Double P Tack - Your Rodeo Store

SFGA - Map

2009-07-02T19:13:00.000-06:00

SFGA - Map

A photo gallery map of Santa Fe.

Another Point to ponder

2008-12-08T18:14:00.003-07:00

While my last post was about customer service, this one will be about your core customer.

Now I'm a computer guy and a fairly decent hand with a camera and I've been partners in a Tack Shop since 1994. I'm also a sports guy and I've been listening to a bunch of coaches crying about how the fans aren't loyal. So here in lies the rub.

Our tack shop use to donate lots of "stuff" to junior and local associations as well as others. Only two people ever said thank you! Springer, New Mexico Junior Rodeo and Dodge City Pro Rodeo. So here we've been doing business for over 14 years and we can only remember 2 thank you's and they were both paying customers. Wow never heard a stinking thing from people we HELPED! Why? Are people so self centered that they thought they where doing us a favor? Umm, honest you could have saved us a lot of time and effort. At least if I had put the stuff I donated on E-Bay I would have made money. Guess what we no longer donate a thing let alone a dime!

So now as I scan the landscape of Professional Rodeo Associations what do I see. The people who helped them get where they are, are being forgotten at an alarming rate. Do you remember when your association started? How many Stetsons, Resistols and Bailey's filled the seats? Do you think a chunck of us cared about other sports like NASCAR? Fish sure if it's me, golf, you bet or you buying? But now when I go to these events I feel like I'm not wanted, by the event. The new "fans" your hoping to draw sure don't want my Straw or Silverbelly in their way. After all I'm just some stupid cowboy who thinks he's important because he has a camera. Your new fans words not mine. When I ask nicely for permission to cover an event I feel like I am getting the cold shoulder, I guess I should shoot for some hack website or some local newspaper who only wants a viewable wreck shot instead of shots that promote the sport for a rodeo periodical. I see traditions being uprooted and loyalties being thrown out lock stock and barrel.

So as I sit here contemplating whether or not I want to shoot rodeos in 2009 or try to change my business and attempt to make money doing weddings and such. And thinking do i really need to concentrate my IT business in Agriculture? One last thought enters my mind, if 10-12 years ago we had shown these associations the same loyalty would they be where they are today? Could guys be making millions of dollars? Could the breeding industry be as huge as it is with out the fans screaming and following the super star animals. One, about us RODEO photographers how many of us, if we had aired the dirty laundry we all know could have put a dent in the sport and not in a good way? Don't know about you but I don't think rodeo needs a TMZ or Entertainment Tonight type of vibe following it.

So I say to some of you, before you jump on the NASCAR fan model, you'd better think that there is a core fan base out there. Make us mad and when you pull into the small town and need seats filled you might not get so lucky. Oh yeah and that 99 point ride in BFE minor leauge event with some kid who JUST got picked up by your name brand sponsor, well too bad the picture didn't get taken. Ain't saying I'm just thinking.

What Happened to Customer Service?

2008-12-06T11:41:00.002-07:00

Last Tuesday night I shot a wedding ceremony at the LDS Temple in Albuquerque. When it was over we went to the IHOP on Paseo Del Norte and Wyoming. Wow, talk about horrible. Mom went with me, and they served her meal on a dirty plate. Sorry when I order a ham and cheese omlete I really don't need any strawberry syrup to go with it, well I don't think I do! I ordered pancakes with my meal and upon arrival they where cold and hard, trust me they could have been used as clay pigeons for skeet shooting. Now latley my luck hasn't been so good at sit down restraunts. Denny's was freezing last time we went, it's pretty bad that within three bites your food is like ice and you feel like you should have gloves on to eat.

Now today was a whole other story. We went to a little restraunt here in Los Lunas called Hennriettas. Normally good food with good service, and way better prices. Wow guess I'm learning my lesson, shop local! Now if the local grocery store wasn't 10 miles away. Because I'm tired of shopping at WalMart (sorry don't want to bail out china on the walmart plan) and our Smith's Grocery store here has forgotten that this is not Mexico but NEW MEXICO!

So pay attention kids, your lack of service may very well be your job loss.

how to fix the US of A and or California

2008-11-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

Here is how to fix the nation and California easily.

20% tax on beer
40%tax on soda pop
30%tax if you don't use marijuana
80% tax if your not gay with an additional 5% for every child born in wedlock.
20% tax on tithing oh yeah we're doing away with church tax exemption.
75% tax on diesel fuel.
110% tax if your a native born American except for native Americans who only get taxed if they have less than 2 casinos on tribal land!

And English will be replaced as the natural language of the USofA and we all will have to learn French. Except for Texas, who'll have to learn German.

