Welcome! We are very proud to bring the Tuff Team Xtreme Ranch Rodeo to West Texas. Our friend, Rhett Cauble from Des Moines, NM was the mastermind behind putting this type of rodeo together. The first ever Xtreme Rodeo was held in Clayton, NM in September 2007. We've had a great response and lots of support. We're very excited to see this all come together, and we hope you enjoy watching these cowboys at work and play. The money raised will be donated to the Andrews County 4-H and The Tom Butler Memorial. We'd like to thank all our sponsors for ther support. This rodeo couldn't have happened without them all.
Thank You "Mad Cow Entertainment" Chip, John and David, for the great job on the video production, It was fun to watch you all work, We can't wait to see what you can do for 2009.
A special thank-you to these folks who have volunteered their time and effort: Bronc Judges: Clay Furlong, Shawn Davis. Rodeo Flagmen: Hal Evans, Chris Morten. Stock Producer: Maverick Rodeo Co., Fred Pitt. Office Help: Suzie Cauble, Sam Cauble, Roxie Deberry. Ranch Horse Competition Judges: Sam Dove. Books: Carla Spencer. Time Keeper: Roxie Deberry. Door help: Ann Brickner, Martha Smith, Tommy Connors. Arena Crew: Chad Koonce, Hal Tankin, Eddie Helbert, Brian & Jean Larremore. A special thank you to Hillcrest Motel & RV Campground, and Andrews Motor Inn. B-C Custom Welding & Fabrication, Andrews Builders Supply, Coombes Equipment, Inc., Odessa, TX, Andrews County News, Bien Steel Services, Odessa, TX.
In 2008, The Tuff Team Xtreme Ranch Rodeo, Inc., became a 501-C-3 Organization and held its initial event on May 24 & 25 in Andrews, Texas. For our first rodeo in West Texas, it was a tremendous success. Proceeds were divided between the Tom Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Andrews County 4-H program. Because of your support and belief in our goals, we were able to show a profit and therefore make considerable donations to our benefactors.
After long consideration by our board, we have decided that our 2009 rodeo will be held at the Midland Horseshoe Arena on June 12, 13, & 14, 2009. Their facility is more diverse for our events and more closely aligned with our sponsor base.
For our 2009 rodeo, we have become associated with the Midland Children's Rehab Center. This organization provides services for children with essentially every type of disability, from newborn to 22 years of age, at little or no cost to parents. One of many of the therapy programs offered by the center is Hippotherapy which pairs the children with horses and has been a tremendous success for the children and is a natural fit with our event and goals. Children from the center will be our guests and will be seated in a reserved area, the best seats in the house. Please check out their website at: www.mcrcl.org.
We will also continue to support the Tom Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund which offers help for graduating high school seniors with good academic grade averages regardless of race, color or creed and their families who can't afford the high cost of college. The Tom Butler Memorial Scholarship fund was established by saddle maker, Jeff Gray in memory of Tom Butler of Guthrie, Texas. At the age of 18 years old and a Texas Tech University student, his life was tragically ended in a vehicle accidnet in February 2006. He was one of the shining stars of the cowboy and ranching community. Tom had earned many awards and titles in ranch rodeos and horse competitions as well as athletic and scholastic activities. Tom lived life with infectious passion and purpose, with the wisdom of someone three times his age. At the young age of 17 he prophetically wrote: "We focus so much on what we're waiting for that we miss or forget to appreciate what we have." Check out the website at www.tombutlermemorial.com for more information on this scholarship.
We believe our event will grow over time. When it does, and we are able to support a third beneficiary without affecting our existing recipient, we hope to add some level of support to the Billy Cauble Memorial Trust and Scholarship Fund. Billy was the team captain of the No Land or Cattle Team at our 2008 Competition. His life was tragically ended 24 days later, while traveling to help is father, Rhett Cauble, work cattle at the Pacheco Ranch northwest of Clayton, New Mexico. Billy, like his brothers and sister, are like grandchildren to me. Billy was a top hand, not only with horses and cattle, but more important, he was one of the most caring and friendly cowboys I have ever known. He was just 22 years old and left a young wife and son at the time of his death. Possibly in 2009 or 2010, I hope to be able to honor this outstanding cowboy and find young man with a memorial fund.