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   Rodeo Buckin’ in Buckeye

  Buckeye was certainly full of cowboys and cowgirls as people from all over hauled it all in for the two day Helzapoppin' PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) Rodeo. The rodeo was held here in Buckeye, Arizona at the South Buckeye Equestrian & Events Center. The rodeo took place Saturday March 17, 2012 and Sunday March 18, 2012. With gates opening at 5 p.m. on Friday, the rodeo was already becoming a full house as people began to pile into the outdoor arena and settle in their seats upon the bleachers. The rodeo began roughly around 7 p.m. that night with the crowd going wild as the announcer Dan Fowlie began to announce the first event. One by one each event barreled off with a variety of seven categories from Steer wrestling to Barrel Racing, and the crowd was definitely enjoying every minute of it.

Cowboys and cowgirls shot out of each shoot throughout the night hoping to score high enough to receive the money prize payout for their category. Each contestant tried everything they could to help add to their score and move them up higher to reach the top of the list, being extra careful to not knock down any barrels or miss any feet when roping because that would only add time to their overall score, giving them less of a chance at placing.

Sunday was no different despite the cold, rainy, weather; the crowd wasn't any bigger then the night before but they all bundled up in their warmest, biggest coats and sat on the bleachers drinking hot chocolate to come and show support for their favorite contestants. Sunday was the final day for the contestants as each of their events would be added up and calculated and the Fowlie would in turn name off the champion. After the judges debated and after each event Sunday Fowlie named of the overall champion for that category.

Taking home first place with 4.4 seconds for steer wrestling and $570 was Clayton Tuchscherer. Brothers Anthony Calmelat and Michael Calmelat put on a wonderful show that also landed them first place for team roping with 5.8 seconds giving them each $931. For the first round of Saddle bronc riding Jason Amon took home first with 78 point on Salt River Rodeo Company's Head Light earning Amon $170. During the second round Jeremy Harden took home first with 75 points on Salt River Rodeo Company's Baby Doll also earning Harden $120. Rick Kieckhefer took home $570 for 8.8 seconds in Tie-down roping.

Scrappy Scarbrough earned 84 points in bull riding on Salt River Company's Mr. Sam earning Scarbrougha payout of $464. As for the Girls, Carrie Jankee put on a stunning performance of not knocking down any barrels during barrel racing; Jankee ended in 17.31 seconds and received $948. Shane Erickson took home $679 and the title of All-around cowboy for his performances in team roping and tie-down roping. All inall the entire payoff rounded up to $14,779. However, the cowboys weren't the only ones out their putting on entertaining performances. Nate Reed the clown/barrelman was out there in the arena pulling off laughs and risking his life for the crowd and the cowboys.

The rodeo in turn would have become nothing if it wasn't for the sponsors. With over 20 local sponsors like The Saloon hair cartel, local Mexican restaurant La Placita and the Avondale Dodge Dealership, PRCA also brought in their national sponsors like RAM Rodeo Series and Coors. This rodeo definitely became one for the books and left high expectations for next years.