Thanks for voting Democrat and Republican! Viva La Revolution!

End of the Year

2008-11-17T16:23:00.002-07:00

So are you ready for the end of the season? Of course for those who are driving to Vegas, I'd advise stopping by the Extraordinaire in Farmington, NM over Thanksgiving. Then on to a long two weeks in Vegas.

I'd like to welcome back the Binnions Sale, to be held at the South Point resort and casino on December 4th and 5th. I'd like to thank everyone for bringing this show back. Wish I could show up in Vegas this year and wish I had $$$$ to go buy something at the sale.

Since I'm stuck at home this year during the 50th Anniversary I hope some of y'all have fun for me!

Congratulations to the World Champions

2008-11-09T16:37:00.003-07:00

Congratulations to the 2008 PBR World Champions!

World Champion Rider - Guihlerme Marchi
World Champion Bull - Bones
Finals Champion - Robson Palermo

Also a big THANKS to all of the great champions who retired this year. You've sure made the last 15 years interesting!

PBR Finals

2008-11-09T11:41:00.002-07:00

Congratulations to Guilherme Marchi on his 2008 PBR World Championship. Actually I'd dare to say he might also wrap up the Finals title as well. I know he's waited a long time for this to all come together!

SLC or Bust Day 3 reflections

2008-10-10T18:12:00.004-06:00

A Game anyone?

Day three started off on a pretty good note. We headed north out of Salt Lake City headed towards Brigham City and Logan, Utah. We got out late enough that trafic was uneventful for us in a metroplex.

Our first stop was Bountiful, Utah. The temple site is high on the side of the mountain so while the instructions were not that great it was VERY easy to find! The road is very curvy so be cautious. One interesting point about the temple is the parking area is actually a parking garage, though Philip had to point it out or I would have never known. Coming down I was glad we were well under the speed limit as three doe walked in front of us. Guess the doe where smarter than the hunters, figured if the hunters are out in force the girls were going to town?

Ogden was our 2nd to last stop on the temple photography tour. The instructions were way off but Philip is not a typical man and he will ask for instructions. I think my van has built in GPS becuase we had gotten turned around the right direction, we were just off about a mile. The Ogden temple is in the middle of town so pretty easy to find once you get off the freeway. Philip wanted to go back to Hill AFB museum which is on the south end of Ogden, but we did not get to do that.

Logan was our next stop. Now Logan is pretty rural but has many ammenities of a small city, big town. We came in to Logan via the freeway and once you turn off the freeway it is a straight shot to the temple. However, this is the long way in and does not show you much of Logan.

We returned to Brigham City and were greated by our friends. Unknown to us, they had gotten us tickets to the Utah State vs. BYU football game back in Logan. They turned us on to a much faster way to Logan via a state road. The road is great, 4 lanes everywhere but one small stretch where they are working on a bridge. This time we saw much of Logan and we were very suprised by how big it really is. Of course our return to Brigham City was an adventure as the previousley mentioned bridge work got us and we ended up driving through town. Fortunatley Philip is pretty good with directions once he's been some place and we just went through a bunch of stoplights.

Utah State's stadium is in a real nice location, just bring a pack mule or lama with you as it can be a pretty steep climb.

Pollie

SLC or Bust Day 2 reflections

2008-10-06T18:27:00.004-06:00

The Arrival

Day two saw us climbing out of Green River, UT through Price and over Soldier Summit into Spanish Fork, UT. Until you are about 15 or so miles from Price the drive is pretty non-descript. Once you begin pulling out of Price you start along the side of a mountain for a bit. Philip with his bad eye and severe vertigo makes this a hard stretch for him. Me, I love the scenery and the river along side the road. Going up over the summit we saw the colors beginning to change but they color contrast would be much better on our way home. This is quite a beautiful drive and if you have a car capable of taking it, I would strongly suggest it!

Coming out of the canyon we had a surprise in store for us. Something white flashed high in the sky at the mouth of the canyon. Come to find out they've built a number of windmills at the mouth of the canyon. With the wind, probably a great place for them.

Our first mission was to put some fuel into us. Philip decided we would head towards Provo, Utah the home of Bringham Young University. We stoped at the first place we came to, even though Philip said no I stopped at a Village Inn restaurant, after all they can't all be bad can they? Well never discount Philip when it comes to food! Horrible food and flippant service. I'd stay away from all Village Inns, especially the one in Los Lunas and the one on South University in Provo.

