San Juan Pueblo

Brazile, Cooper out front

Trevor Brazile and Tuf Cooper live on neighboring properties on the outskirts of Decatur.

That means they sometimes practice together and lend each other a helping hand. And as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association heads into the last month of the regular season, the two roping stars find themselves at the top of the leaderboards.

Brazile, an Amarillo native, has a commanding lead in the all-around and steer roping standings; Tuf Cooper is ranked No. 1 in tie-down roping.

Brazile moved a step closer to earning a record ninth world all-around title after claiming the all-around crown at two rodeos on the weekend of Aug. 26. His largest check was for $9,120 in team roping and tie-down roping at San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Brazile also earned $3,836 in Kennewick, Wash.

Brazile was ranked No. 1 in last week’s world all-around standings with $217,083, more than double the earnings of No. 2 Shane Proctor with $105,112.

In last week’s steer roping standings, Brazile led with $74,512, $11,775 ahead of No. 2 Vin Fisher Jr. of Andrews.

Cooper was ranked No. 1 in the tie-down roping standings with $97,204, $15,098 ahead of No. 2 Hunter Herrin. Cooper has clinched a fourth consecutive berth in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (Dec. 1-10 in Las Vegas).

During the Aug. 26 to 28 weekend, Cooper earned a $3,427 check after tying for first in Bremerton, Wash., and a $2,128 payoff after finishing seventh in San Juan Capistrano.

Cooper is the son of Roy Cooper, who won eight world titles in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He’s also the grandson of Clifton Smith of Childress, an early 1960s NFR qualifier.

■ NCHA update: The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has approved an application for funding support for the NCHA’s 2012 Triple Crown shows in Fort Worth.

Under the state’s Major Events Trust Fund, the funding for the next Triple Crown cycle (Super Stakes, Summer Spectacular and Futurity at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum) will be $3,558,281, according to the NCHA. It will be an annual increase of $2,248,522, a big jump from the $1,309,759 that the association received this year.

Tour New Mexico's Northern Pueblos: Taos, Santa Clara, San ...

From the late 13th century, the Ancient Pueblo People settled in New Mexico's fertile Rio Grande Valley. Today their descendants make up the 19 Pueblo Indian tribes. Eight of these Pueblo villages are a short drive from Santa Fe, off the main road to Taos.

Visiting the Pueblos is an enjoyable way to learn about Native American culture and traditions. Some offer tours with local guides who describe village life and tribal history. Others have cultural centers, museums and small buffalo herds.

Many Pueblo artists produce Indian arts and crafts, particularly pottery and jewelry, weaving and textiles, in traditional or contemporary styles. Look for signs in the villages inviting visitors into artists' homes or workshops.

Pueblo feast days are sometimes open to the public. These are colorful events, with Native dances and ceremonies, but visitors should remember that they are not shows or entertainment, but spiritual gatherings to express religious belief.

Photography and sketching are sometimes prohibited. Each community has its own rules, so check locally for advice on which events and areas are open to visitors. As for etiquette, a good rule of thumb is to behave as respectfully as you would when visiting someone's home – because, in fact, you are.

New Mexico's eight Northern Pueblos include:

Off State Road 68 north of Taos

The region's most picturesque pueblo has been occupied continuously for about 1,000 years, making it one of the oldest villages in the country. Its communal, multistory adobe houses are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Guides give informative tours, pointing out adobe ovens and racks for drying corn and chile. There are several craft shops and galleries. Admission and camera fees apply. The pueblo is closed to visitors for several weeks from late winter to early spring.

Off State Road 502 south of Española

The ancestors of the San Ildefonso community once lived in the atmospheric cliff dwellings of Bandelier National Monument nearby. The pueblo was home to potter Maria Martinez who, with her husband Julian, created the famous black-on-black style of pottery in the 1920s, which was based on ancient designs.

The Pueblo

The Pueblo, Farmers of the Southwest

Pueblo, mountain, village, dance

The Pueblo

Don Juan