EWC Rodeo alum Blair Newman and the start of EWC’s Rodeo Team

By Finn Rolseth
EWC Student

TORRINGTON, Wyo. – Blair Newman enters the box with a rope, his horse, and his partner. The gate opens, and the two of them race out towards the steer to try to secure points for Wyoming at the National High School Rodeo Championship.

Newman is as close as it comes to Torrington royalty. Born and raised in Torrington, Wyoming, he was part of the first-ever Eastern Wyoming College Rodeo team. Newman not only left his mark on EWC, but he also paved the way for hundreds of hopeful rodeo athletes to follow.

His family has lived in Torrington since 1912. Newman stated that he hasn’t even thought about moving away.

“I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else,” said Newman. “I know everyone in the area, my family’s established, Torrington is just comfortable.”

Newman’s roots in Torrington run deeper than just his family living here. Newman and his friends were the trailblazers of the EWC rodeo program.

According to Newman, the start of the program was a little unconventional.

“[My friends and I] enrolled at Eastern Wyoming College the fall after high school.” Newman continued, “We very much wanted to go to college rodeos, and being from Torrington, it was convenient and cheaper for us to just sign up for them and go. That was the start of the EWC rodeo program.”

His friend Bruce Laird was the biggest contender on the early rodeo team, Newman said.

Before EWC, Newman, Laird, and a third friend, Pat Havely, had all been rodeoing together in high school.

“We went to amateur rodeos together,” said Newman. “We went on a tour of PRCA rodeos and ended up in Twin Falls, Idaho. That’s where the National High School Rodeo was held. We didn’t just go, though; Wyoming won the trophy.”

Newman said this set everything into place for starting college rodeos in Torrington.

After his time at EWC, Newman said he took two years off before returning to the University of Wyoming to finish his collegiate career and degree.

“By the time I joined the [University of Wyoming] team, they had added team roping to the college,” he said.

In his first year there, Newman said the team was not only able to make it to the National College Finals, but the UW rodeo team took it home. His roommate, Rob Erickson, won the all-around championship.

After his graduation, Newman said it was time to go professional. Newman got his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association card and chose to go all in on the single-steer roping event. This would allow Newman to enter into rodeos all across the country.

“I ended up traveling to pretty much every state west of the Mississippi because of rodeo.” Newman continued, “We didn’t travel east of the Mississippi much at all, but I got to see a lot of the United States I never would’ve seen.”

Newman’s time spent professionally was also impressive. According to Newman, he placed in every competition he entered except for one in Pendleton, Oregon. Newman stated he was also the champion of the Mountain States Circuit during one of his several years spent professionally.

After rodeo, Newman said it was time to focus on his life in Torrington. Newman’s been running Newman Realty in Torrington, Wyoming, for 32 years now, and said he enjoys it.

Throughout Wyoming and the region, Blair is known as a powerhouse in real estate. Licensed across Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, and South Dakota, he has earned nearly every major accolade in his field, including Wyoming Land Realtor of the Year, Realtor of the Year for the North Platte Valley Board, and twice serving as State President of the Wyoming Realtors Land Institute. Under his direction, his brokerage has been recognized as one of the top brokerages in the state by the Wyoming Business Report.

Beyond real estate, Blair’s roots in rodeo run just as deep. A Gold Card member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, a Committeeman for the National Circuit Steer Roping Finals, and an active member of the Senior Steer Ropers Association, Blair has spent a lifetime serving, competing in, and elevating the sport of rodeo.

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the annual EWC Foundation Donors Dinner, EWC Foundation President Todd Peterson presented Blair Newman with the Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service Award. Named in honor of Eastern Wyoming College’s very first president, this award represents the highest level of recognition our institution bestows. It honors those individuals whose exemplary leadership, steadfast support, and outstanding achievements have made a permanent, transformational impact on Eastern Wyoming College and the generations of students we serve.

Speaking on Newman’s achievements, Peterson highlighted that Blair is not only known throughout the region as a powerhouse in real estate, but his roots in rodeo run just as deep, having spent a lifetime serving, competing in, and elevating the sport.

“Yet tonight,” Peterson noted, “we especially celebrate Blair for his visionary leadership right here at home. Blair’s vision for the new Lancer Rodeo Grounds will transform our entire rodeo program with championship facilities for future generations of student-athletes here at EWC.”

With EWC alumni holding seven world championship titles and six national finals championships, the program has already been quite successful. EWC rodeo has pumped out some of the best rodeo athletes in Wyoming, and they don’t plan to stop.

Newman said he holds hope for the future of rodeo at EWC. “I’m very optimistic about the EWC rodeo program with head rodeo coach Whit Peterson and assistant rodeo coach Brodie Herring.”

According to Newman, the rodeo program is being cheered on by everybody, whether they’re in the community, EWC administration or a student at EWC.

Newman and many others in the Torrington area donate to support the current EWC rodeo program. Their donations help fund new buildings, maintenance, and other needs.

Over the summer, the EWC rodeo program raised funds for multiple projects. The two largest projects are a new horse boarding facility and leasing practice livestock for the judging team.