Whiskey Flat Daze Rodeo
Kernville, CA, February 16-17th
2 Head average
1st Go: 1st Place
2nd Go: No Cross, Never Mugged
Average Place: 3rd

2007
NATIONAL STANDINGS
(Final Standings)

1. Team Agin.com $18,513.58
2. Jason Smith $15,829.67
3. Joe Applebaker $11,227.69
4. Mike Royle $8,738.33
5. Brit Brown $7,954.75
6. Charlie Logan $7,567.25
7. Butch David $4,599.00
8. Brandon Maruhn $3,328.00
9. Serafin Robles $3,040.75
10. Keith Buntin $2,858.13
11. CR Marshall $2,596.66
12. Bubba Woracek $2,548.34
13. Tony Cortazar $2,308.40
14. Jason Boone $2,262.58
15. Josh Lair $2,141.30
16. Jesse Rhinehart $2,180.33
17. Alex Naccarato $1,433.50
18. George Spino $1,192.50
19. Daryl Morris, Jr. $ 891.25
20. John Castle $ 676.00
21. Bill Agin $ 632.50
22. Carlon Tobey $ 591.00
23. Felix Cruz $ 570.94
24. Mike Scott $ 397.50
25. Hector Uribe $ 257.00
26. Jeff Irwin $ 159.00
27. T.C. Buntin $ 155.00
28. Keith Teeter $ 131.42
29. Bill Caporgno $ 116.25

Regional Standings

Sierra Region

Infomation taken from ptbra.com

2007

TBR National Finals Rodeo
Gillette, WY, February 8-9, 2008
The TBR National Finals Rodeo is always an exciting time for competition. A high of 15 degrees in Gillette, Wyoming, outside didn’t affect the energy inside. The best teams, great horses, and lots of prize money make it a coveted prize to capture. Team Agin entered the finals with a sizable lead in front of the rest of the pack. There were teams competing that could catch the Red, White, and Blue so it was very important that each team member perform at the highest level if they wished to capture their second world title in three years.

Waiting for the whistle to blow on their first go Team Agin was rearing to perform and prove they deserved the TBR World Title. The race was started and the horse lunged out of the chute. All three team members were in textbook position to make a great run. Then about five jumps from the chute the horse decided to put on the brakes. As Team Agin tried to restart the animal another bronc ran right up their ‘V’. This knocked Wade off the rope, and wrapped the shank rope across the chest of the opposing teams’ horse. Trace was also placed in a bad position as he was now looking at the back leg of the other animal. “I’ll tell you one place you don’t want to be and I was there,” Trace related, “When you are looking at the hind end of an animal 6x your size you are in the danger zone. If you want to win, you better stay away from that area. Many careers have ended with that exact situation.”Fortunately the competitors slammed on the brakes realizing the bad situation for both teams. The surefooted Trace kept his balance and emerged from the wreck still maintaining control of the animal. Wade quickly joined Trace and Josh pushed from behind to regain there previous course. When they had reached three quarters of the distance down the arena it was time to mug and saddle. Team Agin let Josh go and nearly ran over the top of Brit Brown. The angle to the barrel they chose added to the near collision with another competitor gave the horse room to miss the barrel and that is exactly what happened. The team chased the horse back through the barrel somehow crossed for a late second place.

After counting their blessings from the previous run, Team Agin had to prepare for their next go. The whistle sounded and the beast exploded from the chute. This bronc reared out snarlin and thrashing with all four hooves. The Boys maintained control and allowed the horse to expend its energy as they moved down the arena. Once the animal had settled a little and their position was good Wade made his move. As he did Trace set the horse to create a ‘V’. At the same time as this happened the bronc dropped his head. It happened so fast that Wade tripped over the rope and landed right on top of it at the waist. The horse then raised his head and jumped forward. Wade’s head hit the ground and his feet flew over the top from the rope creating a slingshot. In two seconds Wade went from great position to laying flat on his back. “To tell you the truth I don’t know exactly how that happened. I was in the pocket and then I was on my back looking at the ceiling screaming all types of words I can’t repeat. !%#* Happens! What else can I say,” Wade explained later. A strength of Team Agin is the ability to recover from these type of wrecks quickly. They did this and had the closest position of any team to the barrel. As Josh jumped in and started toward the line the Jason smith Team was one jump behind and approaching fast. Had the bronc ran it would have ended better, but the stubborn animal wanted to buck and Team Agin was beat at the line by a photo finish to place second again.

