The 70th annual Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo, which gets under way this Thursday-Saturday, June 15-17, is the only Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association three-day event scheduled for the Four Corners Area.

The Durango Pro Rodeo PRCA Weekly Series will be getting under way next week at the La Plata County Fairgrounds and will continue throughout the summer. However, the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo is the only major rodeo set for this area.

Sanctioned events include bareback broncs, saddle broncs, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, and bull riding. Barrel racing is sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association but are part of PRCA shows.

Carl Armstrong, general chairman, said this year’s $9,000-added rodeo has a tradeoff with the rodeo in Grand Junction. That means some of the better cowboys in the Mountain States, Turquoise, and Prairie pro rodeo circuits will be attending.

Honeycutt and Sons Rodeo Co. of Alamosa, will once again be the stock contractor. The patriarch of the operation is Roy Honeycutt, a former PRCA competitor, combines the knowledge he has acquired through the years to further fair competition, develop new rodeo events, and expand on a sport which has been the heart of the company.

Honeycutt continues the traditions of his late father-in-law Walter Alsbaugh who has provided Honeycutt with a wealth of wisdom of the stock contracting and bucking horse breeding program. Four generations now link the show together which includes state-of-the-art event promotions. The family show combines rodeo entertainment with dynamic music.

Honeycutt will bring several stock head that appeared in the 1999 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev., including bareback broncs Copenhagen Ragged Edge, and Schnook; saddle broncs Top Gun Skoal, and bulls Copenhagen King Kong, and High and Mighty.

Some of the finest rodeo athletes have appeared in Cortez through the years.

Some good ones appeared here last year. Little did anyone know that Lan LaJeunesse of Morgan, Utah, who won the bareback event here would go on to win the gold buckle at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Mike Moore of Wellington, Colo., who finished ninth in the world in bull riding, and calf roper Brent Lewis of Pinon, N.M. In barrel racing, Kristie Peterson of Elbert, Colo., Kelly Yates of Pueblo, and Sherry Cervi of Marana, Ariz., competed here.

And through the years world all-around cowboy Fred Whitfield was a here just a couple years ago in calf roping, bareback riding champ Mark Gomes of Nickerson, Kan., and several-time world champ team roper Jake Barnes of Cove, Ariz., and nine world champion Larry Mahan also have been here. Evan motion picture star Willford Brimley and television host Bob Eubanks have competed here recently.

Once again, Nashville recording artist and PRCA rodeo announcer Johnny Pope will be on his horse in the arena keeping fans abreast of what’s going on.

A new bullfighter will be on hand at this year’s rodeo. Brad Knifong, regarded as one of the top new bullfighters in the PRCA circuit, will be making an appearance here. He is a native of Browning, Mo., but makes his home in Canon City.

He began his bullfighting career in 1995 at the Rex Dunn Bullfighting School, while attending Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. Knifong received his bachelor of science in fitness and wellness in 1997.

Inside and outside the arena, Knifong displays his dedication, professionalism, and athleticism to this dangerous and exciting sport. That philosophy and reputation is clearly helping him become one of the most respected bullfighters in the business.

While in the arena, Knifong showcases his athleticism by leaping over a charging bull during his freestyle matches or putting himself between a fallen cowboy and bull, usually all coming away without a scratch.

He was the 1999 National Finals Rodeo Stock Sale Champion Freestyle Bullfighter. He was the Colorado Pro Rodeo Association Freestyle Bullfighter Tour runner-up. Knifong participated at the High Country Stampede Series Finals in Fraser, Colo.

There will also be a new clown at this year’s pro rodeo.

Duane Reichert, a 1991 South Dakota Hall of Fame inductee (rodeo), is perhaps better known as "Dr. Ben Krazy" will be performing at all three shows. For the past three years, Don "Hollywood" Yates has been here.

Reichert was the opening act with Pony Baroni at the 1999 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. He also was the specialty act for the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo last summer. During his many years as a professional rodeo clown, he has appeared at First Frontier Circuit Finals, Dodge National Circuit Finals, Great Plains Indians Association Finals, and Great Lakes Circuit Finals to name a few.