Author: PRCA

The cowboy who set the gold standard for PRCA bareback riders has called it a career. 

 

Kaycee Feild, who has won a record six PRCA Bareback Riding World Championships (2011-14, 2020-21), confirmed to the ProRodeo Sports News that he’s retiring. 

 

“Man, it’s actually kind of a weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Feild, 36, about announcing his retirement. “What I’m feeling, it is a pretty dang good feeling. I’m happy where I’m at, it feels good to be home with my family and look forward to being here, not missing games, junior rodeos.” 

 

Feild obtained his PRCA card in 2007 and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 13 times – (2008-15, 2018-22) tied for fifth most ever for bareback riders. The Genola, Utah, cowboy won the average – a bareback riding record – five times in 2011-14 and 2020. 

 

“I’m so grateful for the sport of rodeo,” Feild said. “What I have from the sport, the opportunities it presented me with are humbling experiences. I got to go overseas with the National Patriot Tour and that was a lifechanging event to go over and see war firsthand and give thanks. That was presented to me because I had a cowboy hat, a pair of cowboy boots and a bareback riggin.  

 

“It is just a humbling place I’m in and I’m extremely grateful for the career I had and the success I had and the friendships I developed with the committeemen, cameramen, traveling partners, competitors, pickup men, gatemen, you name it. I have friendships that are special to me. 

 

“The bucking horses and accolades I have in the sport mean a lot to me. It was an extremely fun career that I was blessed to have. I was blessed with a durable body and a lot of people who kept me motivated. My family was a big part of every bit of it. My wife (Stephanie) was the best teammate a guy could have. The things I learned along the way, the ups and downs that the humbling sport of rodeo is, it makes me so excited for the next chapter and confident in the direction I’m going.” 

Kaycee and his wife, have three children, daughters Chaimberlyn, 10, and Remi, 5; and son, Huxyn, 8. 

 

Feild, who also has a PRCA bareback riding record 29 NFR round wins, was coming to grips with retirement for a little while. 

 

“I had my goals set at the beginning of the year to take my family as much as could and that was the No. 1 goal,” Feild said. “Obviously, a goal of mine was to be the world champion and not crossing that off hurts and to not retire at the NFR hurts. It is not the dream I had but it (retiring) is what I wanted more than anything. 

 

“It’s been five years that I have been talking to my wife (about retirement) and listening to some older athletes and friends who have retired over the years. It was evident to me last year come July if it wasn’t going to retire at the end of 2022, then for sure in 2023.” 

 

Feild said his decision has nothing to do with injuries. 

 

“I still feel great physically and mentally,” he said. “It’s crazy that I have the least inflammation in my body since 2012. I was worried about what was going to be my motivator when I was done rodeoing to stay physically fit. I thought it was going to be hard to get in the gym, but I have found motivation of ‘How good can you feel.’ You’re not going to go to the rodeo and get beat up and start getting hurt. Your ribs aren’t going to hurt. Your shoulder is OK, your wrist is just fine, this is amazing. ‘How far are you going to push and how good are you going to feel.’ This makes it a little more fun.” 

 

Kaycee followed in the footsteps of his father, the late Lewis Feild, a ProRodeo Hall of Famer, and five-time PRCA World Champion in all-around 1987-89; and bareback riding 1985-86. 

 

Kaycee had eight 90-point rides at the NFR, including five in the last three years. His last ride at the 2022 NFR he won Round 10 with a 92-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler. 

 

Since 2011, Feild has registered 25 90-point rides or better. 

 

“I find it hard to talk about it still,” Feild said of his career accomplishments. “It’s unreal and extremely humbling now that I’m able to look back on it. I’m not lying in bed and dreaming of riding bucking horses and the competing, it is lay my head down and rest and dream of what I have accomplished and how to utilize those tools into the next chapter into the next discipline.” 

 

During his decorated career, Feild found enjoyment in the arena in different ways. 

 

“It varied throughout my career,” Feild said. “I obviously loved riding bucking horses. I knew from a young age that’s what I wanted to do. Throughout my career, my favorite thing was drawing the toughest horses. I loved the challenge. I loved the hype behind big bad bucking horses and to be in the mental state to go at that horse with full confidence that was extremely fun. The most fun thing for me is when my family could be at the rodeos and have a win. It always fun to have them there and when I got to have my family come out on the stage and accept the awards with me and have my wife and kids feel that, because it was a full team, was special. I also can’t deny the friendships.” 

 

Outside of rodeo, Field has several businesses he’s involved with.

 

“That’s something I’m excited and motivated about,” Feild said. “I still have PWR PRO that we have had for five years, and it is doing well. Our products are well liked in the Western community and to feel that support is humbling. My brother Shad and I have Warbonnet Cowboy hats, and he operates it and having a business with my brother is a blast. I’ve learned a lot from him. My newest venture is called KTK Fulfillment. We are Fulfillment center, and we will store your products and fulfill your orders. It is a very fast-paced business, and it is fun.

 

“My business partners in KTK, Kaden (Mower) and Thomas (Mower) are very sharp guys and they have taught me a lot. We are great friends, so it makes it even more fun. It is a lot like a traveling partner, they are going to call me on my BS, just like Tilden (Hooper) did my whole career. They let know if you made a mistake and they support you and educate you in the coolest way. They are very successful guys.”

 

As for rodeo plans, Feild has no long-term plans.

 

“I’m going to go down and fulfill my obligations with my endorsements and brands I represent at the (2023 NFR),” Feild said. “Then, after that I find myself thinking I will probably step away from rodeo and pursue some different things for a year or two. But I love the sport and I have a lot of passion for it and there are so many great people in it. There are so many great things I love about the sport. I see myself a few years down the road somehow being involved. I will do a couple of schools next, and I plan on helping bareback riding and hopefully I can create more bareback riding athletes.

 

“Right now, my passion and my focus are my family and KTK, PWR PRO and Warbonnet. It is a crazy fast pace and I find the more I live my life like an eight-second ride and stay busy hustling all day, it helps me stay grounded.”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The PRCA Linderman Award is one of the most prestigious awards in ProRodeo. It recognizes a cowboy who won at least $1,000 in three events, and those events must include at least one roughstock and one timed-event.

 

The 2023 Linderman Award winner is Randlett, Utah, cowboy Josh Frost.

 

This past season Frost earned $232,034 in bull riding, $2,395 in tie-down roping, $1,976 in the steer wrestling, and another $482 in team roping. Frost said he takes great pride in the award and its a goal he sets out for himself at the beginning of every year.

 

“It means a lot to win this award, I put a lot of work into it every year to make it happen,” said Frost, 28. “It can be hard to balance two timed events when you’re trying to win a gold buckle in the bull riding. It’s always more challenging than you think, winning $1,000 sounds easy, but there aren’t easy events to win money in the PRCA that’s for sure.”

 

Frost’s focus remains on winning a world title in the bull riding, where he sits third in the PRCA | RAM World Standings headed into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, but he said if there was another event that’s his favorite and best it would probably have to be tie-down roping.

 

“The tie-down roping is definitely the best of the two events for me, I practice that one a lot more,” he said. “I’m more competitive there and can win a little bit more money, whereas with the steer wrestling my size can hold me back a little bit at times.”

 

Frost has now won four straight Linderman awards. His first came back in 2019, followed up by 2021, 2022, and now 2023. He hopes to be remembered as not just a bull rider, but a cowboy. He’s gained even more respect for the other events along the way. The Linderman Award was not awarded in 2020.

 

“I think competing for this award just goes down to my cowboy roots and wanting to be remembered as a cowboy,” Frost said. “I have a lot of respect for the other cowboys and the other events in our sport of rodeo.”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Stars converged Saturday as the 2023 ProRodeo Hall of Fame class was immortalized.

 Steer wrestler Luke Branquinho, a five-time PRCA World Champion, headed up a star-studded 2023 induction class for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

 Branquinho is joined by two-time PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc rider Cody Wright (2008 and 2010), PRCA World Champion Team Roper Doyle Gellerman (1981), pickup man Kenny Clabaugh, rodeo notables Butch Knowles and Tom Feller and standout bareback horse Nightjacket, rodeo committees from the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo and Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, N.J., and barrel racer Sherry (Combs) Johnson, the 1962 WPRA World Champion and WPRA notable Fay Ann Horton Leach.

 The 2023 Ken Stemler Pioneer Award, which recognizes those who have provided groundbreaking, innovative ideas and forward thinking that help the development, advancement, and success of the PRCA and or the Hall of Fame and their missions is being awarded to Bryan McDonald, former bull rider and National Finals Rodeo judge. His foresight on day money and work with PROCOM have set the industry apart.

 

Branquinho is now a Hall of Famer

 

Branquinho, who was known for his booty shake, qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 14 times – 2001-04, 2006-15 – and won the average three times in 2008, 2011 and 2014. He has the record for most NFR rounds won by a steer wrestler at 25.

 

“I don’t even know if words can describe it,” Branquinho said. “A guy starts his rodeo career just wanting to be the best that he can and win a world championship and to win five is pretty special. Then to be able to consider myself as one of the greatest with what you guys are saying being inducted into the Hall, I don’t have words to describe it. Some of my heroes are in there obviously, John W. Jones Jr. and John W. Jones Sr., and a lot of the California cowboys that helped put ProRodeo on the map and to be able to be in that Hall with them is very special.”

 

Branquinho was still digesting that he was being immortalized as one of rodeo’s greats.

 

“To be in the same building as the legends of the sport is still a little bit surreal, that I’m going to be in there with them,” Branquinho said. “When a person starts this journey of rodeo, being a hall of famer is not necessarily the goal. You just try and go out there and win as much as you can and support your family and hopefully at the end of the day you are called a great champion and to be put in the Hall of Fame, that means you accomplished all that and more.”

 

Although Branquinho had countless memorable rodeo moments – he pinpointed living the life of a PRCA cowboy is what he enjoyed most.

 

“The memories going down the road is something I will never forget,” Branquinho said. “When you’re rodeoing, the people you meet, and the friends you are traveling with they become your family. No matter what part of the country you are in you can pick up a phone and get help if you need it. Running in the Thomas & Mack and looking up and seeing the family that supported you 365 days out of the year to try and achieve those goals and being able wave to them after the 10th round knowing you just accomplished something very few people do is incredible.”

