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First performance of Red Bluff Round-Up takes place

Red Bluff, Calif. (April 19, 2019) –  Hockey just didn’t cut it for cowboy Connor Hamilton.

The Calgary, Alberta man played the sport till he was eighteen years old.

Then he switched to bareback riding, and now, nearly five years later, he’s leading the bareback riding at the Red Bluff Round-Up.

Hamilton, who is twenty-three years old, rode the Bridwell Pro Rodeo horse Caddy Wagon for 85.5 points to sit atop the scoreboard.

He’d grown up riding horses, but not frequently, and five years ago, got on his first ever bucking horse.

“I always loved rodeo,” he said. “I grew up playing hockey and fell into rodeo.”

He visited a local college and met some bareback riders who gave him tips and got him started.

Then he spent a year at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Okla., competing on the college rodeo team and soaking up more knowledge. “It worked out good,” he said, of his year in college. “I met a lot of good guys, started pro rodeoing, and fell into it.”

Last year, he finished second in the Resistol Rookie standings, second to Zach Hibler, Wheeler, Texas.

In college, he became friends with another Southwestern Oklahoma State student, Sage Kimzey. Kimzey, a five-time world champion bull rider (and reigning champ), helped Hamilton out. “He taught me a lot of mental and physical things, and that was a good thing for me,” Hamilton said. “He told me to keep pushing it, keep pushing it, even when you’re not where you want to be. And there’s only one way to get there.”

Hamilton quit college and now rodeos full time. It was his second trip aboard the horse Caddy Wagon. He rode him in Redding, Calif. last year, but didn’t mark out the horse, which disqualified him. “I’d seen him since then, and there’s been a lot of good scores on that horse. I knew he was going to be good. I was excited to be here, and to get a good score.”

Hamilton is currently ranked twenty-seventh in the PRCA world standings.

Other leaders after tonight’s performance are steer wrestlers  Hank Filippini, Battle Mountain, Nev. and Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. (5.4 seconds each); saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas (86);  tie-down roper Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. (9.0 seconds);  team ropers Hayes Smith, Central Point, Ore. and Evan Arnold, Stephenville, Texas (6.4 seconds); and barrel racer Jessie Telford, Caldwell, Ida. (17.27 seconds). Bull rider Trey Benton, III, Rock Island, Texas, leads his event with a score of 88 points. If his score would hold through Sunday’s performance, this will be the third time for him to win the Round-Up.

The second of three performances of the Red Bluff Round-Up takes place Saturday, April 20. The Kiwanis Pancake breakfast runs from 7-10 am, and the rodeo parade kicks off at 10 am. The rodeo begins at 2:30 pm. Aaron Watson is in concert on Saturday night, with Chad Bushnell opening. For more information, visit the rodeo’s website at RedBluffRoundup.com. Tickets range in price from $14 to $30 and are available at the gate and online.

Results after first performance, Red Bluff Round-Up, April 19, 2018

Bareback riding

1. Connor Hamilton, Calgary, Alb. 85.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Caddy Wagon; 2. Mason Clements, Draper, Utah 83; 3. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas 82; 4. Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alb. 81.5.

Steer wrestling

1. (tie) Hank Filippini, Battle Mountain, Nev. and Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 5.4 seconds each; 3. Justin Kimsey, Kennewick, Wash. 5.5; 4. Blaine Jones, Templeton, Calif. 5.6.

Tie-down roping

1. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. 9.0 seconds; 2. Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas 9.7; 3. Cooper Martin, Alma, Kan. 11.0; 4. Lane Livingston, Seymour, Texas 11.1.

Saddle bronc riding

1. Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas 86 points on C5 Rodeo’s Strokin’ Toni; 2. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont. 85; 3. Layton Green, Meeting Creek, Alb. 83.5; 4. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash. 81.5.

Team Roping

1. Hayes Smith, Central Point, Ore./Evan Arnold, Stephenville, Texas 6.4 seconds; 2. Preston Burgess, Hilmar, Calif./Joseph Shawnego, Oakdale, Calif. 7.1; 3. Dillon Holyfield, Lewiston, Idaho/Robert Murphy, Congress, Ariz. 7.4; 4. Brooks Dahozy, Window Rock, Ariz./Nano Garza, Las Cruces, N.M. 8.0.

Barrel racing

1. Jessie Telford, Caldwell, Idaho 17.27 seconds; 2. Leia Pluemer, Los Lunas, N.M. 17.44; 3. Katie Pascoe, Morro Bay, Calif. 17.45; 4. Lea Orsburn, Hornbrook, Calif 17.61.

Bull riding

1. Trey Benton, III, Rock Island, Texas 88 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Vegas Outlaw; 2. Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont. 86; 3. Foster McCraw, Navasota, Texas 85; 4. Paul Coppini, 83.

** All results are unofficial.  For more information, visit RedBluffRoundup.com.

Nebraska high school rodeo athlete wins Gates Scholarship

Niobrara, Neb.  (April 29, 2019) –A Nebraska High School Rodeo athlete has been awarded the Gates Scholarship.

Abbi Holz, Niobrara, Neb., has received the scholarship, which covers the full cost of attendance not already covered by other scholarships, to a public or private college.

Holz, whose ACT score was 33, is on track to be the salutatorian of the class of 2019 at Niobrara High School.

In school, she was on the drama crew for three years and this year served as the assistant director for the play. She was on the speech team for two years, and has been on the A-Plus Superior honor roll since seventh grade.

She has competed in high school rodeo for three years in the barrel racing and pole bending. Holz also competes in local jackpots and loves the friends she’s made through rodeo. “The people you meet and get to know become your second family and that’s what I really enjoy about it,” she said. “Sometimes I feel closer to the people I rodeo with than the people at school.”

Holz will attend Kansas State University this fall, majoring in animal science with a pre-veterinary emphasis and hopes to attend K-State’s veterinary program. She loves animals, and gives credit to the local veterinarian for her interest in veterinary science. “I can probably blame my interest in animal science on him, for making me help castrate a horse when I was ten. I’ve always been the one ready to jump in.”

In her spare time, Holz likes to read and do leatherwork. In the eighth grade, she taught herself to tool leather, making belts, headstalls and breast collars.

She has trained the horse she currently rides, a six-year-old stallion named Feather. Her younger brother Clay, a high school sophomore, also rides him, and when Cooper, the youngest of the Holz siblings, wants to ride, he chooses Feather.

The Gates Scholarship, funded by Bill and Melinda Gates, is awarded to 300 students annually and is given to students who have an outstanding high school academic record, have demonstrated leadership ability, and have exceptional personal success skills.

She is the daughter of Orvil and Kelli Holz.

The Nebraska High School Finals Rodeo will be held in Hastings at the Adams Co. Fairgrounds June 13-15. The rodeo is held at 10 am and 6 pm on Thurs., June 13 and Fri., June 14, with the finals at 1 pm on June 15. Tickets are $7 for everyone ages five and up and are available through the office and at the gate. For more information, visit AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com or hsrodeo-nebraska.com, or call 402.462.3247.

South Dakota roper learns lessons, leads tie-down roping at Red Bluff Round-Up

Red Bluff, Calif. (April 20, 2019) – Dane Kissack has learned from the school of hard knocks, and because of it, he’s leading the tie-down roping coming into the finals on Sunday at the Red Bluff (Calif). Round-Up.

The tie-down roper has a time of 28.7 seconds on three head to be the leader of the twelve cowboys who will rope on Sunday for the title of 2019 Round-Up tie-down champion.

Kissack took advantage of a good calf on Saturday, something that he didn’t do four years ago at the Round-Up.

Four years ago, in Red Bluff, with a good calf, Kissack broke the barrier on his fourth run, adding a ten second penalty to his time and losing the chance to win the title. “Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way,” he said. “I broke the barrier at this rodeo. I ran right through it.

Because the Round-Up is potentially four runs for the cowboy who rope well, Kissack knows his best chances for winning are to make solid runs and not break the barrier, adding the penalty.

As he’s matured throughout his ten year pro rodeo career, he’s learned that he doesn’t always have to  “push the barrier” – rope as aggressively – and risk the cost of breaking the barrier and adding the penalty.

“With this calf, I was probably off the barrier just a little bit,” he said. “I could have been faster, had this been a one-head rodeo.”

His wife Kelli reminded him of the lessons he’s learned. “That’s what my wife said,” Kissack said. “She said, Dane, you’ve got to remember you’ve learned the hard way on these things, so use that. I can still feel the pain of riding out of here. I missed out on winning a lot.”

Kissack, from Spearfish, S.D., gave a shout out to the Justin Sports Medicine staff who offer their services to Round-Up contestants, free of charge, at the rodeo. He herniated a disk and bulged two others eighteen months ago, and even though it’s healed, it still requires some stretching and therapy.

The Justin Sports Medicine staff provided that. “It seems like I always have to maintain it,” Kissack said, “and thank the Lord they’re here and ready to help. It really makes a difference. I wouldn’t be able to move around today” without them.

Kissack will come into Sunday’s finals in first place, but he won’t handle the pressure any differently. “I treat every run the same,” he said. He practices three or four times a week, and “whether it’s a practice calf or the short round at Red Bluff, they’re the same. I expect myself to rope good every time.”

In other events, the top bareback rider for the Saturday afternoon performance was Logan Patterson, Kim, Colo. (87 points), and the high saddle bronc rider was Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah (84.5 points). Steer wrestlers Hank Filippini, Battle Mountain, Nev. and Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. tied to win the second round with a time of 5.4 seconds each, and team ropers Hayes Smith, Central Point, Ore. and Evan Arnold, Stephenville, Texas won the second round with a time of 5.4 seconds. Tanya Jones, Prineville, Ore., was the fast barrel racer with a time of 17.21 seconds, and bull riders Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas, and Maverick Potter, Waxahachie, Texas, both had scores of 87.5 points to be the top score for the performance.

The third and final performance of the 98th annual Red Bluff Round-Up takes place tomorrow, April 21, at 1:30 pm. Tomorrow’s event is the annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink day, with funds raised for the Dignity Health/St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. In the last ten years, the Round-Up and other community activities have raised over $474,000 for St. Elizabeth.

The Wrangler Network was live today and will be live tomorrow, with rodeo action. Performances will be archived for future viewings at wranglerwestern.com.

Results after second performance, Red Bluff Round-Up, April 22, 2019

Bareback riding (second performance scores)

1. Logan Patterson, Kim, Colo. 87 points on C5 Rodeo’s Black Feathers; 2. Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb. 85; 3. BoDell Jessen, Altamont, Utah 78; 4. Nate McFadden, Elsmere, Neb. 77.5.

Steer wrestling

2nd round results; the 2nd round is completed and the top twelve steer wrestlers in the average will compete in Sunday’s performance

1. (tie) Hank Filippini, Battle Mountain, Nev. and Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 5.4 seconds each; 3. Justin Kimsey, Kennewick, Wash. 5.5; 4. Blaine Jones, Templeton, Calif. 5.6; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho 5.8; 6. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah 5.9; 7. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. 6.5; 8. Juan Alcazar, Jr., Okeechobee, Fla. 6.7.

Saddle bronc riding (second performance results)

1. Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah 84.5 points on Powder River’s Rain Cloud; 2. Preston Burr, Stratford, Texas 83.5; 3. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah 82.5; 4. Mitch Pollock, 81.5.

Tie-down roping

2nd round results; the 2nd round is completed and the top twelve steer wrestlers in the average will compete in Sunday’s performance

1. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D. 8.3 seconds; 2. Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif. 8.9; 3. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. 9.0; 4. Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas 9.7; 5. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas 10.2; 6. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 10.5.

Team roping

2nd round results; the 2nd round is completed and the top twelve steer wrestlers in the average will compete in Sunday’s performance

1. Hayes Smith, Central Point, Ore./Evan Arnold, Stephenville, Texas 6.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Preston Burgess, Hilmar, Calif./Joseph Shawnego, Oakdale, Calif. and Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga./Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Brazil 7.1 each; 4. Dillon Holyfield, Lewiston, Idaho/Robert Murphy, Congress, Ariz. 7.4; 5. (tie) Brooks Dahozy, Window Rock, Ariz./Nano Garza, Las Cruces, N.M., Blake Hirdes, Turlock, Calif./Daniel Holland, Bonanza, Ore. and Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. 8.0 seconds each; 8. (tie) Cory Kidd V, Statesville, N.C./Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M. and Spencer Mitchell, Orange Cove, Calif./Cody Doescher, Webbers Falls, Okla. 8.1 each.

Barrel racing (second performance results)

1. Tanya Jones, Prineville, Ore. 17.21 seconds; 2. Jolee Lautaret-Jordan, Kingman, Ariz. 17.30; 3. Danyelle Williams, Vale, Ore. 17.32; 4. Mary Jo Camera, Stevinson, Calif 17.45.

Bull riding (second performance results)

1. (tie) Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas, 87.5 points on Flying U Rodeo’s Bringing Trouble, and Maverick Potter, Waxahachie, Texas, 87.5 points on Flying U Rodeo’s Countin Card; 3. John Pitts, Panama City, Fla. 85.5; 4. Dalan Duncan, Ballard, Utah 83.5.

Unofficial contestant list for Sunday, April 21 finals

These steer wrestlers have advanced to compete on Sunday, April 21 for the finals. * Unofficial.

1. Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho 16.1 seconds on 3 head;
2. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas 16.9;
3. Juan Alcazar, Jr., Okeechobee, Fla. 17.3;
4. Jace Melvin, Ft. Pierre, S.D. 18.0;
5. Tucker Allen, Oak View, Calif. 18.3;
6. Curtis Cassidy, Donald, Alb. 18.5;
7. Charles Harris, Salinas, Calif. 18.9;
8. Blaine Jones, Templeton, Calif. 19.4;
9. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. 20.8;
10. (tie) Justin Kimsey, Kennewick, Wash. and Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah 21.0 each;
11. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 21.9.

These tie-down ropers have advanced to compete on Sunday, April 21 for the finals. * Unofficial.

1. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D. 28.7 seconds on 3 head;
2. Joey Dickens, Loveland, Colo 30.5;
3. Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif. 31.7;
4. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 32.4;
5. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. 32.5;
6. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas 32.9;
7. Cody Craig, Wendell, Idaho 33.8;
8. Cooper Martin, Alma, Kan. 34.2;
9. J.D. McCuistion, Collinsville, Texas 34.3;
10. Reid Zapalac, Smithville, Texas 35.4;
11. Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas 38.9;
12. Stetson Vest, Childress, Texas 39.1.

These team ropers have advanced to compete on Sunday, April 21 for the finals. * Unofficial.

1. Kaleb Driggers, Stephenville, Texas/Junior Nogueira, PResidente Prudente, Brazil 22.1 seconds on 3 head;
2. Spencer Mitchell, Orange Cove, Calif./Cody Doescher, Webbers Falls, Okla. 22.4 seconds;
3. Luke Brown, Morgan Mill, Texas/Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. 24.2;
4. Cory Kidd V, Statesville, N.C./Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M. 24.8;
5. Jr. Dees, Aurora, Colo./Lane Siggins, Coolidge, Ariz. 25.1;
6. Blake Hirdes, Turlock, Calif./Daniel Holland, Bonanza, Ore. 25.6;
7. Lane Ivy, Dublin, Texas/Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas 27.2;
8. Brooks Dahozy, Window Rock, Ariz./Nano Garza, Las Cruces, N.M. 33.3;
9. Dillon Holyfield, Lewiston, Idaho/Robert Murphy, Congress, Ariz. 35.3;
10. Preston Burgess, Hilmar, Calif./Joseph Shawnego, Oakdale, Calif. 36.8;
11. Hayes Smith, Central Point, Ore./Evan Arnold, Stephenville, Texas 37.4;
12. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas 37.5.

Ft. Hays rodeo students benefit from Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo

PHILLIPSBURG, KAN. (April 5, 2019) – For the twenty-third year, Kansas Biggest Rodeo in Phillipsburg is helping college rodeo athletes pay for their schooling at Fort Hays (Kan.) State University.

This year’s beneficiaries are Bailey McCaughey, Eads, Colo., and Nathan Poss, Scotia, Neb.

McCaughey is in her fourth year of studies at Ft. Hays, where she competes on the rodeo team in the breakaway roping and barrel racing. The 2015 Douglas County (Colo.) High School graduate competed in high school rodeo, qualifying for the Colorado State High School Finals Rodeo twice.

At Ft. Hays, she will apply for the radiology program and hopes to become a radiology tech. Prior to attending Ft. Hays, she spent two years at Garden City (Kan.) Community College.

McCaughey works part-time when she is home on the weekends and holidays, and appreciates the scholarship money. “It means a lot,” she said. “Being an out-of-state student, I have a higher tuition bill. It’s less money that I have to pay off in debt some day and I’m extremely grateful for that.” She is the daughter of Todd and Judy McCaughey.

Nathan Poss is a freshman at Ft. Hays State. He is competing in the team roping in collegiate rodeo, with a major in agri-business.

A 2018 graduate of Central Valley High School in Greeley, Neb., Poss competed in high school rodeo and qualified for the Nebraska State High School Finals Rodeo three years. After college graduation, he’ll return to the family ranch, where they run 700 head of purebred Angus cattle. He is the son of Danny and Kristi Poss.

Both McCaughey and Poss say that competing in rodeo at the collegiate level is beneficial to them. “It teaches people responsibility,” McCaughey said. As a college rodeo athlete, “you have to enter (the rodeo), pay for fuel, feed your horse, and make sure you know when you’re up” for competition. McCaughey competes because she enjoys it. “I would have been extremely bored at college if I hadn’t rodeoed. I think it keeps a lot of kids out of trouble. It keeps us busy.”

For Poss, college rodeo has disciplined him. “It has really helped me maintain a work ethic. Every day, I have to practice. And it gives me something to become better at, to work at.”

Since 1997, the Phillipsburg Rodeo Association has awarded scholarships to FHSU students who compete in rodeo. The Phillipsburg Rodeo Association is the organization behind Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo, which will be held August 1-3, 2019. For more information on the rodeo, visit www.KansasBiggestRodeo.com.

2018 – 2019 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Regional Standings

2033 Walla Walla Ave . Walla Walla, WA 99362 . (509)529-4402 . Fax (509)525-1090 . info@collegerodeo.com . www.collegerodeo.com

Central Rocky Mountain Region after 10 rodeos as of 4/29/2019

Men’s Team

1. University of Wyoming 060029  UWY      5,021.66
2. Casper College 060025  CASPER 3,813.33
3. Gillette College 060860  GILLET   3,586.66
4. Laramie County Community College 060022  LARMIE 3,548.33
5. Sheridan College 060027 SHERID 3,520.00
6. Chadron State College 060023 CHADRN              3,295.00
7. Central Wyoming College 060026 CWYC    2,425.00
8. Eastern Wyoming College 060024 EWYC    1,470.00
9. Otero Junior College 060184 OTERO  1,410.00
10. Lamar Community College 060028 LAMAR 590.00
11. Colorado State University 060020 COSU    230.00
12. Northeastern Junior Coll 060084 NEJC      200.00

