Sisters Rodeo draws the best of the best

Sisters Rodeo registration reads like a Who's Who list of professional rodeo competitors. With the highest purse in the nation the second weekend in June, most of them will be in Sisters seeking a piece of the $10,000 purse in each event.

Rough stock events are a big Sisters draw, with four-time and current World Champion Bareback Rider, Bobby Mote of Culver, Oregon, topping the list. He will be challenged by Tilden Cooper, currently No. 1 in the world ratings, and Kaycee Field, No. 2. Local riders, Steve Peebles, Redmond, No. 7, and Jason Havens, Prineville, No. 17, will try to keep the trophy at home. Sisters is pleased to see the return of Ryan Grey, former winner at Sisters and a world champion, whose season ended with an injury in the first go-round at National Finals Rodeo last December.

Tie-Down Roping brings Tuf Cooper, No. 3 in standings. He's up against Tyson Durfey, who broke the arena record in Sisters in 2010 and won third place at national finals last year. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, and Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Oregon, are contenders to watch.

The Steer Wrestling competition is loaded with top-10 challengers. Number 2 Billy Bugenig hopes for a time that beats two-time World Champion, No. 3 Luke Branquinho, No. 4 Trevor Knowles and Redmond's No. 7, Casey McMillen. The talented field includes Mike Reger of Redmond, Sean Santucci, Prineville, and Skyler Strassman, Bend.

Saddlebronc Riding brings former Sisters All-Around Champion Seth Glause, top-10 riders and champions Jesse Kruse and Steven Dent, and four of the Wright brothers, with Cody Wright currently at No. 1. Ross Hartman of Redmond will give this group a run for the money.

Team Roping competition includes the No. 1 team of Chad Masters, header, and Jade Corkill, healer. The No. 5 team of Charly Crawford and Russell Cardoza are in this competition, along with the teams of Bobby Mote and Mike Beers; Powell Butte's Brandon Beers and Jim Cooper; and Terrebonne's Sam Willis and Steve Johnson.

In Women's Barrel Racing, Terrebonne's world champion, Brenda Mays, whose horse, Jethro, was AQHA Barrel Race Horse of the Year, will try to gain on her No. 3 world position. Her competition includes her sister, Vicki, and another world champion, Lindsay Sears. The field of competition includes locals Kelli Jo Hammock, Deanne Bain, Sammi Jo Willis, Jessica Crouch, Vickie Westwood and Jessica Oxman.

Bull Riding is loaded with world leaders. Number 1 Shane Proctor will be competing against World Champions Wesley Silcox, Steve Woolsey and Seth Glause. The current No. 4, Trevor Kastner, will be part of the thrilling competition with bucking stock from the Flying Diamond Stock Company that had 17 bulls at 2010 National Finals Rodeo.

The Sisters PRCA Rodeo will feature four performances on June 10-12. Tickets may be purchased at the rodeo office in Sisters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Friday, June 10, at noon, then at the rodeo grounds at 5 p.m. Call 541-549-0121 or 800-827-7522 for more information or visit

http://www.sistersrodeo.com.