Two runs down and two problems avoided. But that was the story for Team Agin this particular weekend. Their final go wasn’t any different. The crowd was so pumped they consumed the sound of the horn. Wade only threw the gate because he saw the teams to the right throw theirs. This put Team Agin two steps behind and immediately out of the chute they had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision. This action turned the bronc to the left and instead of heading down the arena they were in the fence ten feet from the chutes. All three did their best to restart the animal down the arena. The team made it as far as they could without running into the traffic jam of teams next to the barrel. Team Agin mugged and saddle with no mistakes and crossed for a third. While it was not the finish to the finals they had wished for, their efforts gave them third in the average and enough money to finish the year as the number one team in the TBR. “The finals were not as successful as we had hoped, but in the end it doesn’t matter. We are the best for 2007 and no one can ever take that from us.” Josh stated with pride, ”Trace came back from his injury and we put together another title year. Hopefully we will be able to stay healthy for many more years and enjoy the same success as this one. These guys are the best to compete with and I want a repeat in 08.” Congratulations to Team Agin and all their family, friends, and especially the fans for helping capture the 2007 TBR World Title.

Another team that competed at the 2007 TBR NFR was that of Bill Agin, Jason Boone, and Charlie Logan. These three fought diligently through the tough rounds of competition and had little luck. For Jason it was his first finals and he had to endure what many cowboys go through their first trip. He gave it his all, but in the end there just wasn’t any magic for him in Gillette. Fortunately he is a young and talented mugger which should help him find his way back here again. Charlie was the second member of the team. He turned to riding full time this year and improved every rodeo he entered. His trip to the finals was rough as well. The one chance he had to get his team in the money ended after he collided with another horse which then hurled Charlie to the ground. This was his second finals qualification and probably not his last. This multi-position athlete seems to always find his way to the winners circle and now the finals. The third member was Bill ‘The Legend’ Agin. He competed in his 14th finals. His first qualification came in 1981 at the inaugural TBR NFR. He has seen all sides of competition in his many trips to the finals. In his younger days he was concerned with winning World Titles, which he has 8 of them. Now nearing the ripe young age of 60 he finds pleasure in competing against his boys and helping teach the younger generation the fundamentals of rodeo. With any luck this seasoned veteran will have many more qualifications to the finals. Team Agin would like to congratulate these three men for their hard work this past year and NFR qualification. Also, the Red, White, and Blue would like to send a special note to Bill imploring him to never retire from the sport of rodeo. He has done more for the sport of Team Bronc Riding than all other men alive. He is an icon and leader that will never be equaled.

Kern County Fair & Rodeo
Bakersfield, CA, September 29-31
Results to come

Kernville Stampede, CA, September 1-2
Results to come

Ventura Rodeo, CA, August 11-12
Results to come

Mid-State Fair & Rodeo, Paso Robles, CA, August 4th
A one day, one head rodeo always makes for an exciting event. Teams push their abilities because they know this is it, there is no tomorrow. In Paso Robles, Team Agin required the services of Jim Miles due to the absence of Josh Lair. This meant Trace had to move over to riding. He has been known to ride from time to time when it was necessary. Trace is an experienced utility man who has no problems adjusting to a different position.