Women’s Team

1. University of Wyoming 060029  UWY      3,030.00
2. Eastern Wyoming College 060024  EWYC    2,594.83
3. Gillette College 060860  GILLET   2,330.00
4. Chadron State College 060023  CHADRN              1,568.33
5. Casper College 060025 CASPER 1,478.33
6. Northeastern Junior Coll 060084 NEJC      1,135.00
7. Central Wyoming College 060026 CWYC    875.00
8. Laramie County Community College 060022 LARMIE 778.33
9. Colorado State University 060020 COSU    520.00
10. Sheridan College 060027 SHERID 345.00
11. Otero Junior College 060184 OTERO  90.00

Men’s All-around

1. Peterson, Seth Cooper 134351  UWY      1,138.33
2. Camp, Caden Todd 137010  UWY      1,080.00
3. Brown, Houston Garrett 135062  LARMIE 960.00
4. Everson, Ty James 133526  UWY      873.33
5. Thurston, Brady Jay 131679 CWYC    810.00
6. Anders, Kalane Edmond 130219 CHADRN              805.00
7. Girard, Bernard William 136803 LARMIE 725.00
8. Staudt, Jase Kahill 133639 UWY      725.00
9. Thomson, Kenneth Kirk 136286  CASPER 645.00

Women’s All-around

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Central Rocky Mountain Region after 10 rodeos as of 4/29/2019

Women’s All-around

1. Coffield, Teisha Maree 131669  UWY      1,365.00
2. Thompson, Jacey Marie 135259  EWYC    1,327.00
3. Howell, Brooke Jean 131448 GILLET   760.00
4. Balkenbush, Makenna S 135211  CASPER 615.00

Saddle Bronc Riding

1. Schuelke, Lane Darrel 136282  CASPER 1,088.33
2. Kammerer, Jacob Matthew 133361  GILLET   783.33
3. Elshere, Carter Ryan 135440 GILLET   603.33
4. Buckley, Garrett Lane 129377  CASPER 505.00
5. Brown, Houston Garrett 135062 LARMIE 470.00
6. Thurston, Brady Jay 131679 CWYC    380.00
7. Beebe, Tyler Lee 133952 OTERO  375.00
8. Clark, Trevor Dean 133873 SHERID 365.00
9. Thomson, Kenneth Kirk 136286  CASPER 295.00
10. Ferguson, Kolt William 134354 UWY      205.00
11. Schofield, Dylan Thomas 137024 GILLET   170.00
12. Uptain, Garrett R 133830 CHADRN              135.00
13. Elshere, Trey Leon 137442 GILLET   110.00
14. McGivney, Ian Forbes 136270 CASPER 100.00
15. Parker, Josh B 135651 OTERO  90.00
16. Foster, Jake Bert 135305 GILLET   85.00
17. Meiers, Jacob Wayne 131253 UWY      50.00
18. Dory, Justin Lex 132052 UWY      45.00
19. Birkholz, John Christian 128636 UWY      30.00
20. Myers, Koy James 137393 CASPER 30.00
21. Bushong, Jonas Matthew 137402 OTERO  30.00
22. Simmons, Riley Ty 133631 LARMIE 15.00

Bareback Riding

1. Bloomquist, Kyle David 133899  CHADRN              1,245.00
2. Reiner, Cole Joseph 136269  CASPER 1,185.00
3. Ames, Chance Dennis 133896  SHERID 1,110.00
4. Moon, Rowdy Austin 131970  CHADRN              755.00
5. Kesl, Jake W 137032 GILLET   495.00
6. Davis, Thomas James 135491 CWYC 420.00
7. Rose, Chase Andrew 136165 UWY 225.00
8. Parker, Josh B 135651 OTERO  195.00
9. Clemens, Colton Burke 135912 CWYC    150.00
10. Thomas, Zach M 135389 CASPER 135.00
11. Cranston, Rowdy Ray 135442 GILLET   100.00
12. Kissack, Justin Robert 127609 CHADRN              90.00
13. Hokana, Colt Ryder 135436 GILLET   90.00
14. Crawford, Colton Marshall 138352 LAMAR 75.00

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Central Rocky Mountain Region after 10 rodeos as of 4/29/2019

Bull Riding

1. Johnson, Coby J 137980  SHERID 820.00
2. Hoey, Nate Pryce 135192  LAMAR 540.00
3. Englebert, Miles Everett 134962  CHADRN              400.00
4. Thomson, Kenneth Kirk          136286  CASPER 350.00
5. Grant, Dylan Parker 137976 SHERID 310.00
6. Kaai, Keali’i’aukai A K K 129955 COSU    230.00
7. Fisk, Tyrell V 132189 GILLET   180.00
8. Olson, Cole William 137994 SHERID 100.00
9. Uptain, Garrett R 133830 CHADRN              80.00
10. Fritz, Kaleb Lee 129956 CHADRN              80.00
11. Brewer, Cole Smith 138055 SHERID 80.00
12. Sturgis, Jaren Timothy 137589 LARMIE 60.00
13. Cathcart, Connor Lee 137665 LARMIE 40.00

Tie Down Roping

1. Coffield, Chadron Shane 137149  EWYC    695.00
2. Peterson, Seth Cooper 134351  UWY      543.33
3. Peterson, Jon Russell 135309  GILLET   485.00
4. Staudt, Jase Kahill 133639  UWY      475.00
5. Johnson, Rance M 133468 LARMIE 408.33
6. Girard, Bernard William 136803 LARMIE 405.00
7. Tarver, Wyatt Robert 135055 CASPER 330.00
8. Hurlburt, Austin Timothy 135070 LARMIE 310.00
9. Brown, Houston Garrett 135062 LARMIE 295.00
10. Belkham, Brock Walker 136915 LARMIE 265.00
11. Anders, Kalane Edmond 130219 CHADRN              250.00
12. Brown, Logan Ryder 129593 CASPER 175.00
13. Camp, Caden Todd 137010 UWY      170.00
14. Lappe, Kaden James 137590 LARMIE 160.00
15. Butterfield, Brendan Myron 135218 EWYC 145.00
16. Everson, Ty James 133526 UWY      128.33
17. Murphy, Garrett Levi 132121 EWYC    110.00
18. Thurston, Brady Jay 131679 CWYC 100.00
19. Miller, Chase Forrest 136971 LARMIE 95.00
20. Spickelmier, Ty Wesley 131694 OTERO  90.00
21. Hadley, Robert Jhett 132351 UWY      85.00
22. Roberts, Cord Jeffery 137593 LARMIE 80.00
23. Flake, James Craig 136135 UWY      70.00
24. Kirwan, James Daniel 133482 GILLET   45.00
25. Duncan, Garrett S 137977 SHERID 45.00
26. Engesser, Jace Alan 137058 GILLET   45.00
27. Davidson, Taylor Rhea 133582 CWYC    40.00
28. Fulton, Jake Raymond 130171 UWY      40.00
29. Taylor, Dustin Darryl 134394 UWY 35.00

