2017 Stock of the Year by Terri Mason Stock Contractor of the Year - VOLD RODEO LTD. Wayne Vold is honoured to, once again, be named the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Stock Contractor of the Year. Vold comments, “If the contestants vote you Stock Contractor of the Year, you must be doing some- thing right.” In 2017, Vold Rodeo had stock at or produced sev- eral CPRA rodeos including Stavely, Grande Prairie, Rocky Mountain House, Wainwright, Ponoka, Morris, Strathmore, Cranbrook, Okotoks, Nansen and Wayne Vold the Grass Roots Final and the Canadian Finals Rodeo. Bull of the Year 105 JOHNNY RINGO - Vold Rodeo Co. Ltd. In a world where “bad” means “good” Johnny Ringo is one bad bull. “He came from Nate and Jackie Gardner at Arrowwood,” said Nansen Vold. “He’s six years old. He’s very tiny for a bull.” It’s certainly not his 1,250-lb size that prompted his win of Bull of the Year; it was the fact that he is a terrific challenge to the bull riders who statistically make money on his back. “He bucked at 25-30 rodeos this year,” said Vold. “At Okotoks he bucked off Brock Radford; at Stavely they were 90 points on him.” In fact, $12,500 was won by Maple Creek’s Jared Parsonage when he covered Johnny Ringo at Stavely’s 2017 Glen Keeley Memorial Bull Riding, only the second time that the bull had been ridden. The horned bull knows his business too. After he bucks them off the only thing he’s hunting is the out gate. “He’s pretty quiet that way,” said Vold. Johnny Ringo favours a left-hand delivery and continues to buck to the left and this “all busi- ness” bull is consistent earning his average score. Out of a possible 25 points per judge, says Vold, “He averages 22 pts a trip; sometimes a lit- tle higher.” The bull has also made his mark south of the Medicine Line as well with an appearance at the Granddaddy of ‘Em All – Pendleton Round-Up — and for PBR fans, it was recently announced that Johnny Ringo was named PBR Canada Bull of the Year. Johnny Ringo also saw the lights of Vegas as he was one of five Canadian bucking bulls selected for the 2017 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough World Finals held in Las Vegas in Nov. Of course, fans also enjoyed watching the CPRA Bull of the Year Johnny Ringo in action at the 2017 CFR. 96 ~ 2018 CPRA Media Guide ~ 2017 Stock of the Year Bareback Horse of the Year F13 VIRGIL - C5 Rodeo Few horses draw as much attention as Virgil. The big, flashy grey is a rodeo photographer’s dream, with more “hang time” than a basketball star, and his cas- cading mane and tail add emphasis to his tremendous power. He’s a fierce competitor and he’s still bucking as hard at eight seconds as he is the first jump out of the chute. “It’s been a long time coming,” says Vern MacDonald about the award. “But he got it. He’s a great horse.” So far, Virgil has won MacDonald three trucks, and the phenom has earned big bucks for cowboys too; the $100,000 at Calgary — twice; 94 pts at Houston and he was the star of The American; a one-day million dollar rodeo in Texas. The list goes on and on. Now coming nine years old, Virgil was raised by Dale Kling, a North Dakota stock contractor. (His dam was a small Appaloosa mare from the late Verne Franklin.) Virgil first went to the Indian Reserve near Browning as a stud, and then to a couple