In the case of EHV-1, we highly suggest that people talk to their personal DVM and make sure that their horse or horses are up on the vaccinations required for a horse that is on the road. Each state is handling this somewhat differently and it is important that if you are going to be transporting over state lines, that you know what to expect at the border checks.
We have included a letter in this issue (see page 4) from the PRCA on the subject of EHV-1.The PRCA along with the Reno Rodeo have been very informative by posting status updates regarding the disease. Perry DiLoreto has been in constant contact with me here at the BFI office discussing the issue of this year’s events. I thank Perry for his help and understanding of the concerns of this year’s issues.
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This is the month of June and of course the month of the Bob Feist Invitational (BFI), Reno Rodeo Invitational, and the Reno Rodeo. All of these events have made history in the roping and rodeo world in the past, with lucrative payouts to the winners. We look forward to seeing all of you at these events this year as once again champions will be crowned and go down in the history books.
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I always get excited when the BFI comes along and trust me it couldn’t be done without the very loyal staff that I have working on this from the day the last BFI was finished to the day of this year’s event. They spend countless hours seeing that things are as good or better for this annual event. It has been a challenging time with the economy and the cutbacks in some of our major sponsor’s budgets. We understand the cutbacks and thank those that have stayed with us and continue their support for the BFI. We welcome the new sponsors this year and hope they will be with us for many more. Please think of them when it comes time of need of their product and if you see them tell them thanks for us. Sponsors do make it happen.
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This year there has been way too many obituaries that we have published in our recent issues of Ropers Sports News.
This issue includes that of Nealer Pryor who was one of the best flaggers and consultants of the BFI for years. His smile and friendship will be missed by many. The turnout was huge at his celebration of life held at the famed Alex Madonna Expo Center in San Luis Obispo, Calif. last month.
Another one is of Tom Turk who I remember since the inception of Ropers Sports News and the start of the Bob Feist Invitational. Tom was a longtime member of the Chowchilla Stampede Committee and competed in many of the team roping events all over the country. He was always on hand to be of help and was a fixture of the great ropings of the early times with the long scores and bigger cattle.
Jennie Steele passed away this past month as well, leaving a big void in the state of Nevada.
She was involved in many different things in the rodeo and roping world and was a member of the Nevada Women’s Team Roping Association. The NWTRA has helped at the BFI for many years and Jennie was always a part of that hard-working group of ladies.
Word also reached the RSN office that great all-around cowgirl and rancher, Debbie Duncan Shontz has passed away due to complicatons of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Debbie was from Lovelock, Nev.
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Be sure and pick up a copy of Rodeo Fame magazine this month. Rodeo Fame is a new publication being put out by April Patterson who is the daughter of Peggy and Allen Bach.
April is providing a new publication that will highlight the lives of rodeo and roping personalities. It is a whole new twist to the industry and will be exciting to read and find out the behind-the-scene lives of many of the people who live and breathe roping and rodeo lifestyles. Good luck April.
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See you all in Reno at the BFI!