This past weekend, talented cowboys and cowgirls from around the country gathered in Topeka to compete and connect with old friends during the 60th annual United Rodeo Association (URA) Finals. With the support of businesses and individuals sponsoring events, the hospitality of the staff at the Stormont Vail Events Center, and the devoted attitude of its members, the weekend was full of high-quality stock and professional competition in a family friendly environment.
While everyone had their sights on being an event champion for the year, there was plenty of comradery, creating a sense of community in the arena. Talented announcer Charlie McKellips guided the spectators through the excitement and anticipation of each moment with his honest and enthusiastic commentary. The packed house cheered as bareback, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, over 40 calf roping, barrel racing, calf roping, and bull riding were displayed.
In addition, a group of young women socialized with the crowd after a weekend of being tested on their horsemanship knowledge and proficiency in the saddle, as well as their public speaking skills to determine who would be the next ambassador for the URA through the title of Miss URA 2023. These rodeo queen hopefuls ranged from western pleasure competitors to mustang trainers with all sorts of unique experiences mixed in between.
Secretary Valerie “Muff” McGee kept things running like a well-oiled machine, with the quiet strength of leaders such as Jeannette Jilek (the first female president of the URA) and Vice President Monty Dyer. Numerous volunteers and supporters stepped up, helping in between competing and saddling horses. Expertise in the industry was everywhere—Bruce Glascock, chairman of the Cattlemen’s Days Rodeo in Ashland, MO for the past forty years as well as former team roping competitor and father to President Jilek was welcoming folks at the gate and selling tickets. Kim Vann, leader of the North Topeka Saddle Club, continued his tradition of showing up to help support the URA throughout the weekend, and countless other individuals drove hours to support their beloved rodeo family.
No generosity went unnoticed, and instead was passed forward to the community at large. The URA presented numerous awards to recognize the contributions of individuals and quality stock while also giving back through the donation of two belt buckles to a special young cowboy and cowgirl at Mercy Children’s Hospital of Kansas City, an act organized by bull riding director Cody Herrick and sponsored by Hinds Mechanical.
As calves ran and bulls bucked, horses soared to new heights and twists, demonstrating the strength of stock provided by stock contractors C.R. McKellips, Rodeo Gold, Rogue Rodeo, High Stakes Rodeo, and Wright Rodeo Company. Each of these contractors provided the best of their stock to create a field fit for champions. From the historic presence of C.R. McKellips, in their 34th year of providing stock for the finals, to the newcomers Rogue Rodeo, everyone contributed their unique expertise.
For those needing a break from the action, numerous vendors lined the edge of the arena, providing everything from luxurious goat milk soap sold by Chippy’s Chaos to punchy clothing from Dixie’s Western Wear, High Stakes Rodeo, the Feathered Arrow Mercantile, the Tiny Farm Mercantile, Lester’s Happy Feet, and LarCats Jewlery.
Aside from being opportune entertainment for the crowd, it was a valuable opportunity for competitors, all at different stages of their careers (or merely pursuing a passion).
Chasen Kiefer, a saddle bronc rider from Iowa, shared that he learned to ride broncs from his brother Carson three years ago and was competing in his first URA finals. While it may have been Chasen’s first URA finals, he was familiar with the stock from the Missouri Rodeo Cowboys Association Finals (MRCA) and quick to reminisce about his favorite ride on a horse named Little Miss Libby, owned by Barry Wright, and the third horse he ever rode after starting bareback.
Another competitor, bareback rider Mike Fred, also has a horse that has been important on his journey: Irish Eyes, who encountered Fred at Rapid City’s Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. Fred started riding bucking horses at 22 with lessons from hall of famer Wayne Herman before progressing to the compete in the Badlands and Prairie Circuit. Today, he continues his journey in hopes of riding at the NFR.
While the weekend itself demonstrated the quality of the organization, the best way to describe the URA is by hearing what the competitors have to say:
“I like competing in the United Rodeo Association because it’s kind of a family tradition. My great uncle was a contractor for them, and then my dad and my uncle both competed in the association for many years. My dad won the bull riding multiple years, and my uncle won the bareback riding multiple years as well. It’s the association I’ve grown up around my whole life and it’s amazing to continue the rodeo tradition here.” – Maverick Griffin, URA competitor in bareback and bull riding. Fun Fact: past recipient of bareback, bull riding, and all-around championship titles.
“Getting able to be able to represent the United Rodeo Association as Miss URA 2023 means so much to me! Getting to take home the crown is truly an honor! I am looking forward to my year and getting the opportunity to travel all over the nine different states that the URA covers and represent all of the outstanding competitors, directors, stock contractors, and all the other incredible people involved in the URA, as well as what the URA stands for! I can’t wait to see what this next year has in store for me, and I am so thankful for this opportunity to get to represent the United Rodeo Association and the western lifestyle!” – Jolene Westercamp, Miss URA 2023
“The people are the best thing about the URA. My husband and I have been going to these rodeos for many years and these people have become family. From secretaries, contractors, judges, contestants and committees we just feel community and want our daughter to know how special these people are.” – Katie Larson, 2022 Finals Barrel Racing Champion, Horse: Corey
“The URA is a great association that gives contestants a place to go compete in a smaller travel radius. Not everyone has the time and/or money to travel to PRCA or other associations that are scattered all over the nation. So it’s nice to still be able to do something we love and see our friends, along with being able to take your family along as well. As for winning, nobody goes not trying to win but there are a lot of factors that go into winning in rodeo. Luckily for me this year some things fell the way they needed to for me to win. And it means a lot that my dad won in the URA a fair amount so following in his footsteps at least a little is a nice accomplishment.” – Wenten Reiter, 2022 Finals Calf Roping Champion. Horse: Backup
“I love that the URA builds up competitors and gives young guys a place to start.” – Ty Blessing, Bareback Competitor. Fun Facts: 2022 was his 10th URA finals and he’d like to ride Powder River’s Two Buck Chuck one day.
Bailie Schuldt, 2022 Finals Breakaway Champion. Horse: Minnie
2022 Finals Champions by Event:
Bareback Riding: Quintonn Lunsford
Steer Wrestling: Aaron Calvert
Team Roping: Mason Appleton and Clay Clayman
Breakaway Roping: Bailie Schuldt
Saddle Bronc Riding: John Allen
40 & Over Calf Roping: Clay Brown
Barrel Racing: Katie Larson
Calf Roping: Wenten Reiter
Bull Riding: LeRoy Miller