Before the gun could fire, Team Agin was in a bad position. As they were listening to the count down their bronc reared back in the chute and popped the gate open. If the animal had decided to make a break for the opening, it would have been the end of this rodeo for the red, white, and blue. Fortunately, the animal jumped forward once Wade and Jim slammed the gate against his side. All this happened while the announcer was calling the countdown. The gun fired and all 6 teams left the chutes. For some reason all the horses decided to lung for the same spot right outside the chutes. Teams were all over each other. Men hit the ground and some animals pranced away without any men left on the rope. Team Agin was lucky to get out ahead of the pack. On the other side of the pile Trace had been cut off by the carnage and had to find an alternate route. He successfully found his team who was in desperate need of their hazer. The bronc started the race strong, but had petered out about half way across the huge arena. The veterans tried to persuade the animal to move with little success. Wade, sensing time was running out, decided to take the bronc where it stood. Trace followed with the saddle and Team Agin hit another bump. As he set his saddle on the horses back, he also set it on the cinch. This required precious seconds to correct the problem and get in.

9 seconds after intentionally setting the saddle on the horses back Trace jumped in and was ready to be released. When Wade let go the horse tried to flip over backwards. The combination of Trace’s weight and Wade grabbing the halter to keep the horse upright did not allow the bronc to do as it wished. All the beast could do was stumble over itself and land on its belly. Once the bronc stood up Trace was there to get in. He nearly flipped out the backdoor when the horse stood up and bolted for the other end of the arena. The saving grace was Trace’s long legs. They grabbed a hold and kept Team Agin alive. “I tell you what, without these legs that little pony would have left me sitting’ in the dirt, broke and pissed off,” Trace explained. The horse then charged right through the finish line with Trace on its back. When the dust settled Team Agin had crossed for a first. An added bonus to the victory was that it happened to be Jim Miles Birthday. Maybe that had something to do with the way things played out, or maybe not. Whatever the case Team Agin would like to wish a Happy Birthday to Mr. Miles and thank him for his help once again this year as they try to win the 2007 World Title.

Cheyenne Frontier Days, WY, July 21-29
Results to come

Lakeside Optimist Bulls & Broncs, CA, July 21-22
Results to come

Chester Wild West Rodeo, CA, July 7-8
Results to come

Toppenish Pow-Wow & Rodeo, Toppenishi, WA, July 4-7
The Toppenish Rodeo is the 3rd of 4 rodeos Team Agin competed in during their 4th of July run. Entering this event they have taken 8 horses in seven days. This stretch of the 4th is always tough because bodies begin to be sore and old injuries are reaggravated. Team Agin has been able to dodge any serious injury, but has been placed in some compromising situations which has led to sore muscles, joints, and plenty of ice. With a veteran understanding of what they are trying to accomplish, Team Agin does whatever necessary to prepare body and mind for their next rodeo.

The first go in Toppenish was a business run for Team Agin. The bronc left the chute hard and run straight about half way across the arena. Then, when it was necessary, the ground crew slammed on the brakes while Josh run up from behind and hazed the horse in the right direction. By this time Team Agin was where they wanted to be. They mugged the bronc, saddled with precision, and crossed for an honest first. The placing was not the fastest first ever recorded, but it was enough to beat the field.

