ACTRA State Finals
The ACTRA Rocky Mountain Chapter wrapped up its second successful year as an association with its finals held at the Blackhawk Arena in Salina, Utah during the first weekend of October 2008. Even though the weather was determined to be cold, gray and wet, the seventy team ropers, making up over 400 teams, were content as they participated in an extremely well organized roping, sheltered from the downpour in the beautiful and newly renovated equestrian center.
“The Finals were a really well run roping. I thought the prizes were awesome! I wasn’t planning on going but decided to go at the last minute. I’m sure glad I went.” Said Don Torgerson of Torrey, Utah. “The prizes and pay outs were a whole lot more than I expected. I won even more than I realized.” The 1.5 division winner went on to say, “I came out winning more money than I put into it by a long ways.”
The Rocky Mountain Chapter went all out this year by awarding gorgeous Scott Thomas saddles to the first place heading and heeling winners in the #10.5 roping through the #4 roping. Ropers who took home saddles were Brain Winn/Matt Liston in the #10.5, Landon Andrews/Jason Rindlesbacher in the #8.5, Blain Terry/Garrett Smith in the #7, Lex Nelson/Bruce Curtis in the #6 and Doug Olsen/Shayne Sampson in the #4.
The second place winners of the #10.5 through the #4 ropings received breast collars. These ropers were Brian Winn/Brad Freeland in the #10.5, Garrett Smith/Kade Liston in the #8.5, Shelly Winn/Quinn Kesler in the #7, Jerry Jensen/Jody Burnside in the #6 and Don Torgerson/Rodney Dansie in the #4.
The third place winners took home headstalls. These ropers were Steve Young/Matt Liston in the #10.5, Jared Penrod/Ky oberg in the #8.5, Shelly Winn/Olin Pullham in the #7, Quinn Kesler/Greg Kesler in the #6 and Don Torgerson/Tait Gurney in the #4.
The open roping first place winners, Steve Young/Cody Young, won leather rope bags with the second place winners, Steve Young/Olin Pullham receiving breast collars. The #2 and under winning header and heeler, Randy Dansie/Rodney Dansie claimed their beautiful Skyline Buckles with the second place ropers, Kassie Liston/Taylor Winn, receiving breast collars.
High point ropers in the #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 categories won a handcrafted Skyline buckle for first place going to Don Torgerson, Rodney Dansie, Blain Terry, Garrett Smith and Matt Liston. A 10X felt hat for second place in each division went to Shelly Winn, Greg Kesler, Jody Burnside, Scott Welch and Steve Young. A bronc halter was awarded for third place in each division. These went to Jennifer Powell, Tait Gurney, Casey Pratt, Brian Winn and Brad Freeland. Fourth place winners in each category received a free ACTRA membership and a nylon halter. These winners were Doug Olsen, Taylor Winn, Berry Young, Rhett Anderson and Brian Winn.
High money winners of the weekend won a solid 10K gold buckle donated by Skyline Buckles. These were awarded to Shelly Winn who won $1,350.00 and Steve Young who won $1,287.00. The top two high point girl ropers for the weekend received bracelets from Skyline Buckles. These were awarded to Shelly Winn who earned 69 points and Kassie Liston who earned 24 points. Overall, $40,000 was distributed in prizes and payouts.
“The ACTRA finals were great. I thought there were more teams from last year’s
finals, which added more money.” Explained Quinn Kesler of Holden, Utah. “The chapter did a super job of getting sponsors involved and getting all the great prizes that were given at the finals. I thought the ACTRA finals were a big success.”
Many of the ropers were impressed with the organization and quality of this year’s finals.
“The Rocky Mountain Chapter Finals were very well organized. The cattle were nicely sorted and appropriate for each division. The prizes were exceptional and the payouts were wonderful” expressed Jerry Jensen a member from Blackfoot, Idaho. “I will definitely attend next year. It was well worth the drive from Idaho.”
Randy Dansie from Salem, Utah said, “I thought the Rocky Mountain ACTRA State Finals were tremendous. I had a lot of fun and all the people were really great. Everyone had great sportsmanship.” This first year ACTRA member continued “The quality on the saddles and buckles were real, real nice. I will definitely be back next year.” He and his son Rodney Dansie are sure to attend next year’s final and defend their title of the #2 and under champions.
The American Cowboy Team Roping Association’s motto is “Where families come to rope.” The motto fit this roping perfectly. Many of the weekend’s teams were made up of husbands and wives, fathers and sons, mothers and sons, brothers and sisters, uncles, and cousins with additional families members gathered near to support and cheer them on creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and excitement.
“The thing that I noticed the most was that everyone was talking and laughing back and forth with each other and seemed to be having a great time unlike many of the roping you go to where everyone is too serious.” Said National Board member Greg Kesler. “I can’t wait to go the next ACTRA roping.”
For ropers to be eligible to attend the chapter finals, they had to attend five of the 40 ACTRA ropings held throughout the year in this region. ACTRA ropings were held all across the Rocky Mountain Chapter making it easy for ropers to attend enough ropings to qualify for state. ACTRA ropings were held in the northern area of the chapter in Rexburg, Idaho at the Curtis Arena owned by Curtis Fernley. In Utah County, Brad Ford held ACTRA ropings every other Thursday at the Arrowhead arena. Further south, Double Dollar Ranch owned by Greg Kesler held monthly ACTRA ropings. While Bruce Curtis held ropings at the Dirt Broke Cowboy arena in Monroe, Utah. Jody Burnside put on ACTRA ropings as far south as Mesquite, Nevada at the Bad Cattle Company. Ropers participating at the ACTRA ropings through the summer enjoyed the wide range of ropings, reasonable entry fees, high quality buckles and prizes won.
All the ropers who participated at the Rocky Mountain Chapter Finals were automatically eligible to attend the ACTRA National Finals held in Reno, Nevada from October 20 – 26, 2008. Last year, Kade Liston and Blaine Terry represented the chapter exceptionally well by winning the #4 roping. This year, there are high hopes for a great showing of the Rocky Mountain Chapter ropers.
“I want to express my thanks to the board of directors, Shelly Winn, the cattle contractors and anyone who helped put the Finals together. They did a wonderful job.” Don Torgerson said as he verbally expressed the majority of the roper’s thoughts. He went on to say, “I have roped for forty years and ACTRA seems to be the first association to put the roper first.”