of stock contractors. He was already on MacDonald’s radar — he was looking for a superstar, and he knew Virgil fit the bill. MacDonald, who keeps stats on all of the top bucking horses in North America and can rattle them off the top of his head like a baseball commentator, knew exactly what Virgil would bring to his phenomenal herd, and he happily paid the price. “He averages 22.5 pts every trip,” says MacDonald. To the uninitiated, if the cowboy is doing his job too, that translates into 90 pts being the average score. That bears repeating; that’s Virgil’s average. “He’s the best investment I’ve made in a long time,” says MacDonald. “Virgil and Make Up Face (another C5 superstar) put C5 Rodeo on the map.” In late October, it was announced that Virgil has also been chosen as the PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year. ~ 2017 CPRA Media Guide ~ 97 2017 Stock of the Year Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year 242 GET SMART - Northcott-Macza Rodeo He has roared out of the chutes at ten CFR’s, a half dozen times at the NFR and now for the fourth time, saddle bronc Get Smart is once again named Saddle Bronc of the Year. “He’s one of those horses who gets better with age,” says Ward Macza. “He’s had an attitude all year and he gave it his all every time; he never had a “soft” day.” Macza made a small change for the 2002 son of Northcott’s great stud, Wyatt Earp, and it has had big consequences. “Last year at the NFR we switched; he’s now right hand delivery.” There’s been no looking back. For a three-week period this summer, the “perfect storm” of horse and rider was Zeke Thurston and Get Smart. “Zeke won Ponoka on him, Zeke won Calgary on him and the next weekend Zeke won K-Days Rodeo on him,” says Macza. “But yes, Get Smart just had a stellar year. It sure doesn’t hurt to draw Zeke Thurston either. “But I’d say the best trip Get Smart had this year, was when Jim Berry drew him at Leduc,” he said. “That’s the rankest trip I’ve ever seen him have. He bucked him off the second jump — and hard. Everybody has trouble bucking Jim Berry off, but he ironed him out. He said it was the hardest he had ever been bucked off.” The little bay was at seven rodeos this year and his average score ranged from 22 to 23 1/2, he was also marked 24 a couple of times (out of a possible 25 per judge.) “I’m looking for about six more just like him,” laughs Macza. “He’s a freak of nature. He’s little (about 1,100 lbs) and he’s an exception to the rule, but he makes up for his size with his fight. He has so much heart, so much try and an attitude. “This is the way I look at it,” says Macza. “A good bucking horse is like a good woman. They’re very few and far between. And on both accounts if you find one, you’d better look after them.” 98 ~ 2018 CPRA Media Guide ~ Bucking Stock of the Year Records SADDLE BRONC 1988 K2 Kingsway Skoal, Verne Franklin 1960 14 Hat Rack, Reg Kesler 1989 G10 Guilty Cat Copenhagen, Calgary Stampede 1961 15 Red Wing, Calgary Stampede 1990 K2 Kingsway Skoal, Verne Franklin 1962 Bar 7X, Harry Vold 1991 K2 Kingsway Skoal, Verne Franklin 1963 9 Red Top, Myers Bar T 1992 52 Copenhagen M.F. Wagner Spit!re, Reg Kesler 1964 220 Colonel Blue, Harry Vold 1993 435 Skoal's Airwolf, Verne Franklin 1965 23 Bugle Boy, Harry Vold 1994 H1 High Chaparral Copenhagen, Bar