GERRY – The 2500-mile trip to the recent Ram National Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida, was a successful one for the Graham family, owners of Painted Pony Championship Rodeo and stock contractor for the Gerry Fire Department’s annual PRCA rodeo, as their prize bull Cocktail Diarrhea took Parker Breding on an 86.5 ride in the finals to win the championship in the bull riding event.
For Breding, who hails from Edgar, Montana, this was the fourth time to claim top honors in the prestigious rodeo, which features the top two cowboys from each of the twelve rodeo circuits in the country. For his efforts, Breding won $13,000 cash, a $20,000 voucher toward any Dodge vehicle, a hand-made saddle, a pair of Justin boots, and a Polaris UTV.
In the saddle bronc competition, Jake Finlay, a Queensland, Australia, cowboy rode Painted Pony’s bronc, George’s Bad Cat, for 83.5 points in the first go-round on his way to winning the championship in that event.
The Grahams had five of their stock – two broncs and three bulls – chosen by the Board of Directors of the Ram Circuit Finals to make the long trip. Their selection is based on the performances of the animals throughout the rodeo season and only the best are selected. The animals are an important element in the rodeo as half of the score is based on how well the bronc or bull bucks and the other half on the performance of the cowboy.
After missing a year of rodeo in Gerry following 75 consecutive years of bringing professional rodeo action to Western New York, rodeo Chairman Tom Atwell says the rodeo committee is planning to open the gates again for four nights of rodeo competition, August 3-7, with more than 200 cowboys and cowgirls vying for $50,000 in prize money. The committee is also planning for the traditional barbeque dinners as Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted.
The Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, located in Lake Lucerne, New York, and owned by Shawn and Shana Graham, will again bring more than 100 head of their outstanding stock and the equipment and personnel needed to produce top rodeo entertainment.
Additional information is available at the rodeo website www.gerryrodeo.org or by phone at (716) 985-4847.
Submitted photo. Trevor (left) and Gabby Graham, whose parents are the stock contractors for the Gerry Fire Department’s annual PRCA rodeo, meet with Parker Breding of Edgar, Montana, who won the bull riding event on one of their family’s bulls at the recent Ram Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida.