Beyond the Chutes — BTC Short Go (Presented by ParaSight System) brings you a quick, share-size “M&M” bite of rodeo life from the PRCA First Frontier Circuit.

In this Short Go, Jamie Myers (wife of tie-down roper JR Myers) shares what happens behind the scenes at the Circuit Finals — including the real work of pulling together awards and competitor goodies for the Top 12 headed to Harrisburg. Jamie also talks about their family, including their son Gater Myers (7), and their horse training operation, Myers Performance Horses / JR & Jamie Myers Performance Horses.

You’ll hear about:

• How the First Frontier Circuit Finals awards come together
• The sponsors and support that keep Western heritage strong
• Their horse training facility near Harrisburg and the daily grind behind the wins
• Mentoring youth rodeo and helping young athletes move toward college rodeo
• Staying positive, trusting the process, and keeping faith at the center of it all

Short. Quick. Made to pass along.

Beyond the Chutes — as presented by ParaSight System.

#BeyondTheChutes, #PRCA, #FirstFrontierCircuit, #FirstFrontierFinals, #TieDownRoping, #CalfRoping, #ProRodeo, #RodeoLife, #RodeoFamily, #MeetTheCompetitor

This is Beyond the Chutes, and this special Bonus Episode was recorded on the road at the First Frontier Circuit Finals.

In this episode, Sam Swearingen sits down with bullfighter Riggin Dailey for a candid, in-the-moment conversation about one of the most dangerous and least understood jobs in rodeo — helping keep the cowboys safe.

Recorded during the Finals, this conversation goes beyond the action in the arena and into the preparation behind it. Riggin talks about staying fit, staying alert, reading animals, and approaching bullfighting as professional work — not bravado.

They discuss coming back from injury, earning trust, learning the game the right way, and soaking in every opportunity, knowing that nothing in this line of work is guaranteed.

There’s no polish and no hindsight here — just real rodeo, real responsibility, and the mindset required to step into danger for others.

BTC was on the road again, capturing the stories that matter — right where rodeo happens.

🎙️ This is Beyond the Chutes.

This episode of Beyond the Chutes, as presented by ParaSight Systems — helping vets help pets, was recorded Friday morning at the First Frontier Circuit Finals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

In this conversation, Doug Simcox and Sam Swearingen sit down with Tom Glause, CEO of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, for an honest, people-first discussion about leadership, relationships, and the realities of managing a sport built on trust.

Tom shares life lessons from growing up in rodeo, insights from circuit management, and what it means to lead a people-based organization where hard decisions are unavoidable and balance matters. They talk openly about the current state of the PRCA, the challenges that still exist, and why ingenuity and strong relationships are required to keep rodeo moving forward.

During the conversation, Tom praised the First Frontier Circuit and Brock Hower’s leadership, pointing to a season that added a fourth performance and raised the $85,000 required to fund it — a clear example of leadership, collaboration, and commitment behind the scenes.

This isn’t a press conference. It’s a conversation about people, responsibility, and the work it takes to sustain the sport.

🎙️ This is Beyond the Chutes.

BTC On the Road Again | First Frontier Circuit Finals

This is Beyond the Chutes, and this special Bonus Episode takes you inside the First Frontier Circuit Finals — not from the stands, but from the quiet moments just before it all happens.

Recorded on the road at the Penn Harris Hotel, just hours before the final performance, this episode features a real-time conversation with Brianna Waltz — IPRA World Champion breakaway roper, registered nurse, wife, and mom — as she prepares for the biggest runs of the weekend.

Brianna shares what preparation really looks like when the draw is posted and the pressure is real. From trusting a quirky but honest horse, to simplifying the barrier, managing mindset, and balancing rodeo with work and family life, this conversation captures rodeo as it unfolds, not years later.

There’s no polish. No hindsight. Just mindset, preparation, and trust — told in the calm before the gate swings open.

BTC was on the road again, recording the stories that matter — right where rodeo happens.

🎙️ This is Beyond the Chutes.

#BeyondTheChutes #BTCOnTheRoad #RodeoPodcast #FirstFrontierCircuit #BreakawayRoping #IPRARodeo #ProfessionalRodeo #RodeoMindset #CowboyCulture #CowgirlStrong #WesternHeritage #RodeoLife #WomenInRodeo #BehindTheScenes #OnTheRodeoRoad

Beyond the Chutes | First Frontier Circuit Finals Series

Before the gate opens and the clock starts, there’s a moment when it’s just a rider, a horse, and everything you’ve worked on to that moment.

In Episode 1 of our special First Frontier Circuit Finals series, we sit down with Karissa Landis, a barrel racer from Middleburg, Pennsylvania, whose journey to success has been shaped as much by trust and patience as by speed.

Recorded on site at the First Frontier Circuit Finals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this conversation goes far beyond the arena dirt. Karissa shares the deeply personal story of Old Man Cash — the horse who carried her through her youth, her grief, and her growth as a competitor.

