Friday — March 26, 2004

Yee-haw!

Janss Pro Am Classic
ropes in entertainment

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By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer

Saddle up cowboys, the Janss Pro Am Classic returns this weekend. This year the three-day affair ropes in Western entertainment throughout the "Alpine Rodeo" in honor of Bill Janss and as a tribute to a former Sun Valley ski coach and cowboy.

Kate Berman of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation explained the 2004 event "pays tribute to Jack Simpson, one of the original coaches of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and also a local cowboy." Simpson, "the original cowboy skier" dedicated himself to youth ski racing.

"Jack felt that every youth in the community deserved an opportunity to compete on even terms with youths from other areas," said David Wheelock. "His vision … helped the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation become a reality."

As the most important fundraiser for the ski team, the annual event combines racing with live music, a banquet and a live auction.

The Western entertainment runs throughout Friday and Saturday. In addition to the amusement on Baldy, the Warm Springs’ headquarters tent houses trick roper Jose Heredia. A Wagon Day’s parade veteran and Nampa resident, Heredia will entertain guests with his fancy lasso skills and trick roping talent.

Janss Pro Am participants also are challenged to rope the dummy steer head in the tent to vie for the combined prize. The prize will be awarded for the best roping efforts and fastest ski race.

Friday night, participants are invited to Whiskey Jacques’ for an après ski party with entertainer Kip Attaway. Described as "America’s premier cowboy musical comedian," Attaway hails from the heart of cowboy country, Jackson, Wyo. The legendary Jackson Hole performer combines country music with Western humor for a night of belly busting cowboy parody.

On Saturday evening an awards banquet in the Limelight Room of Sun Valley Inn caps off the event. The evening features live and silent auctions with Western inspired items, such as an authentic chuck wagon from the early 1900s. The night also includes a David Butterfield film featuring Jack Simpson during the early Sun Valley rodeo days.

The fun continues when the Kenny Bradberry Band rolls out country music for a night of boot stomping boogies. The band plays regularly at Jackson’s famed Million Dollar Cowboy bar. Bradberry has also shared the stage with country stars such as Daryle Singletary, Chris LeDoux, Neal McCoy, Kenny Chesney, Patti Loveless and Pam Tillis.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.