RODEO ROYALTY
Queens from 38 states and 4 provinces compete for
2017 National High School Finals Rodeo Queen crown, B1
A FREE publication by Gillette News Record
Rodeo Daily
Sunday, July 16, 2017 S FREE S GILLETTENEWSRECORD.COM
NHSFR by
the numbers
1,550-1,600: Number
of cowboys and cowgirls
expected to be in Gillette to
compete in the 2017 National
High School Finals Rodeo.
1,957: Number of horses
expected to be housed in the
nearly 2,000 stalls on the
Cam-plex grounds over the
course of the rodeo.
1,829: The number of
competition runs that are
accounted for through
Saturday morning. The num-
ber could be higher after
check-in closes.
11: Number of times
Gillette has hosted the
NHSFR, including this year.
42: Number of queen
contestants competing for
the 2017 national crown. That
includes queens from 38
states and 4 provinces.
1,465: Number of families
camping out at Cam-plex for
the week.
1,730: The number of
camping spaces at Cam-plex.
55: Tons of garbage
collected during the 2016
NHSFR.
677: Number of 3-yard
dumpsters filled during last
years event.
Rodeo
schedule
SUNDAY
7a.m.: Check-in closes
7a.m.: Trap shooting
range open for practice,
Gillette Gun Club
8a.m.: Church Service
by Fellowship of Christian
Cowboys, Heritage Center
Theater
9a.m.: Student delegate
meeting for student officers,
delegates and candidates,
Energy Hall
9-10:30a.m.: PRCA
rough stock clinic, Central
Pavilion
10-11a.m.: Ariat all-
around team check-in, win-
ners circle at Morningside
Park
10a.m. to 5p.m.: Silent
auction basket entries
accepted in the Wyoming
Center lobby
10a.m. to 7p.m.: NHSFR
Trade Show, Wyoming Center
11a.m.: Mandatory con-
testant meeting, followed by
state/province team photos,
all-around photos and shoot-
ing contestant group photos,
Morningside Park
2p.m.: Cutting clinic and
live work with Shannon Hall,
cutting arena (East Pavilion)
2:15p.m.: Bareback rid-
ing safety seminar and equip-
ment check second session,
Central Pavilion
3p.m.: Queen contest
introductions/impromptu
questions, Heritage Center
Theater (roll call at 2:45p.m.)
3p.m.: Saddle bronc
safety seminar and equip-
ment check, second session,
Central Pavilion
3:45p.m.: Bull riding
safety seminar and equip-
ment check, second session,
Central Pavilion
4:30-5:30p.m.: PRCA
Presents Rodeo and
College with Jed Moore,
Energy Hall Room No. 2
7p.m.: First rodeo per-
formance, Morningside Park;
cutting, East Pavilion; reined
cow horse, Gillette College
practice arena
10:30p.m.: Contestants
dance, Central Pavilion
Lightning strikes behind a corral full of horses during the 11th performance of the 2016 National High School
Finals Rodeo at Wrangler Arena in Gillette. This year, Campbell County will use a lightning detection system that
will alert officials of any activity within 10 miles of Cam-plex.
Forecast calls for
all of the above
Rodeo-goers can expect heat, cold, wind and storms
By KATHY BROWN
NEWS RECORD SENIOR WRITER
kbrown@gillettenewsrecord.net
Participants and their families
at the 1993 National High School
Finals Rodeo experienced near-
ly every weather possibility in
Wyoming during their 10-day stint
in Gillette, including tornado warn-
ings.
There was heat, with tempera-
tures in the high 90s; cold, with
overnight temperatures dipping into
the 40s; heavy rain; afternoon thun-
derstorms; heat lightning; strong
winds and much more to contend
with.
Most of the NHSFR contestants
received jackets and winter-style
coats from their state teams that
first year Gillette hosted the event.
It seemed a bit over the top for
some residents, but likely was a
good thing.
Ive seen everything but snow
(this week) and Im not leaving
until Sunday, so I might see that,
joked Stanley Gann of Alabama.
He spoke right after a storm that
brought walnut-sized hail struck
Cam-plex. Combined with high
winds that moved temporary horse
stalls a few inches to a foot because
the tarps covering them became
sails, about $40 million in damage
was caused, officials estimated later
See FORECAST, Page A3
Familiar voices return to Gillette to announce the 2017 NHSFR
By KATHY BROWN
NEWS RECORD SENIOR WRITER
kbrown@gillettenewsrecord.net
Youll hear some familiar voices if Horse Association
youre a returning contestant or fan
at the 69th annual NHSFR in Gillette
starting Sunday.