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Central Rocky Mountain Region after 10 rodeos as of 4/29/2019

Tie Down Roping

29. Palmer, Tyen Bradley 132141 CHADRN              35.00
30. Reed, Colton Michael 135399 EWYC    30.00
31. Marchant, Teigen Jace 137118 EWYC    30.00
32. Roselle, Jace Jared 137153 EWYC    30.00
33. Johnson, Kellan J 135439 GILLET   25.00
34. Afdahl, Canton Ty 133529 EWYC    20.00
35. Neuerburg, Drew Joseph 135414 NEJC      10.00

Steer Wrestling

1. Anders, Kalane Edmond 130219  CHADRN              555.00
2. Weyrich, Nathan Frank 135485  CWYC    390.00
3. Everson, Ty James 133526  UWY      385.00
4. Greer, Kade Austin 136141  UWY      355.00
5. Camp, Caden Todd 137010 UWY      345.00
6. Fulton, Jake Raymond 130171 UWY      320.00
7. Peterson, Seth Cooper 134351 UWY      315.00
8. Thurston, Brady Jay 131679 CWYC    305.00
9. Greer, Kaycee Gage 130277 UWY      295.00
10. Retchless, Cole James 133724 CHADRN              285.00
11. Shuckburgh, Ryan Douglas 135102 LARMIE 260.00
12. Marchant, Teigen Jace 137118 EWYC    250.00
13. Davenport, Cordell Javon 133591 OTERO  250.00
14. Girard, Bernard William 136803 LARMIE 230.00
15. Davidson, Taylor Rhea 133582 CWYC    195.00
16. Davis, Thomas James 135491 CWYC    180.00
17. Trainor, Cole Alan 135480 CWYC    180.00
18. Johnson, Rance M 133468 LARMIE 160.00
19. Berger, Jace Raymond 133581 UWY      150.00
20. Petrak, Tate Author William 134790 CHADRN 150.00
21. Brown, Houston Garrett 135062 LARMIE 105.00
22. Coffield, Chadron Shane 137149 EWYC    90.00
23. Belkham, Brock Walker 136915 LARMIE 85.00
24. Foster, Jake Bert 135305 GILLET   75.00
25. Hurlburt, Austin Timothy 135070 LARMIE 60.00
26. McInerney, Tanner Wayne 137376 CASPER 55.00
27. Batterton, Bryce Michael 133649 OTERO  50.00
28. Jones, Neale Allen 135478 CWYC    50.00
29. Anderson, Chance D 137119 UWY      45.00
30. Mathis, Talon David 137147 EWYC 40.00
31. Brewer, Cole Smith 138055 SHERID 30.00
32. Byrne, Tyler John 137270 CWYC    25.00
33. Lappe, Kaden James 137590 LARMIE 20.00
34. Dibbern, Devin Jon 132108 CHADRN              15.00

Page 4 of 9          Regional Standings          Apr 29, 2019 9:52

Central Rocky Mountain Region after 10 rodeos as of 4/29/2019

Team Roping Header

1. Williams, Wheaton Eugene 135145  CASPER 765.00
2. Camp, Caden Todd 137010  UWY      565.00
3. White, Cooper Wayne 133359  GILLET   530.00
4. Johnson, Kellan J 135439  GILLET   385.00
5. Pirrung, Braden Robert 133618 EWYC    320.00
6. Peterson, Seth Cooper 134351 UWY      280.00
7. Staudt, Jase Kahill 133639 UWY      250.00
8. Kunzler, Michael A 136295 OTERO  240.00
9. Duncan, Garrett S 137977 SHERID 160.00
10. Greer, Kaycee Gage 130277 UWY      160.00
11. Peterson, Jon Russell 135309 GILLET 160.00
12. Truchan, Ty Johnson 136011 EWYC    155.00
13. Schaack, Brandy Lain 131687 UWY      150.00
14. Lappe, Kaden James 137590 LARMIE 145.00
15. Afdahl, Canton Ty 133529 EWYC    140.00
16. Chasek, Ty Brooke 138544 EWYC    140.00
17. Howell, Brooke Jean 131448 GILLET   130.00
18. Palmer, Kurtis Wade 137021 EWYC    125.00
19. Garner, Trevor David 135413 NEJC      115.00
20. Joseph, Brady Douglas 131712 CHADRN              110.00
21. Roselle, Jace Jared 137153 EWYC    100.00
22. Coffield, Teisha Maree 131669 UWY      100.00
23. Hirsig, Justene Ardell 134356 UWY      95.00
24. Dibbern, Devin Jon 132108 CHADRN              90.00
25. Brown, Houston Garrett 135062 LARMIE 90.00
26. Diaz, Alan Robert 137319 NEJC      90.00
27. Oliver, Kaelie Gene 135235 CASPER 85.00
28. Johnson, Rance M 133468 LARMIE 80.00
29. Coseo, Jaden Thomas 136144 UWY      70.00
30. Skarohlid, Justin M. 137561 LARMIE 65.00
31. Johnson, Caydee Jo 135078 LARMIE 65.00
32. Meidell, Madeline Jo 137262 CWYC    40.00
33. Soderberg, Billy Shawn 137370 CASPER 40.00
34. McPherson, Kassi Jean 131656 UWY      30.00
35. Johnson, Gannon Levi 135285 EWYC    30.00
36. Davidson, Taylor Rhea 133582 CWYC    25.00
37. Atkinson, Chase Brayden 137845 EWYC    20.00
38. VanDeel, Nathan Robert 135417 NEJC      10.00

Team Roping Heeler

1. Flake, James Craig 136135  UWY      565.00
2. Shaw, Denton Wade 131615 UWY      530.00
3. Hetzel, Cash Rope 127850  CASPER 520.00
4. Johnson, Jerren C 135602  CASPER 385.00

