Cowboys take it to livestock at PRCA

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – It took the longest eight seconds in sports for Clayton Foltyn to tame the feared bull Body Works to score a 94 in the Treaty Day PRCA ProRodeo. It took even less time for Tie-Down roper Stran Smith to conquer his steer.

Moments after his good friend Souli Shanklin scored a 91, the pride of El Campo, TX went the distance to take the overall lead in bull riding after the third performance of competition. For the past three days, Stock Contractor Sammy Andrews’ high-caliber of livestock have been bucking cowboys all over the DCJ Memorial Arena, but not Foltyn.

“One of my best friends just scored a 91 so I knew I had to put on a good ride,” Foltyn explained. “I just want to thank Sammy Andrews for the great bulls he always puts out.”

Preceding the gutsy ride by Foltyn, Stran Smith of Childress, TX took the overall lead in Tie-Down Roping by completing his event in an impressive 7.7 seconds. After remounting his horse, Smith allowed some slack to confirm his time, but the steer was as shocked as the Window Rock crowd and refused to get up.

Injury plagued most of his career after suffering a stroke in April of 2003 and shoulder surgery in 2006, Smith became a world champion in 2008.

“I’ve been very fortunate and blessed being able to battle back from injury. I have a refreshed strength and a higher appreciation of what I’m doing.”

Traveling with his wife and two sons, Smith was impressed with the family atmosphere that surrounded the Treaty Day Celebration.

“It is very important that family stays together. That’s what it is all about,” Smith said. “It’s always been family first.”

Other winners on the night included Bareback rider Wyatt Hancock, who overcame the overall leader Will Lowe with a score of 86. Bo Bleil won in Steer Wrestling with a time of 4.2 and Jessie Moody sped to a finish of 17.12 in Barrel Racing.

Following the PRCA Rodeo, local athletes took to the arena grounds in the Wild Horse Race, where the team that consisted of Brandon George Begaye and Bryan George Begaye of Shonto, Ariz., and Andy Philips of Pueblo, Co. came out on top.

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