 

Cody Wright still can’t believe he got HOF call

 

The Wright family has been the gold standard for PRCA saddle bronc riding for years.

 

That excellence guided Cody Wright, a two-time PRCA World Champion in 2008 and 2010, into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on Saturday.

 

“It is pretty unbelievable to be put into something like this with all the other guys who are in there and it’s crazy that I will be added to them,” Wright said.

 

Wright never saw the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as the end goal.

 

“I never did see this happening for me,” Wright said. “I never imagined all this was going where it was going. I was just a young kid with dream. I just wanted to rodeo and have fun and it has turned into so much more.”

 

Wright comes from the storied Wright family of saddle bronc riders as his brothers Jesse (2012) and Spencer (2014) also won PRCA World Championships as have his sons, Ryder (2017 and 2020) and Stetson (2021). Stetson has won a total of seven world championships – four in all-around (2019-22), two in bull riding (2020 and 2022) and one in saddle bronc riding in 2021. His youngest son Statler Wright is in his second year on his PRCA card, and his career has been highlighted by two wins at the storied Reno (Nev.) Rodeo in 2021 and 2022.

 

“Being able to do this with my family has probably been the most memorable thing and watching all their accomplishments along with all of mine,” Cody said. “There’s nothing better than to see your kids and your family do great as well. I always feel like the better they do, the better I do.”

 

Gellerman honored to be part of ProRodeo Hall of Fame

 

Doyle Gellerman has been a staple in the team roping world for the last 40 years and will now forever be enshrined as an inductee into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

 

“It has sunk in all right and it sunk all the way in when it happened (July 15),” Gellerman said. “This is something I never thought would happen to me. I never thought I would ever be going into the Hall of Fame, but here I am going in and what a great honor. It means the world to me.”

 

In 1981, Gellerman, a header, roping with partner Walt Woodard, shared the team roping world championship. Gellerman and Woodard each ended the season with $48,818 – back when only one team roper typically earned a gold buckle. Not until 1995 were separate PRCA header and heeler world championships awarded.

 

The title fulfilled a dream for Gellerman.

 

“I would have to say winning the world championship and the friendships I have,” Gellerman said when asked of his fondest rodeo memories. “I probably had 400 or more text messages or calls from people who I met from rodeo congratulating me. Winning the world championship was my main goal. I did want that one.”

 

Just a few years before Gellerman and Woodard were the 1979 co-reserve world champions. Gellerman was also reserve world champion in 1990, and he was the 1995 header reserve world champ.

 

He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 25 times, the fifth most by any team roper in PRCA history. 12 of those selections came while Gellerman and Woodard were roping together from 1977-85 and they teamed up again from 1992-94.

 

Kenny Clabaugh realizes HOF induction

 

Kenny Clabaugh has always been known for helping others, whether that was inside the arena or out of it.

 

By nature, Clabaugh wasn’t about the spotlight at all, hence his nickname “The Invisible Man.” He didn’t seek attention nor boast about his accomplishments throughout the years. That was just who he was.

 

However, after being selected as a pickup man for the National Finals Rodeo seven times, he didn’t go unnoticed by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame selection committee. Clabaugh got the call of a lifetime from the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and was inducted Saturday.

 

“Oh my gosh, this means everything,” Clabaugh said. “I’m still in a state of shock. I never thought I would ever be close (to being in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame).”

 

Clabaugh was selected to work the NFR in 1983, 1986-88, 1990-91, and 1994. He had the opportunity to pick up a handful of guys who are already in the Hall and even one joining him in 2023. The honor makes him only the second pickup man to ever be inducted, joining Charles “Lefty” Wilken, who was inducted in 1999 after 10 trips to the Finals.

 

The Wyoming cowboy worked many rodeos throughout his ProRodeo career, which came to an end in 2000. He was a pickup man at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City, S.D., with partner Steve Sutton for nearly 30 years.

 

“The people, the rodeos, the cowboys, it was all good,” Clabaugh said. “The key for me was I had good partners and good horses.”

Knowles immortalized forever in Hall

 

The voice of Butch Knowles is one of the most recognizable in the sport of rodeo.

 

Knowles has been in the broadcast booth for every National Finals Rodeo dating back to 1988. His dedication to the sport is one of a kind. His longevity and love for rodeo was recognized by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame selection committee as he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on Saturday.

 

“When I got up here (in Colorado Springs) it hit me like a ton of bricks,” said Knowles about the realization he was going into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “This is just crazy. I kept waiting for them to call me and say they made a mistake we thought you were Butch Myers or something, but they never called. It’s just crazy. It is nothing you ever think about. When you start out, this is the last thing anybody ever thinks will happen. It is so humbling.”

 

Knowles may be going into the Hall as a rodeo notable, but he’s known for his work inside the arena as well. He qualified for the NFR in saddle bronc riding in 1981, 1983, and 1986-87. He also won the NFR average in 1987. He said being a Hall of Famer is something that never crossed his mind while riding or announcing.

