A Team Roping Celebration for America's Heroes: Liberty & Loyalty Foundation

Charly Crawford, NFR header, wanted to combine two things that are very important to him: team roping and honoring our nation's heroes

Teal Stoll | Nov 14, 2024

American Hero Celebration Facebook page

The American Hero Celebration is an event unlike any other and grew from Charly Crawford's desire to give back to a community near and dear to his heart. Crawford, ten-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in the team roping, is also the son of a Marine. Ten years ago, Crawford of Stephenville, TX, and Trey Johnson put on a free roping clinic for military heroes.

Over the next six years, the clinic grew, along with Johnson's ministry to those involved. 2020 marked the first American Military Celebration (AMC). First responders were added to the event in 2022. In 2023, the AMC became the Liberty & Loyalty Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 organization. The Foundation now produces events for veterans, retired and active service personnel, and first responders, along with fundraising for charities that support the aforementioned.

Spanning five days, the Hillwood Land & Cattle American Hero Celebration with Charly Crawford honors these same principles. Beginning with a two-day Horns N' Heroes Team Roping Clinic, this year marked the fifth anniversary of the event.

On Friday, there was a $20,000 added Open Roping and a $10,000 added Military/First Responder/Pro Roping (where military and first responders are paired with professional ropers through a draw). Saturday brought the Military/First Responder Roping, with $30,000 added.

The top two from the Open and the top 15 from the Military/First Responder roping advanced to the NFR Showdown, alongside the top team ropers in professional rodeo, at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, TX.

Saturday night, the Heroes Gala offered an opportunity to support the events, non-profit organizations, and scholarship programs of the Liberty & Loyalty Foundation and their network. A dinner, Back Number Ceremony for those advancing to the NFR Showdown, speakers, and live auction add to the evening.

Sunday brought the most exciting of the action - a full NFR experience for our nation's heroes. From riding in a grand entry behind the flag of their military service branch or first responder brand to roping in a setup that mimicked the NFR in Las Vegas. Throughout the performance, various veteran and first responder related charities were awarded sizable donations through Liberty & Loyalty.

Top 15 Military/First Responder Short Round Qualifiers:

Brody Deckard & James McMahan
Andy Bay & Jeremy Nix
Jerrod Miller & Shane White
Andreas Sanchez & Chris Taylor
Levi Swafford & Colton Cooper
Kurtis Sanders & Cole Turner
Jeremy Nix & Ralph Saults
Michael Angell & Braden Royse
Clint Davis & James McMahan
J P Sardella & Travis C Beck
Jared Schlegel & Bill Cody Johnson
Ray Hodgson & Rick McGlothlin
Nick Hughes & James McMahan
Nick Hughes & Marty Okamura
Wade Crenshaw & Clint McMurtry

While the first two days of action can be found on X Factor Roping, the Imus Ranch NFR Showdown can be found on the Cowboy Channel.

2024 Winners

Military/First Responder Roping

Jeremy Nix of Canyon, TX, and Ralph Saults of Big Springs, NE, earned the $30,000 Championship for their 28.52 on 4 head. Coming back to the short round in the high call position, the pressure was on for this team. Nix, a 34-year-old firefighter of 15 years, and Saults, a 24-year-old United States Marine Corps veteran, rose to the occasion and captured the win.

Military/First Responder Ranch Rodeo

Paying $6,400 to 1st, $4,800 to 2nd, $3,200 to 3rd, and $1,600 to 4th, the Ranch Rodeo was another great addition to Sunday's festivities. The team Almost There took the top spot.

Professional Roping

Paying $20,000 to win the aggregate on four rounds, the Championship went to Nelson Wyatt and Jonathan Torres with a combined time of 18.56 seconds.

Hats off to Charly Crawford and the entire crew behind this event for the incredibly special gift they offered to our nation's first responders and retired and active service personnel.

Published Nov 14, 2024

TEAL STOLL

Teal Stoll is a lifelong Wyomingite from a working ranch family of several generations. Both sides of her family have deep roots in rodeo, as contestants and stock contractors. Teal grew up horseback and actively competes in rodeos and barrel races. She has degrees in both business and accounting, which she uses operating her own bookkeeping service. Teal enjoys spending time with her horses, training colts, and maintaining her string of athletes. When she isn’t at the barn, she can be found reading, doing yoga, or on her paddle board at the lake. Teal lives with her fiancee and a plethora of animals, because she can’t say no to a displaced critter with a sad story. When she isn’t on the road running barrels, she spends her time helping with day to day operations on the family ranch.