PRCA Photo Contest of the Year

The PRCA has just released the PRCA Photo Contest of the Year. There are 25 photos up for the title and I just happen to be one of them. Tony Bruguiere captured an image of me fighting bulls at the 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo that is picture perfect for the cover of the ProRodeo Sports News (PSN).

The winning photographer is guaranteed the front cover of the PSN in January 2008. However, the winning photo is determined by YOU the Rodeo Fan!

Tony and I would like to ask for you to visit the PRCAs website at: http://www.prorodeo.com/pages/photo_contest.html and vote for photo “Q”

Voting is open now and will continue to be so until 2 Jan.

Thanks in advance for participating and lets bring another award back to Wyoming!

Forever West
Jeremy

AIR TIME

I hope my blog finds you doing extremely well and gearing up for Halloween Trick-R-Treaters! You never know, I might dress up like Ricky Bobby and knock on your door, do a little shake and bake and ask for a treat! Perhaps dressing up like Scar Face would be more appropriate being I have a nice scar from my hunting accident!

The 2007 rodeo season was a great year for me. Not only was I blessed to be involved in various major rodeos nationwide and abroad, I also had the opportunity to participate in numerous media engagements around the world.

A few media highlights would have to be my Bresnan Commercial, print ads for Corral West, cover-story for the Rodeo News, the ProRodeo Sports News ‘8 Seconds with…” and meeting Drew Carey when I flew to NYC for the Power of 10.

There is one additional event I want to highlight. It’s a new TV Show called Pressure Cook with Ralph Pagano, produced by NYC firm Helicon-Media which airs on MojoHD. Ralph is a famous chef with previous appearances on Hells Kitchen and other top cooking shows worldwide.

It was my pleasure to help welcome Ralph and crew to Wyoming and do my part to make Ralph a real-life cowboy! The shoot took place at the historic Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. It was a day of riding, roping, and bullfighting… and yes some true cowboy trash talking!

Pressure Cook, Wyoming episode aired on MojoHD October 21 and will air again on October 28. However, you can watch the full episode on their website. Check out the link below to see how Ralph handled the pressure of cooking in Wyoming (with no budget) and learned the ropes of the cowboy lifestyle!

http://mojohd.com/video/?sid=16

Image: New York chef Ralph Pagano, center, learns the art of chuckwagon cooking at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Pro bullfighter Jeremy Sparks appeared in the show “Pressure Cook” shot in southern Wyoming last summer and airing now on MojoHD-Television. (mojohd.com) Photo credit: Lori Hogan

Forever West,

Jeremy

Hunting Wyoming

Last weekend I was afforded the opportunity to go on a Mule Deer and elk hunt in southern Wyoming. I’d hunted Wyoming only once prior and that trip didn’t fair so well. I was in Wyoming’s unforgiving Savage Run Wilderness with rodeo buddy, Ira McKillip. Our hunting trip turned into a survival story at the mid-day point due to the fact we were lost…well Ira claims we were hiking, not lost! I remind him, it may have been hiking, it was just in the wrong direction.

As you can imagine, I was hoping this hunting trip would be more successful. I had been excited about this trip ever since my good friends Kal and Brian invited me. I sighted in my rifle in the Snowy Range, bought camp food, packed my bags and loaded up my truck and headed towards Baggs, Wyoming.

I highly recommend a day trip through the Medicine Bow National Forest. Our route took us on a beautiful drive through Centennial, Wyoming. We made it through a little snow shower just in time to set up camp at Battle Mountain and hike in for the evening hunt. Wildlife is plentiful in Wyoming and we were able to set up hunting camp in a prime area. Kal, Brian and I all passed on mule deer that evening in hopes for, “Walter the Wall Hanger” the next morning!

Before the clock could strike dawn, we were up and eager to hike the mountain. Thank God for Brian’s four-wheeler because without that the trek to the top would have been a solid day’s work. But don’t worry; we hiked our fair share over the three-day hunt. At 8 am Brian and I trekked over a nearby ridge to glass for deer. To my delight, we saw a nice buck but had no luck getting a solid shot. It was a little disappointing to be so close…yet so far away.

By 10 am we met up at the bottom of the ridge and took comfort in the fact that the four-wheeler was still in place! After all, we had seen fresh signs of deer, elk and bear.

