Wild West Entertainment, featuring trick riders and ropers, will be performed on Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30 as part of the Trenton Sesquicentennial. Below is information concerning some of the featured performers.
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J.W. Stoker
J.W. Stoker of Weatherford, TX, has entertained in seven countries, but he says his greatest achievement was being inducted in October of 1999 into the Cowboy and Western Heritage Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. And then in January of this year, he was made a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame at Fort Worth.
Stoker appeared in “Bus Stop” starring Marilyn Monroe. He performed stunts in the Clint Eastwood movie “Bronco Billy.” He was a double for Sam Bottoms who played the part of Lariat Leonard James. Stoker has been on the “Today Show,” was part of ABC’s special coverage of the Olympics, and has been in a country music video featuring Michael Martin Murphy. He is a world champion trick roper who also does fancy horse catches.
Penny Walton
Penny Walton of Collinsville, TX is a trick rider with 14 years experience. She began practicing as a youth and worked up through the high school and amateur ranks and became a professional. Ms. Walton says she is trying to perpetuate trick riding which she believes is a dying part of our American heritage. She carries the U.S. flag and sets pivots at many events.
Ms. Walton has held six rodeo queen titles including Miss Rodeo Missouri 1991 for the Professional Rodeo and Cowboys Association. In 2001, she was honored to work the national finals rodeo for the PRCA.
Vince Bruce
Vince Bruce of Sarasota, FL has performed around the world and is billed as The Wizard of Whips and Lariats. He starred on Broadway in “Will Rogers Follies,” performed at the Casino at Monte Carlo, Dixie Stampede in Branson and has appeared three times as an entertainer at the national finals rodeo in Las Vegas.
Among Bruce’s collection of tricks is the throwing of a playing card into the air. With the same hand, he grabs his whip and cuts the card in two before it hits the ground. Another trick has a member of the audience holding up double pages of a newspaper and Bruce uses the whip to repeatedly shred them from top to bottom. He also uses the whip to knock a playing card from his mouth. Bruce performs fancy rope tricks while standing on horseback and even riding a unicycle.
Windy Lattin
Early in life, Windy Lattin of Jones, OK traded her barrel racing saddle for a trick riding saddle and began teaching herself tricks. Then, with the help of veteran trick riders, she spent many hours perfecting her art. Ms. Lattin now has 15 stunts to draw from and features the Stroud Layout and one of the most dangerous, the Tail Drag. She performed at both the 2001 and 2004 National Finals Rodeo for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. She’s also a former Miss Rodeo Missouri in the PRCA.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 29 and 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 30 at the North Central Missouri Fair grandstand. Advance tickets are available in Trenton at Hoffman and Reed, Ketcham Community Center, MFA Agri-Services, R & L Auto Supply, Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce, Trenton Hardware, and Veach Saddlery. Admission is $10 for those 12-and-older, and $5 for children ages five through 11. Those under five years old get in free. Tickets at the gate will be higher.