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Wildfire –
Wildfire Open Winners, Bubba Buckaloo and Dakota Kirchenslager
Open to the World Team roping is alive and well and this year the Wildfire Open to the World team roping was part of the Priefert US Open Tour. The USTRC and Wildfire Open to the World teamed up to benefit Open team ropers across the board. The Wildfire Open to the World has been a great event for many years and continues to get bigger and better each year. The 2012 Open to the World event blasted into Wildfire Ranch on the second weekend of February bringing with it a band of fearless and determined ropers. Due to a nearly 20% increase in the total number of teams that entered the weekend’s events the payout increased by over $95,000 from the year prior for a total payout of $596,520. Once again, Wildfire arena sponsors really came through and were responsible for adding $100,000 to the Open payout and another $25,000 added to the Ladies roping. In addition, both the Open and Ladies ropings were USTRC affiliates events, so many of the ropers accrued large sums of money to be applied to their USTRC Flex Earnings. Lastly, the Open roping was a USTRC Sanctioned event and ropers were also fighting to earn points in the Priefert US Open Tour for a chance to pocket big cash at the end of this year’s USTRC season. Ladies from all over the country converged to form 320 teams in the Ladies roping on Friday, February 10, 2012. Baited by the $25,000 in added money the ladies were competing for a total purse of just under $90,000 and included custom Wildfire buckles from Montana Silversmiths, Cactus Saddlery purses and Charlie 1 Horse hats! Long-time lady roper Beverly Robbins and now, three-time Wildfire Ladies winner Annette Hinkle teamed up this year to secure the title as 2012 Wildfire Ladies Champs. Robbins earned a total of $19,640 in cash after winning first and second places in the Average, as well as the fast time in round one. The Muscle Shoals, Alabama roper felt right at home in the winners circle and had plenty of appreciation towards 84 / APRIL 2012
the Wildfire Ranch and their efforts in the sport of Ladies team roping. “Thanks to Wildfire,” Robbins said after winning the event. “I, along with all of the other lady ropers appreciate such a great opportunity. Years ago I was one of the first female ropers to really get into the mix of team roping and I was mostly competing against guys. Remembering how it was then makes it hard to believe that there is a roping today of 320 lady ropers with this kind of added money! It’s such a great opportunity.” Hinkle may have felt even more at home as the winner of the Ladies roping. She has won the event twice before in 2006 and again in 2011. She collected a total of $14, 450 in cash after winning the Average, as well as first and sixth place fast times in the first round. “First and Foremost thanks to God, my Lord and Savior,” Hinkle said after her accomplishment at Wildfire. “I’d also like to thank my family and friends for their support and prayers. And finally, thanks to Lonestar Ropes who have provided great sponsorship support.” Saturday began with the Sponsor Pro-Am roping in which representatives from Wildfire Arena’s sponsor companies paired with professional ropers and competed for a fantastic prize line topped by Cactus Saddlery’s black parade saddles featuring custom silver by Montana Silversmiths. Also included in the prize line were Montana Silversmiths buckles and spurs. Representatives from Fastback Ropes, Cactus Saddlery, Spin to Win and Heel-o-matic all walked away with a portion of these