The 71st annual PRCA rodeo sponsored by the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department concluded on Saturday night with what rodeo officials termed “the best in recent memory” as records were set in both the number of contestants and the total prize money paid out, and attendance was 7576, nearly 2000 over last year for the four performances.
A record number of more than 200 professional cowboys and cowgirls from 25 states as well as Canada and Australia arrived in Gerry with the hopes of taking home some of the record $61,172 in prize money, which comes from the fire department itself, sponsoring area businesses, and from entry fees which each contestant has to pay. Those entry fees range from $90 to $150 depending on the event. Competitors who do not place in their event, lose that entry fee and go home empty handed plus having paid travel expenses.
Darren Morgan, Fort Ann, New York, was named the All Around cowboy, an award which goes to the cowboy who wins the most money while competing in at least two events. Although Morgan did not take first in his events, he won $437 in the tie-down roping and $639 in the team roping for a total of $1076. J.R. Myers, Felton, Pennsylvania, won his second consecutive tie-down roping championship in Gerry and took home $1313 and a set of Montana Silversmith spurs.
Listed below are the top three in each event along with their total winnings:
Bareback Riding
Jake Brown Hillsboro, Texas $2532
Spur Lacasse Hillsboro, Texas $1941
Andy Carter Ellsinore, Missouri $1435
Saddle Bronc Riding
Jace Angus Fallon, Nevada $2481
Jesse Kirby Dodge City, Kansas $1654
Chase Miller Yukon, Oklahoma $1654
Bull Riding
Cory Atwell Moravian Falls, North Carolina $3976
Freeman Yoder Zearing, Iowa $3280
Alex Lee Adrian, Michigan $2684
Team Roping
Cory Clark Stephenville, Texas $958 Ethan Cory Hico, Texas $958
Rob Toth Wolcott, Connecticutt $719 Tye Eglin Gloversville, New York $719
Moose Mousseau Almer, Ontario $479 Drew Carnes Hornell, New York $479
Steer Wrestling
Jesse McPike Bedford, Indiana $1313
Talon Roseland Marshalltown, Iowa $984
Brian Conrad Madrid, Iowa $492
Tie Down Roping
R. Myers Felton, Pennsylvania $1313
Hadley DeShazo Salem, Arizona $984
Troy Roberto Haskell, New Jersey $656
Barrel Racing
Robin Weaver Mahaffey, Pennsylvania $1450
Jody Stockton Boston Spa, New York $1243
Kassie Green Shakopee, Minnesota $1036
This rodeo is now the longest consecutively running rodeo east of the Mississippi and is the major fund raising event for the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department, which answers more than 300 fire and emergency calls each year. Additional photos, stories, and information regarding the rodeo is available at www.gerryrodeo.org
Photo: Darren Morgan, Fort Ann, New York, receives his set of silver spurs from rodeo chairman Tom Atwell for winning the All-Around Cowboy title at the 71st Gerry Rodeo.
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