T 1966 80 Whiz Bang, Harry Vold 1995 527 Skoal's Blue Ridge, Verne Franklin 1967 9 Red Top, Myers Bar T 1996 338 Skoal's Alley Ways, Kesler Championship Rodeo 1968 85 Suntan, Reg Kesler 1997 47 Chester Skoal Bandit, Big Stone Rodeo Co. 1969 02 Red Top, Reg Kesler 1998 338 Skoal's Alley Ways, Duane Kesler 1970 89 Buckaroo, Larry Wyatt 1999 527 Skoal's Blue Ridge, Franklin Rodeo 1971 50 American Express, Vold Rodeo 2000 527 Skoal's Instant Request, Kesler Rodeo 1972 714 Sarcee Sorrel, Vold Rodeo 2001 338 Skoal's Alley Ways, Kesler Championship Rodeo 1973 Z37 Zone Along, Calgary Stampede 2002 338 Skoal's Alley Ways, Kesler Championsip Rodeo 1974 108 High N Mighty, Leo Brown 2003 G65 Grated Coconut, Calgary Stampede 1975 0 Charming Billy, Vold Rodeo 2004 G65 Grated Coconut, Calgary Stampede 1976 108 High N Mighty, Leo Brown 2005 G65 Grated Coconut, Calgary Stampede 1977 714 Sarcee Sorrel, Vold Rodeo 2006 A43 Gold Dust, Peters & Sons Rodeo Co. 1978 5 Knott Inn, Reg Kesler 2007 G65 Grated Coconut, Calgary Stampede 1979 50 American Express, Vold Rodeo 2008 G65 Grated Coconut, Calgary Stampede 1980 50 American Express, Vold Rodeo 2009 G65 Grated Coconut, Calgary Stampede 1981 108 Mighty Velvet, Verne Franklin 2010 OLS Tubs Ross River, Outlaw Bucker Rodeo Corp. 1982 G10 Guilty Cat, Calgary Stampede 2011 Jay Bar Nine, Outlaw Bucker Rodeo Corp. 1983 714 Sarcee Sorrel, Vold Rodeo 2012 S-83 Special Delivery, Calgary Stampede 1984 L2 Try Me, Vold Rodeo 2013 73 True Grit, Vold Rodeo Ltd. 1985 W86 J.B., Big Country Rodeo 2014 838 Mucho Dinero, Vold Rodeo Ltd. 1986 K20 Misty, Reg Kesler 2015 838 Mucho Dinero, Vold Rodeo Ltd. 1987 K25 Kloud Grey Skoal, Calgary Stampede 2016 717 Must Have, Kesler Rodeo 1988 8 Skoal's Alley Cat, Greg Kesler 2017 F13 Virgil, C5 Rodeo 1989 286 Papa Smurf, Calgary Stampede 1990 245 Lonesome Me Skoal, Calgary Stampede BULL 1991 245 Lonesome Me Skoal, Calgary Stampede 1974 11 Wilfred, Verne Franklin 1992 K2 Kingsway Skoal, Verne Franklin 1975 026 Walter, Reg Kesler 1993 K2 Kingsway Skoal, Verne Franklin 1976 B13, Vold Rodeo 1994 K2 Kingsway Skoal, Verne Franklin 1977 B6, Vold Rodeo 1995 K2 Kingsway Skoal, Verne Franklin 1978 M6 Black Bart, Reg Kesler 1996 K2 Kingsway Skoal, Verne Franklin 1979 V8 Convoy, Northcott Rodeo 1997 +04 Wyatt Earp Skoal, Harvey Northcott 1980 514 Hagar, Vold Rodeo 1998 +04 Wyatt Earp Skoal, Harvey Northcott 1981 514 Hagar, Vold Rodeo 1999 435 Skoal's Airwolf, Franklin Rodeo 1982 X1 Charles Manson, Verne Franklin 2000 367 Skoal's Painted Smile, Kesler Rodeo 1983 51 Revelation, Vold Rodeo 2001 367 Skoal's Painted Smile, Kesler Rodeo 1984 X1 Charles Manson, Verne Franklin 2002 367 Skoal's Painted Smile, Kesler Rodeo 1985 55 Panda, Northcott Rodeo 2003 547 Shady Cat, Kesler Rodeo 1986 80 Rambo, Vold Rodeo 2004 354 Cool Alley, Kesler Championship Rodeo 1987 80 Rambo, Vold Rodeo 2005 354 Cool Alley, Kesler Championship Rodeo 1988 744 Copenhagen Payment, Harvey Northcott 2006 354 Cool Alley, Kesler Championship Rodeo 1989 744 Copenhagen Payment, Harvey Northcott 2007 004 Bonus Alley, Kesler Championship Rodeo 1990 013 Blaster, Wilf Girletz 2008 354 Cool Alley, Kesler Championship Rodeo 1991 00 Double Ott, Wilf Girletz 2009 L-40 Lynx Mountain, Calgary Stampede 1992 S1 Copenhagen Redip, Harvey Northcott 2010 Get Smart, Harvey Northcott Rodeo Co.