Spur'N Conversations

PBR Returns to VERSUS Aug 4th

Click here to watch info about PBR returning to VERSUS on Aug 4th.

High Plaines Jr Rodeo Finals Clovis New Mexico

Sights and Sounds from the High Plaines Jr Rodeo in Clovis New Mexico

NHSRA Finals

What a trip!!!

I had a blast over in Springfield, IL attending the National High School Rodeo Association 2007 Finals.

Similar to my recent trip out to Pueblo, Co for the NLBRA Finals, I am almost speechless (partially because I am dead tired). If you want to get involved in a professional level youth organization, I would encourage you to check out the NHSRA.

Talent?

Oh buddy!!! I am excited to think about the future of the sport of Rodeo. These kids are top notch professional athletes with some promising futures. It was obvious that the addition of the Wrangler Junior Division has prepared these kids for the spot light once they advance up to the High School level of competition. On Saturday evening in the final round there were three Freshman that made it into the Bull Riding Short-Go.....and they were handy!

I spent most of the day in the Phoenix Performance booth with Phil Smith. It allowed me the opportunity to meet with many of our past customers and get introduced to some new friends from around the world - USA, Canada and even Australia.

I also had the opportunity to spend some time with Randy & Dennis George of the legendary G-BAR-G Bronc Saddles based on Riverton, WY. Their booth was adjoining the Phoenix Performance booth. Some of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Amazing family business. Looking forward to working together in the future and offering you some of their line of products.

Phil Smith also introduced me to Neil Barstow who owns Barstow Pro Rodeo Equipment based in Texas. Neil is also a legend in the rodeo industry and has provided a professional line of rodeo equipment for decades. Neil produces hands down the best bareback riggin on the market today. We are looking forward to expanding to include some of the Barstow Pro Rodeo Equipment line in the very near future.

Last but not least, Saturday evening I spent with Marc Andrus (SADDLE BARN)and his family watching the events. I had the chance to spend some time with Jesse Andrus who qualified from New Mexico in the bull riding. Jesse unfortunately had a run of bad luck and bucked off both his bulls. However look for him to be back and be a promising up and comer. Very talented kid.

We have been working with the folks at the NHSRA for several months to become the National Sponsor of the Roughstock Rodeo Equipment. Although it is yet to be "Official" it sure sounds like we will have the opportunity to become involved and help. It is a perfect fit and we would love to be able to. I'll keep you posted.

until next time....

Spur It' Up!!!

PS: I feel for those who had a 30+ hour drive home! I didn't get to find out home many hour flight it is back to Australia...Thanks for allowing your kids to be involved in such a great sport!

NHSRA Finals Springfield, IL

On the road again....

Just heading out the door to go pay a visit to the National High School Rodeo Association FINALS over in Springfield, IL. If everything works out I should be able to make tonights performance and stay through the last round.

Looking forward to learning the layout in anticipation for next year setting up a booth and becoming more involved with both the Wrangler Division and the High School.

As it turns out Marc Andrus (owner of SADDLE BARN) has been there all week with his son Jesse who qualified from New Mexico. So I am looking forward to catching up with him and brain storming about the future. Also, Phil Smith with Phoenix Performance is in attendance and has a booth set up.

Should be fun...

Spur It' Up!!!

Rodeo Injury Study - World Wide

I happened to run across an interesting article about a new Rodeo Catastrophic Injury Registry. To check out the details you may want to visit this link.

To share your specific information please go directly to: http://www.sportmed.ucalgary.ca/rodeo

The mission of the Catastrophic Injury Registry is to collect and analyze world wide injury incidents to rodeo and bull riding participants, that will help to prevent catastrophic injuries in future rodeo and bull riding event participants.

I have yet to read through everything, however appears to be funded in part by the University of Calgary as well as Friends of Pro Rodeo.

It will be extremely valuable information that can help guide us on the creation of Next Generation protective rodeo equipment....so....please, please, please if you or someone you know has experienced a life changing injury while competing in the sport of rodeo....go check it out and provide your details.

Spur It' Up!

Young Entrepreneurs - Business Horizons

Today I had the unique opportunity to be a guest CEO at an event hosted by Business Horizons (a program of the Iowa Association of Business & Industry Foundation)  at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.