On the second night things went a little different. Right out of the chute Shankman Trace Agin’s leg was stepped on by another horse coming over the top. This caused Trace to fall hard which in turn tripped Wade also. As Wade went down the powerful bronc charged forward. The momentum made Wade do a complete circle around the shankrope, like a barrel roll, without touching the ground. To make the situation worse, he was about two feet behind the horses’ butt, not a place to be. Somehow when Team Agin regained their feet and cleared the trouble they still had a chance to take a first. “The great teams don’t always have the best runs,” Bill Agin later explained after watching the run on video,” But what all the top teams I have seen do well is recover fast. They don’t quit, or even get nervous. They just keep pushing for the finish line. It takes a lot of time for a ground crew to learn to overcome these obstacles and regain their focus, but if you want to be the best you better figure it out.” And on this night that nearly happened. When Team Agin finally mugged and saddled they were looking straight at the barrel, parallel to the fence. They only problem was the Jason Smith Team had position closer to the barrel. Instead of waiting till the path was clear for the second, Team Agin decided to try for first. Unfortunately, this was the wrong decision. The bronc chose to duck to the chute side of the barrel. As the horse missed the barrel all three men knew they had made a poor decision. The bronc finally crossed the finish line for a disappointing 4th place which in turn placed them one spot out of the average. Later that night Josh stated in disgust to a question,” We were looking at a chance to build a bigger lead on the closest team behind us. In hindsight it was a bad decision, but if we had placed things would look a little different. What forced the decision was that it was Jason’s team. Any other team we probly would have held, but they’re too good. You better beat them every night or in the end you’ll lose. Our years together gave us a chance tonight and thank the heavens for keeping us safe, but dam the rodeo gods for taking that victory from us. I tasted that one and won’t soon forget it.

St. Paul Rodeo, St. Paul, OR, July 1-4
The second leg of the 4th of July run was in St. Paul, Oregon. The St. Paul TBR event is different than at any other rodeo. Instead of using a three man team to cross a designated finish line, a two man team must saddle and then ride their horse into a tunnel on the far side of the arena in a five minute time frame. This feat is especially tough due to the fact that the tunnel is located directly in the middle of the main grandstands. Team Agin has competed here before and realizes how important it is to do well if they expect to finish the year as the TBR World Champions.

Horse 1: Team Agin arrived in St. Paul only a few hours before rodeo time. They were able to make the 16 hour trek from Lehi, which they had competed at less than 24 hours earlier, without any problems. On the first bronc Trace and Wade decided to handle the bronc cautiously. They mugged and saddled easily. Then as wade let the horse go, trace slipped a stirrup. Wade held for his three jumps and tossed the shank rope in the air which landed across Trace’s neck. As the horse bucked his hoofs kept landing on the rope pinning Trace to the horses back. Trace held on as long as he could, but with only one stirrup and a rope across the back of his neck it was only a matter of time.
“Anyone who has tried to break a horse knows the magnitude of the situation,” Trace stated,”I was hoping to leave the arena with only one broken bone.” The two warriors battled back and forth, finally the horse delivered the knockout blow. The bronc bucked while he turned away from Trace’s non-stirrup foot. Since he had both hands on the rope momentum threw him off to the outside. On the way out Trace grabbed the saddle horn long enough to clear his inside foot of the stirrup. When he released his back was the closest thing to the ground. Trace landed square on his upper back and shoulder with a thud. Wade had the best seat in the house and exclaimed,”I was yelling all the support and answers for my bro’s situation I could. I even leaned to help him. Today we got lucky, REAL LUCKY. Tomorrow we will be able to compete, and that’s most important.”

Horse 2: Team Agin drew shoot 1. This placed them on the west side of the arena. The bronc left the chute, the ‘boys’ snapped his head, mugged, and saddled with few mistakes. Once aboard Trace made sure to hook both stirrups and grab the shank rope before proceeding. The rest of the 5 minute time limit was Trace either standing still spurring or riding a bucking horse. This particular animal had no walk or run. The two athletes bucked their way across the arena. During one violent bucking storm, the horse slipped in a muddy spot, lost his hind legs and flopped over on its side. Trace’s tough competitive athleticism allowed him to ride the worthy opponent to the ground. While the bronc was down Trace bicycle kicked his feet free of the stirrups and crawled frantically to a safe distance. Both tired athletes sat exhaustedly staring at each other. Today was a draw.

