----------------About the 72nd Annual XIT Rodeo----------------
It's Rodeo Time!
Folks, its Rodeo time again in the XIT city and there will be lots going on at this year's PRCA sanctioned show. The rodeo has started to gain momentum over the last four to five years, and this year, we will be opening more entry and exit gates to allow for easier and quicker access to the arena. We are also trying to make tickets more accessible by having a ticket hut and two or three roaming salesman during the feeds. Tickets can also be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce and of course, at the arena gates during performances.
For the hardcore fans, we will have contestants roping in the slack on Wednesday night the 6th at 7:00 p.m. and more slack on Saturday Morning the 9th at 8:00 a.m. There is no charge for those wanting to come in and watch Wednesday and only $ 5.00 for the Saturday morning slack performance. Marquee performances begin at 7:00 p.m. every night from Thursday through Saturday night. Adults are $ 10.00 and kids twelve and under are $ 5.00...kids three and under are free.
This year we are again having an open, amateur Barrel Race that will feature our local talent. Also, we are bringing back the Business Man's Wild Cow Milking, that will surely put a smile on everyone's face as they watch their friends and neighbors trying to squeeze a few drops of milk from an uncooperative cow.
David Bailey Rodeo company is back with their band of rank Broncs and Bulls that will test the Cowboys to their limits. PRCA and PBR superstar Bulls Lucky Strike, Super Cool and Red Man are coming to town, so this is a must see for anyone that enjoys watching some of the best bucking Bulls in the country show their stuff. I would like to remind everyone that each year we have at least twenty to twenty-five of the top PRCA cowboys and NFR qualifiers that come right here to Dalhart to try and earn points and money in their quest to make it to the Circuit Finals and the NFR. This year's entries include superstar ropers Scott Snedecor (Leading the World in Steer Roping), Guy Allen, Jake Barnes, Clay O'Brien Cooper, Kory Koontz, Cash Myers, Cody Ohl, Buster Record Jr., Stran Smith, and J.D. Yates. Top NFR Steer Wrestlers appearing here this year are Matt Reeves, Hunter Cure, Jule Hazen, Ken Lewis and Jake Rinehart. Among the Saddle Bronc and Bareback Bronc riders who are coming are notables Zach Dishman, Marty Eakin, Brody Bolton and Todd Rangel. The Bull Riding this year in Dalhart is chock full of big-time Bull Riders. Coming to Dalhart for '08 are Douglas Duncan and Fred Boettcher, currently sitting #11 and #12 in the World Standings, Donald Francis, who is one of the top ten rookies in the World, and Dalhart's Stormy Wing, who is on a tear and is currently the #2 Bull Riding rookie in the PRCA, sitting #2 in the ProRodeo Tour Standings and is also ranked as the #6 Bull Rider in the Texas Circuit.
Don’t forget that we will have a brand new Barrelman and comedy act with award winning John Harrison and our Horseback announcer from California, Jody Carper, will also make his first appearance in Dalhart.
On behalf of myself and the other Directors, we hope that all who can, will come and enjoy the thrills, spills and excitement that's part of our annual PRCA Rodeo.
David Finkenbinder, Rodeo Director
Rodeo Stock Contractor - David Bailey
David Bailey has been providing rodeo stock for over 40 years. He is one of a limited handful of legendary bucking bull-producing stock contractors in the PRCA. Many stock contractors have visions of having great bulls like award winning Bull of the Year, Bull of the Finals; Playboy Skoal, Gunslinger and their prodigal sons Super Cool and Lucky Strike . The Bailey Rodeo Company has proven consistent with their program by providing top stock to the NFR every year since 1989 when David got his PRCA card. And now, the tradition continues with his livestock doing the talking. In a 5 year period of time, David won the coveted NFR's bull of the NFR 4 out of the 5 years with two different bulls; Super Cool and Lucky Strike. In 2006 David won bull of the finals at the PBR's finals in November, bull of the finals at the NFR in December, and bull of the finals at the CBR Finals in January! He did this with 2 different bulls; Lucky Strike and Red Man. In 2007 David even snared the top livestock award for the bulls at the San Antonio Rodeo!