Page 5 of 9          Regional Standings          Apr 29, 2019 9:52

Central Rocky Mountain Region after 10 rodeos as of 4/29/2019

Team Roping Heeler

5. Everson, Ty James 133526 UWY      360.00
6. Engesser, Jace Alan 137058 GILLET   320.00
7. Brown, Logan Ryder 129593 CASPER 255.00
8. Taylor, Dustin Darryl 134394 UWY      250.00
9. Buttars, Daxon James 136293 OTERO  240.00
10. Reed, Colton Michael 135399 EWYC    160.00
11. Hetzel, Colby Ty 131467 SHERID 160.00
12. Hurlburt, Austin Timothy 135070 LARMIE 150.00
13. Roberts, Cord Jeffery 137593 LARMIE 140.00
14. Wieneke, Dalton William 135938 EWYC    140.00
15. Symons, Clayton Michael 137009 LARMIE 135.00
16. Miller, Chase Forrest 136971 LARMIE 130.00
17. Long, Jaden Micheal 137057 GILLET   130.00
18. Joseph, Brady Douglas 131712 CHADRN              125.00
19. Nunn, Garrett Tyler 137008 UWY 120.00
20. Floryancic, Jake Walker 137128 PICKEN 115.00
21. Butterfield, Brendan Myron 135218 EWYC 105.00
22. Flack, Blaine Allen 137314 CHADRN              100.00
23. Hadley, Robert Jhett 132351 UWY      100.00
24. Piper, Austin Tyler 135410 NEJC      90.00
25. Grint, Nolan D 136013 CHADRN              90.00
26. Girard, Bernard William 136803 LARMIE 90.00
27. Krutzfeldt, Lane F 127624 CASPER 85.00
28. Berger, Jace Raymond 133581 UWY      85.00
29. Kammerer, Jacob Matthew 133361 GILLET   80.00
30. Trainor, Cole Alan 135480 CWYC    70.00
31. Retchless, Cole James 133724 CHADRN              70.00
32. Hall, Tommy Quail 136006 CASPER 70.00
33. Ruland, Riley Joseph 135928  EWYC    50.00
34. Kirwan, James Daniel 133482  GILLET   40.00
35. Meiers, Jacob Wayne 131253  UWY      40.00
36. Thurston, Brady Jay 131679  CWYC    25.00
37. Coffield, Chadron Shane 137149  EWYC    20.00
38. Garner, Zachery Thomas 135418  NEJC      10.00

Barrel Racing

1. Calvo, Rachael Marie 136140 UWY      875.00
2. Bradley, Karson Kenley 135489  CWYC    835.00
3. Seely, Makayla Shae 137372 CASPER 540.00
4. Mehalic, Lake Chrystie 134459  COSU    455.00
5. Balkenbush, Makenna S 135211 CASPER 315.00
6. Addington, Riley Diane 133319 GILLET   310.00
7. Lensegrav, Kelsey Marie 136164 UWY      290.00
8. Pinckard, Elena Marie 136096 COSU    270.00

Page 6 of 9          Regional Standings          Apr 29, 2019 9:52

Central Rocky Mountain Region after 10 rodeos as of 4/29/2019

Barrel Racing

9. Hall, Madeline Lee 137992 SHERID 225.00
10. Howell, Brooke Jean 131448 GILLET   215.00
11. Bice, Lakken Lee 133839 UWY      205.00
12. Williams, Brianna Jo 135841 CHADRN 165.00
13. Maher, Sydney Louise 137030 GILLET   160.00
14. Segelke, Quincy McIntryre 133362 CHADRN              140.00
15. Latham, Taylour Quinn 135161 GILLET   130.00
16. Boxleitner, Taryn Dale 136876 COSU    130.00
17. Crowder, Amy Marie 133627 NEJC      120.00
18. Campbell, Elsie Rose 137322 NEJC      110.00
19. O’Connell, Emmy LouAnn 135311 GILLET   100.00
20. Vander Voort, Kristen Lee 137978 SHERID 100.00
21. Bray, Shae Lynn 135574 CASPER 80.00
22. Diodosio, Lena Dolly 137431 OTERO 80.00
23. Williams, Kristen James 137358 CASPER 75.00
24. Cominiello, Merisa Marie 133984 CHADRN              70.00
25. Adamson, Sydney D 136975 LARMIE 70.00
26. Russell, Shyann Rae 133320 GILLET 70.00
27. Lucero, Lysa M 138004 LAMAR 60.00
28. Jacobson, Sheyenne Kay Marie 137982 SHERID 50.00
29. Adamson, Shaylee Tayler 137264 CWYC    25.00
30. Hauer, Ryleigh Kay 137560 LARMIE 20.00
31. Bothwell, Taylor Anne 133846 SHERID 10.00

Breakaway Roping

1. Coffield, Teisha Maree 131669  UWY      730.00
2. Thompson, Jacey Marie 135259  EWYC    537.00
3. Howell, Brooke Jean 131448 GILLET   415.00
4. Hostutler, Hanna May 135833  CHADRN              330.00
5. Donnelly, Payton Lynn 134353 UWY      322.00
6. Segelke, Quincy McIntryre 133362 CHADRN              260.00
7. Kiker, Chase Kay 137311 NEJC      250.00
8. Darnell, Morgan Marie 137559 LARMIE 240.00
9. Glass, Brooke Joy 135168 EWYC    240.00
10. Graff, Sydney Dawn 135088 LARMIE 240.00
11. Lage, Georgie Lane 135175 LARMIE 238.33
12. Cominiello, Merisa Marie 133984 CHADRN              205.00
13. Rayhill, Karissa Hope 135322 EWYC    185.33
14. Knust, Emily Anne 137368 CASPER 170.00
15. Hirsig, Justene Ardell 134356 UWY      155.00
16. Atkins, Jayde Martina 134966 CHADRN              145.00
17. Miller, Bailey Rae 135240 CASPER 130.00
18. March, Cassidy Jo 137109 LARMIE 120.00
19. Lensegrav, Kelsey Marie 136164 UWY      120.00