With two days before conference we were now on a Philip mission. Philip wants enough LDS temples to produce a calendar. Provo temple was the next on our list. Though fairly easy to find, it was no thanks to the instructions off of the LDS website. On our way up to the temple we had to drive right buy LaVelle Edwards stadium. I've found my next must take adventure, a BYU Cougars football game. The temple like all temples is a beautiful site, but unlike many I've visited parking was at a premium. Believe it or not this was also the only temple on this trip were we didn't run into a wedding party. Getting out of Provo proved to be almost as much fun as getting into Provo. Next on the list Mount Timpanogos(?) ok so call it Mount 'T'.

Wow, talk about an adventure, finding Mount 'T' was it. Between horrible instructions and worse construction it was quite the time. Now I'm convinced we need a GPS device, though Philip says only for Utah. Philip is a master map user and can find his way just about anywhere (though he sometimes refers to it as the scenic route) but he became frustrated with the road numbering and construction. We will post better ways of finding the temples at a later date. From Mount 'T' it was a pretty easy shot to Salt Lake City were adventure took on a whole new meaning!

Downtown Salt Lake City is a MESS, construction has everything tore up. Some roads are barely passable is at all. Getting around takes a while and when we discuss day four we'll go into more detail. The Salt Lake City Temple makes it all worth it, it is rare you'll find such peace and tranquility in a downtown area being riped apart. It was truly a moment of special feelings in my life. We also went next door to the Joseph Smith building that use to be the old hotel Utah. Oh my, what else can be said! Gorgeous, nearly matching the sites of the land we had seen earlier in the trip. They say the 10th floor has an observation lounge that has killer views. After a good lunch at Olive Garden we were able to recover and go find the place were we where to stay that night.

The say that the Utah motto should be "Under Construction," amen to that! After fighting construction and weird street changes we found where we were headed. A shopping center/apartment complex. Nice apartments but not very handicapped friendly.

More later, but click on the title link and you can go visit some of the photos Philip took.

Pollie

SLC or Bust Day 1 reflections

2008-10-06T11:12:00.004-06:00

On October 1st we pulled out of Los Lunas headed towards Salt Lake City. Our plan was to stop in Green River for the night then go on from there. As always Philip forgets 20,000 things so we didn't get out of Los Lunas until about 12:30pm. Oh well half an hour late is not so bad.

US Highway 6 from Los Lunas to Interstate 40 is only 2 lanes but is a fairly nice road. Set your speed at about 60mph and you really don't have much breaking to do. The drive along I-40 to Gallup was very uneventful and even the construction wasn't too bad. The contrast as you go along I-40 in New Mexico is awe inspiring. We stoped at the McDonalds in Gallup for a quick pit stop and a bite to eat while we where on the road.

From Gallup to Shiprock is quite the adventures route. The construction (re-paving) has the road pretty tore up north of Tohatchi. I'd use lots of caution! Again you will run into construction as they are adding more lanes south of Shiprock. I wish they would do this ALL the way to Gallup! The second set of construction isn't quite as bad though you must be careful for trucks coming on to the highway.

Shiprock became quite an adventure. I had heard that it was the fastest growing city on the Navajo reservation and one of the 5 fastest growing in New Mexico. Forty minutes in traffic waiting to turn to Cortez, I beleive it! Shiprock is a lot different than when I lived there as a kid or Philip played football there 20 some years ago.

Once we got out of Shiprock it was a pretty clean shot to Cortez for our first fuel break. We decided on stoping at the Maverick station that is on the north end of town on the highway. While it was jam packed we where in and out pretty easy. There where a few stations in town that where cheaper but only a penny or so. Cortez is a nice place to stop off if you need to and the gateway to Mesa Verde ruins and a lot of other cool places.

The road between Cortez and Green River is a very intresting drive. From the furtile farm fields around Montecellio, Utah to the high desert and archways between Montecellio and Moab, it assures you there must be a higher power. Out of Moab you start into what I think is one of the ugliest deserts in North America. Now I'm not talking the Canyonlands or Arches parks. Just the desert along the highway. I'll write more on Moab in another article.

We finally pulled into Green River just before 8pm at night. Like the poor folk we are we had decided to stay at the Rodeway Inn. Don't! Simple enough, the room was old and decrepate, smelled and was filthy! Sure other than that it had a roof over our head. We ate at the West Winds Restraunt next door the food was edible and that's about it. Though Philip is having issues with them because they mischarged his credit card almost $8.00. I'd stick with somewhere else to eat!

I'll cover Day two in a few hours. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Pollie Williams

32nd Annual Lubbock Winter Series

2008-09-27T20:54:00.001-06:00

The 32nd Annual Lubbock Winter Series starts October 4th at 7pm.

