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![Armed Forces Rodeo](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121109212325im_/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/101121-F-5040D-2519.JPG) |
Master Sgt. Travis Beck competes in calf roping at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Associations World Finals Nov. 20, 2010, in Glen Rose, Texas. Sergeant Beck earned first place in the Men's All-Around taking top honors of the rodeo and third place in the calf roping event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)
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![Armed Forces Rodeo](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121109212325im_/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/101121-F-5040D-4308.JPG) |
Staff Sgt. R.J. Eppers practices for the bull riding competition using Robo Bull a remote controlled bull riding simulator at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Associations World Finals Nov. 20, 2010, in Glen Rose, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)
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![Armed Forces Rodeo](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121109212325im_/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/101120-F-5040D-3785.JPG) |
Lt. Col. Val Baker races to the finish line during the timed barrel racing competition at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Associations World Finals Nov. 20, 2010, in Glen Rose, Texas. Colonel Baker earned first place in the Woman's All-Around winning top honors in the rodeo while competing in five events. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)
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![Armed Forces Rodeo](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121109212325im_/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/101120-F-5040D-1036.JPG) |
Staff Sgt. R.J. Eppers tries to wrestle a steer during the chute dogging competition at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Associations World Finals Nov. 20, 2010, in Glen Rose, Texas. PAFRA is a professional rodeo organization founded and comprised of military members, retirees, dependents, veterans and civilian Department of Defense card holders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)
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![Armed Forces Rodeo](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121109212325im_/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/101120-F-5040D-3148.JPG) |
Tech. Sgt. Devin Fisher and Master Sgt. Travis Beck friends and teammates compete together during the team roping competition at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Associations World Finals Nov. 20, 2010, in Glen Rose, Texas. Sergeant Beck earned first place in the Men's All-Around taking top honors of the rodeo and Tech. Sgt. Fisher earned Rookie of the Year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)
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![Airmen rope competition at rodeo world finals](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121109212325im_/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/101121-F-1851B-0547.jpg) |
Staff Sgt. Korey Stusse attempts to hang on for 8 seconds during the bull riding competition at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Associations World Finals Nov. 20, 2010, in Glen Rose, Texas. PAFRA is a professional rodeo organization founded and comprised of military members, retirees, dependents, veterans and civilian Department of Defense card holders. Sergeant Stusse is assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
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![Airmen rope competition at rodeo world finals](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121109212325im_/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/101121-F-1851B-0443.jpg) |
Lt. Col. Val Baker rounds the second barrel during the timed barrel racing competition at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Associations World Finals Nov. 20, 2010, in Glen Rose, Texas. Colonel Baker is stationed at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and earned first place in the Woman's All-Around winning top honors in the rodeo while competing in five events. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
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![Airmen rope competition at rodeo world finals](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121109212325im_/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/101120-F-1851B-1228.jpg) |
Master Sgt. Travis Beck reaches for his steer during the steer wrestling competition at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Associations World Finals Nov. 20, 2010, in Glen Rose, Texas. Sergeant Beck is assigned to Travis Air Force Base, Calif. and earned first place in the Men's All-Around taking top honors of the rodeo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
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![Airmen rope competition at rodeo world finals](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121109212325im_/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/101120-F-1851B-0027.jpg) |
Staff Sgt. R.J. Eppers leaves the chute during the bull riding competition at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Associations World Finals Nov. 20, 2010, in Glen Rose, Texas. PAFRA is a professional rodeo organization founded and comprised of military members, retirees, dependents, veterans and civilian Department of Defense card holders. Sergeant Eppers is assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
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Airmen rope competition at rodeo world finals
by Staff Sgt. Chris Powell
Defense Media Activity
11/22/2010 - GLEN ROSE, Texas (AFNS) -- Six Airmen participated in the 10th annual 2010 Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association World Finals at the Somervell County Expo Center here Nov. 20-21.
The Airmen competed against more than 40 servicemembers, retirees and dependents in 12 events.
Master Sgt. Travis Beck won the Men's All-Around and placed first in calf roping, chute dogging and steer wrestling, while Lt. Col. Val Baker won the Women's All-Around competition.
"It's a great association and gives military personnel a chance to come together and play amongst ourselves for fun and excitement," said Sergeant Beck, who has been a PAFRA member since 2002.
For Colonel Baker, it's her second straight year to win the Women's All-Around. She won it last year despite only being a PAFRA member for a few months.
"We do this for fun; we're not out here to make a living," Colonel Baker said. "I don't care so much about winning, as long as I catch. I want to catch everything that I throw my rope on."
Senior Airman Korey Stusse placed fourth in bareback riding and ninth in bull riding, Senior Airman R.J. Eppers placed fifth in chute dogging and 10th in bull riding, while Master Sgt. Devin Fisher placed ninth in the team roping healing event and 11th in the team roping heading event. Retired Master Sgt. Rob Shilaikis placed second in the healing event and sixth in the heading event.
"I'll continue to rope as long as I can. Now, I can't see myself not doing it," Sergeant Fisher said. "It's an addiction. If you go to a local rodeo, you'll see 65- and 70-year-olds still doing it. It's a sport that we love, and we embrace it."
The PAFRA World Finals is the only actual PAFRA event during the year. The competitors obtain their points throughout the season by participating in rodeos throughout the world, Colonel Baker said. They must notify the PAFRA circuit director prior to the rodeo in which they want to compete, and after the event, submit an after-rodeo report to verify their results. The 15 members with the highest score at the end of the season are eligible to compete in the world finals in their respective event.
"We also have a clause for deployed servicemembers," said Colonel Baker, who is also the PAFRA secretary. "If they're deployed, they get 10 points for every month their deployed for every event they declared."
It's also the first year the finals featured only PAFRA competitors. In world finals before, civilians would participate to round out the competition.
"It's a really big milestone for us. We've always had to reach out into the community to get enough contestants," Colonel Baker said.
Aside from the competition of the rodeo, Colonel Baker said it gives her and her servicemembers other benefits that transfer into being better people.
"People who have animals and compete in rodeo have more responsibility, and you can see that transfer into their level of work and their work ethic," Colonel Baker said. "They'll finish the job, pick up the piece of trash on the ground when no one's looking and do those things just because they have that work ethic."
PAFRA officials are looking to increase their members this year. Every servicemember, retiree, military dependent, Defense Department civilian or veteran, who was honorably discharged, is eligible to join PAFRA.
To join or learn more, visit the PAFRA website at www.pafra2000.com.
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