The program is a week long opportunity for high school students from across the state of Iowa to become Young Entrepreneurs.

As of today;

the students have:

§         created a product (out of junk and duct tape)

§         formed a company

§         written mission & vision statement

§         participated in team building activities

§         heard from a variety of speakers

§         run their own business for 1½ years of a 2½  year business cycle and seen 5 quarterly reports.  (We use a computer simulation that takes them through a 2 ½ year business cycle and mid way through the experience a small recessionary period.  They make quarterly decisions on price, production, R&D, marketing, and capital investment.)

§         At this point of the week they are in the process of writing a business plan and marketing plan they will present to potential investors on Thursday.  They are also writing a media rationale and producing an infomercial they will present on Thursday.

It was an exciting opportunity to share our story with over 100 students from across the state. What amazed me most was the imagination and creativity with their product development in such a short amount of time out with literally JUNK and duct tape to work with.

I tried to focus on how important it is to understand and recognize on the front end of starting a business which you plan to create, a "Lifestyle" or "Enterprise" Business. I happened to choose Enterprise by way of growing a lifestyle and then scaling it.

Both are equally as challenging, however growing an Enterprise Model Business is extremely capital intensive and most lack the resources to "start out" as an Enterprise. It seems to me that in todays marketplace it makes sense to build a very solid "lifestyle" business and evolve into an Enterprise once you have proved your model works.

Raising capital is much harder and longer than you ever can plan for, so in my opinion it makes sense to focus on what you can be the "BEST" at and eliminate all the other noise and distractions. Once you have a solid "profitable" business model,,, investment money in all flavors will be chasing you....trust me I feel it first hand right here in Iowa.

One might ask....

"How in the world is the sport of Rodeo and US Rodeo Supply Company being featured at a Young Entrepreneur Conference at Simpson College"?

Systematic Connectivity

Thanks to everyone involved for allowing us to be your guest. I enjoyed it and welcome you to come see us in Truro, Iowa if/when you decide to jump into business. I'd welcome the opportunity to provide "What not to Do".

Spur It' Up!!!

NHSRA Finals Springfield, IL RESULTS

For all the latest results at the National High School Rodeo Association Finals in Springfield, IL July 22 - 28 click here.

Cheyenne Frontier Days PBR Enterprise First Round Results

First Round Results From Cheyenne Frontier Days

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristin Vanscoyk PBR Public Relations 719.471.3008, ext. 3368 office 719-352-9592 cell kristin@pbrnow.com

Cheyenne, Wyo. (July 24, 2007) - The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) Cheyenne Frontier Days U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger (USSTC) Tour stop kicked off in electrifying style Monday night from Cheyenne, Wyo. Bull riding fans will continue to be captivated by ninety of the world's best bull riders and rankest bulls in the two day competition.

In first go-round action, only two cowboys received two scores. Ross Lewis (Zap, N.D.) has a hold of the early lead with 167.5 points on two bulls. In the long round, Lewis received a score of 79.5 points on Berger/Ryken Bucking Bulls' Turbo and in the short round he scored 88 points on Berger Bucking Bulls' Bad Medicine. Young star, L.J. Jenkins (Texico, N.M.) currently is the only other rider to have two scores with 161.5 points.

All of the thrilling action continues Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Cheyenne's Frontier Park when 45 more bull riders will go head to head with some of the toughest bucking bulls in the industry today.

Cheyenne Frontier Days U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Event Results after Round 1:

FIRST ROUND: 1) Colby Yates (Fort Worth, Texas) 88 points; 2) Jason Bennett (Honeygrove, Texas) 86.5 points, 3) Bryan Richardson (Dallas, Texas) 85.5 points, 4) Dustin Elliott (Chadron, Neb.) 81.5 points, 5) Pistol Robinson (Burleson, Texas) 81.5 points.

SECOND ROUND: 1) Ross Lewis (Zap, N.D.) 88 points; 2) L.J. Jenkins (Texico,N.M.) 85.5 points.

FINAL RESULTS: 1) Ross Lewis (Zap, N.D.) 167.5 points; 2) L.J. Jenkins (Texico, N.M.) 161.5 points.

The U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour and the Discovery Tour offer upcoming bull riders the opportunity to compete in PBR sanctioned events, while earning money to qualify for the PBR's elite Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler.