Horse 3: Right out of the chutes Team Agin ran into trouble. Another team’s horse came over the top of the dynamic duo and forced them to clear the trouble. In safe territory, the brothers worked quickly to place Trace in the saddle. They found the wall 200 yards before the tunnel and only a few steps behind the great Jason Smith. This position could lead to a happy ending because Jason is a seasoned veteran who has won St. Paul 13 times. Trace did not push to hard and followed close behind all the way to the tunnel. As they reached the finish Trace tried to slip passed Jason for the win, but the experienced competitor was too crafty and Team Agin happily accepted the second. Now that they had placed in the day the average became a goal.

Horse 4: Hot! Hot! Hot! On the 4th of July day performance the weather was hot and the horses tough. Both Trace and Wade appeared focused to cross the finish line again. The whistle sounded as horses and men collided. Before Team Agin could even blink they were in a crash and Wade’s right leg was rolled on by another team. He hobbled back to the shank rope and methodically mugged in obvious pain. Trace saddled without delay and jumped in. As Wade tried to hand the rope to Trace the bronc blew in the air and the rope fell between his legs. Now Trace was running around on the animals back with no control. The bronc ran and quickly joined the back of a pack. All at once things got worse. The horse stepped on its own rope while at a run. This sent the bronc tumbling and Trace head first into the dirt. Both athletes tried to regain their focus. Trace was able to stumble back to the bronc and hold its head in the air until help arrived to escort the athlete out of the arena. “That was way too intense for me,” Trace repeated with amazement, “All you see is the head disappear, then the shoulders, and then DIRT! Not even time to put my hands up. I can’t believe I walked away from that one, I can’t believe it.”

Horse 5: Last chance for Team Agin to move into the average. The one second put them in 5th place. For the final time in 2007 the whistle blew and the race began at St. Paul. The ‘boys’ made quick work of their business and were headed to the tunnel in quick fashion. The bronc was easy to steer, so Trace aimed him right at the finish. The only trouble came from Josh Lair, on his own horse, which kept bumping into Trace’s horse. Slowly but surely bronc and rider worked down the wall as a unit. They crept up to the tunnel and slipped in with little hesitation. Trace took 1st as Josh, who was trying to bounce off his cousin again, pushed passed the cheering crowd and in for the second. For their efforts in St. Paul Team Agin finished 3rd in the average. They had little time to reflect on their success as they had to compete in Toppenish in 24 hours.

Lehi Round-Up, Lehi, UT, June 28-30

The 4th of July is always an important time for rodeo cowboys during their season. These two weeks can rejuvenate a season, or they can leave a cowboy beat up and broke. For this reason, these two weeks are entitled ‘Cowboy Christmas’ due to the amount of money that can be won. Any cowboy who dreams of winning a World Title must find a way to catch fire and pocket prize money. Team Agin was very aware of this and entered 4 rodeos in 11 days. The schedule would test there mental and physical toughness during the most important time of the season. All the risks would be forgotten if Team Agin could find a way to place in the average at each rodeo.e. Wade realized what had happened and quickly jumped in the path of the horse. Trace soon joined his bro’s side. It was quite a comical seen that no Team Bronc Rider wishes to be a part of. The cowboys behind the chute were trying frantically to push the animal out as they had been instructed. At the exact same time, Wade and Trace were waving their hands to keep the bronc in. The brothers knew they didn’t have much time in this position and Wade saw his opportunity. The remaining 6 feet had swung up to the horse’s side where it could be grabbed. Wade did just that as the cowboys finally forced the bronc out of the chute. Next Wade applied the brakes while he was eating rope. Trace reached the shank rope as Wade was dropping his arm over the horse’s neck. “What a big-time catch!” Trace said in amazement after the performance,” That catch was just like Willie Mays in the ‘55’ World Series. He just reached out and pulled it down from heaven. There were definitely angels in the stands that night watching over us.” By now, Josh was also beginning to saddle as he realized how far behind Team Agin was. At the moment the saddle touched the withers of the horse he reared over backwards. Both Josh and the saddle were sent flying, as Wade and the bronc slowly rolled to the ground. Once everyone was up, the horse was saddled, climbed on and rode across the finish line. The run was extremely slow and all three knew the result would be ugly. Unexpectedly, more good luck followed Team Agin on this day. The Red, White and Blue soon found out that they had been the only team to cross for a placing. The win was the second in a row for Team Agin and set the tone for a promising 4th of July run.

