PROMOTIONAL SECTION Guest columnist Neal Reid returns NFR PAGE 3 LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013 RODEO ROYALTY Novice no stranger to NFR Barrel racer digs in to follow men in family to Ve gas By PATRICK EVERSON LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL he National Finals Rodeo has been a way of life for Shari Rivera and Shada Brazile. The T mother and daughter have been coming to Las Vegas for years. In fact, Rivera has been at every NFR since the event moved to the Thomas & Mack Center in 1985. “I’ve never missed one. Someone in the family has always been competing there,” said Rivera, whose trips to the NFR actually began long before the event came to Las Vegas. Her father, Clifton Smith, 80, was a two-time NFR qualifier in tie-down roping in the 1960s. Rivera went on to support her former husband, superstar roper Roy Cooper, who won seven world titles in tie-down roping and the 1983 all-around crown, and her brother, Stran Smith, who won the tie-down world title in 2008. Then it was to root on her son-in-law, Trevor Brazile — Shada’s husband, who owns 18 world titles, including 10 all-around crowns. He’ll begin pursuit of his 11th all-around championship starting tonight. Then it was to cheer on her two sons, Clif Cooper (a four-time NFR qualifier) and Tuf Cooper (the two-time reigning world tie-down champ and six-time NFR qualifier), both competing in tie-down roping at this year’s NFR. Those two will be joined this year by Rivera’s PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL/SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL nephew, Stetson Vest — if that name Shada Brazile rides Dial It in the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in February. The wife of Trevor Brazile, who owns 18 world titles doesn’t just drip rodeo, then what does? and 10 all-around crowns, Shada is competing in her first National Finals Rodeo after winning $68,379 in her first year of barrel racing. — who just qualified for his first NFR. Shada, meanwhile, has been the rock behind Trevor’s rodeo dominance over to qualify for the NFR, which takes the past decade or so, and of course the top 15 in earnings in each of seven SHADA BRAZILE she’s supported brothers Clif and Tuf, events. and cousin Stetson, and all the other “For her to get this opportunity, to Event: Barrel racing family connections over the years. find a horse that had the potential, 2013 world standing/earnings: 13th, $68,379 Residence: Decatur, Texas But there’s something different then pursue and achieve it, it’s National Finals Rodeo qualifications: 1 (2013) this year. Something new. Rather indescribable,” Rivera said. “To go Noteworthy: This is the first year the 34-year-old than rooting from the stands, Shada from where she started and make it has truly competed, allowing her to ride in enough will be atop a horse and in the throes to the NFR in one year is amazing. It’s events to qualify for the NFR. She’s the wife of 10- of competition herself. And a proud just incredible. Sort of like ‘Mission time all-around champion cowboy Trevor Brazile. mother will have her cowgirl joining all Impossible.’ ” And she also designs her own line of infant/toddler those cowboys vying for more than $6 It certainly seemed impossible after clothing for Wrangler, appropriately called All- million in prize money over the course a five-week stretch from early June to Around Baby. of the 10-day event. mid-July. Some of the season’s biggest Before 2013, Shada had never spent a events occur during that time, capped season rodeoing. But the stars aligned by the Cheyenne Frontier Days. It’s this year, and she decided to make a go of it in barrel racing. It’s paid off, as she ▶ SEE SHADA BRAZILE PAGE 4 finished 13th in season money winnings Barrel racer designs children’s clothing RODEO Family Owned and Operated Complete Auto Repair &Maintenance Home of the $10 Oil Change SALE OFF ANY SERVICE OR REPAIREPAIR OF $200 OR MORE. 