Brian spotted another buck Mule Deer and offered me the shot. I accepted! I’d never killed a Mule Deer so I was excited to have the opportunity. Now this is where the story gets good! I had the deer in my scope and could see he was a three-point. Just when I got a steady hand he walked behind some Scrub Oak and out of my scope. Well I was really leaning forward trying to find him…and out he came. I forgot how far I was leaning and pulled the trigger of my 30-06. Next thing I knew, blood was running down my head and off my nose! I asked Brian and Kal, “Did I hit him?” They couldn’t even answer me… not because they were concerned with my bleeding, mind you, but because they were laughing so hard! To make a long story short, I “scoped” myself. When I pulled the trigger the recoil caused the scope to hit me a good one! Good thing I’m used to pain from rodeo because that was a Mike Tyson type blow. I almost forgot to tell you…I did kill him and it was 165 yard shot. They still remind me I drew first and second blood…good friends, good times in good ‘ol Wyoming.











Jeremy's injury on recent hunting trip in Wyoming

Movin' on up

Rodeo season may be winding down but my life is still a whirlwind! One thing is certain …...I'm burning the candle at both ends 24/7!

I am scheduled to close on my house Friday and that will be great. However, getting to that point has been organized chaos at best. The movers came in and packed my belongings on the 20th and then came back to pick it up on the 21st.The house was pretty bare, just a lonely bed and television. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the simplicity of the four walls. The only down side of this move is my "stuff" is scattered everywhere! I have things in my office, my camper, at my neighbors, in my truck, and a large majority is in storage until I find a place to reside.

I really want to thank all the people that have helped me in one way or another...rodeo is a great sport because your friends are true friends even when it is an inconvenience. A special thanks to my neighbors, The Smedleys’, for taking me in as one of their own kids during this time.

Two things I wanted to share:

1. My Dodge truck has been redecorated by Wyoming Tourism. I blogged in July when this was done originally. However, we wanted a different look...bigger is better! You won't miss our rolling Wyoming billboard now as the truck has 2 large photos of me fighting bulls which extend all the way down the driver and passenger sides as well as a scenic Wyoming photo across the back glass. I really appreciate everyone associated with Wyoming Tourism. Not only do they ensure I am taken care of while on the rodeo trail, and exploring Wyoming, but they always treat me as family.

2. If you subscribe to the ProRodeo Sports News (PSN) you are familiar with the column "8 Seconds with..." This is a question/answer type interview the PSN does on rodeo personalities throughout the year. I was fortunate enough to be asked and was featured in this week’s PSN 8 Seconds with Jeremy Sparks I hope you like the story...as always you can find more news articles, videos & pictures at www.jeremysparks.com

Stay tuned for upcoming blogs as I take on a few of Wyoming's state parks and try to tough out the early stages of winter one week at a time!

Forever West,
Jeremy

Duty Calls

Forgive me for not writing...it's been a busy couple of weeks.

When I left Sterling, Colorado’s PRCA Rodeo my intentions were to fight bulls in Douglas, WY, for the Wyoming State Fair & PRCA Rodeo. However, my Air Force duties had to come first. I was scheduled to be in the University of Wyoming's new faculty orientation and the dates were the same as the rodeo.

Since my last blog, I have taught two weeks at the university, been in a photo shoot and worked at selling my house. It's never-ending, that's for sure.

I really enjoy teaching ROTC at UW. The entire UW experience has been great so far. I try to do my best in my teaching duties and instill a few core values in my "cadets." Every week I share with the cadets my Word of the Day. The first week my word was Resourcefulness..."not having all the answers but knowing how to find them." I think this is important in everyday life, especially for a college freshman. The second Word of the Day happened to be Integrity..."doing what's right, even when no one is watching." I'm a small-town guy with small town values. I've figured out in my 30 years of living that a person is only as good as their word and I hope my "cadets" see integrity in my daily living.

To lighten things up for them, I always end class with a "safety" video. These aren't your typical work safety videos. They tend to be idiots doing not-so-smart things! I hope the "cadets" like them as much as I do. So far, I haven't shown any of my bullfighting wrecks, but one never knows. I'd like to think I'm not an idiot doing not so smart things.

Last year, Corral West Western Stores invited me to model for their annual photo shoot. It was a great event and perhaps you have seen their ads throughout the year. The larger-than-life ads have been featured at the Wrangler NFR, the NFR Cowboy Christmas, Pro Rodeo Tour events and in 90+ stores nationwide. Last week, we shot the 2008 photos. This is always a great time and I enjoy everything about the shoot. I was able to make a few new friends and look forward to working with them again. Thanks again to Corral West for inviting me to participate in such a large campaign. I will be sure to post photos when they become available. The ads will appear for the first time at the 2007 Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas, NV in December.