Page 7 of 9          Regional Standings          Apr 29, 2019 9:52

Central Rocky Mountain Region after 10 rodeos as of 4/29/2019

Breakaway Roping

18. Adamson, Sydney D 136975 LARMIE 120.00
19. Jacobson, Sheyenne Kay Marie 137982 SHERID 115.00
20. Cunningham, Cricket Codi 133894 SHERID 110.00
21. Sederstrom, Nicole Rose 131685 UWY      105.00
22. Oliver, Kaelie Gene 135235 CASPER 90.00
23. Pokorny, Talli Ann Marie 137033 GILLET   82.00
24. Cunningham, DeLani Rose 137364 CASPER 60.00
25. Bain, Laramei Aspen 136811 LARMIE 60.00
26. Hibbs, Carly Jean 127963 UWY      60.00
27. Peterson, Aften Page 136005 CASPER 60.00
28. Smith, Farris Nicole 134461 COSU    45.00
29. Kahl, Madison Marie 137315 CHADRN              43.33
30. Latham, Taylour Quinn 135161 GILLET   40.00
31. Simonson, Jaylee June 137016 LARMIE 40.00
32. Wilson, Mikayla Jessie 131689 UWY      32.00
33. Anderson, Lyndi Leigh 132285 UWY      30.00
34. Johnson, Caydee Jo 135078 LARMIE 25.00
35. Cooke, Olivia Rose 133340 SHERID 10.00
36. Monnens, Kaycee Ann 131591 CHADRN              10.00
37. Maier, Rieley Marie 133754 CHADRN 5.00
38. Hoffman, Faith Lee 135411 NEJC      5.00

Goat Tying

1. Latham, Taylour Quinn 135161  GILLET   985.00
2. Rayhill, Karissa Hope 135322 EWYC    842.50
3. Thompson, Jacey Marie 135259  EWYC    790.00
4. Hoffman, Faith Lee 135411  NEJC      770.00
5. Monnens, Kaycee Ann 131591 CHADRN              645.00
6. Coffield, Teisha Maree 131669 UWY      535.00
7. Balkenbush, Makenna S 135211 CASPER 300.00
8. Knust, Emily Anne 137368 CASPER 223.33
9. Johnson, Caydee Jo 135078 LARMIE 190.00
10. Segelke, Quincy McIntryre 133362 CHADRN              143.33
11. Lensegrav, Kelsey Marie 136164 UWY      130.00
12. Anderson, Lyndi Leigh 132285 UWY      122.50
13. Williams, Brianna Jo 135841 CHADRN 98.33
14. Reimler, Breanna Mae 129784 CHADRN              85.00
15. Bothwell, Taylor Anne 133846 SHERID 75.00
16. Hibbs, Carly Jean 127963 UWY      70.00
17. Beck, Reata Jo 135238 CASPER 60.00
18. Sederstrom, Nicole Rose 131685 UWY      60.00
19. Donnelly, Payton Lynn 134353 UWY      47.50
20. Cunningham, Cricket Codi 133894 SHERID 40.00
21. Cunningham, DeLani Rose 137364 CASPER 30.00

Page 8 of 9          Regional Standings          Apr 29, 2019 9:52

Central Rocky Mountain Region after 10 rodeos as of 4/29/2019

Goat Tying

22. Casperson, Ember Carrie 137031 GILLET   27.50
23. Leisinger, Natalie Marie 137378 CASPER 20.00
24. Kritenbrink, Ashlee Lynn 135101 OTERO  10.00

Page 9 of 9          Regional Standings          Apr 29, 2019 9:52

At 23, Wyatt Denny of Minden, Nevada, is well on his way to a stellar bareback riding career. He’s ridden at the last three straight Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, and just won $50,000 at the World Champions Rodeo Alliance’s $1 Million Windy City Roundup in Chicago. This after winning $52,400 at last summer’s Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo in Salt Lake City. The 2015 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Resistol Bareback Rookie of the Year and 2016 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Bareback Riding Champ is bullish on all big-money opportunities available to rodeo athletes today.

When the World Champions Rodeo Alliance came onto the rodeo scene, there was a lot of speculation with people wondering what it was all about, and if something based on the concept of cowboys going to fewer rodeos with a chance to win more money was too good to be true. As a bareback rider, I looked at it a little differently. Bareback riders’ bodies take a beating. So I just really wasn’t sure about having to go to more rodeos.

The gold buckle is everybody’s end goal. Putting more horses under your body isn’t ideal for a bareback rider, for sure. Bareback riders can count up to 100 rodeos toward the world standings in a season, so for the past few years I’ve been to about 100 a year, with 98 being the fewest. That’s not by choice, and the guys in a more comfortable position don’t have to do that. But I’ve been down at the lower end of the standings, so I had to keep going. Anyway, additional rodeos are tough on us. But we’re always going to show up for this kind of money. Rodeo is how we make a living, so when you’re talking about millions of new dollars, a guy’s got to try and get in on some of that.

There are a lot of things to like about what’s going on with the WCRA, in my mind starting with the way they have it set up so it’s fair for everybody to have a chance to be there. It’s not based on how you finished in the world standings last year, and everyone has an equal opportunity to nominate events and earn the points it takes to qualify for the big-money rodeos.

I travel with Clayton Biglow, who’s from Clements, California, and Kash Wilson from Gooding, Idaho. Clayton’s ridden at the last three NFRs, like I have. Kash is a dang good bareback rider with a good attitude. He hasn’t really gone a full year yet, but hopefully this will be his year. It’s cool that he has the same shot in the WCRA as Clayton and I do, and that’s going to bring a lot of talented circuit guys and weekend warriors out of the woodworks. This kind of money doesn’t come around very often, and in the WCRA, Joe Blow has the same shot as Tim O’Connell. That’s awesome.

Everybody knows there aren’t enough bareback riders in the world today, and that we’re a rather rare breed. Everybody also knows how strong cowboy camaraderie is. We’re roommates on the road. Rodeoing for a living is not an easy life, but it’s a whole lot easier when you don’t get up and argue about how the day’s going to go. There’s nothing but good vibes in our rig. We’re always having fun going down the road, whether we’re riding bucking horses, golfing, skiing, mountain biking or team roping. And yes, I entered every event except the saddle bronc riding in high school. We tend to like anything extreme, and we golf a lot. I actually kept all our scorecards from last year, and we played more rounds of golf than we went to rodeos.

I’d have to say that winning the first round at the 2018 NFR is the highlight of my bareback riding career so far. Those are buckles that don’t come around very often. There are only 10 of them a year, and to get one of those meant a lot. That was a $26,231 ride, but it meant more than the money to me. I ended up winning $40,462 at the Finals in December, which is a pretty good week anytime you can get it. I finished 14^th in the world last year, and won $117,958 riding at 100 rodeos. I’m grateful for every dollar I win, but it also puts into perspective the new, big-money possibilities we’re riding for in the WCRA.

The fact that I’ve now won over $102,000 at two WCRA events is unreal. I got into the 2018 Days of ’47 last July by being the champ there in Salt Lake the summer before, in 2017 when it was a PRCA rodeo. Salt Lake’s obviously been very good to me. What’s kind of funny is that both times I went to it I was run down and tired, and not really in the bareback riding mood. And both years I didn’t feel very good about my first horse there. But two out of each set advance to the finals at that rodeo, and both years I had an awesome horse in the finals.

