Wisconsin Natives Stand Out at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo

Cheyenne Wyoming Tribune-Eagle ^ | 07-30-04 | Johnke, Jeremiah

[Theodore R.]

Wisconsin natives stand out

By Jeremiah Johnke spt3@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

CHEYENNE - Ask anyone what states they think of when it comes to rodeo, and odds are they'll rattle off a short list that includes Texas, Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

So it's of very little surprise that many people's reaction when bull riders B.J. Schumacher and Fred Boettcher's home state appears on the scoreboard is often accompanied by an inquisitive tone. Wisconsin?

"When I first started going to (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) rodeos 10 years ago, there were all of these cowboys from Texas and Wyoming and places like that," Boettcher, 28, said. "There were maybe one or two guys from Wisconsin in the entire rodeo. At that time, I basically thought, 'Well, who are they going to remember?'"

While being Badger State natives in the middle of cowboys from Western states made Schumacher and Boettcher stand out, it only makes sense that two of the world's top bull riders would come from America's dairy country.

Boettcher added that once people get over their initial reaction and remember Wisconsin's cattle population almost equals that of humans, they adjust.

"There are a lot of bulls (in Wisconsin)," Boettcher said. "Granted, most of them are black and white, but we have bulls."

What Wisconsin lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality.

Schumacher was already one of the world's top bull riders before last year's National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

The NFR only takes the top 15 money-winning PRCA cowboys in each event. So with his second NFR qualification in as many years, Schumacher was already well on his way to cementing his position among the world's elite.

But it was at the 2003 NFR that the Hillsboro, Wis., native established himself in the upper echelon of that group.

Schumacher, who has been a PRCA member since 2001, broke out during those 10 days last November, earning paychecks totaling $71,564, placing him second at the NFR and second in the world standings with $178,435 in season winnings.

That streak carried over into this year as Schumacher, 22, is the No. 2 bull rider in the PRCA world standings with $90,695 in earnings. He also sits in a three-way tie with Zack Oakes of Mead, Wash., and Matt Austin of Wills Point, Texas, for the top spot on the PRCA Xtreme Bulls money list ($32,900).

Schumacher also has raked in $17,414 on the Professional Bull Riders Tour this year.

It's safe to say that Schumacher has been having a breakout year.

"I gained so much confidence from finishing second at the NFR last year," Schumacher said. "Finishing how I did gave me a big boost in confidence in going out and riding like I have."

Schumacher had surgery in San Francisco on Wednesday to repair torn cartilage and shave calcium deposits in his hip. The operation will keep him out until early- to mid-October, just weeks before the 2004 National Finals Rodeo he has already qualified for.

"It's nice to be able to take some time off, have the surgery and get healthy and still make the NFR," Schumacher said. "The only downside to it is that I won't be where I was in the standings when I come back. All of those guys will be rodeoing while I recover, and they'll be earning money and passing me. But the big thing is that I'll be back at the NFR either way.

"The world championship is still won at the NFR regardless of whether or not I go in $30,000 less than the No. 1 guy. The NFR is $14,000 per day for 10 days and $35,000 for winning the average. Whoever has the best week there is going to win it, and hopefully, that guy will be me."

Boettcher, Schumacher's travel partner, echoed Schumacher, saying increased confidence has been the key to Schumacher's ascent up the world standings.

"That's been the biggest thing, but up until recently, he's also been healthy," Boettcher said. "Those are the two biggest differences between him this year and him in years past. I think people are really going to have to watch out for him when he comes back.

"He's been injured about as much or more than any cowboy I know out there, and each time he's come back better than before, because he knows what he needs to do to get better."

Based on past experiences, Schumacher said he doesn't anticipate any rust or lingering effects from his latest surgery.

"I've been hurt so much throughout my career that it's not going to make much of a difference when I come back," he said. "If anything, I'll be fresh and ready to go. Most of all, I know my leg isn't going to be hurting me anymore, and that's the whole reason I had the surgery."

[SoDak]

I also see quite a few MN cowboys at local rodeos. As a side-note, I had a customer send me four sets of tickets to the Dodge City Roundup. Wish I had the time.