**For Immediate Release**
Top Hand Auction Raises $10,000
-released by OPSU Campus Communications 02-07-06

Goodwell, OK - Over 100 people attended the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Rodeo Team’s Top Hand Auction on Saturday, Feb. 4. Coach Craig Latham said, “We had a good turnout and raised $10,000 to use for feed, travel expenses, and scholarships. Team members spend plenty of their own money to travel to rodeos as well as to feed and take care of their horses plus pay entry fees. Anything we can do to help pay for their education is a bonus.”

The bidding began with groups of rodeo team members up for auction. Each member will donate four hours of work to the winning bidder. Jordan Furnish from Guymon and Buster Holland from Sublette, Kan., both agriculture business majors, brought in the highest amount at $250.00.

Rodeo team members also asked for and received donations for additional auction items, which ranged from fine art to tack. One special piece of furniture, a rocking chair and footstool hand crafted by Latham’s father Paul, was purchased once and then donated back to the auction. It brought top dollar after it was sold the second time, bringing in over $3,000.00.

Community support remains an integral part of winning national rodeo championships, and the OPSU rodeo team and Craig Latham would like to thank everyone who attended the auction and either donated or purchased items. A special thanks goes to Bill and Vee Newman, the 2006 Top Hand Sponsors; Steve Long of the Pickle Creek Event Center; Hunny’s and Kim Peterson for providing the excellent barbecue meal; Clay Myers of Texhoma Livestock Auction for contributing his auctioneering skills; the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo Committee for sponsoring the beverage stall; and Tim and the Band With No Name for the music.

The Kansas State University rodeo kicks off the spring season February 24-26. The men’s team remains in second place in the Central Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association standings, and the women’s team sits tied for fourth. Individuals ranked in the top twelve of their events include Weston Ireland and Trell Etbauer, saddle bronc riding, Taos Muncy, Logan Hodson and Brian Leddy in bareback riding, and Ryan Leeds in the bull riding. More in the top twelve include Taos Muncy and Bradley Hays in calf roping, Logan Hodson, Trell Etbauer, and Seth Schafer in steer wrestling, and Levi Swafford and Eli Eastman in team roping. On the women’s side, Chancy Etbauer is ranked in the top twelve in goat tying and breakaway roping and is joined by Brandi Guttormson and Kelly Koeppen in goat tying.

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