Well the rodeo season is winding down for '07. It has been a great season and I still have a couple more stops to include the Military World Finals in Ft Worth, TX.

Be sure to check out www.jeremysparks.com to see photos from the 2007 season.

Forever West,
Jeremy

Protecting the Best

The last time I wrote I was sitting in the Sterling, CO, Burger King...
It's been a long 23 days. Over the last 3 weeks I have performed in 18 rodeo performances, traveling from New York to California. This has been one of the best rodeo runs I can remember with my favorite stop being at the Daddy of 'Em All, Cheyenne (Wyo) Frontier Days. I am happy to inform you I am still in one piece, safe and sound in my own home! During those 18 performances I faced off with over 550 bulls. When I look at the odds I consider myself very blessed to be healthy, (not so) wealthy and (not so) wise!

The pro rodeo in Sterling, CO, was a nice event featuring some of our top circuit cowboys. It was a hot week for rodeo but the fans sure didn't mind as they saw first hand the grit and determination cowboys show when trying to win the big money.

Unfortunately, on Friday night the winning bull rider also received a ride to the ER after his spur became hung in the bulls flank strap and he was violently slammed to the ground. As a bullfighter, this is a very bad situation. The rider is drug helplessly by his spur and the tighter that strap becomes on the spur, the harder it is to free them. I was able to grab the rider's leg and help pull him to freedom. However, right before I freed his leg, the bull bucked and the rider was slammed to the ground. In every bad situation, there is good news if we choose to find it. For him, it was the fact that he was freed quickly and avoided being stepped on or gored by the bull. This was the first time that I have seen someone lay helpless on the arena dirt for such a long period of time without moving. Had I been a betting man, I would have left that night thinking he encountered a life threatening or career ending wreck.

After the rodeo, I cleaned up and headed to the ER to check on him. Praise God that he was fine and suffered no major injuries. I was able to visit with his parents and learn the good news that he was in good shape considering the accident. Rodeo is a brutal game at times...the saying is "It's not IF you get hurt, but WHEN." Although rodeo can be a dangerous sport once a person is bit with the rodeo bug, they have it for life and will stop short of dying to pursue gold buckle dreams. Rodeo is full of great people and great times which make for memories that will last a lifetime.

I wrote several weeks ago that I would be on a rodeo run that would be similar to eating an elephant and I would get it done one "bite" at a time. Well I can honestly say, I have conquered the task and it is good to be back home in Wyoming.

Forever West,
Jeremy

On the Road Again

I arrived at DIA just in time to get in my vehicle and head to Cheyenne to pick up my rig and repack for the ProRodeo event in Yuma, CO. I had planned on driving to Yuma that night. However, due to delayed flights, delayed luggage, and dead batteries on my camper I opted to stay in my own bed Monday night and leave early Tuesday morning. It was a 1:30 pm performance so I had to be on the road pretty early.

Buying RV batteries after 9 pm isn't the best idea especially when most stores close at 9 pm! I ended up picking batteries up on the road and making a photo finish into Yuma. When I started hooking my camper up to power, water, etc. I ran into a little trouble with my power cord. Thank God for good samaritians...the Yuma Committee wasted no time fixing my rig while I dressed for the rodeo. I really appreciated all their help. It was a hot one and I sure need that AC.

The rodeo was perhaps the smoothest rodeo I've been to in a while. The bull riding went well and my bullfighting was on que. Congrats to my buddies Clayton Savage and the newest Team Wyoming member, Kanin Asay...they were 1st and 2nd respectively. I really enjoy rodeos in my circuit. Over the years, I've had the pleasure to work all shapes and sizes of rodeos and there's no place I'd rather perform. The Mountain States Circuit has as solid bull riders you can find in the country, and some of my best friends in the world.

After the rodeo, I had plans of fishing and walking over to the concert. However, I opted for some much needed rest. I was in bed by 9 pm and slept until 11am!

The Wednesday performance was held at 7:30 pm and several more good friends had entered in the bullriding event. Like always it was good seeing them and cheering 'em on during their ride. After the rodeo, I showered and broke camp in order to head to Sterling, CO for their PRCA Rodeo. I'm sitting in the Sterling BK as I write this! I was on the road by 11 pm so I made a quick stop for fuel and I was on the road again. I made it here a little after midnight. I didn't even bother unhooking the camper...I just crawled in and passed out!

Well, it's going to be a hot one...I'll write soon and let you know how the rodeo went. If you're near by you might as well come check it out and support Team Wyoming!

Forever West,
Jeremy