Saturday performances also took a back seat to the naming of Rachael Ann Smith, 14-year-old Newkirk Middle School student and daughter of Jimmy and Stacie Smith, as the 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen. She'll reign throughout the next 12 months and represent the 101 Wild West Rodeo at various other state-wide events.

Also, the local team roping event unfolded with the unseating of defending champions Barry Kinkaid and Paul Mayes, who had to settle for third on two at 21.6 with a 14.4 following an earlier go-round of 7.2. Taking the new saddles home as provided by Million Dollar Elm Casino were Felix Lar and Chris Smith, who had a 9.1 to go with a 10.2 earlier for 19.3. In between was a team of Mike Delanny and Cody Pontious who got a 13.3 to go with 8.2 earlier and 21.5 for the second place.

The 101 Rodeo Foundation also had to be proud of the continued crowd pleasing performances of Specialty Act Vince Bruce and Anne Dubats. Also, barrelman Jeff (Slim) Garner showed off his fourth routine during a break in the action, with a fiery barbecue. His Airplane act however, performed all three nights, was again thrilling even if it did spill the passenger to the arena dirt.

But the crowd did get to see some really good scores on rough stock in bareback and saddle bronc riding. The Andrews Rodeo Company stock of bulls however were a bit too much for any contestant to stay upright for a full eight-second count. None of the nine that were able to get into the chutes and board the bulls could stay on once the gate was opened allowing more room for action. Credit a pair of swift bullfighters, Wacey Munsell and Shane Kenney to keep the bulls from doing much body damage other than broken pride to the riders.

And the 101 Wild West Drill Team, a group of eight women on horseback, provided two excellent drills. The first was prior to the Grand Entry and the second the actual Grand Entry. Well done!

The opening performance Saturday, bareback riding, found Dennis Foyil of Guthrie get a score of 84 and that was good enough to finish second in the three-day event. Two contestants in local ranch bronc riding, Chris Potter with 78 and Reid Green with 74 were able to remain on their competitor in the arena.

Steer wrestlers found Jason Blubaugh of Clearwater, Kan., get the task done in 3.8 seconds and that was just a tenth of a second off the slack performance late Thursday by Daniel Adams of Weatherford, who took home the top prize money.

In tie down roping, Kelly Wood of Kinsley, Kan., also took second place with an 8.9. First went to another performer from slack on Thursday, Steve Brickey of Tahlequah, who had an 8.2.

Best ride in saddle bronc riding on Saturday was that of Wes Bailey of Tampa, Kan., with a 77 on Rackateer, but that only earned a second place tie with Scott Keogh of Queensland, Australia, who had 77 also.

Team ropers JoJo LeMond of Andrews, Texas and Martin Lucero, of Stephenville, Texas, got a 5.5 effort and that was the best on Saturday, but only good enough for a fourth place tie with Friday's pair of Cody Dorenkamp of Lamar, Colo., and Jody Pinkert of Lubbock, Texas.
Getting back to that barrel racing effort of Mary Burger. She had witnessed Kristie Riley of Checotah go around the clover-leaf pattern in 16.97 to start the event Saturday and was next up. Best up until that time was a slack performance of Jeanne Anderson of White City, Kan., at 16.90 followed by Thursday's Diane Martin of Lakin, Kan., with a 16.94. But Mary Burger did it in 16.87 and then had to watch seven others try to beat that. Closest was Jodi Ray of Heavener, with a 17.04.

So, the 49th annual 101 Wild West Rodeo came to an end, with the now famous expressions of announcer Lynn Phillips stating "where there's a sunset, there'll always be a west!" Thanks Lynn, for another great job of informing the crowd and 101 Rodeo Foundation, that it's time to prepare for the 50th annual.

101 Wild West Rodeo Payoff
Produced by Andrews Rodeo Company
Total Prize Money $47,015.25