One team that needs to be commended for their efforts in Lehi would be the Robert Woracek Team. On the third day this team was in a wreck right out of the chute. It seemed as though they were done for the rodeo. Instead of calling it quits, Robert Woracek was able to recatch his horse. They struggled to mug and saddle the tough bronc. Spectators watching this began to back the three men. The noise level increased as they inched ever closer to the finish line. 4,000 pairs of eyes, even the other competitors, were all watching the diligent team work. As David Dillingham, the rider, swung in the crowd began to bubble. While the bronc was headed to the barrel David’s saddle began to roll. The drama was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Every person present hoped the rider could hang on for a few more jumps. Once the horse crossed the finish line the Lehi crowd erupted in celebration. No one was silent. Even other cowboys were hi-fiving each other. The decibel level reached an all time high followed by smiles and applause. One cowboy was overheard saying,” That was something special. That is why I compete. If you can’t get a rush from that energy you might as well retire. That’s what it’s all about.” The hustle and fortitude of these fine men help create the perfect rodeo atmosphere. And even though they do not realize it, they left a positive impression with the committee that others down the line will get to enjoy. Way to go Cowboys!

Glenville Round-Up, Glenville, CA, June 10
The Glenville Round-Up was a one day, one head rodeo which had a lot of money to be won. Team Agin entered that Sunday riding a little bit of a slump. They had not garnered a victory since the return of Shankman Trace Agin into the lineup. The team had blown opportunities for victory at the last three rodeos. To change the mood Team Agin wore Pink, in support of breast cancer awareness, for the first time. The good karma seemed to work. They drew a horse that had planted them in the dirt at Santa Maria earlier in the year. This time they knew how to handle the strong bronc. Team Agin came out hard, made some veteran moves, and were able to make the barrel on the far side of the arena. As Wade moved in for the mug the stead shifted into overdrive and Trace had to bear down to keep the animal near the barrel. Unfortunately, by the time they had saddled two other teams had moved in between them and the finish line. Team Agin then had to rely on their superb hazing skills to sneak between the other competitors. That even meant Trace had to put his body between the horse and a fore sure loss. Trace later explained,” The horse was bucking hard with Josh on his back and when he hit the fence he turned away from the barrel and headed toward me. I stepped right in front of him, then reached out and touched his nose. For a moment, time stood still and we gazed into one another’s eyes. It was almost a romantic glance as we paid homage to each other. Luckily, my horse whispering powers paid off as the mighty bronc decided it was better to turn 180 degrees, then have to deal with me (Trace chuckles). Or maybe the lucky Pink shirt had something to do with it.” What ever the reason, Team Agin was able to pull a victory from the depths of a loss. And hopefully this will spark the team as they begin their 4th of July run in Lehi, UT, at the end of this month.

Another notable team in Glenville was that of ‘The Legend’ Bill Agin and Charlie Logan. They are close on the heals of Team Agin in the Region race and put together a strong finish at this rodeo. They decided to add Rookie Mugger Ricky Camarena to their lineup for the first time and the rookie stepped up big. The crafty vets moved their horse across the arena backwards, ‘the Legend’ instructing the rookie the whole way. They were even able to slide between Team Agin and the barrel. Their great position made up for their lack of speed as Bill Agin stated,” The boys are dam good! I know, I taught them. We aren’t going to be faster than them most of the time, but good position is about all that can beat speed. We tried to do that and it almost worked. Crossing second isn’t great, but it pays the bills. Plus, it keeps us close for the region buckle. If they make a mistake, we’ll be there. The region won’t be decided until the last horse at the last rodeo and that’s how we want it.” Once they mugged up, Charlie Logan jumped in, saddle up, and crossed for a respectable second. The placing also helped the rookie jump up in the Randy Guess Memorial Rookie of the Year Standings.

