Del Rio Roper Justin Nulisch wins Rotary Rodeo Championship

July 6, 2008
By John Ludlum
Publisher

The second and final performance of the 2008 Wild Wild West Independence Day Rotary Rodeo proved profitable for Del Rio calf roper Justin Nulisch. The local business owner, with wife Heather Hutto Nulisch of Del Rio Feed and Supply, blistered the Friday night leader’s time of 11.55 seconds by roping and tying his calf in 8.3. The second best time for the rodeo was posted by Neal Felton, Mountain Home, Texas, with a time of 9.29. Nulisch pocketed $496 for his efforts and Felton left Del Rio with $372 in his Wranglers. Carter Davis had a time of 10.38 for a third place finish and Chad Kolbe roped and tied his calf in 10.64 for fourth place. Davis won $248 and Kolbe took home $124.

The U.S. Border Patrol color guard posts the colors at the Saturday evening edition of the rodeo, signaling the singing of the National Anthem by Sara Palin.  (LIVE! photo by Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)	Veteran bronc rider and Del Rio native Richard Page stays with his momentarily airborne mount.  Josh Byerley and Eric Frazier took the top two scores in the weekend competition.  (LIVE! photo by Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)
Del Rio Rotary Club President Kurt Lemp, far right, faces into a setting sun alongside the Guadalupe County True Women Drill Team during Saturday night opening ceremonies at the 2008 Wild, Wild West Independence Day Rodeo. (LIVE! photo by Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)	Victoria Nettleton, 3, and her dad, Val Verde County Commissioner Beau Nettleton, share a mirthful moment as rodeo clowns and bull fighters cavort in the Val Verde County Fairgrounds arena.  (LIVE! photo by Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)

 

 

The rodeo opened with the True Women Drill Team from Guadalupe County setting the back drop followed by the introduction of officials. Rodeo announcer and master of ceremonies John Mack delivered the invocation. Del Rio High School graduate Sara Palin sang the National Anthem. Palin will attend Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge this fall on a scholarship. 

Bareback bronc riding was the first event of the evening but no one could best the lead set by Josh Byerley on Friday night. Eric Frazier made an 80 point ride to claim second in the event. Byerley won $618 and Frazier banked $412. Brandon Christian caused panic for fans and arena personnel when his hand became wedged in his bareback rigging and, he could not get his hand free. Christian bucked off the bronc away from his hand and was running beside the fast moving bronc. Pick-up men Troy Crow and Mike McDonald came to his aid and bull fighters Jonathan Talamantez and Brent Wilke joined in the efforts to free Christian when Crow and McDonald finally got the bronc stopped. Several arena personnel jumped into help. When Christian was finally freed, he walked away unharmed. It was a miracle that he escaped injury. Perhaps that his father, Ronnie Christian, former champion bareback bronc rider and cowboy preacher conducts church services for rodeo cowboys before each performance of Lester Meier’s rodeos helped the final outcome. Ronnie Christian also conducts church services on the Sunday before the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding.

True Women Drill Team performed their drill and the calf roping competition followed.

 

The Battle on the Border Team Roping fast time of the evening was made by the team of Cody Barber and Saul Chacon with a time of 8.35 seconds. Only one other team consisting of Levi Gutierrez and Tavi Vasquez were able to catch their steer and recorded a time of 13.1.

There were three rounds of Mutton Bustin’ spaced throughout the rodeo and the first heat was won by Caleb Newton. The second round was won by Michael Storms and the third round was captured by Brenda Mendoza.

The open team roping event winners for the two days were Clay Elliott and Ryan Barnett with 6.13 and each won $520; second place winners were veteran ropers Buzzy Bierschwale and Joey Campbell who clocked at 6.26 and won $390 each; third place finishers were William Loman and Greg Major with 11.61 and their efforts gathered each man $260; fourth place placers were William Loman and Eddie Loman with a time of 11.63 and they each earned $130. Contestants are allowed to enter the team roping twice.

Ladies breakaway calf roping winners for the two days were Melissa Pfiel with a very fast 3.14. The time put $340 in her jeans. Haley Harris placed second with 4.21 and took home $204. Third and final money winner was Ashley Miller with 4.35 and earned her $136.

Ladies barrel racing was the only event that had two go-rounds. Friday night was won by McKenzie McAngus with a 15.29 run. She won $258 for her efforts. Robin Montague placed second and won $172. Saturday night the two ladies switched places with Montague winning first with a 15.34 worth $240 and McAngus won second with 15.53 and made $160 for her efforts.

Youthful calf scramblers had a blast chasing calves and there can be no doubt that they probably fell asleep on the trip home from exerting all out effort to take a ribbon from a calf’s tail, plus winning a ribbon and several dollars to boot.

Bull riding closed the rodeo as the final event and Martin Jeffers 86-point ride from Friday night held up through the Saturday night performance. For his efforts Jeffers made $616. Second was won by Saturday night rider Wayne Curd with an 84 and he drove away $462 richer. Third was captured by Alfonso Orozco with an 83 score and he went home to Mexico $308 richer. B. J. McCelvey marked 81 on his ride for the final paying place and $154 went for his gas bill to get to Del Rio.

The family-oriented rodeo produced by The Lester Meier Rodeo Company, Fredericksburg, was a success by all measures and, with his lovely wife Holly plus their entire staff, the Meier Rodeo Company made their fourth trip to Del Rio. The reason they continue to return to Del Rio and partner with the Del Rio Rotary Club is because a rodeo that the entire family can enjoy is the only way they do business. The rodeo is the biggest fund raiser for the Rotary Club which provides scholarships for graduating seniors from Del Rio High School who go on to college. In addition the monies earned from their rodeo project helps fund Rotary Park, the Foster Children’s Home, school supplies for children in Del Rio and Acuña, Rotary Village, housing for the elderly, dictionaries for middle school children and last but, not least, the eradication of polio worldwide. The success of the eradication program speaks for itself when there are only four countries that still have polio epidemics.

With the prices of all goods and service rising, the best bang for the buck for this Fourth of July weekend was the Rotary rodeo which provided family entertainment at 2007 prices and still manages to help the Del Rio community.