announcers will be Johnny Pope and Shane Burris.

Rodeo royalty will be attendance at the rodeo and making stops at local businesses and schools in the form of Ashley Andrews of Bowman, North Dakota, Miss Rodeo America 2007; and Kristina Spitale, of Reno; Miss Rodeo Nevada 2005.

On Sunday morning, a Cowboy Worship Service will be held in the Event Center Arena beginning at 9 a.m., conducted by Coy Huffman. There is no charge to attend the service.

During the rodeo performances, vendor booths will be set up behind the grandstands and will offer a variety of foods, western merchandise and Coors and Coors Light beer products.

Cowboys for a Cause...

Join the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to help raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer by wearing pink to the rodeo.

Sunday, April 1 will be Tough Enough To Wear Pink Day at the Laughlin River Stampede.

The color pink is not something usually associated with the tough sport of rodeo, however, breast cancer has touched the lives of many rodeo families. The Tough Enough To Wear Pink campaign puts this important health issue top-of-mind at rodeos across America.

Competitors, pick-up men, rodeo queens and rodeo fans are encouraged to wear pink to Sunday's rodeo performance to show a united front in the fight against breast cancer. Western Arizona Regional Medical Center's “Healthy Woman” campaign is sponsoring this special day. Pick-up men will wear the Healthy Woman logo on their sleeves to show their concern for the health of the women in their lives.

Laughlin River Stampede has selected the We Care Cancer Support Center, a river communities cancer support group as the charity recipient of this event. We Care provides wigs, vitamins and prostheses to those in need who are fighting various forms cancer. The non-profit group also holds support meetings on a regular basis. Volunteers will be selling pink shirts and bandanas as a fund-raiser during the rodeo.

The top three leaders in each event as of March 20 are:

ALL-AROUND

Josh Peek-Pueblo, Colorado

Trevor Brazile-Decatur, Texas

Cody DeMers-Kimberly, Idaho

BAREBACK RIDING

Will Lowe-Canyon, Texas

Jason Jeter-Mansfield, Texas

Ryan Gray-Cheney, Washington

STEER WRESTLING

Shawn Greenfield-Lakeview, Oregon

Joey Bell, Jr.-Malakoff, Texas

Wade Sumpter-Fowler, Colorado

TEAM ROPING (Header)

Speed Williams-DeLeon, Texas

Coleman Proctor-Miami, Oklahoma

Tee Woolman-Llano, Texas

TEAM ROPING (Heeler)

Dean Tuftin-Prineville, Oregon

Jake Long-Alva, Oklahoma

Cory Petska-Lexington, Oklahoma

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

Taos Muncy-Cedarvale, N.M.

Anthony Bello-Oakley, Utah

Rusty Allen-Lehi, Utah

TIE-DOWN ROPING

Jake Hannum-Ogden, Utah

Cody Ohl-Hico, Texas

Hunter Herrin-Apache, Oklahoma

BARREL RACING

Brittany Pozzi-Pharr-Victoria, Texas

Vickie Solmonsen-Riverton, Utah

Kelly Maben-Spur, Texas

BULL RIDING

Luke Haught-Weatherford, Texas

Kanin Asay-Powell, Wyoming

Brad Pierce-Snyder, Texas

LAUGHLIN RIVER

STAMPEDE

PRCA RODEO

THURSDAY, MARCH 29

through SUNDAY, APRIL 1

gates open 11:30 a.m. each day

rodeo action begins at 1:30 p.m.

at the

LAUGHLIN EVENT ARENA

One block west of Casino Drive (up the road from the Edgewater) at the corner of Bruce Woodbury Dr. and Edison Way

Tickets:

Thursday only is Senior Appreciation Day-admission for people 55 and over is $7; general admission Thursday is adults-$13, children 12 and under-$7;

Friday, Saturday and Sunday-adults $25, children 12 and under

$7;

Super Chute-$35 each day

Advance tickets can be purchased at the Laughlin Visitors Bureau or Laughlin Chamber of Commerce (both on Casino Drive across from the Riverside Resort); by calling 1-702-298-2214; by logging on to www.visitlaughlin.com or www.laughlinchamber.com; or

at Prestige Ticketing at

1-800-308-2253