Sisters Rodeo, Sisters, OR, June 8-10
The ‘Biggest Little Show in the World’ was another close call for the Red, White and Blue. The Team started strong on their first horse. They were able to move the horse down the long arena of Sisters’. It took some time and plenty of ability, but when they mugged up they had a chance at first. Unfortunately, the bronc didn’t want to cooperate. Instead of turning left for the win, the animal went right and forced Wade to have to cut it off. He did and Team Agin forced the bronc through for a slow second. They had high expectations for their second horse. Drawing chute 4 is usually a good start for any race. Once the gate opened all that changed. The horse stalled a second, then came out hard and hung a left hand turn. Both Trace and Wade planted and tried to set the animal. The bronc had the upper hand and face planted the ground crew in the dirt. To add insult to injury, Trace landed right on top of Wade. “I couldn’t do anything, the ground was on the bottom side of me and a huge oaf on the top side.” Wade declared, “That’s a hell of a way for a man to lie. That’s a hell of a way for a man to rodeo. You ain’t maken no money rodeoing like that.” Rider Josh Lair even stepped in front of the struggling men, grabbed the shank rope, and tried to relieve some of the strength of the athletic bronc. This did allowed the ground to return to their feet, but while they were standing up the horse reared up and lifted Josh clean off his feet. Josh later divulged, “I felt like Mighty Mouse. What a ride!” With everyone standing upright, Team Agin continued down the arena fighting the bronc in a war of attrition. The Red, White, and Blue had to Cowboy Up to conquer this untamed animal. All four contestants stood together in a tight circle as Josh saddled. Each leaned against another as both horse and man had given their all on this battlefield. When they finally crossed the finish line, they placed a disappointing 6th. Team Agin tipped their hats to their mighty adversary and prayed they would never meet again.

Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, Santa Maria, CA, May 31-June 3
Most cowboys enjoy competing at their hometown rodeo. Not only do you get to sleep in your own bed, but there is always a large fan base to cheer for them. Most of the competitors on the Team Agin.com webpage call Santa Maria their hometown rodeo. There is a lot of excitement and anticipation before the first chute gate is opened. This is especially true for Team Agin, considering they have won the rodeo the last four years in a row. The Red, White, and Blue began the rodeo on Thursday night in similar fashion. They left the chutes with a powerhouse of a horse. Half way across the arena the animal stalled, but josh was right where he needed to be to haze the bronc in the proper direction. About 20 yards from the barrel Wade made his move for the mug. The strong horse felt Wade make his move and reared up as he powered away. Trace did not have the strength to keep the V open and the horse was able to close it for a second placing Wade in a bad position. Lucky Trace is a very experienced shankman and he wasted no time moving his feet to open the V back up. The Horse began grunting and powering with Wade on the mug. Trace used this opportunity to direct the horse closer to the barrel before he brought the animal to a stop. By that time Josh was already saddling and they crossed for solid, if maybe slow, first place. Trace was asked about his return to the arena in Santa Maria since his injury and he proclaimed, “The nerves are always a little stronger. So many family and friends watching makes it that much better to win and tougher to loose. But we have always felt good here and today was no different. Now we are in the finals, and all we can doo is wait till Sunday. At least we get to ride this high for a few days.”

