Panhandle Alumni JD Yates Comes Back to Goodwell

Goodwell, Okla. — On February 8th and 9th, the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Rodeo Team had the opportunity to participate in a Team Roping clinic with Panhandle Alumni, JD Yates. JD attended Panhandle State alongside present rodeo coach Robert Etbauer. While in school at Panhandle, JD was a part of the Panhandle State Rodeo Team and contributed in the team roping, tie-down roping, and steer-wrestling.

With his very busy schedule he does not have time to put on many team roping clinics, but JD says, “I did it for the college. That’s where I went to school and it was good to me and I enjoyed my time there.” JD also mentions that being able to help the students excel in their sport made his trip to Goodwell well worth it.

Being a Panhandle State Alumni, JD looks back at his educational journey here in Goodwell and realizes that his college years were his most memorable years. “You grow a lot as a person in college and you get a lot of life education,” says JD. Panhandle has brought JD connections and friends that he still has 30 years later.

When asked about the key points he touched on in his clinic, JD clearly states that the basics are what the students need to go back to and focus on in order to become faster. He says, “on TV they only show the fast times and the winning runs but they never show the bad runs that you need to watch in order to improve.” He taught the students that once you start putting your focus on the basics and catching you can become a winner. “The more you catch the more the confidence builds up and the more you speed up,” states JD.

As the Panhandle State Rodeo Team heads to their first Spring College Rodeo this weekend, JD would like to “wish them luck and hope[s] a few of them got a little out of [the clinic] and that it comes to the front and makes them winners”. He also wishes the whole team luck.

The Rodeo Team is very thankful for the community being so generous at our events such as the Top Hand Auction, which allows them to receive professional help and keep the winning tradition alive!