Call ins - 1-806-794-2317 Books open Tuesdays and close Fridays at 9pm.

NEW this year!!! Added attractions every month, the first one will be the South Texas Gunfighters!!!

for more information call Charlie at 1-806-794-2317 or check out C-T Rodeo Company at http://www.c-trodeo.com

One more BIG shout out today

2008-09-14T17:50:00.002-06:00

I would like to thank Dish Network aka Echo Star for selling out American jobs to India or wherever it was I called today!! As I tried and failed to communicate with you HORRIBLE customer service people to resolve a 74 year old woman's issues, I became convinced that companies like yours should be boycotted!!

So don't ever ask for my business you sale outs!

Gift's

2008-09-14T17:47:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to the Denver Bronco's on two free gifts from the officials of the Denver vs. San Diego game. I have no idea how, using replay, you made that last call that GAVE Denver the win! If that official and the replay official are not downgraded there is something wrong!

Congratulations to World Champion Justin McBride

2008-09-13T20:31:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to World Champion Justin McBride on his ground breaking lifetime earnings of $5,000,000 an awesome and well earned accomplishment!

New Intreim CEO at the PRCA

2008-09-12T14:13:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Karl Stressman on his recent appointment as President and CEO of PRCA properties and Interim CEO of the PRCA. Good Luck in your new position.

Some peoples childeren

2008-09-05T15:25:00.003-06:00

So here it goes and I won't name any names.

There is a big rodeo association who is in the middle of some massive upheaval, well OK it has been going on for years! But some of the issues are about to come to a head because one of the parties went and got a lawyer. Now this party claims that those in charge are evil and do not have the best interest of the people who belong to the association at heart. The association says well neither does this other party and he just wants power and glory.

I have two issues with all of this, as an outsider looking in!

1) Both parties are right, the association has gotten out of control and needs to be reined in! But the members will not vote! And the outside party, by reading his mantra only wants perceived power and glory, he does not care about the association. In fact part of this vote made possible by his lawsuit restricts voting to members before 2006 and will not allow life members who are not active to vote. So not to take sides but it sounds like Rodeo has it's own Republican and Democratic race going on, where both parties say lots of nice things AND have stanch supporters but when it comes down to it, give a thimble full of manure about the people they are suppose to serve!

2) Now here is the kicker. Those people who are all crying foul have forgotten one BIG thing. In fact reading these articles on message boards about the industry I'd say a lot of people have forgotten this one BIG thing. Um, ladies and gent's without the paying public you don't get paid. So keep on fighting and driving sponsors away. You're just around the corner from driving your market away! So you say you don't need the small rodeos, well you are right and they need you less! Heck I can go watch TV and see bull riding and a number of other events and I don't have to pay $10+ to get into a professional sporting event with a bunch of nobodies competing because those with names are just to good to come to my little town! It is the general public in those small towns who buy the Dodges and Wranglers and bottles of Crown Royal with the cases of coors. So keep it up because when we quit buying their products they'll have no need to throw money after your bank accounts!

Take me to a county fair

2008-08-24T17:27:00.003-06:00

Well I just got back from the final of three performances of the Sheriffs Posse rodeo at the Valencia County Fair. Here is just a few things I learned:

1) Strobe Lights good! Eye site Bad!
2) Mutton Busters get there 3 days before the first team roper!
3) Wasp are pest, but not as bad as mosquitoes!
4) Afternoon performances in the summer time bad!
5) Evening performances where people have to look into the setting sun, worse!
6) 4 Saddle Bronc Riders bad, 2 Bareback riders in 3 perf's worse!
7) Sour timed event animals bad.
8) People not in proper attire allowed in the arena, stupid!
9) No one running out gates, silly.
10) Arenas built 100 years ago, just plain wrong!

Now I know Valencia County isn't the richest county in the State of New Mexico. But come on people isn't it about time we build an arena capable of being nice? How about a 2500 seat indoor joint, with air and heat? Maybe use some solar and wind power to make it more green? Heck even see about getting a methane generator? But I guess we'll always be a little behind the rest of the state.

Oh yeah and I know the fair and the rodeo ain't by the same folks but do you really think I want to pay double admission? And what is with no amusements for the kids, jumpers are nice but a little under classed!

How far to travel

2008-08-08T09:51:00.002-06:00

With the price of diesel now at a low $4.36 (yeah still about $3.00 too much, danged thieves!) I'm wondering how far folks are willing to travel to work, compete or watch a show? As a photographer and with reciepts down and with more competition form the "Soccer" moms selling really bad prints for $.05 (yes 5 cents has been reported to me) I'm not willing to go more than three hours IF the hotel rooms are cheap! Is that just me?

ps. and yes I do need a camper or a trailer!

