WT Rodeo Closes Out Fall Season, Plans NFR Watch Party Fundraiser

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — The West Texas A&M University Rodeo Team closed out its fall season with several Top 10 placings at the Clarendon College Rodeo.

The team will host a National Finals Rodeo watch party as an end-of-year fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541.

Dress code is rodeo glam. Tickets—which include two drink tickets, hors d’oeuvres and desserts—are $150 each or $1,000 for a table of 10. The event also will include an auction for such prizes as two tickets to the March 22 concert by Cody Johnson at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, among other items.

For tickets, visit wtamu.schoolauction.net/nfrwatchparty25/homepages/show.

The team also had successful runs in October and early November at two other rodeo contests.

“This semester has been one of our strongest yet. With multiple contestants ranked in the top 15 and team members qualifying for short rounds at every rodeo, we’re proud of the accomplishments so far,” Coach Cody Joe Bonds said. “With five rodeos still to go, we continue to work hard as they push to the spring semester.”

In the Clarendon College rodeo, held Nov. 13 to 15 in Childress, eight rodeo athletes took home Top 10 placements:

• John Hisel, a senior agribusiness major from Portales, New Mexico, fourth in team roping with Lyvan Gonzales of New Mexico Junior College;
• Tori Huddleston, a junior health sciences major from Childress, fifth in barrel racing;
• James Colvin, a junior agricultural business and economics major from Uvalde, sixth in steer wrestling;
• Dallee Robison, a freshman animal science / pre-vet major from Stephenville, sixth in goat tying
• Henry Jones, a freshman agricultural business and economics major from Spur, seventh in tie-down roping;
• Lexi Shedd, a senior mechanical engineering major from Amarillo, ninth in barrel racing;
• Jones and Tryce Johnson, a junior agribusiness major from Happy, tied for 10th in team roping; and
• Clayton Veldhuizen, a sophomore agricultural business and economics major from Woodburn, Iowa, 10th in steer wrestling.

At the Texas Tech University College Rodeo, held Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 in Lubbock, four athletes placed in the Top 10:

• Colvin, fourth in tie-down roping and fifth in steer wrestling;
• Justin Wright, a senior agribusiness major from Walsh, Colorado, fifth in steer wrestling
• Shedd, sixth in barrel racing; and
• Sydney Bracher, a senior agricultural business and economics major from Pendleton, Oregon, eighth in barrel racing.

And at the New Mexico Junior College Rodeo, held Oct. 23 to 25 in Lovington, New Mexico, seven athletes placed in the Top 15:

• Bella Saulan, a freshman equine industry and business major from Happy, tied for fifth in breakaway roping;
• Robison, tied for seventh in goat tying;
• Huddleston, tied for seventh in barrel racing;
• Markee Hawksworth, a junior equine industry and business major from Elizabeth, Colorado, ninth in barrel racing;
• Jones, 10th in tie-down roping;
• Acelyn Brink, a senior agricultural education major from Buffalo, South Dakota, 11th in breakaway roping; and
• Johnson, 11th in tie-down roping

The team next will compete Feb. 26 to 28 in the Odessa College Rodeo.

WT’s rodeo team is an example of the University’s responsiveness to the Texas Panhandle, as outlined in the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: Lexi Shedd, a senior mechanical engineering major from Amarillo, competes during the Texas Tech University Colelge Rodeo Oct. 30 to ov. 1 in Lubock. She finished sixth in barrel racing.

—WT—