2019 |
Rocky Rodriguez
Born to Prescott natives, Richard and Dena Rodriguez, Rocky was destined to be a cowgirl. Her love for all things western was evident very early on. Rocky began competing in local gymkhanas and barrel races at age 4 and has never looked back. Her next step was to join the Chino Valley Breakaway Latigos 4H club, then the Queen Creek Junior Rodeo Assoc and the Marana Junior Rodeo Association. Rocky continued to find success both in the rodeo arena as well as the show ring. Rocky continued to compete at rodeo through the Arizona Junior Rodeo Assoc and Arizona Junior High Rodeo Association. She qualified for ther first trip to the National Finals Rodeo in Ribbon Cutting during her 6th-grade year. Two years later she would win her first saddle and state title with her Ribbon Roping partner and fellow scholarship recipient Logan Bates, a 2018 winner of the coveted "Western Heritage Keeper" Scholarship Award of the Prescott Western Heritage Foundation. Together, they traveled to Iowa to compete at Nationals, where Rudy, once again, was the reserve champion goat-tier of the year. She found success in the goat tying, at the National level, finishing in the top 20. Rocky graduated from Chino Valley High School in 2018. Throughout her high school career, she was a member of the Chino Valley High School FFA and Arizona High School Rodeo Association, winning countless buckles and several saddles. In January, during her Senior year, Rocky suffered an almost career-ending knee injury, but that did not stop her. Rocky is now attending Frank Phillips College in Borger, TX on a rodeo scholarship, pursuing a degree in Agricultural Data Management. She competes in the Southwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. |
Shayla Murdock
Shayla, a 5th generation Verde Valley cowgirl, has vigorously pursued her family's love of good horses. Shayla started riding early, winning her first rodeo at age 8 when she was the Yavapai County Junior Rodeo All Around Champion for her age group. Shayla continued winning numerous team ropings and rodeo championships. In 2016 she was Arizona Junior Rodeo year-end Reserve Champion in goat tying, breakaway, calf roping and pole bending and was All Around Reserve Champion in the State. During this same year, Shayla was also training in the sport of Muay Thai fighting, winning the 2016 North American title belt and was chosen to fight for the United States team in Bangkok, Thailand. In the following years, Shayla has shared her talents, helping others with their riding skills and horsemanship while accumulating two years of college credit before grauating high school. Shayla got one last roping in the weekend before she went to college, winning the All Girl Champion saddle and high money roper for the weeend at the 15th Annual Ted Meredith Memorial in Young, Arizona. She is currently a freshman at Tarleton State Univeristy in Stephenville, Texas, seeking a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy in order to workin the the field of equine therapy. |
2018 |
Logan Arnold Bates
In recognition for his passion, dedication, and talent to help preserve our western heritage through his very successful participation in rodeo competition. We also applaud Logan’s accomplishments in FFA and welding, and his pursuit of degrees in ranch management and fire science.
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Kendyll Mae Tucker
In recognition for her passion, dedication, and talent to help preserve our western heritage through her successful participation in rodeo and FFA. We also applaud Kendyll’s accomplishments in western art and cowboy poetry and her interest in equine science and agriculture.
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2017 |
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2016 |
Laramie Mahan
In recognition of her passion, dedication, and talent to help preserve our western heritage through her very successful participation in rodeo competition. We also applaud Laramie’s scholastic achievements and her enthusiasm in helping more people learn about the sport of rodeo.
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Glory Glidden
In recognition of her passion, dedication, and talent to help preserve our western heritage through her performance of western music at local venues where she plays fiddle and sings harmony. We also applaud Glory’s scholastic achievements as well as her accomplishments in regional music competition.
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2015 |
Johan "Bix" Glidden
In recognition of his passion, dedication, and talent to help preserve our western heritage through his studies and performance of western music with guitar & fiddle, as well as his accomplishments in regional music competitions.
Johan “Bix” Glidden has been passionate about music since he started playing fiddle/violin at the age of five. Bix was originally classically trained, so he came to fiddle music with a great deal of knowledge that helped him better understand the music. He plays western music every chance he gets. Currently, he plays lead guitar and sings in the country/western/folk band Generation. One of his favorite songs to sing is Ghost Riders in the Sky. Bix says that it feels great carrying on the tradition of singing great western songs like that, combining them with his own unique style. In addition, Bix loves film, reading, acting, writing songs and short stories. Below is a partial list of Bix’s accomplishments: ★ Grand Champion, Bob Wills Annual Fiddle Contest, Turkey, Texas (2013) ★ Twin Fiddle Champion, Bob Wills Annual Fiddle Contest (2012-14-15) ★ Grand Champion, Worthen Memorial Old Time Fiddle Contest, Yuma, AZ (2011) ★ Youth Entertainer of the Year, Rick Felix Memorial, Festival of the West, Scottsdale, AZ (2010) ★ Entertainer, Prescott Opry, solo performer, performances with multiple groups, ie, Prescott Playboys, Brush Arbor Revival, Timothy & Bix, Glory & Bix (2012 - 2015) Bix also serves the community through his dad’s Granite Creek Hunger Ministry, by entertaining and being a friend to those in need. Vertical Divider
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Danya Weir
In recognition for her passion, dedication, and talent to help preserve our western heritage through her studies and in her very successful participation in rodeo competition. We also applaud Danya's scholastic achievements and her enthusiasm in helping more people learn about the sport of rodeo.
Danya graduated from Camp Verde High School in May of 2015 in the top 5% of her class. Danya gives lessons to younger kids teaching them how to breakaway rope, team rope, barrel race and Pole Bend. Danya’s parents are Bob & Daria Weir from Camp Verde, Arizona who also participate in Rodeo. Bob is a rodeo clown and rodeo announcer. Daria breakaway ropes and runs barrels and secretaries Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Association rodeos. Danya is currently a Freshman at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and majoring in Physical Therapy. She would one day like to work for the Justin Sports Medicine program for the Professional Rodeo Association. Danya is proud of her western heritage and plans to continue helping people learn about the sport of rodeo. Below is a partial list of Danya’s accomplishments: ★ Student Body President of Camp Verde H. S. – class of 2014-2015 ★ Honor Roll (2013-2015) ★ Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Association member from 2008 to present ★ Wendy’s High School Heisman Award winner in 2014 ★ National High School Athlete of the Month in December 2014 ★ American Citizenship Award in May, 2015 ★ Arizona High School Rodeo Association State Champion Breakaway ★ Roper and National Qualifier in 2014 & 2015. Danya is currently on the UNLV Rodeo Team and participates in Breakaway Roping and Team Roping. Vertical Divider
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