National Finals Rodeo

I'm not a cowboy by any stretch of the imagination, but I do like to watch rodeo -- especially the PRCA National Finals. We travelled to Las Vegas Nevada to see a couple of nights of the ten-night NFR Rodeo with two of my cowboy mentors, Lyman and Kelton Hafen. It's been a tradition for us since the rodeo moved from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas in 1985. Lyman and his dad got me started riding horses in the 80's. I got my first quarter horse, Ben, from them and I was fortunate to help with the spring and fall cattle drives on their Nevada Ranch at Clover Valley. That's where I first met a young kid named Cody Wright, who has competed in the finals the past four years and won first place in saddlebronc last night. Here's a picture of the four of us at the NFR.



Left to right: Kelton Hafen, Cody Wright, Roland Lee, Lyman Hafen

I also enjoy spending some time at "Cowboy Christmas" a huge trade show at the LV convention center. It's a great place to see lots of wonderful western art and sculpture.

Best of Show Cash Award

Nellie and I travelled to Mesquite Nevada for an awards reception for the "Lucky 13" International Small Works Competition. I was notified that I had received "Best of Show" with a cash award, which is always nice. It is a very unique art show in that all paintings must be smaller than 13 inches in any one direction including the frame. My painting, "Fisherman" is a tiny 5 in. by 5 in. transparent watercolor of a fly fisherman. It is not only one of the smallest paintings I've ever done, but certainly the smallest I've ever had accepted into a juried competition.


Roland Lee receives Best of Show award at Lucky 13 International Small Works Competition