In a meaningful full-circle moment, Karissa purchased Cash from my daughter Kathleen Simcox, who took a soured barrel racing horse out of the arena for nearly two years and made riding fun again. By stepping away from competition, riding with a partner, and allowing a horse to simply be a horse, Cash found his way back — not just as a competitor, but as a true teacher.

Karissa opens up about:

• Growing up in rodeo and starting young in barrel racing
• Learning hard lessons from difficult horses and tougher seasons
• Losing a close friend and finding comfort in the stall, not the spotlight
• Developing the mental game required to compete at the highest level
• And learning when to stop saying “if I win” and start saying “when I do”

The results followed.

At the 2026 First Frontier Circuit Finals, Karissa:

• Won the first round
• Placed in every round
• Finished second in the average
• And earned an invitation to the NFR Open in Colorado Springs this July

But this episode isn’t about stats on a scoreboard.

It’s about what happens when riders show up for their horses, honor the process, and refuse to settle for anything less than their best.

This is the story that sets the tone for the entire series.

🎧 Beyond the Chutes — where the real rodeo stories live.

#BeyondTheChutes #BarrelRacing #WomenInRodeo #RodeoLife

#HorseAndRider #RodeoMindset #FirstFrontierCircuit #NFRopen

In Part 2 of our conversation with Wes Ward, recorded during the Beyond the Chutes Texas Swing 2025 inside the BTC Bus at a Chute 2 Productions bull riding, Wes opens up about the long road that follows a lifetime in the saddle.

After riding bareback horses for more than two decades, Wes faced the question every cowboy eventually must answer: What do you do when you can’t get on anymore? From transitioning into rodeo production and announcing, to building a life beyond competition, Wes reflects on the decisions, detours, and mentors that shaped him along the way.

This episode dives deep into rodeo’s business realities — moving between the IPRA and PRCA, navigating permits and rookie seasons, college rodeo, hauling with the right people, and learning how to make a living without breaking yourself in the process. Wes also shares candid insight into equipment changes, judging rules, the evolution of bareback riding, and why production and presentation matter just as much as the riding itself.

Along the way, Wes honors the people who influenced him most — mentors like Jack Wiseman, friendships formed on the road, lessons learned from rodeo legends, and the quiet guidance that came later in life through faith, service, and teaching the next generation.

This is not a highlight-reel episode. It’s a reflection on longevity, purpose, and the responsibility to pass things on better than you found them.

This is Beyond the Chutes, presented by ParaSight. Hosted by Doug Simcox. These stories matter.

#BeyondTheChutes #WesWard #TexasSwing2025 #RodeoPodcast#BarebackRiding #RodeoHistory #CowboyLife #RodeoAnnouncer#IPRARodeo #PRCARodeo #Chute2Productions #ParaSight#TheseStoriesMatter

In Part 1 of this Texas Swing episode of Beyond the Chutes, host Doug Simcox sits down with legendary rodeo cowboy and announcer Wes Ward for a powerful, story-driven conversation recorded on the road in October 2025.

This episode centers on Wes Ward’s early rodeo journey and his deep, personal friendship with Lane Frost — how they first met, traveled together, competed together, and forged a bond that shaped both of their lives. Wes shares rare, firsthand stories of Lane long before fame, revealing the character, humility, and work ethic that made Lane more than just a champion — it made him unforgettable.

Wes also reflects on the mentors who shaped him, including the defining moment when Jack Wiseman “taught him how to win,” and how those lessons carried through his bareback riding career, rodeo announcing, and life beyond the arena.

This episode explores rodeo heritage, cowboy values, faith, perseverance, and the unseen moments that shape champions. Recorded during the Beyond the Chutes Texas Swing and proudly supported by Parasight Systems, Part 1 sets the foundation for a deeper continuation of Wes Ward’s story in Part 2.

In Episode 2 of Beyond the Chutes, recorded on the Texas Swing 2025, Doug and Sam continue their conversation with rodeo legend Ronnie Williams — a man who didn’t just ride through rodeo history, he helped build it. Ronnie reflects on the hard miles of the old rodeo road, hauling coast to coast with Glen Bird, riding more than 160 rodeos a year, and learning the business of rodeo the hard way — by doing it.

The conversation moves beyond the arena to the business and production side of rodeo, where Ronnie discusses the influence of Bruce Lehrke, the impact of rodeo management schools, and the rise of major building rodeos promoted by Lehrke and Steve Gander. Ronnie reflects on legendary productions, including competing in front of massive crowds at the Pontiac Silverdome, and what those events meant for the growth and visibility of rodeo.

Ronnie also shares his transition from competitor to leadership, detailing his work as an IRA/IPRA executive, field representative, and advocate for affiliations that helped grow rodeo participation across the country. Along the way, he pays tribute to the entertainers and personalities who defined the era, including Lecile Harris, whose live, unscripted arena performances set a standard that has never been matched.

This episode wraps up our visit with Ronnie Williams. If you missed it, be sure to listen to Episode #164 — Ronnie Williams Part 1: “I Didn’t Think You Could Get Hurt Riding a Bucking Horse.” Beyond the Chutes is presented by ParaSight Systems.