Painted Pony Pro Rodeo, stock contractors for the annual Gerry Volunteer Fire Department’s PRCA rodeo, brought home the top awards in all three of the rough stock categories at the recent First Frontier Finals Rodeo in Harrisburg, Pa.
The rough stock events are saddle bronc, bareback, and bull riding, and each year at the finals, the contestants vote for the top performing animals in those three events. The performance of the animals is very important to the cowboys as one half of their score in competition is based on how well the horse or bull performs.
Painted Pony’s horse, #844 George’s Bad Cat, was named “Horse of the Year” in the bareback competition, while #70 Shasta, won that honor in the saddle back category. The awards continued as their outstanding bull, Jack’s Sour Mash, was named “Bull of the Year” for his performances in the arena. Few were surprised at this bull’s success in Harrisburg as he recently performed as one of the top bulls in the nation at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
Professional rodeo competition nationwide is divided into twelve circuits, with the First Frontier Circuit made up of the twelve original Colonies in the East. The Gerry rodeo is a part of that circuit and the top cowboys and cowgirls from those states compete for circuit championships each January in Harrisburg.
The annual Gerry rodeo will enter its 72nd consecutive year with four performances, August 3 -6, in their arena six miles north of Jamestown, New York. This past year saw more than 225 professional cowboys and cowgirls from 30 states compete for $45,000 in prize money. All proceeds benefit the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department. Additional information is available at the rodeo website www.gerryrodeo.org.
Photo: Six-year-old Trevor Graham, son of Shawn and Shana Graham, owners of Painted Pony Pro Rodeo, stock contractors for the annual Gerry PRCA rodeo, proudly displays the awards that his parents’ rodeo stock won at the recent First Frontier Finals Rodeo.