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Page 2 • Thursday, December 5, 2013 a Las Vegas Review-Journal NFR Today’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo schedule of events The Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center, above and below right, features items for the western wear and country enthusiasts no matter where they live or how young they are. tions, South Point ENTERTAINMENT 9 p.m. — Damsel and LoCash Cow- Singer Clay Walker will be on hand to open the national anthem at 6:45 p.m. today in the arena at the boys, MGM Grand Thomas & Mack Center. 9:30 p.m. — Su- sie Dobbs, South Point THURSDAY, DEC. 5 10 p.m. — Rod- ney Carrington, Tip of the Day — Cowboy FanFest and MGM Grand Cowboy Christmas Gift Show open 10 p.m. — Dustin today and run through Dec. 14, from 10 Lynch, The Mirage a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, Las Vegas Conven- tion Center. Admission is free. Highlight of the and goes until 3 a.m. Admission is free. Day — The LoCash For a complete listing of events, NFR 9 – 5 Cowboys Headline gtwww.NFRexperience.com or follow us 9 a.m. — 2013 Benny Binion’s World the MGM Grand on Facebook or Twitter at /LasVegasN- Famous Wrangler NFR Bucking Horse Gold Buckle Zone FR #WranglerNFR. Sale, South Point 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Cowboy FanFest, Las Vegas Convention Center 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Cowboy Christmas, Las Vegas Convention Center 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. — Outside the Barrel with Flint Rasmussen NFR IN ARENA 6:45 p.m. National anthem singer — Clay Walker 7 p.m. — First NFR Round Perfor- As part of the ongoing entertainment offerings, Dustin Lynch mance, Thomas & Mack Center will be performing tonight at 10 o’clock at The Mirage. NFR AFTER DARK 6:30 p.m. – 4 a.m. — RodeVegas 2013, The Mirage MGM Grand NFR Event 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. — Gary Leffew’s Leg- 10:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. — National Celebration at Cowboy FanFest and Outside the Barrel with Flint Rasmussen are endary Buck ’n Ball, Gold Coast Finals Tonight Show, Gold Coast 11 p.m. Party also on the agenda of the 10-day event that is the Wrangler National 9 p.m. – 3 a.m. — Gold Buckle Zone, 11 p.m. — Go-Round Buckle Presenta- starts at 9 p.m. Finals Rodeo. ���� ��� ��� � � ���� ���������� ������ ���������� ����� �������������������� �������������� ��� ���������� ���������������� �� �� �� ��� ����� � �� ����� �� � ������ ����� �� �������� ������ ��� ����� ������ ������ � � �� � ���� ������������ ���� ����� � ������ � ��� ���������� �������� ���� ����� ���� ������ �������� ��� �������������� ���� ���� �� ������ ���� ���������� � �� �� ����� � ������ Las Vegas Review-Journal a Thursday, December 5, 2013 • Page 3 NFR Guest columnist back in saddle to give R-J readers behind scenes view t’s that time of year again! Las Vegas residents no doubt have noticed the influx of Ithousands of visitors clad in cowboy hats and boots and Wrangler jeans this week. There’s a good reason for that, as the Wrangler National Finals Neal Reid Rodeo is back yet again. IN THE ARENA Starting today and for the next nine days, the Thomas & Mack Center will be flooded with rodeo fans from around the globe as the $6.25 million rodeo and so there are always family ties to takes place in “Sin City” for the 29th talk about at the Wrangler NFR every installment of the prestigious season- year. For instance, Brazile’s wife, ending rodeo, an event without parallel Shada, qualified for her first Finals in in the Western world. the barrel racing, so there will be two I’m happy to be back for my 10th Braziles competing at the Thomas & Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Mack Center. with the Las Vegas Review-Journal for World champion brothers Cody and the second consecutive year as a guest Jesse Wright are one-two in the saddle columnist. Last year, I did my best to bronc riding world standings and will give R-J readers an inside look at the duke it out over 10 nights to see who monumental rodeo, and it was a heap adds another consecutive year. It’s the of fun writing about everything from 55th Wrangler NFR and am thrilled first-time contestants and the Justin to be a part of the gold buckle to their SportsMedicine Team to the Wrangler trophy case.