NFR notes: Taking stock of the stock

Bill Bowman

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997 | 12:03 p.m.

Rodeo cowboys take stock in a good rodeo ride -- and it takes good stock to produce one.

That's where the Growney Brothers come in.

The Growney Brothers Rodeo Company of Red Bluff, Calif., is just one of 58 contractors supplying stock for this year's National Finals Rodeo. Like its brethren, the Growneys are proud of their NFR line of bucking broncs and bulls, which this year include one saddle bronc, two bareback horses and eight bulls -- four of which had not been ridden prior to the NFR.

"We could say the stock records speak for themselves," said John Growney, who owns the company that bears the family name. "We accomplished what every professional rodeo stock contracting company sets out to do. If our stock doesn't buck a contestant off, then we want to make sure the contestant wins money at the rodeo."

The Growney Brothers and Don Kish's Buckin' Best bull breeding program have earned and maintained quite a reputation. In 1991, the Brothers produced the bull -- Wolfman -- that carried Wayne Leslie to a record 100-point ride. And the Growney charge Red Rock was inducted into the PRCA Hall of Champions a year prior to that, in 1990.

Practice pays off for Williams and Skelton

Other winners during Monday night's fourth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo included:

* Speed Williams and Rich Skelton won the team roping for the third time in four nights with a time of 4.3 seconds.

Williams said the team's practicing has paid off.

"We've been working hard for the past two months every day," he said. "In fact, I was staying with (Skelton) in Llano (Texas) so we could work. Practice and preparation gives you a chance to overcome obstacles."

*Glen O'Neill won the saddle bronc event with a score of 86.

* Fred Whitfield won the calf roping with a time of 7.4.

* Ember Givens won the barrel racing with a clocking of 14.27.

Two bull riders off Monday with injuries

Two bull riders didn't get on bulls Monday night following injuries suffered earlier in the rodeo.

Josh O'Byrne was out with fractured ribs and Austin Beasley was sidelined with a facial contusion.

Bull riders to talk with public

Current NFR World Champion bull rider Terry Don West, who is also the Bull Riders Only World Champion, will be on hand to talk with rodeo fans at the Official All-Star Cafe today starting at 7 p.m.

Also on hand will be Dan Wolfe, current Bull Riders Only Super 7 member and 1993 Dodge National Circuit Finals Champion and sports artist Steve Skipper.