Dear Ropers,

Hope this newsletter finds you all doing well. If you didn?t get to Ft Smith AR then let me tell you, you missed the biggest AATRC roping ever! We ran 1162 on Saturday and 512 on Sunday. With this many teams we had to change the format to progressive on 1 three head. If not then we would have gotten over at 8:00am just in time to start the Sunday rotations and no one would have had a good time. So with the format change we were over about 1:00am and everyone got a few hours of sleep before the Sunday rotations started. We awarded 20 saddles 5 buckles and $39,000 in cash. As it came down to the money and prize round everyone had their hearts set on placing in the top 10 so they could take home a beautiful Running P trophy saddle made by Stuart Bigbee and his great crew.
Just a little over 200 came back for their 3rd steer. And at the bottom of the pack some of the guys were going for the fast time money and buckles. $2800 and 2 Hy-O-Silver buckles were up for grabs for fast times in the money round. The 187 call back held the fast time position with a 6.40. And that went to Troy Hudson and Don Sappington they took home $1200 and two buckles. And just when you think your call back is too long you can just talk to Bart Lowry and Colton Craig (winner of the 14 and under buckle) they were the 75th call back and were a 8.03 which placed them 15th in the average and that was last hole.

As we came down to the top 15 there were 9 no times and 4 legs. Leaving only 2 teams to be clean on their call back, and one of those teams was Kevin Carter and Mike Taylor. Kevin and Mike were the 6th high back with a 17.42 on 2. Roping there call back in a time of 9.17 made them $6600 richer! Congratulations guys! Our top lady went to a salty young heeler named Kallee Bailey. Kallee has showed her skills with us before and won a saddle. This time she placed 25th and came back 2nd high call. She threw a loop that look like it was going to do the job but came up empty. There will be many more top call backs in this young ladies future.

As 1:00 came around Sunday afternoon there were kids everywhere. It was time for the dummy roping! In the 5 and under the buckle went to Bradley Caudle. And in the 6-9 Chad Waide had to rope about a dozen times to secure his victory. Rumor has it his dad tried to trade him out of his buckle but there was no having it. Chad said that was the pretties buckle that any of them have ever won. Chad you are a winner! But no only in the dummy roping you are what I call a real winner. You see Chad no matter where you see Chad he always has a smile on his face and a kind word to say. No matter if he just got beat or won the buckle. Keep up the good attitude Chad God?s got something really big in store for you!
As I come to an end I want to remind you that the top 10% from Ft Smith go to our finals and if you just bought your card don?t forget you will receive ˝ of a shootout with your membership. Our finals will be in Shawnee Ok Dec. 5th 6th & 7th. We will have lots of info on our web site AATRCROPE.COM by the beginning of August. Be sure to check it out!
Here is another email that I want to share with you

G U I D A N C E

When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.. My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE. When I saw "G," I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i." "God, "u" and "i" dance"! God, you, and I dance. This statement is what guidance means to me. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you and your family on this day and everyday. May you abide in Him as He abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting Him to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

I Hope You Dance !!!!!!!!!!!! 
Buddy and Kelly Norman 
AATRC