Making the Finals on Sunday with a first, Team Agin felt good. They had been here before and knew what they had to do. The Finals are always especially exciting due the adrenaline and the caliber of teams competing. Team Agin drew chute 4 with a horse Bill Agin had placed a second on earlier in the rodeo. The gun fired and the chutes cleared. Team Agin left the chute, but the horse overran them immediately. They put the brakes on and tried to run the horse offside. He wasn’t having any of it. The bronc was unsure what he wanted to do and the veterans could not put together a combination to move the horse across the arena. The animal kept running straight at them, not allowing the ground crew to move forward. About half way across Wade decided he had enough and mugged up. Josh saddled quickly and jumped on. The horse tried to run away from the barrel. Trace used his three jumps and set the horse pointing him at the barrel. The problem with their position was that they were in the middle of the arena and could not use a fence to push the horse through the finish line. Trace released the horse toward the fence. His hope was that Wade would be able to cut the bronc off and push the animal toward the barrel. The worst that could happen did when the horse chose to run away from the barrel down the fence instead of toward it. Team Agin was unable to cross in the finals for the first time in 6 years. It was a tough loss, one that will not be forgotten any time soon.

Old Fort Days Rodeo, Ft. Smith, AR, May 28-30
For those who have never been to Ft. Smith, the atmosphere creates an exciting rodeo that usually includes a plethora of hospitality. Old Fort Days is a long trip for most cowboys, but those that want the TBR World Title know that these are important points in the quest for the crown. Team Agin arrived in Ft. Smith to find out that the cowboy bunk house was no longer available for contestants who wished to save a dollar. A few cowboys spoiled it for the rest by stealing items from the house and destroying the inside. Out of sheer luck and many years of friendship, Team Agin was able to stay with a local residence of Roland, OK. All of us at Team Agin.com wish to send a special Thank You for the hospitality of Mitzy, Dustin, and Blazi (future Barrel Racing Star).

Old Fort Days Rodeo starts with one of the longest grand entries on the continent. The Team Bronc Riding event is not until the end of the rodeo, which means the event runs around 9:30. All three pens of horses proved to be tough competition for the Red, White, and Blue. In Ft. Smith the arena is a long stretch to the other end, which allows teams that chose to shotgun their bronc, to shut it down right out of the chute and have the horse run the entire length of the arena---hoping the horse and rider cross the finish line. Team Agin’s plan was to run their horse to clear danger at the chute, but more importantly to allow Wade to wait for a safe position to mug. While they were on the run shankman Jim Miles took a fall, landed on his shoulder, and pulled his shoulder muscle. Fortunately, the mistake was not too costly and a second place was salvaged from the wreck. The next horse seemed to have even more strength than the first. The bronc took a powerful leap forward when Wade jumped in for the mug. The animal placed Wade in a bad spot which in turn caused a hyper extend his left knee. Once the battered ground crew stopped the animal Josh was able to jump in the saddle, almost getting bucked off right before the finish line. The determination of the veterans paid off as they placed before the Buntin team could cross!

Going into the third go, Team Agin was tied with the Buntin Team with a first and a second each. The horses were loaded and it seemed there was one big horse out of the entire bunch…you guessed it, that big ol’ stallion was Team Agin’s draw! Sore from the first two competitions Team Agin used adrenaline to block out the pain from the previous horses and concentrate on placing first. The chute gates flew open, Team Agin’s horse ran straight down the arena, stopped for Wade to mug easily while Josh saddled. Once Josh jumped on the horse, the big fella bolted to the finish line with elephant strides. The first place gave Team Agin the points needed to take the lead in the average! Old Fort Days Rodeo was a 3 head average that allowed Team Agin to head back to California for the last half of the week to compete in Santa Maria. While Team Agin was competing on the west coast, another team won all three performances in Ft. Smith, bumping Team Agin to 2nd in the average. You can’t win ‘em all, but being in the average helps accumulate valuable points toward the National Standings. Ft. Smith was the last rodeo Team Agin held Jimmy Miles accountable as the shankman for the team. Everyone who is a part of Team Agin.com would like to thank Mr. Miles for helping keep Team Agin on top with the absence of shankman Trace Agin. Thank you for all you have done Jimmy!!

Mother Lode Round-Up, Sonora, CA, May 12-13
Results to come.

2006