This year, in 2008, the Livestock keeps on doing the talking; At the National Western Rodeo in Denver Kanin Asay won a go in bullriding on Smoking Gun with 86 points, a NFR and PBR Finals bull, and pocketed $5200. At the Fort Worth Stock Show the horses came to town and Bradley Harter won a go in the Bronc Riding on NFR Bronc Sharky and Scotty Neesmith won the 4th round in the Bareback Riding on NFR wrangler top stock award winner Flying High! And speaking of #132 Flying High; I am proud to announce he is the current winner of the Prairie Circuit Bareback Bronc of the Year for 2007!!
David Bailey Rodeo Company brings a fast moving, professional production with an emphasis on preparation, top quality stock and fast moving, non-stop excitement and entertainment! David is a Rodeo Stock Contractor and having top quality livestock is what is most important to his program. This is professional rodeo and having great livestock with national name recognition that delivers pure rodeo and bullriding entertainment from start to finish is this man's job one.
David Bailey Rodeo Company is proud to be in Dalhart for the third year in a row, and looks forward to providing the fans with plenty of thrills for the 2008 XIT Rodeo and Reunion!
Jody Carper is a rodeo announcer with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Originally from a small town in West Texas, Jody grew through the rodeo ranks competing in tie down roping, team roping, and steer wrestling. He became a professional tie down roper in the PRCA in 1998. He has competed in numerous rodeos across the country, and was a PRCA California Circuit Finalist in 2003.
While competing in the rodeo arena, Jody also began working part-time as an announcer in 1991. Though he loved to rope, Jody found a whole new fulfillment through announcing. In 2005, he decided to focus all of his rodeo efforts toward his announcing career. That year Jody received his PRCA announcer's card and began working to fill his schedule with rodeos, bull ridings and ropings. Drawing on his past experiences as a contestant allows him to give fans a unique and entertaining behind-the-scenes view of the sport of rodeo.
When he's not announcing rodeos, you can find him running up and down a basketball court. Since 1993, Jody has worked as a college basketball official. He has worked in 11 different conferences and one professional league across the United States. In 2005, Jody was selected to work the McDonald's High School All-American game on ESPN. The time he has spent on the court, has also led to other opportunities behind the microphone such as calling both basketball and football games.
John Harrison of Soper, Oklahoma is the son of Wiley and Donna Harrison and the grandson of the late World Champion Bull Rider, Freckles Brown. He has an associate's degree in Ag-Business and is a certified Equine Message Therapist. At the age of six, John received his first trick riding lesson after watching a famous trick rider perform at a nearby rodeo. She inspired John and since then he has trained and performed with many of the best trick riders in the world.
John is a contract act specialist who entertains audiences with fast, colorful roman riding, trick roping and trick riding. Entertaining audiences with fast-paced roman riding is John's delight as he stands atop two individual horses that work as a team. The horses run freely through a series of figure eights, reverses, split flaming fire stakes, and for the grandeur he jumps the horses through a flaming horseshoe of fire.
His trick riding is a crowd favorite where he does numerous vaults and athletic maneuvers, including the difficult shoulder stand all while riding a runaway horse around the arena. John's trick roping is a fast-paced act that can be done in any lighting situation and is usually followed by a couple of runs of trick riding.
Adding to his repertoire of acts John has created a comedy act to include in his performances. In 2003 Miss Rodeo Universe was crowned and she has been traveling the rodeo circuit ever since displaying her grace and style to audiences all across the nation. She has all of the attributes a great queen needs: poise, articulate expression, a flashy fashion sense, but can she ride?
As a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 1999, John was selected to perform at the prestigious 2001 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada and again in 2002.
--------------------------XIT Rodeo Queen--------------------------
2008 Reiging XIT Rodeo Queen - Lisa Maez
Reining XIT Rodeo Queen, Lisa Marie Maez, is the 18-year-old daughter of Pat and Ramon Maez. She is the granddaughter of Lucy and Max Maez and Virginia and Don Harkness (Mano). Lisa has one brother, Adrian Maez.
Lisa graduated from Dalhart High School in May and is planning to attend the University of Houston. Included in her studies will be Human Nutrition. Lisa's hobbies include running, reading, riding horses, shopping, music and hanging out with her friends.
Lisa's goals are to graduate from the University of Houston and become a sports nutritionist. She also wants to one day work for a major sports team and be succesful. Some day she would like to have a family.
Lisa states that she has had a blast being XIT Rodeo Queen, getting to know the great directors and having fun representing the XIT celebration. Lisa has five horses but is riding Cadillac during all of the XIT events this year.
The 2008 XIT Rodeo Queen will be selected on Thursday, August 7th at the XIT Arena. The Queen's contest will begin at 1:00 pm.