Champions Crowned At Youth Rodeo IFYR
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ore than 800 cowboys and cowgirls ran through the gates at the 20th Annual International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Oklahoma, but only a handful filled their dreams of gold buckles and paychecks. Two rookies on their first trip to the IFYR won titles, and three champions from 2011 repeated their feats again this year. For many of the champions, their success came with hard work and tears as they realized their practice paid off. The 20th Annual IFYR paid out over $200,000 in money and prizes, and Bloomer Trailers awarded a oneyear lease for a trailer to the winning boys All-Around and girls All-Around champions. Winning the trailer were boys All-Around, champion – Garrett Smith from Rexburg, Idaho and the girls All-Around and goat tying champion – Mia Manzanares from Opelousas, Louisiana. The breakaway roping championship went home with Samantha Little from Hackberry, Louisiana. This was a repeat win for Little who finished with a average of 7.2 seconds on three runs to claim the title for the second year in a row. She felt more pressure this year, than last year, “I came back in fifth (place) last year, and didn’t expect to win at all,” she said. This year, she entered the short go-round in first place, “So the pressure was on. I was
IFYR Champion Tie-Down Roping Winner, Catfish Brown from Collinsville, Texas 6 • AUGUST 2012
really nervous, and hadn’t eaten all day.” Little, the daughter of Tim and Angie Little, loves softball as much as she loves rodeo, and after her 2013 graduation from Hackberry High School, will either play college softball or compete in collegiate rodeo. A big up and comer in the world of tie-down roping, Catfish Brown from Collinsville, Texas earned the 2012 IFYR tie-down roping championship. The 18 year old cowboy, son of Jerry and Cindy Brown, turned in a time of 26.2 seconds on three head and attributed his success to “lots of practice, and focus.” The six-day IFYR is a different setup than most rodeos, so Catfish’s strategy was different. “You don’t get to go home and practice, so you just have to be mentally ready.” He will attend Vernon (Texas) College this fall on a rodeo scholarship and in addition to the calf roping, he’ll also compete in the steer wrestling and team roping. Team ropers Trevor Kirchenschlager from Yuma, Colorado and Austin Crist from Rocky Ford, Colorado paired up to win second place in the first and short go-rounds, and ninth place in the second round, to earn their gold buckles. Trevor is following in his brother’s footsteps. Older brother Tate won
the IFYR team roping titles in 20092011. “My plan is to keep the family tradition alive,” he said. As a freshman, he has three more years to compete at the IFYR. “I just want to keep the Kirchenschlager name in there for seven years.” Austin, who heads for Trevor, will be a junior this fall. The two have roped together for three years, and compete as partners in the Kansas High School Rodeo Association. They often spend a week at each other’s houses, giving them a chance to practice together. Trevor is the son of Roger and Tammy Kirchenschlager. Austin’s parents are Justin and Kendra Crist. The 20th annual edition of the IFYR, which ran July 10-13, 2012, featured 857 youth cowboys and cowgirls from 29 states. Each timed event winner was awarded a Twister saddle, and roughstock winners received a custom-made pair of chaps, a duffle bag, and gear. All winners were given a Gist buckle. International Finals Youth Rodeo – IFYR Tie-Down Roping
1. Marty Yates, Stephenville, TX; Round 1 - 18.0, $1,311; Round 2 - 2.9, $1,311; Total on 2 - 17.9 1. Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, OK; Round 1 - 8.8, $798; Round 2 - 9.1, $541; Total on 2 - 17.9 3. Shade Etbauer, Goodwell, OK; Round 1 - 9.2; Round 2 - 9.1, $541; Total on 2 - 18.3 4. Catfish Brown, Collinsville, TX; Round 1 - 9.5; Round 2 - 9.2, $133; Total on 2 - 18.7 5. Tyson Arledge, Milano, TX; Round 1 - 8.4, $1,140; Round 2 - 10.4; Total on 2 - 18.8 6. Quinton Inman, Ketchum, OK; Round 1 - 10.3 Round 2 - 8.7, $1,140; Total on 2 - 19.0 7/8. Bradford Loeffler, Alice, TX; Round 1 - 10.6 Round 2 - 5. 1, $1,311; Total on 2 - 19.1 7/8. Riley Grisham, Kiln, MS; Round 1 - 9.1, $199; Round 2 - 10.0; Total on 2 - 19.1 9. Reno Gonzales, Magnolia, TX; Round 1 8.7, $969; Round 2 - 10.8; Total on 2 19.5 10. Marcus Theriot, Poplarville, MS; Round 1 - 9.7; Round 2 - 10.0; Total on 2 - 19.7 11. Wayne “Chance”Taylor, Big Prings, TX; Round 1 - 9.3; Round 2 - 10.5; Total on 2 - 19.8 12/13. Reid Weber, Waukomis, OK; Round 1 - 10.2; Round 2 - 10.0; Total on 2 - 20.2 12/13. Kade Aucoin, Livingston, LA; Round 1 - 9.3; Round 2 - 10.9; Total on 2 - 20.2 14. 717. Keaton Denio, Cameron, TX; Round 1 - 11.0; Round 2 - 9.8; Total on 2 - 20.8 15/16. Brandon Jarreau, St Francisville, LA; Round 1 - 9.2; Round 2 - 11.9; Total on 2 IFYR Champion Breakaway Winner, - 21.1 15/16. Colt Matthews, Lakeland, FL; Round Samantha Little from Hackberry, Louisiana.