Rain, Hail, And Mud Add To Excitement Of Pasture Roping
DeKalb, TX — Pasture roping is certainly not for the faint of heart. Rather than the tightly controlled conditions of an arena, the Mike White Pasture Roping is held in a 35-acre pasture with a 100’ head start for the steer. It can, and usually does, get a little “western.”
“I always wanted to have a pasture roping,” explains retired PBR bull rider, Mike White. “It levels the playing field and gives guys a chance to be competitive against open ropers. You really have to be able to ride your horse and handle a cow in the field. In the pasture a steer can really duck and dive. It’s very entertaining to watch.”
Each year, on Easter weekend, Mike and Hannah White have friends and family who come from as far as North Carolina and Lake Charles, LA, to help out with this growing event. Every dollar of the proceeds is donated to benefit children in need. This year proceeds were donated to Ropin’ Dreams, a non-profit organization that helps make dreams come true for seriously ill children.
The inspiration for this event occurred in 2004. There was a child in St. Judes Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, who wanted to meet the famous bull rider, Mike White. The PBR asked Mike if he would go visit, so Mike and Hannah planned the trip and envisioned visiting for less than an hour.
“I didn’t really plan on staying long, it’s hard to spend a lot of time with someone you don’t know,” says White. “I left after three and a half hours. We played bucking bulls on his bed all afternoon. I left there a changed person. It totally changed the way I looked at life. I’ve always said ‘If you think you’re a man who won’t cry, visit a children’s hospital’.
“I’ve been very blessed. My kids are healthy and I’ve had a great career. This benefit is something that needs to be done. We raise money for the kids who don’t have our opportunities in life.”
The Mike White Pasture Roping is a family event where folks camp out, swap stories and enjoy the many food vendors. There’s goat roping for the kids, and an Easter egg hunt with prizes that include two four-wheelers and two battery operated cars for the little tykes.
Friday morning started with the All-Girl pasture roping where the steers have a 50-foot head start. Forty-three teams competed with Amy Fathruckner and Jayme Marcrum emerging the winners with a time of 43.42 seconds on two-head, earning $761 ea., Roper buckles and Fast Back jackets. Second place was Hannah White and Whitney Desalvo with a time of 19.12 on one head and earning $456 ea. Third place was Robin Benson and Jayme Marcrum, 21.49 on one head, earning $304 ea.
Friday evening the action moved to Texarkana for the Mike White Invitational PBR Bull Riding followed by a concert by Bart Crow.
On Saturday morning, the Open to the World Pasture Roping was postponed for close to an hour due to rain. 290 teams competed in the three-head progressive roping for $150 per team entry fees. Halfway through the first round, ropers and spectators took cover due to a severe weather alert. Soon after, rain, straight-line winds, and hail prevailed for over 15 minutes. As soon as the sky cleared the roping resumed. The cowboys thought it was awesome and the soupy conditions made for some good watching.
Todd Trammell and Dustin Morgan were the 2013 champions with a time of 43.26 on three head. The pair each earned $5,041 and a Coats saddle. The remaining average winners were as follows: 2. Kipp Harrell/Spencer Mitchell, 44.11, $3,361 ea; 3. Jeff Hilton/Tommy Zuniga 44.18, $2,598; 4. Joel Bach/Tommy Zuniga 44.19, $1,833; 5. Waylon Davis/Dakota Kirchenschlager 44.44, $1,375; 6. Tee Luttrell/Jody Padilla 45.86, $1,069.
Tyler Wade earned the top “hard luck” prize of a rifle from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Dakota Kirchenschlager was second in the hard luck division and won a pair of spurs.
“Our whole family, plus many friends, helps out. Without such a giving family and great friends this event would not be what it is today. We have come a long way in the last four years,” says Wendy LaVergne, Mike’s sister and Director of the event. “Giving back is what God has called each and every one of us to do. We are very blessed to be a part of all these children’s lives.”
The Mike White Roping team would like to thank the following sponsors: Fast Back Ropes, Wrangler, Bloomer Trailers, Johnny On the Spot, State Bank of DeKalb, USTRC, Reliance Ranches, Lone Star Ag Credit, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Priefert Ranch, Bates Funeral Home, Tucker Feed, Golden Oil, Front Street Junction, Southwest Arkansas Equipment, United Country, Livestock Nutrition Center, Wilcox Water, Elliott Dodge Ford, Texar FCU, Double K Farm Equipment, Backus – B Ranch, DeKalb Physicians Clinic, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, DeKalb Industrial Foundation, Bowie County Equipment, Flat Creek Timberland Logging.
For more information visit www.mwroping.com or facebook.com/mwroping.