About PBR:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, VERSUS and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 500 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one and one half million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR's governing board of directors is comprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a stand alone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., and has over 1,200 PBR bull riders compete in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.

For additional information on the Professional Bull Riders, Inc., please visit http://www.pbrnow.com/ or call 719.242.2800.

NLBRA FINALS - My trip

Wow.

What a week!!!

Last Thursday evening I was able to attend a follow up meeting with a group called SEMEE - Society of Entrepreneurial Minded Executives in Des Moines, hosted by Transition Capital Management. Once again I was amazed at the overwhelming amount of support offered by those in attendance. We are seeing new faces get excited about the sport of rodeo as well as our company growth here in Iowa. Thank you to everyone involved. I encourage anyone interested in starting or expanding a business here in Iowa to contact TCM to find out how they can help you....trust me! It will be time well spent!

Soooooo...

About 10 pm Thursday evening I do the "mad dash" to pick up the rental car and fly drive to Pueblo, Co for the NLBRA Finals. I tried and tried to find a reasonable flight via Des Moines, however every option seemed to involve 1) a ton of money or 2) a ton of wasted time....so I resorted to flying with the rental car. Not the most productive use of time, however I couldn't justify $1850 Des Moines to Colorado Springs or even $580 Omaha to Denver.....so I spent about 10.5 hours flying driving across Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado. Honestly, not that bad. Gave me some time to think and plan.

Upon arriving in the Springs I was greeted with the use of a new Ford Crew Cab Dually courtesy of South Point Auto. Pretty darn sweet ride. Thanks again Guys. I really do appreciate your help and support of the rodeo world and the National Little Britches Finals in Pueblo.

Just a few miles south of the Springs and I landed right in the middle of the NLBRA Finals. Now keep in mind this is our first year being involved and had only had conversations discussing how we plan to be involved and grow with the Association.

Man oh' man was I impressed. This is the real deal with some extremely passionate and dedicated contestants and parents from across the US. Almost 900 contestants, 1500 horses and an estimated 1800+ parents....that doesn't even count the sponsors and spectators.

I loved it!

3 performance arenas going full blast all day long and evening performances as well. Two Announcers calling the shots and a ton of volunteers helping to pull this whole thing off.

Did I say impressed?

EXTREMELY IMPRESSED!

All I can say is if your State does not currently host NLBRA Franchised events, I would strongly encourage you to contact the office to find out the details. This is one of the best kept secrets in youth Rodeo today.

Oh' ya...for thos curious about what "Goat Un-tying" is...it is for the Little Wranglers. One step below traditional "Goat Tying". The kids run out and un-tie a ribbon from the goat. Great FAMILY SPORT!

I am hooked!

Click here to launch NLBRA Finals Video

Upon conclusion of the event I took a quick tour through the Western Expo with the vendors on display to check out how we will set up for next year. A lot of great companies are involved and on display throughout the week to support the kids and their families.

Back on the road and stopped back in to South Pointe Auto to drop off my ride, tell them thanks and hit the road again. I decided to take a quick detour via Cheyenne to check out Frontier Days on Sunday. Managed to bump into Curt Check who is up in the PBR Enterprise tour on Monday and Tuesday. Curious to see how he did....I unfortnately had to bail out of Cheyenne and come back to the office for a day or two....

and then....

off to Springfield, IL to check out the National High School Rodeo Association Finals. I plan to catch up with Marc Andrus (owner of SADDLE BARN) and his son Jesse who qualified from New Mexico. I think he is scheduled to ride tonight (Tuesday) and Thursday. Should be exciting....would love to see him Spur' One...

Last but not least...I plan to stop in and see Phil Smith with Phoenix Performance Products in their booth and hang out for a day and catch up with some of our customers who qualified as well.

Spur It' Up!!!

NLBRA Results

As most of you are aware, we have had some challenges getting the results posted. Unfortunately due to some uncontrollable circumstances beyond both the NLBRA's and our control have delayed the finishing results.

We expect to receive the over all results in the very near future and complete the postings.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

The NLBRA and US Rodeo Supply Company greatly appreciate your understanding.

As soon as we post the results we will update the page with the date of the latest results.