In 2007 it paid LARGE to be a Senior team roper! Before the weekend was over several Senior and women team ropers along with less senior ropers were Living Large at the beautiful Empty Acres Facilities in Buckeye Arizona! And as and added Bonus World Champion Header Matt Sherwood was on site Saturday to provide tips and instruction! What a weekend!

TWO TRUCKS ARE BETTER THAN ONE! That was the agreement of ropers at TRC’s 6^th Annual Living Large Event January 6^th and 7^th at Empty Acres large covered arena. Many Seniors roped both days and made an entire weekend out of it. Since TRC awarded two trucks many ropers were able to rope for a truck each day.

Ropers, if you haven’t yet been a competitor or spectator at Empty Acres, drop by and see Mike & Tammi Sully and their friendly staff or visit them online at www.emptyacres.com. With the "land-grab" going on in the "valley of the sun" Arizona is fortunate to have such a fine privately owned (read no city council intervention). Also located on site are a fantastic tack/feed store [Forever-D] and a state of the art veterinarian clinic [River Ridge].

The action started on Saturday with the #10 truck roping for a 2006 Dodge Quad Cab 3500 SLT Dually Diesel grand prize. When the day was finished Winter visitor Bill Mankin held a set of 2007 Dodge Truck keys and will smile all the way back to his hometown of Gillette Wyoming. Bill was assisted nicely in his point totals by teaming with Barbra Kenny for first in the Ave with 24.54/3 and header Edison Begay Jr. with a 27.59/3 which was good enough for 4^th in the Ave. Since Bill is a Senior roper he planned to rope both days but accomplished his goal the first day and was able to celebrate on Sunday. Congratulations Bill Mankin for a fantastic day of roping and a new Dodge Turbo-Cummings Truck to show for his efforts.

Saddle winners for Saturdays #10 Living Large started with a tie 3 points below the truck winner with #5’s Raymond Kerr and Travis Magill who elected to make the decision on a coin toss. Raymond called it in the air but when the quarter hit the ground it was all Travis. Travis was helped in his points by Nina Haggard who roped three in 28.43 for 7^th in the Ave which also awarded Nina the #3 Saddle. Travis also roped with Joel Tudor for 9^th place in points on 28.51/3. Barbara Kenny made a good run at the truck but this was her day for a beautiful saddle awarded to the high point woman roper. Barbara was assisted in points acquisition by truck winner Bill Mankin for 1^st in the Ave and 20^th in points with Justin Cooper. The #4 saddle was taken home by HK Wagoner with help from Wesley Betsnie and Lupe Espinoza for 8^th and 18^th in points respectively on 28.50/3 and 31.29. Nacho Castro was awarded the Senior saddle by roping with Fernando Peralta for 2^nd in the Ave with 26.62/3. The youth saddle went to Edison Begay Jr by roping with Chris Smith for 27.75/3. Finally the Senior saddle was awarded to the super senior Fred Lucero by locking down 5^th in the points with Marvin Heesacker with 27.75/3. Congratulations to all of the #10 Living Large Saddle recipients for a terrific day of roping!

As a special treat World Champion Header Matt Sherwood provided a Team Roping Demonstration in the outdoor roping arena at Empty Acres. Everyone saw Matt lock in the Championship in the 10^th round of the WNFR but not everyone knows how good of an instructor that he is. Let’s just say his roping instruction is world class as well! Thanks Matt, and congratulations on one heck of a rooky WNFR!

The #10 Senior Truck Sunday Jan 8^th roping drew a bunch of saltiest Senior ropers anywhere in the Western States to compete head to head for a 2007 Dodge Quad Cab 3500 SLT Dually Diesel grand prize. 64 years young Leroy Williams drove from 2:00 AM from the Navajo Nation to arrive in time for the Senior Truck Event in Buckeye. The early morning travel paid off for Leroy as he bested a field of Seniors and Women to drive back home in style…in his new Dodge Diesel. Leroy was assisted in his win in a big way by Janie Freed and Leo Gishie who both headed for Leroy to win 1^st and 4^th in the average respectively. Leroy was anxious to retire his old tired truck and start 2007 out right in a 2007 truck. Congratulations to Leroy for his fantastic showing at Empty Acres through dedicated roping.

Additional saddle winners in the Senior Living Large were #5 roper Janie Freed who combined with truck winner Leroy for 1^st in the Ave. #4 roper Doug Lester got his points the old fashioned way by teaming with Jerry Skoedopole and Kurt Lorenson for 9^th and 10^th respectively. Finally, #3 roper PJ Dietmier came from way back as she captured the #3 saddle by solid roping. This award to PJ gave the women a distinct 2:1 advantage in the Saddle Awards. Congratulations to Senior/Women Living Large saddle recipients for a great day of roping!

The Roping Company would like to thank Mike Sully and the staff of the new Empty Acres for providing Arizona’s most complete team roping destination. Also, kudos to Cactus Ropes for producing a fantastic selection of ropes…find your favorite one and you will end up at the pay window…it’s almost that simple. Most especially The Roping Company would like to thank the continued interest of team ropers AND their supporting families in The Roping Company’s events! Ropers be sure to mark your Calendars for TRC’s Truck Bonanza with #10 and #12 ropings March 31 and April Fools day (really) also at Empty Acres. We’ll leave the wraps on and see you there!