 

“The one thing that stands out and it just happened after they announced my induction is all the people who I haven’t seen for years who have wrote nice notes and congratulated me,” Knowles said. “When it is all wrapped up and done, I don’t think there’s any better lifestyle or people to be around than who we deal with on a daily basis. It is amazing.”

 

Years of rodeo commitment land Feller in Hall

 

Tom Feller’s passion and decades of commitment and loyalty to ProRodeo were immortalized on Saturday when he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as a notable.

 

“It’s one of those things that you can’t believe you’re worthy of really,” Feller said. “It’s overwhelming to me, especially with the category I’m going in with. When they put your name next to guys like Benny Binion, Mel Potter, or Michael Gaughan it’s truly remarkable. I don’t feel I belong with that group because I admire them so much. The things they’ve personally done for rodeo are so incredible.”

 

Feller is a cowboy through and through. His loyalty to the sport of rodeo and his commitment to ProRodeo programs such as the Justin Sportsmedicine team, the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and Chairman of the PRCA Board Directors gained him entrance into the Hall.

 

When Feller obtained his PRCA card in 1974, his highest aspiration was possibly to clown at the National Finals Rodeo someday.

 

He realized that dream when he was chosen as a barrelman at the National Finals Rodeo in 1981 and was an alternate in 1976, 1982, and 1985. He was also chosen as the PRCA Clown of the Year in 1981 and 1987. For years, Tom worked as a bullfighter with his brother Jim Bob Feller. Tom also wrote a column for the ProRodeo Sports News back in the day.

 

Tom was born Sept. 10, 1948, in Waco, Texas. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. After his rodeo career, Feller has served as the director of event marketing for Justin Brands for more than two decades.

 

Feller, who “rodeoed before sports medicine,” said the Justin SportsMedicine team can’t prevent a cowboy from getting hurt, but they can educate them about how to prevent injuries and can get them back in the saddle again.

 

“Looking back on my life in rodeo, it just makes me realize I was probably put here for a purpose,” Feller said. “That was to not only be a steward of Justin Brands and the western way of life, but to be a steward to the (Professional Rodeo Cowboys) Association. I’m forever grateful for that.”

 

Nightjacket forever enshrined

 

Stock in the sport of rodeo is never undervalued. You could make the argument the roughstock animals and timed-event horses are just as important to success as the athletes that compete on them.

 

With that being said, there have been 38 animals selected to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame since the first induction class in 1979. That number will rise to 39 in 2023 as the famous “Nightjacket” raised by Jim and Maggie Zinser, who founded J Bar J Rodeo Company, will be inducted into the Hall.

 

Nightjacket competed at every Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as a bareback horse from 2000-2007. During that time, the horse helped six different cowboys reach the pay window in Las Vegas.

 

Even with Nightjacket’s success inside the arena, the horse may be more known for his star-studded offspring. Moving from J Bar J to Pickett Pro Rodeo, NFR bucking horses like Fringe Jacket, Straight Jacket, and Night Gazer are direct descendants of Nightjacket.

 

Even with Nightjacket’s passing in 2013 at the age of 19, many more of his offspring are lighting up the ProRodeo ranks as we speak, carrying on this once-in-a-lifetime horse’s legacy.

 

Cullen Pickett, who bought Nightjacket in 2009, said the horses’ bloodlines took their bucking stock to the next level. Now, those bloodlines will never be forgotten as an inductee into the Hall of Fame.

 

“He (Nightjacket) never had a day off. He always showed up and it’s been the same thing with his colts. His colts are just the ones you can count on. It doesn’t matter the arena or the situation. Nightjacket had a great bucking career himself, but his legacy will forever be remembered in the stock that’s come from him.”

 

Jim Zinser was thrilled to see Nightjacket enshrined.

 

“Going into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame is such an impressive honor,” Zinser said. “It’s a special accomplishment that means a lot to my family and I.

 

“In 1970, I had a man call me that I knew and rodeoed some. He had a riding stable in the Detroit (Mich.) area. He said I have this big brown mare that’s just throwing everybody off and I think she would work for you. I said you know I’ll take a chance on her. We started rodeoing with her and I really couldn’t believe how good this horse was. To this day, I’m going to say she is definitely in the top three or four for horses that have ever been on this ranch in 40 years. That horse ended up being Nightjacket’s grandmother.”

 

Zinser gushed about the talent of Nightjacket.

 

“You couldn’t believe how good Nightjacket was in the arena, but then when we started breeding him and we were just amazed at how good the colts really were.

 

“I think Nightjacket is definitely more known for his offspring than his bucking career. I might be a little bit biased, but I think he is definitely right there as one of the all-time great producing stallions in the sport of rodeo. He’s produced four world champion bucking horses. Dirty Jacket won it twice, Big Tex, and Deuces Night. Plus, he has had 60 of his genetic offspring at the NFR, where they have won over $2 million on them alone. This is a once in a lifetime line of genetics in the sport of rodeo.”

 

St. Paul Rodeo takes its place in HOF

 

For decades, the St. Paul Rodeo has been known as one of the most unique and finest rodeos on the PRCA trail.