It’s always fun when more than one guy in the truck wins. In 2016, when I won the College Finals and our Feather River College Men’s Team won the national team title, Clayton was the reserve national bareback riding champ. In Salt Lake last summer, Clayton won the long round and I won second. Then I won the rodeo and Clayton was second. That’s great for morale in any buddy group.

The Days of ’47 was a great rodeo, and the crowds were even better in 2018 than they were in 2017. Clayton and I had been at Calgary the week before, and since it was our second year there and we were a little more comfortable, we decided to enter some other rodeos during Calgary. We entered Sheridan (Wyoming), Clayton rode second to last and was 88 points on Dakota Rodeo’s War Rock. He lit the whole atmosphere up. I rode last and was 88 points on Ike Sankey’s Sozo, so we were the co-champs and that was another awesome career highlight for me right there. A lot of people don’t realize that a week later, I won Salt Lake on Sozo, too.

Fast forward to last fall, when I was on the bubble and struggling to make the cut for my third NFR. I only had about a $1,500 lead over the 16^th-place guy, and I drew Sozo in the short round at Pendleton (Oregon). I split fourth and fifth in the round and won third in the average for about $4,500. That’s what got me in. More people talked about me winning the rodeo in San Bernardino (California) right there at the end of the regular season, but it would have been pretty hard for anyone to bump me out after I placed third at Pendleton on that same horse.

Winning the Days of ’47 got me and all the other Salt Lake champs a bye into Chicago this month. I have a lot of good to say about that little $1 million rodeo, but would first back up to mention why I didn’t ride at the $500,000 WCRA Semi-Finals in November, in case anyone was wondering. I really wanted to be there, but my flight got delayed, then canceled. I made one call to Guthrie, they understood, and that was the end of it. Any cowboy who’s had to pay entry fees and sometimes a turnout fine for not being able to make it to a rodeo for any reason will understand how much I appreciated not getting any additional grief after trying my best to get to Guthrie.

Finding out I got to go to a big rodeo in Chicago gave me a flashback from when I was 18 and on my PRCA permit. We were driving from Sikeston, Missouri to Gerry, New York, and when we drove through Chicago I was telling the guy I was with how cool it would be to have a rodeo there. He said they used to have a big rodeo in Chicago back in the day, and I was pretty wide-eyed about how bright and shiny everything was there in that big city, just dreaming about it. All people could say when I told them I was going to Chicago in January this year was that I was going to freeze my butt off. Little did they know what a big deal it would turn out to be.

When we got to Chicago, we didn’t have to pay any entry fees and every contestant showed up knowing he (or she) was going to get paid. As a bareback rider, the caliber of horses is a big deal. At these WCRA events, it’s not half the guys getting on hoppers and the other half getting on eliminators. The horses in each set at these events give every guy a chance. One guy’s not getting on a hopper to where he could almost take his hand out of the riggin’ and keep spurring him, while another guy is getting on an eliminator and getting his arm jerked off. A chance is all any cowboy can ask for, and we’re getting that.

Kaycee Feild and I played a pretty fun game of trading places in Chicago. He was 90.5 points to win the first round, and I was second with 89.5 points. In the Championship Match Round, Kaycee was 88.5 points and I was 89.5. Talk about too close to call. Kaycee and I didn’t know which way it was going to go. For those of you who were there or watching it live on RidePass.com, they did take a little extra time to make sure they got it right before announcing which one of us won it. While we were waiting for the final verdict, I told Kaycee, “No matter what happens, we’re both leaving here with a buttload of money.”

As cowboys, we appreciate the WCRA taking whatever time it takes to be sure they get it right.

I think that’s why the WCRA is really thriving—because they’re for the cowboys, bottom line and every time. They get what we do, because they’ve been there. Kaycee was the first guy to shake my hand in the arena, and I think he shook it four or five more times back behind the chutes when it was over. He was more stoked than maybe even I was, and the $25,000 he won for second was not too shabby, either.

We all help each other get down the road. When we’re not winning, we’re not getting paid. So we help each other out of bog holes all the time. We give each other rides, and know we’ll need a ride one of these days, too. We’re a big family in rodeo, and we work together. We have the same goals and mindset, and we push each other to win. That’s just cowboys.

Instant replay wasn’t needed in the bareback riding in Chicago, but I’m all for using it when it’s needed to get it right. There are so many times when things happen so fast, and we’re all human, including judges. If we can push a button, look at it again and make sure the money goes to the right guy, that’s a slight difference that can change somebody’s life. Why not use technology, if that’s what it takes to get the call right?

It’s hard to say how much it means to me to win $102,000 at two rodeos. It’s not about the money when you climb down into that chute. That’s not what we’re thinking about when it’s time to ride, anyway. But we do show up to win every time, and when you’re trying to make a living riding bareback horses—which is a very tough thing to do—this kind of money is life changing.

Everybody wants to win the gold buckle. But when you see all this big money being thrown around, you’re going to try to be there and get in on some of it. That’s just good business, and that goes for so many guys, even those who don’t ride bucking horses for a living. The odds of getting into these WCRA rodeos for a chance to win this kind of money are also so much greater than other opportunities out there, most of which involve year-long commitments and a lot more sacrifice.

I honestly don’t know that I can think of how the WCRA can improve right now. But if I think of something, I’ll tell them. They want to hear it, and they’re listening, because they really do want to make rodeo better. We don’t get paid anywhere else for showing up, and that takes a lot of stress and worry off of the cowboys. They fed us when we got there, showcased us in a state-of-the-art building with locker rooms used by other professional athletes in other sports. If a guy fell off in the long round at Chicago—which nobody did—he got paid $1,444 just for being there. When you go to a $5,000-added rodeo, you have to win the rodeo to win $1,400. It’s pretty cool to be treated like professional athletes, and it’s appreciated by the contestants.

Everybody’s going to get on board with what’s going on here, because it’s progress and it’s a good deal for the cowboys. I hope by the time I’m 30 that I’ve had half the career as guys like (WCRA President) Bobby Mote and Kaycee Feild, who are both four-time world champs and are always trying to make the sport better for all of us. Winning these big events changes lives, has a shot at changing the way we rodeo and saving our bodies. The WCRA actually has a chance to not only make us some big money now, but to also extend our careers. How cool is that?