| National Finals Rodeo News: |
| The Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo brings hundreds of competitors to town. As cowboys and cowgirls wrap wrists and shine their spurs, their partners in competition are also being prepared. Jeremy Johnson takes a look at what it takes to make sure the animals are ready for competition.
The horses and bulls will soon come bucking out of the chute, but to get them ready to perform at their very best takes the work of several volunteers. For Brian Howell, being part of the National Circuit Finals Rodeo is a family tradition. Following in his father's footsteps, for the past 20 years, Howell has thrown hay bales, filled water tanks, and poured plenty of grain. "Every morning at 8:00, we grain all the animals then we come back at 1:00, when they're done sorting the cattle for tonight's performance, we come in and feed them their hay." But for Howell, the week of the rodeo isn't just about hard work. It's about enjoying the old-time sport and old friends. Friends like Bob Dickman and Scott Raschke who also work on the stock crew purely because they love rodeo. "The volunteers, the crew, the animals, a lot of loved horses and bulls. I used to be a bullfighter years ago. I retired. Just the love of the sport." "You really have to love what you do. Everybody's like a big family up here. We get together in the morning, we have breakfast in the morning, we feed in the afternoon. It's just a bunch of buddies hanging around getting to do what they like to do." |
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Thu Dec 04, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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Fri Dec 05, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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Sat Dec 06, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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Sun Dec 07, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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Mon Dec 08, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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Tue Dec 09, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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Wed Dec 10, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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Thu Dec 11, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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Fri Dec 12, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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Sat Dec 13, 2008
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Thomas & Mack Center
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| More National Finals Rodeo News: |
| After this morning's ceremony, which is free to the public, the Montanan is certain to head to his winter ranch outside of Austin, Texas, in a couple of weeks with a fond memory of his visit regardless of how well Mulligan does in the Finals.
Today's award will have special meaning for Lyman and many other cowboys who are not competing in the NFR and have never won a world championship. Lyman is the only Most Popular honoree without a world title, and it shows that rodeo fans have noticed his efforts. "I'm thinking everybody knows you when you're there at the Finals for 10 days and then it's a done deal," he said. "It's neat to know that our fans have more depth than that. |