 

The success of the rodeo hasn’t gone unnoticed as the St. Paul Rodeo Committee was inducted in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on Saturday.

 

“We have 11 members on our board right now and six out of the 11 are grandsons or great-grandsons of our rodeo founders from 1936,” said Kevin Smith, the vice-president of the St. Paul Rodeo Committee. “The rodeo really is a family and community tradition that runs deep. I think it means even more to us because of the family connections. When I got the call from the meeting room that day I kind of felt like two other generations were with me right then and there.”

 

St. Paul, Ore., with a population of less than 450, is in the heart of the Willamette Valley, 20 miles from Salem, the state capital.

 

From those roots, the St. Paul Rodeo is going strong as ever. In 1991, the PRCA cowboys gave the St. Paul Rodeo a plaque proclaiming it the finest rodeo in the Northwest.

 

“We are receiving this honor because of the dedication of not only our staff and the people that have come before us, but our special community over the last 87 years,” Smith said.

 

Cowtown Rodeo enters ProRodeo Hall of Fame

 

The storied history of the Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, N.J., was rewarded at the highest level as it was enshrined into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

 

“It didn’t set in that we are going to become the newest members of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame until we stepped foot in Colorado Springs,” Cowtown Rodeo’s Betsy Harris said. “That’s when the reality set in for all of us.

 

“The first thing we thought about when we found out was Grant’s (Harris) Dad Howard. We think back to the work he did for rodeo. Now, that we’ve been here for 45 years that in itself is remarkable. You don’t think that you’ll ever do anything that long. When it’s your life and it’s a joy everyday like it is for us and now that our children are still involved there’s nothing better. It’s the best way to live.”

 

Cowtown has held rodeo competitions in Salem County, N.J., nearly every week since 1955, rain or shine. The only exceptions were six Saturdays at the start of the pandemic in 2020.

 

Cowtown is known as the oldest weekly professional rodeo in the United States. The rodeo runs each year from Memorial Day to the end of September each summer.

 

Cowtown Rodeo was started in 1929 by Howard Harris Sr. and his son, Howard “Stoney” Harris Jr. Stoney held the first rodeo in Woodstown N.J., in conjunction with the Salem County Fair, at the original auction grounds on North Main Street.

 

Presently this ground is known as Harris Acres, with the back stretch of the racetrack now being the Presbyterian Church on Auburn Road. The rodeo was held annually during the County Fair until 1938. World War II caused the rodeo to be put on hold until 1955 when Howard “Baldy” Harris, Stoney’s son, came back from the University of Idaho carrying the 1954 National Intercollegiate All-Around Rodeo Championship saddle.

 

Cowtown Rodeo was – and is – known nationwide due to live national TV exposure in 1958 & 1959 and taped exposure nationwide in 1969 and 1970. The rodeo outgrew the original arena and in 1967 built the present 4,000 seat arena.

 

Barrel racer Sherry Combs Johnson joins her sister, her horse in HOF

 

Combs Johnson joins the Hall of Fame alongside her world champion horse Star Plaudit “Red,” who was inducted in 2017 and her sister Florence Youree, who was inducted as a notable in the 2019 Class.

 

“When my horse Red went in it was great because I knew he was so worthy,” Combs Johnson said. “People have called me a legend this weekend, I’m not a legend. I’m just a person that did what they wanted to do and was able to do.

 

“I’m tickled beyond words and blessed to be included in this Hall, but I never thought I’d be here. Now, to join my horse and my sister, it’s truly special, it really is.”

 

Born Aug. 16, 1938, in Duncan, Okla., Johnson has made her home in Addington, Okla. During her career she qualified for 12 National Finals Rodeos, the first coming in 1959 at the first GRA (predecessor to the WPRA) Finals in Clayton, N.M. and the last in 1991 under the bright lights of Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center, a span of four decades (1959-68, 1970, 1991).

 

She won her first WPRA world title in 1961 in the all-around category, but the highlight of her career would come in 1962 when she won the barrel racing world title aboard Star Plaudit “Red.”

 

Johnson made her mark in the National High School Association as well, winning the all-around title, barrel racing and breakaway roping titles in 1955.

 

Johnson gave back to the WPRA, serving on the Board of Directors from 1963-1971, including a stint as the Vice President. She was named Coca-Cola Woman of the Year in 1997 and was inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in 2005.

 

“When I got my card and went to the first NFR in Clayton (N.M.), I would have never dreamt of this day and what the Association has become,” she said.

 

Fay Ann Horton Leach’s years of dedication to rodeo put her in Hall

 

Fay Ann Horton Leach was one of the founding members of the Girls Rodeo Association.

 

Leach’s devotion to the sport has not gone unnoticed as she was inducted as a notable in the 2023 ProRodeo Hall of Fame class in Colorado Springs.

 

Leach led the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA-now WPRA) as a founding member, competitor, and board member. One of the 38 women who met in San Angelo, Texas, on Feb. 28, 1948, to form the very first professional sports association created solely for women by women.

