by Cyndi Rowat
A young team of cattle penners from the United States are heading home from their first Stampede with a $9,000 payday and Calgary Stampede team penning buckles after dominating the field in the Open team cattle penning division.
Louie Saggione III, Dustin Johnson, and Niki Hemphill topped the 143 teams in the qualifiers earlier in the week at Hebson Arena in Okotoks, AB. The top 20 then went on to compete July 7 in the Saddledome on Stampede Park in this fast-paced event sponsored by Calfrac Well Services.
“It was good communication,” says Saggione of their successful trip, “We rode well all four rounds and we were ready for anything.
“We’ve never been across the border at all, but we heard so much about it (the Stampede)!” added Hemphill.
The team had to contend with rule differences from their penning organization in the United States, most of which had to do with the “trash out” rules where wrong-numbered cattle cross the penalty lines or go into the pen. However, it was obviously not an impediment for this group.
Hemphill, a Western store owner was riding eight-year-old Fletches Cat, a partnership that has only been in the works for six months.
Saggione rode Hemphill’s other horse, Houston Hickory, a nine-year-old while his young horse stayed home.
Johnson was riding eight-year-old Bob that he’s only been penning off of for a couple of weeks.
The threesome was solid throughout with a combined time of 120.98 over the four qualifying runs.
The Reserve Champions included Brad Schoepf of Kalispell, MT; Aaron Falkenburg of Sherwood Park, AB; and Suzie Emms of Calgary, AB.
