Martin receives Distinguished Alumni Award from Sul Ross State
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — R. Keith Martin, the PRCA Chairman of the Board and CEO of the San Antonio Livestock Exposition (SALE), will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award during Sul Ross State University's homecoming Nov. 7 in Alpine, Texas.

Martin will be presented with the Slingin' Sammy Baugh Award for Outstanding Service. He has been a major supporter of Sul Ross and its agricultural programs for the past nine years. The San Antonio Livestock Exposition has donated more than $87 million to agricultural education over the years, including more than $1 million to Sul Ross through improvements, grants and scholarships.

SALE is the largest single contributor to Sul Ross in scholarships, with more than $850,000.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation new PRCA sponsor
Two-time and reigning World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho has been an avid outdoor enthusiast for as long as he can remember. The Los Alamos, Calif., cowboy recently returned from a two-week guided elk and deer hunting trip in Montana and Idaho.

So, the fact that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a new PRCA sponsor comes as good news to Branquinho, who got his first hunting license when he was 12.

Branquinho has been especially impressed with the organization's commitment to protect land in wilderness areas for future generations to enjoy.

"The way the world has become, it is hard to find places where you don't see a power line, people or vehicles," said Branquinho.

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Missoula, Mont., the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. The Elk Foundation and its partners have permanently protected or enhanced more than 5.2 million acres, an area larger than Connecticut, for hunting, fishing and other recreation. The Elk Foundation has more than 150,000 members, a staff of 150 and 10,000 active volunteers.

PRCA Manager of Corporate Partnerships Dave Jordan, also an avid outdoorsman, sees the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation as an ideal sponsor for ProRodeo, and one with which its members and fans will easily relate.

"We're so thrilled to be working with this great organization," Jordan said. "Many of our members and fans have a great appreciation for what the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is doing, and will continue to do, to preserve elk habitat."

To learn more about the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, visit www.elkfoundation.org or call 1-800-CALL ELK.

Wright documentary showing at South Point Hotel
A showing of the documentary Born to Ride: Cody Wright and the Quest for a World Title is scheduled for 11 a.m. Dec. 8 at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas.

The 60-minute film, co-produced and directed by Jon Smith, chair of the Department of Communication at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, and written by Lyman Hafen, chronicles Wright's year-long journey in 2008 to win a world title. The Utah crew was on-hand last December in Las Vegas when Wright won the gold buckle in a dramatic showdown with five-time World Champion Billy Etbauer, and the documentary includes that footage as well.

Along with members of the Wright family, Shawn Davis, general manager of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Wright's former coach, will be among the special guests attending.

Along with appearing at the screening, Wright will be signing autographs at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 at the PRCA Booth at Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and with the other Wrangler NFR saddle bronc riders from 1-2 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Palace Station, also in Las Vegas.

The Wright documentary, narrated by Wilford Brimley, will be on sale at the G Bar G Saddles and Rodeo Video booths at Cowboy Christmas. The DVD also is for sale online on the Southern Utah University Bookstore Web site: www.suu.edu/ss/bookstore.