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Franks sets record in Dodge City
By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo
DODGE CITY, Kan. – There is a gleam on Cole Franks’ face that may not go away for a while.
The 20-year-old bareback rider has reason to be so happy. He’d just ridden Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Bar Code for 90 points to win the first round of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo and collect $3,385. Now, he’s set up for another ride of his life during Sunday’s championship round.
The rain began to fall just before bareback riding began, and by the time Franks nodded his head on Bar Code, it was pouring on Roundup Arena. It didn’t quite matter to the cowboy, nor the horse.
“It was wet,” Franks said with a grin across his face. “Right when it started raining, I was dreading it a little bit. Once it really got going, I realized there was no stopping the rain, so it was part of it. It’ll make a good story to look back on.”
It’s been a good week for Franks, who, heading into Saturday night’s fourth performance of Dodge City’s rodeo, was leading the rodeos in Carson, Iowa, with a 92-point ride, and Great Falls, Montana, with an 84.5.
When he arrived in Dodge City, he knew there might be something special with Pickett horse.
“He knew,” Franks said of Bar Code. “He had that same feeling I had that it was about to be a lot of fun.
“I’ve seen that horse three times. Kaycee Feild was 90 on him at the Riggin’ Rally in Weatherford (Texas in April), so I knew it was possible. I knew the horse was going to be a lot of fun and feel really good. I was excited. I knew it was going to be really good.”
It’s been an exciting year for the cowboy from Clarendon, Texas. In June, he helped his hometown team – Clarendon College, which is coached by his dad, Bret Franks – to the men’s team national title at the College National Finals Rodeo. He dominated bareback riding to win that national crown, then added enough points in saddle bronc riding to be named the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s all-around champion.
Franks won the rodeo with an arena record 93-point ride during Sunday’s championship round on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire. He won $8,420, and he also won Carson, Iowa, with a 92. Franks is 11th in the world standings.
Heading into this week of rodeos, Franks sat 17th in the world standings with $39,341.
Franks will likely move up, but his end goal is to be among the top 15 when rodeo’s regular season concludes the end of September in order to earn his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. He also will be matched in Sunday’s championship round with Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, which is possibly the hottest bareback horse in ProRodeo this season.
“I like where I’m at,” he said. “I would rather be right here fighting for it than being in a secure spot. For the next week and a half, I’ve drawn really good money horses that can win and for sure help you place on.
“It’s looking really good.”
So is Cole Franks.
Ready for the hand off
Service gift
Get in step
Leading agent
Enterprise wins PPA community service award
The Clarendon Enterprise received nine awards as well as a community service award at the 111th annual Panhandle Press Association Convention in Amarillo last Saturday, July 24.
Competing in Division One for weekly newspapers, Benjamin Estlack picked up First Place for the Enterprise for Humorous Columns.
The Enterprise won second place honors for Best Sports Photos by Elaina Estlack and Benjamin Estlack, Spot News Photos by Elaina Estlack and Roger Estlack, Advertising Initiative for work by Ashlee Estlack and Roger Estlack, News Writing by Roger Estlack, Best Society & Lifestyles, and Best Feature Stories.
The newspaper also received third place for Headline Writing and Special Sections.
In addition, the Enterprise received the Ken Towery Community Service Award for its comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its use of social media and online reporting to inform the public about that disease and for the impact of the Donley County Social Hour during that time – a weekly Facebook Live featuring Editor Roger Estlack and Donley County Attorney Landon Lambert.
General Excellence in Division One this year went to the Canadian Record.
Former Texas Spur owners Grady and Jo Ann Harrison were inducted into the PPA Hall of Fame.
This year’s convention also included a Past Presidents Reunion which attracted about 18 former PPA presidents and secretaries. Convention attendees also this year enjoyed an Amarillo Sod Poodles game at Hodgetown in addition to the regular camaraderie and work sessions.
The PPA was led this year by Fritch publisher Tara Huff, who will remain on the board as the Immediate Past President. Other board members include President Jeff Blackmon of Hereford, Vice President Tim Ritter of Canyon, and Secretary/Treasurer Roger Estlack of Clarendon along with directors Mary Dudley of Perryton, Michael Wright of Dumas, Mary Smithee of Canadian, and Shane Lance of Quanah
Attending this year’s annual Panhandle Press Association convention from Clarendon were Roger, Ashlee, Benjamin, and Elaina Estlack and Tara and Mason Allred along with Doug, Nancy, Aaron, Amy, Gage, and Paden Kidd and Michael, Anndria, Matthew, and Monroe Newhouse.
Howardwick enjoys 2021 Hoedown
Howardwick reports that its 2021 Hoedown was the best one so far after an estimated 250 people attended the event last Saturday, July 17.
“It was a great event, even better than the first one,” City Secretary Sandra Childress said. “I am so thankful for our community volunteers and was super pleasantly surprised at the turnout.”
Two days before the event, Childress had planned to have McMorries Memorial Park mowed by city employees for the event. But before the scheduled mowing could happen, a squadron of community volunteers showed up on riding lawnmowers and did the job without being asked.
Childress said food sold out for the Hoedown and said “The Twerks” did an excellent job providing music for the event.
“I’ll hire that band a hundred times,” she said. “They were so good and played a lot of different things.”
A water slide dubbed “The Big Kahuna” was a hit among kids, and a petting zoo and freedom train were also popular.
Raffle drawings throughout the day made winners of many people attending the Hoedown. Childress said prizes for the raffle kept being donated to the city right up through the last second.
Gene White was the winner of the John Boat, which was the big prize for the day.
The Hoedown, the second one since 2019, was scheduled to run through 6 p.m., but at about ten minutes until six, Childress said a storm hit with high wind and heavy rain.
“It ended with a bang,” Childress said, and she is already making plans for the future.
“My head is spinning for the next one,” she said. “I think it can be even better.”
Farm 2 Table
Farmers market opening here July 17
If fresh produce and locally made food is what you’re looking for, Donley County Farm 2 Table is ready to serve you this Saturday, July 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at Cornell’s Country Store.
The new farmers market will run the first and third Saturdays through September, and organizer Deanna Cornell is happy to see the new community project get off the ground.
“People are excited,” Cornell said. “I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from vendors but more so from consumers. I’ve had zero complaints.”
Eleven vendors are scheduled to have tables at the first market this Saturday.
“We’ve got produce, aloe vera, baked goods, pork, beef, eggs, and more,” Cornell said.
Items at the market are all things that were either grown locally or made in local kitchens, she said.
Cornell’s Country Store is hosting the market in their garden center, which they completed in 2020 right before the COVID-19 shutdown. They were left with a big space and wondering what else it could be used for. Cornell later was inspired by a farmers market while visiting her son in Nashville.
“Zach and Liberty sell eggs there, and they have flowers and berries also,” she said.
With information from that market, Cornell started making plans for a market here and got a good response from locals.
“I really have a heart for Texas-made and locally-made,” Cornell said.
Cornell’s has proven the market for locally produced food with their own beef this year. Demand has been strong for homegrown beef, which will be available during the market Saturday.
For more information about the market, contact Deanna@CornellsCountryStore.com or check out the Facebook group online – Donley County Farmer’s Market.
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