Dear Sir,
This letter has been on my mind for quite some time, and some current events have prompted me to get it written. First, I would like to commend the U.S. Team Roping Championships and Denny Gentry for reviving our great sport of team roping. Second, I wish they would finish the job they set out to do. The USTRC is not an association that we are a part of, nor do we have a say in what goes on. It is no secret that the USTRC has been a very profitable company. I don’t think people have a problem with the USTRC making a profit on the number system that they pioneered the road for. When it comes to producing a roping they put on a class act. When it comes to the number system, they leave a lot to be desired.

Everybody knows how difficult and stressful it has been to number all the team ropers in America. On the other hand, the USTRC has chosen to keep control of producing ropings, as well as providing the number system. Let's look at the number system, and ask some questions that to be answered.

Why does the USTRC use directors for balloting ropers’ numbers that are not paid for the job that they do? How good of a job can be done with people volunteering their time? (No offense, some do a great job.) How can novice ropers be a true judge of what a roper's number should be? Why doesn’t the USTRC have qualified employees number ropers? Why shouldn’t we know who is giving us our numbers? What qualifications do they have to justify their position?

The next part of this letter is my biggest reason for writing. It involves our kids. The USTRC has no guidelines in place that constitutes when and how the kids’ numbers are adjusted. The proof is in the pudding that the USTRC has let some kids win large amounts of money before a number adjustment and some kids got their numbers raised without even winning a single paycheck. As parents and families that have roped all our lives, we feel the playing field has not been the same for all. Why doesn’t the USTRC come up with a format that treats all our kids in a fair and equal manner? You can’t convince me that a company such as the likes of the USTRC can’t come up with a fair and equal way to progress our kids through the ranks of the team roping world. We all realize that we can’t let the kids dominate the field, but we need to let them mature before they are moved up. There are a lot of kids today that treat roping as their only sport. It is very important that kids stay busy doing something positive in the world they live in. I’m proud to be associated with so many good kids that rope and participate in rodeo activities. I believe as adults we need to make sure our kids have a place to spend their time. The USTRC is the leader in the team roping world and I believe that they have a responsibility to the kids to promote and provide a fair and just opportunity. It is not easy to become one of the elite, it takes hard work and dedication. It’s not American to penalize people for being great at what they do. So USTRC, step up and finish the job, or move over and let somebody else take over!

Brad and Bonnie Smith
Chino Valley, Ariz.