Brent Kelly will announce during the
queen contest and cutting events at the
national rodeo just as he has over the
past 24 years. The rodeo announcer, NHSFR in Gillette,
auctioneer and retired teacher of 31
years has a wealth of NHSFR experi-
ence. In Gillette, hes seen his home
state of Utah win the national title and
experienced his first-ever tornado scare reined cow horse arena at the Gillette
in 1993.
They make
it happen
Behind the scenes
with the people who
put on the largest
rodeo in the world
By PATRICK FILBIN
NEWS RECORD WRITER
pfilbin@gillettenewsrecord.net
Greg Rook is the old, savvy vet
around these parts.
Rook is the most-tenured staff
member of Cam-plex, so one would
imagine he knows a thing or two
about rodeos.
Rook started his
career with Cam-
plex more than
20 years ago as an
event tech. Today,
hes the operations
News Record File Photos manager. Its his
job to juggle near-
ly every aspect of
getting the grounds PAUL
in order for the FOSTER
NHSFR.
Were coming
down to the wire,
he said Monday
afternoon.
It was cool
in the Gillette
College Rodeo
and Agricultural
Complex. The air
conditioners were GREG
blowing, large fans ROOK
spinning up above.
The dirt on the
complex floor was soft like sand
from where the tractors and trucks
had rolled over it with tires for weeks
prior in preparation.
A crew of six, which included
three inmates who were part of a
Campbell County workers program,
put together the final beams and
benches of new bleachers in the
complex.
Rook and his crew of 30 started
preparing for the rodeo in January.
From projects like new RV hook-
ups to expanding the crows nest at
Morningside Park, Cam-plex has
been gearing up for this week-long
event for half a year.
There has been a lot of mentoring
that goes on from my side of things,
Rook said. Thats why we start this
process so early.
Last year was Paul Fosters first
rodeo as Cam-plex general manager.
He and others relied on Rook to
walk them through the process of
putting on an event of this scale from
the head honcho on down.
A cowboy drives a golf cart through an afternoon rain storm during The toughest part for Rook has
been keeping all his ducks in a row.
the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo at Cam-plex. Sudden
and severe summertime weather changes are known to happen. Not everyone realizes how much of a
community event the NHSFR is, he
said. The sheriffs department, police
department, EMS, fire department
Free weather alerts and a number of other organizations
What: Campbell County Emergency Management Agency Code RED have to come together to work cohe-
cellphone or digital device alert sively to make sure the show runs
When: During the National High School Finals Rodeo for participants smoothly.
Rook is just one person who helps
or families in Gillette, or for Campbell County residents at any time
How to sign-up: Visit ccgiv.net/198/Emergency-Management put on the largest rodeo in the world.
Did you know: Staff will go through those whove signed up by Here are some more people behind
hand after the rodeo and eliminate out-of-town numbers so youre the scenes who help bring the rodeo
not receiving alerts on Campbell County weather while living in to Gillette.
another state.
See MAKE IT HAPPEN, Page A3
The 68-year-old for a second year in around the nation, including paying for
from Midway, Utah, Gillette, Chris Rankin college educations.
has announced the in the Morningside He and Fuller will be standing just a
American Quarter Park rough stock few feet away from each other as they
arena and Tim Fuller talk about the rides, the wrecks and the
Junior World Show, in the timed events results every morning and night during
Benny Binions arena. performances in Gillette.
Bucking Horse and Rankin of Theyll set a torrid pace between them
Bull Sale and local Normangee, Texas, at times.
rodeos. A year ago, BRENT CHRIS made his first trip to Fuller certainly will add to the vocal
he said he enjoys the KELLY RANKIN Gillette for last years flow. The 55-year-old is no stranger to
NHSFR. Now hes the NHSFR and hes also announced
adding that he appreciates the facilities coming back for more. at the National Circuit Finals Rodeo,
and the people. I do it, more or less, because I get to the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, and as
Its just a great atmosphere, he said. see the future, he said a year ago. the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour TV
Hell be joined by Doc Boene in the He supports high school rodeo announcer, as well as the Xtreme Bulls
because of the opportunities it presents Finals, and as emcee at the Miss Rodeo
College practice barn, who returns to the young cowboys and cowgirls America Pageant.