 

“It didn’t set in for a long time that I was going to be a Hall of Famer,” she said. “I can’t really understand why I’m being inducted because all I’ve ever done is just work hard in my everyday life. But I’m really thankful for it I can tell you that. I think one of the things that I appreciate the most was getting to travel the country and meeting a lot of wonder people that are still really close friends of mine.”

 

Leach never won a world title in the barrel racing, but she qualified for nine consecutive NFRs (1959-1967). She would finish third in the world in 1962 behind Sherry Johnson, a fellow 2023 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee, and Wanda Bush.

 

Like many cowgirls during this era, they competed in many different events with calf roping being one of Leach’s favorites. In fact, she broke her mentor’s streak of six consecutive titles in the calf roping when she beat Bush for the world title in 1957. She would add three more of those titles in 1959, 1963 and 1971. She won the all-around in 1960, the flag race world title in 1964 and one that might surprise everyone was her bull riding title in 1966.

 

In 1967, Fay Ann married Billy Leach, who competed in the RCA roping calves and steer wrestling. Together they founded Billy Leach Ropes.

 

In 2011, she was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame under the category of Trailblazers and now she is immortalized in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame for her dedication to building a strong foundation for women in rodeo.

 

It remains incongruous. Zeke Thurston competes in a sport that races the heartbeat, forces confrontations with danger and leaves the body in peril. When it comes to riding saddle bronc horses, no one did it better than the world champion. Yet when he talks about his success, he is calmer than a lagoon.

 

On May 21, he discussed a triumphant ride on Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic From Hell like he was reading off a grocery list. This is what has made him one of the best.

 

“I just try to keep a pretty cool head and focus on my job,” Thurston said.

 

At the World Famous Miles City (Mont.) Bucking Horse Sale Matched Xtreme Bronc Ride, Thurston delivered a 91-point ride in the finals to secure the title. It proved the perfect match of poise and horse – Lunatic From Hell has been ridden by the event champion in five of the last six years.

 

And the one year he didn’t win it, he was part of a re-ride. So, five out of six?

 

“That’s a pretty good average for a horse. It was a really good ride,” Thurston said. “He kind of bailed out of there and had a really good day. He stayed with it. I have been on that horse a few times prior. So, I knew about him, but it was like five-to-six years ago, so it’s been a while.”

 

Thurston’s 91-point trip was enough to edge Sage Newman (89.5 points) for the title in Montana. Winning is a habit for Thurston. The Alberta cowboy owns a resume that widens eyes even among stars. He has claimed three PRCA World Championships (2016, 2019, 2022) and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo eight times. Events like this just fuel his fire.

 

“The Xtreme events are really cool. It’s a real sporty event: 30 of the best guys in the world getting on great bucking horses. It’s good watching,” Thurston said. “It was really good. There were people everywhere cheering.”

 

Up next is a first-time Xtreme Broncs event in Palmer, Alaska. It’s a new event, but Thurston has a plan to post the same old results.

 

“It will be more of the same. I want to keep the ball rolling,” Thurston said, “and keep doing what we are doing.”

ProRodeo Hall of Famer Larry Mahan, arguably the biggest superstar in rodeo history, passed away on May 7. He was 79.

His service will be broadcast live on the Cowboy Channel, hosted by Justin McKee. The service will be held Tuesday, Tuesday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) at Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Open seating will be available to the public. Friends, family, World Champion rodeo contestants, PBR World Finals qualifiers and NFR qualifiers are asked to meet at The Barn Meeting Hall at The Drover Hotel at 5 p.m. and will be escorted to floor seating.

 

Mahan was the all-around world champion in 1966-70 and 1973. He also was the bull riding champ in 1965 and 1967. He qualified for the NFR a combined 26 times from 1964-75 in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He was inducted in the inaugural class of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1979.

The loss of Mahan weighed heavy on fellow ProRodeo Hall of Famer, Ty Murray, a nine-time world champion.

“I think he meant a lot to the sport of rodeo, and he meant a lot to me,” Murray said. “He was my hero. He was my superman when I was a little boy. I did a paper when I was in fifth grade, they said if you could wish anything for the world what would it be. I misunderstood the question. I thought it meant if there is anything you could do in the world, what would it be? I said I wanted to break Larry Mahan’s records. I still have that assignment today with me.”

Murray acknowledged Mahan was far more than his idol.

“He took me under his wing when I was 13,” Murray said. “I went and lived with him that summer and he didn’t really teach me anything about riding. He never really even mentioned anything about riding but taught me a lot about not being shy when people want to interview you and to try and give thoughtful answers and tell them what it is like because most people can’t fathom what it is like to ride a bull or a bucking horse. He taught me the importance of all that stuff, which was really a big help for me in my career because growing up, if it didn’t have to do with being a cowboy, I didn’t care about it.

“I think he was a pioneer in that realm of sponsorship and doing things that no cowboys had ever done. I think he did some commercials for athletic wear, and beer commercials and all kinds of stuff. He kind of paved his own way. He didn’t just follow suit like so many people do in all different walks of life. Everybody is monkey-see, monkey-do and I feel like he was a guy who knew what he wanted to do, and he knew what he wanted to try and get done. He had a love for it, and he had a passion for it, and he went and did it.”

