Rodeo

Two years ago, it was Morgan's Lan Lajeunesse. This year, it’s the Kerby family’s turn in the spotlight.

SALT LAKE CITY — The former rodeo chairman of the annual Days of ’47 celebration is facing criminal charges alleging he rerouted about $305,000 in rodeo funds into his own bank accounts.

Brad Harmon, 53, of Taylorsville, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with second-degree felony counts of unlawful dealing of property by a fiduciary, communications fraud and pattern of unlawful activity. 

OGDEN — Utah will have a new Miss Rodeo Utah as of Tuesday.

This weekend’s First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pennsylvania will feature a unique twist: A husband and wife battling for the same prize.

In a scenario believed to be unprecedented in the more than 35 years of circuit finals competition, team roping heelers Joe and Jamie Lynn Williams of Green Lane, Pa., will each chase their share of the $100,993 in prize money — each “rooting for each other,” Jamie says, to fill the family coffers.

OGDEN — When you look at Chenae Shiner, the new Miss Rodeo America 2013, it’s easy to recognize exactly how long it’s been since Utah had a national rodeo queen.

That’s because Shiner, 22, was only 8 last time a Utah woman was the winner of the contest held during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev.

LAS VEGAS — Jesse Wright edged Cody DeMoss by $797 in the saddle bronc season standings for his first world title, finishing fourth with an 80.5-point ride on Pedro on Saturday night in the 10th and final round of the National Finals Rodeo.

“I didn’t have that great of a finals, but to come down to the end of it and to ride my horses and win the world title without being high up in the average (NFR aggregate) feels outstanding,” Wright said. “I had a great regular season and everything panned out enough here for it all to work out.

LAS VEGAS — Barrel racer Mary Walker closed in on a season championship in her first National Finals Rodeo appearance, finishing third at 13.90 seconds Friday night in the ninth round.

The 53-year-old Walker from Ennis, Texas, leads the standings with $233,302 with one round left. Second-place Brittany Pozzi of Victoria, Texas, shut out after failing to place among the top six in the round, has made $194,224.