IBM Announces "Non-Windows" Sytems

2008-08-08T09:33:00.003-06:00

IBM in cooperation with Red Hat (Fedora Project), Novell (SuSE) and Ubunutu have announced a new campaign to advertise "Microsoft-free personal computing choices."While this is not a first attempt at a Windows Free environment it is the first time I can remember such a large consortium coming together and being anchored by a large corporation like IBM surely should have some effect.

As a Microsoft trained professional I can see numerous reason why this is happening, but number 1 on that hit parade is Vista, which leaves much to be desired! While I use it at work and have little issues, I do know running two pigs like Vista and Adobe CS3 sure kicks me in the shins when I have them both going full bore!

One question though, what will IBM do with it's Linux project called Yellow Dog? hmmm

This just in!

2008-08-08T08:11:00.001-06:00

Apparently, Ty and Jewel eloped to the Bahamas on August 7^th. http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00017499.html

Good luck!

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-04T22:04:00.001-06:00

I would like to wish everyone a happy Fourth of July! Especially to those in the following units – 1/3^rd Armored Cavalry and 1/21^st Infantry (Gimlets) of the 25^th Infantry Division. Thank you all!

Shows Coming to New Mexico

2008-06-20T19:59:00.001-06:00

Here are a few of the Upcoming Rodeos and Bull ridings coming soon to a town near you:

Rodeo de Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM June 25-28, 2008 (PRCA)
1. One of the oldest rodeos in New Mexico.
Raton Pro Rodeo, Raton, NM June 26-28, 2008 (PRCA)
1. Its back, after a long absence the Raton Pro Show is back.
Durango Bullriding, Durango, Co August 1-2, 2008 (PBR)
1. Cool Mountain air, great scenery all around, just a short drive up US 550.
Lea County Fair , Lovington, New Mexico August 6-9, 2008 (PRCA)
Inn of the Mountain Gods, Mescalero, New Mexico August 8-10, 2008 (PRCA)
1. Not far from Ruidoso and some of the best horseracing in the country.
Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado August 28, 2008 (PBR)
1. Ok so I missed the Pro Rodeo, too much going on then.
Navajo Nation Bullriding, Window Rock, AZ September 4, 2008 (CBR)
1. The capital of the Navajo Nation, if you want to see real silver and turquoise artisanship and not some junk made in China or India, here is the spot!
New Mexico State Fair, Albuquerque, New Mexico September 11-20 (PRCA)
1. The Biggest party in New Mexico? Use to be, check for the concert lineup, normally pretty decent.
Southwest International Stock Show, El Paso, TX September 16-21, 2008 (PRCA)
1. Ok so it is El Paso! Head down I-25 and have fun!
Curry County Mounted Patrol Bullriding, Clovis, New Mexico September 19-20 (PBR)
1. Can we say Joe? Can we say Boot? Can we say shop? Can we say Joe's Boot Shop? If you have to ask :O
Santa Fe PBR, Santa Fe, New Mexico September 26-27, 2008 (PBR)
1. Back to Santa Fe for a Bullriding, watches out for yuppies, the ticks even get shots to fend them off.
Roswell PBR, Roswell, New Mexico October 3-4, 2008 (PBR)
1. Home of the Aliens, Saddle Barn and Rockin' A Rodeo Gear. Need to pickup some gear while you are on the road, might want to show up a tad early.

Web 2.0 In a Rodeo World

2008-06-06T20:41:00.001-06:00

Web 2.0 is the hottest trend in Web Design today. To that end I will be trying to implement many of the Web 2.0 "TOYS" in to the Double P Tack web site over the Sumer. We hope you all enjoy!

gone for a while

2008-04-30T22:01:00.002-06:00

I'm sorry I've been gone so long! I've switched jobs kind of. While I'm still running Double P Tack, the local branch of the University of New Mexico has hired me as a User System Analyst III. So I basically get to show people how to run projectors, build technology teaching systems and do some training when all else fails. Not a bad job and only 11 miles from home. Though my hours are a little wacky. So I hope you all are kicking tail and taking names, I should be paroled to a regular schedule soon.

35th Annual MidWinter Championship

2008-02-03T22:18:00.001-07:00

For more results including stock and payout please check the C-T Rodeo Company Web Site!
Results:
1)Jared Farley
1)Cole Johnson
3)Cody Beyers
3)Cole Mewbourn
5)DJ Allen
5)Logen Helton
7)Jake Sadler
7)Justin Corey
7)Rance Anderson
7)Talamage Langley
7)Jesse Chisum
7)Dane Harbor