Murray said he spent two hours with Mahan on Friday morning May 5, at his home in Valley View, Texas.

“He couldn’t really move, and I just sat with him, and just spent some time with him,” Murray said. “I would hold on to his hand and he would squeeze my hand. He knew I was there. It’s a tough deal because he has been a really important part of my life. He was my hero. He set records that I wanted to make as benchmarks for myself to try and see what I could accomplish. He took me under his wing. He showed me the world is a lot bigger than just the rodeo arena.”

Bobby Steiner, the 1973 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion, also spent time with Mahan on Friday.

“I flew up to his place and got to see him and Sid (Steiner) and Rocker (Steiner) got to see him (Thursday),” Bobby said. “I have been a close friend to Larry, and he is my hero. We rodeoed at the same time. He is eight years older than me, but he was in his heyday when I was doing my thing. He is the biggest thing that ever hit rodeo – ever. Not only was he great but he also was the kind of guy who was on the Tonight Show and all kinds of stuff. He was known by the world and he’s the biggest rodeo cowboy that has ever been.”

Murray believes what made Mahan so special is his passion.

“I think it was love,” Murray said. “When you have a passion for something and love it so much then that generally makes it easier to get good at it, because it is something that you love and crave, and you think about it all the time without trying to. I know that was him. The challenge of riding bucking animals is something he loved. He was built right for it. He was a competitor. You have to be lucky as well to be able to be like a Michael Jordan of the sport. If Michael Jordan was born 5-foot-2, things would have been really different.

“I think he (Larry) had the right body type. I think he had the right mind for it. I think he had a powerful mind and I think it takes a powerful mind to be able to compartmentalize things and be able to stay in a space where you’re focused and fluid in a car crash-type, scary environment. That takes a person with a pretty good command over their thoughts and emotions.”

Steiner offered this assessment of what made Mahan unique.

“Seriously, he was different,” Steiner said. “He had a spark in his eye, and he had the greatest smile. Everybody around rodeo knew he was the big thing. He carried himself different. You have heard about the ‘It Factor,’ and he had the ‘It Factor.’ When he pulled up, the secretaries loved him, the stock contractors loved him, the judges loved him, the people loading the stock loved him. It didn’t make any difference because he had the gleam in his eye because he was Larry Mahan.”

Steiner went on to say, “In my lifetime, I have seen things happen in different deals. There will never be another Elvis Presley. I’m not saying Mahan was on that level as far as worldwide, but he was that in rodeo. He was the Elvis that has never been resurrected. He flew in his own airplane. He spoke to everybody. The aura that was with him when he first cracked out was huge. I had never seen anything like it. He was good to me, and he was good to everybody. He was just a winner. He was very classy. He looked great on everything he got on. He had a distinct style.”

In the world of rodeo, there will likely never be another Larry Mahan according to Murray.

“I don’t think so,” Murray said. “He was a special individual, he sure was to me. I was thinking about it this morning, him and I have been friends for 41 years. He was good to me from the time I was 13. I think he helped rodeo. The reason I went on Dancing With the Stars was because of Mahan. That all came from him. He’s the one that taught me not to be shy about that stuff and that’s how you reach a bigger audience. I know that the influence Larry had on me made it to where I was able to earn more outside the arena than I was in the arena, through sponsorships and different partnerships with big companies. I feel like if I had not known Larry and the influence that he had on me, that could have been very different.”

Steiner echoed Murray’s sentiments.

“I remember Larry had white boots and so I got white boots,” Steiner said. “In 1971, he came to me, and he knew I was a little out there as well, and he said, ‘Hey let’s grow our hair.’ He got noticed way more than me because he was on a huge stage. He just felt that needed to be done. Seriously, two years after that everybody did the hair thing. He wasn’t scared to step outside the box and let other people in. I was forever grateful that he asked me as a kid to grow my hair long with him. He wore fur coats. He was the Hollywood cowboy, but everybody loved him. He was the biggest thing that ever hit the sport – ever.”

Legendary ProRodeo Hall of Fame announcer Bob Tallman also paid tribute to his longtime friend Mahan.

“Larry and I have known each other for 52 years,” Tallman said. “He was Elvis before Elvis knew who he was. He surrounded himself with some of the most brilliant people as attorneys and writers and film people and music people and rodeo people. When he and Bobby Steiner first started letting their hair grow I remember it very well. They used to make him ride in the slack because of his long hair, Bobby Steiner as well. He knew he could beat them in the slack as well as he could in the performance. He was unique. He was retro before the term was ever used in the boot business, hat business, clothing business, and rodeo business. He was the truest all-around cowboy that we have ever had. He says, and if he could communicate today he would tell you the same thing, he thinks the greatest cowboy who ever lived is Phil Lyne. When he and Phil made the movie The Great American Cowboy (in 1973) he and Phil Lyne were the competitive parts of it and he always said, ‘I can’t warm Phil Lyne up. He can rope calves, he can trip steers, he can team rope, he can ride bulls, and broncs and bareback horses.

“Larry had an aura about him and a following. People moved to him like a magnet. He never lost his thrill of what he was doing, but he also could go and compete. He was a little bit of Jim Shoulders, he was a little bit of Casey Tibbs and he was all Larry Mahan. He just had so much raw talent.”

