MONROE - Brodhead's Casey Hume has loved flirting with the danger of rodeos for about two decades.
That wild side was on display at the Green County Fair's Three Hills Rodeo Wednesday, July 17. Hume couldn't have his brother by his side in the team roping competition at the Three Hills Rodeo, but he had the next best thing - his best friend, Eddy Strommen Jr., of Evansville.
Hume and Strommen finished second place in the team roping competition, with a time of 15.92 seconds. Hume, who has been competing in professional rodeos for 16 years, was excited that he and Strommen could give hometown fans something to cheer about while winning a cash prize.
"I usually rope with my brother, Jess, but he's in Kansas," Hume said. "Eddy is my best friend and he doesn't rodeo as much anymore. It was pretty neat to get a check out of it."
Strommen, who owns the horseshoe business ES Farrier Service in Evansville, enjoyed the competition in the Three Hills Rodeo.
"It's fun to win with your buddies," Strommen said. "They are like family to me. Any time we get a chance to rope together and win it makes our barbecues that much more fun."
Mel Potter, of Arizona and Garrison Dixon, of Vancroft, won the team roping competition with a time of 9.33 seconds. Hume appeared like he was in a prime position to win the calf tie-down roping contest for the second straight year with a time of 10.9 seconds. However, he was docked 10 seconds because he broke through the barrier a little too soon. Wade Werkheiser, of Kewanee, Ill. took first with a time of 10.9 seconds, and Strommen tied Justin Krueger of Kewaskum, for second place (12.4).
"I left a little too early," said Hume, who would have won his second straight championship were it not for the penalty.
Hume used a new white quarter horse, Junior, in the tie-down competition.
"(Junior) just fits me better," Hume said. "He's easier to rope on. After you rope (the calf), handling your slack and getting them on the ground in a fast time is important."
Another challenge for Hume was going first, when he said calves usually run a little faster.
"That is part of the reason I broke the barrier," Hume said. "If I would have got to see them go first, I would have pulled back a little bit."
Black Creek's Kellie Hill finished first in barrel racing (13.08) and Janesville's Brittany Janes was second (13.82). Jerrod Lee, of Cortland, Il., won the bareback riding competition with a score of 78. Logan Corbett, of Almo, Ky. and Ryan Rickman, of Nixa, Mo. tied for second (75).
The rodeo featured clown acts from Hollywood Harris, roping tricks and the danger of bull riding.
Hume doesn't compete in bull riding, and he wants to keep it that way. He's content standing by his horses and perfecting his tie-down mechanics. Regardless of the event, Hume is always happy to compete close to home.
"It's really neat to be at the fair with friends," he said. "They can bring their kids and pet the horses. Most of them haven't been around horses, and I don't have to drive 1,000 miles home."
That wild side was on display at the Green County Fair's Three Hills Rodeo Wednesday, July 17. Hume couldn't have his brother by his side in the team roping competition at the Three Hills Rodeo, but he had the next best thing - his best friend, Eddy Strommen Jr., of Evansville.
Hume and Strommen finished second place in the team roping competition, with a time of 15.92 seconds. Hume, who has been competing in professional rodeos for 16 years, was excited that he and Strommen could give hometown fans something to cheer about while winning a cash prize.
"I usually rope with my brother, Jess, but he's in Kansas," Hume said. "Eddy is my best friend and he doesn't rodeo as much anymore. It was pretty neat to get a check out of it."
Strommen, who owns the horseshoe business ES Farrier Service in Evansville, enjoyed the competition in the Three Hills Rodeo.
"It's fun to win with your buddies," Strommen said. "They are like family to me. Any time we get a chance to rope together and win it makes our barbecues that much more fun."
Mel Potter, of Arizona and Garrison Dixon, of Vancroft, won the team roping competition with a time of 9.33 seconds. Hume appeared like he was in a prime position to win the calf tie-down roping contest for the second straight year with a time of 10.9 seconds. However, he was docked 10 seconds because he broke through the barrier a little too soon. Wade Werkheiser, of Kewanee, Ill. took first with a time of 10.9 seconds, and Strommen tied Justin Krueger of Kewaskum, for second place (12.4).
"I left a little too early," said Hume, who would have won his second straight championship were it not for the penalty.
Hume used a new white quarter horse, Junior, in the tie-down competition.
"(Junior) just fits me better," Hume said. "He's easier to rope on. After you rope (the calf), handling your slack and getting them on the ground in a fast time is important."
Another challenge for Hume was going first, when he said calves usually run a little faster.
"That is part of the reason I broke the barrier," Hume said. "If I would have got to see them go first, I would have pulled back a little bit."
Black Creek's Kellie Hill finished first in barrel racing (13.08) and Janesville's Brittany Janes was second (13.82). Jerrod Lee, of Cortland, Il., won the bareback riding competition with a score of 78. Logan Corbett, of Almo, Ky. and Ryan Rickman, of Nixa, Mo. tied for second (75).
The rodeo featured clown acts from Hollywood Harris, roping tricks and the danger of bull riding.
Hume doesn't compete in bull riding, and he wants to keep it that way. He's content standing by his horses and perfecting his tie-down mechanics. Regardless of the event, Hume is always happy to compete close to home.
"It's really neat to be at the fair with friends," he said. "They can bring their kids and pet the horses. Most of them haven't been around horses, and I don't have to drive 1,000 miles home."
