ArizonaRealCountry.com 9 April 2018 THE ARIZONA DUUUDE Rodeo, it is a close-knit world that has changed little. Only helmets and timing clocks are noticeable changes. Yet it is still the challenge, the challenge to stay onboard a ton of rank ornery bull or bronc determined to throw you off, and in the case of the bull to turn and punish you. For those that only go to a rodeo a couple times a year, you need to be educated on what it really takes to be there. The term we have all heard, “24 – 7“, doesn’t even come close to what it really takes to, “be there”. It is not just a dream; it is there, waiting, for some that are willing to pay the price. It is not a “24 - 7”, it is a 24 – lifestyle. Salt River Rodeo Company has been in the PRCA stock contracting business for over 25 years having consistently had livestock chosen for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, RAM National Circuit Finals and Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo. Salt River Rodeo Company is managed by Jerry Dorencamp of Holly, CO. and Tucson, AZ with his partners Cody Resor of Wilcox, AZ. and Owen Washburn of Animas, NM. Jerry Dorencamp, PRCA member since 1979 and a current PRCA Gold Card holder, has been involved in rodeo all of his life both as a competitor and stock contractor. Jerry was runner-up to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association steer wrestling championship in 1977. In 1986, he was 16th in the PRCA steer wrestling world standings when his career was cut short with a shoulder injury. He still finished that year in the top 25 in the world. Jerry then began to flank bucking horses and bulls rekindling the stock contractor phase of his life. For 19 years he was the livestock superintendent, chute boss and flank man at such top-ranked rodeos as Denver, CO. San Antonio, TX. Houston, TX. Albuquerque, NM. Nampa, ID. Ft. Madison, IA. Sidney, IA. San Angelo, TX. and Austin, TX. to name a few. He has also been a flank man and stock contractor at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo almost every year from 1987 to 2017. Jerry and his wife Nancy Jane have been breeding bucking horses and bulls in Holly, CO., and Tucson, AZ. for over 22 years. He is currently bucking some ranch raised horses at PRCA rodeos. His breeding program includes a grandson of Calgary Stampede’s Grated Coconut who holds a record-tying 6 times PRCA Bucking Horses of the Year title. Also currently on the bucking horse list are daughters of the famed Night Jacket stud from PRCA stock contractor J Bar J Rodeo Company. A recent addition to the breeding program is Bobby Balou, who is a half-brother to the 5-time PRCA World Champion Bucking Horse, Sippin Velvet. Some of the bull bloodlines in his breeding program are Wrangle Rivets, Blueberry Wine, and Oscar. Cody Resor has been in the stock contracting business since his early years. He is a rancher with his wife Allison, sons Rio Jay and Taos Thomas in Wilcox, AZ. where he headquarters with his bucking horses and bulls. Cody has competed in rodeos his whole life and now focuses on the stock contracting end. He still competes in the team roping and calf roping in the PRCA. Owen Washburn, 1996 PBR World Champion Bull Rider, has been raising bucking bulls in Animas, NM. for over 17 years. Owen has raised numerous bulls that have qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Owen competed in the PRCA bull riding and qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo one time and the PBR National Finals ten times. To say Nancy Jane Dorencamp has a long family history of rodeo would be an understatement. Her dad is Chuck Henson the well-known bull rider and rodeo clown. Chuck was born in Montana and literally grew up around rodeo arenas. Both his parents were fulltime rodeo people. His father was a longtime top steer wrestler and his mother was the last World Champion Lady Bronc Rider, under her maiden name of Marge Greenough. There is much more about the life and times of Chuck Henson, which I will tell you about in later issues of Arizona Real Country, The Magazine. I would like to thank Jerry, Nancy, and their crew from Salt River Rodeo Co. for showing me around behind the scenes before the Parada Del Sol/Scottsdale Rodeo at WestWorld. I personally met each one either perched on a fence rail or on a horse. Thank you, Leslie Shannon, Kaylee Billingsley, Garrett Lefebvre, Travis Warrick, Cy Crowley, Tanner Resor, Colter Todd, Gerardo Estrada, and Steve Hansher. Happy trails to you until we meet again. Jerry is most proud of their crew. They are true cowboys in every sense of the word. He says, “Take care of your horses and they will take care of you.” I would also like to thank Dan Fowlie, rodeo announcer, for his direction and insight into the rodeo world both past and present. Thanks, Dan. By Bob Roloff, “The Arizona Duuude” You can follow Bob Roloff on Facebook. Salt River Rodeo Company, LLC Jerry Dorencamp, Salt River Rodeo Company, LLC Owner and Manager