 

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (May 10, 2023) — A Memorial Service in Fort Worth, Texas will be held for Larry Mahan, a truly legendary cowboy who passed from our world to heaven on Sunday, May 7 at his home in Valley View, Texas with family by his side. He was 79.

The Service, hosted by Justin McKee, will be held Tuesday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) at Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Open seating will be available to the public. Friends, family, World Champion rodeo contestants, PBR World Finals qualifiers and NFR qualifiers are asked to meet at The Barn Meeting Hall at The Drover Hotel at 5 p.m. and will be escorted to floor seating.

Though he was referred to as “the first rock star of rodeo” with vast accomplishments in the arena as a saddle bronc rider, bareback rider and bull rider during a career that brought six All-Around World Championships (five in a row from 1966-70) and two bull riding World Championships in the PRCA, Mahan was the rare embodiment of a modern authentic American cowboy. More than a rodeo competitor, he was a powerful ambassador for the Western lifestyle.

Mahan would be inducted into ProRodeo Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1979. Later, he became a member of PBR’s Ring of Honor and was recognized with the Ty Murray Top Hand Award for his significant and lasting contributions to enhance the sport of rodeo and its heritage. He has been inducted into every Western hall of fame of significance.

Even with all his successes in and out of the arena, Larry Mahan was as generous of spirit, giving of his time, and humble as a cowboy could be. The Memorial Service will remember and celebrate a man who inspired and touched countless people and will continue to do so even as he is no longer with us.

PBR would like to thank the American Paint Horse Association for working to rearrange their scheduled Cowgirl Gathering events to make Cowtown Coliseum available for this Memorial Service.

There will be a reception following the memorial service for friends, family, World Champion rodeo contestants, PBR World Finals qualifiers and NFR qualifiers courtesy of The Cowboy Channel at Tannehill’s Tavern in the Stockyards featuring a special performance by Annie Bosko.

In lieu of flowers, a foundation will be set up in Larry Mahan’s name. Details on the foundation, and how to donate, will be released at a later date.

The memorial service will be broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel and re-aired throughout the week following.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 27) – Steer wrestler Luke Branquinho, a five-time PRCA World Champion, heads up a star-studded 2023 induction class for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

 Branquinho is joined by two-time PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc rider Cody Wright (2008 and 2010), World Champion Team Roper Doyle Gellerman (1981), pickup man Kenny Clabaugh, rodeo notables Butch Knowles and Tom Feller and standout bareback horse Night Jacket, rodeo committees from the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo and Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, N.J., and barrel racer Sherry (Combs) Johnson, the 1962 WPRA World Champion and WPRA notable Fay Ann Horton Leach.

The 2023 Ken Stemler Pioneer Award, which recognizes those who have provided groundbreaking, innovative ideas and forward thinking that help the development, advancement, and success of the PRCA and or the Hall of Fame and their missions is being awarded to Bryan McDonald, former bull rider, and National Finals Rodeo judge. His foresight on day money and work with PROCOM have set the industry apart.

 “It certainly wasn’t expected that’s for sure,” McDonald said. “It’s a great honor to be in the presence of all those people, knowing what they have contributed and did for the sport throughout the years. It’s pretty heavy company.”

 

They will be enshrined July 15, during ceremonies at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo.

 Branquinho, who won world championships in 2004, 2008, 2011-12 and 2014, is second all-time in ProRodeo Steer Wrestling World Championships behind only Homer Pettigrew, who had six.

“I don’t even know if words can describe it,” Branquinho said when informed of his induction. “A guy starts his rodeo career just wanting to be the best that he can and win a world championship and to win five is pretty special. Then to be able to consider myself as one of the greatest with what you guys are saying being inducted to the Hall, I don’t have words to describe it. Some of my heroes are in there obviously, John W. Jones Jr. and John W. Jones Sr., and a lot of the California cowboys that helped put ProRodeo on the map and to be able to be in that Hall with them is very special.”

 Branquinho, who was known for his booty shake, qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 14 times – 2001-04, 2006-15 – and won the average three times in 2008, 2011 and 2014. He has the record for most NFR rounds won by a steer wrestler at 25.

 Cody Wright comes from the storied Wright family of saddle bronc riders as his brothers Jesse (2012) and Spencer (2014) also won PRCA World Championships as have his sons, Ryder (2017 and 2020) and Stetson (2021). Stetson has won a total of seven world championships – four in all-around (2019-22), two in bull riding (2020 and 2022) and one in saddle bronc riding in 2021.

“Really?” said Cody, when told of his induction. “You didn’t give me much time to come up with any type of emotions, but it is definitely a great honor to be put in there just because of the people who are in there. I really don’t even know what to say. I would definitely say winning my first and second world championships were memorable and winning the second one made the first one that much sweeter to me. Probably more so than me winning world titles was to watch my boys win.”

  Cody qualified for the NFR 13 times from 2003-14, and 2016.

 In 1981, Gellerman, a header, roping with partner Walt Woodard, won the team roping world championship.

 Gellerman qualified for the NFR 25 times, the fifth most by any team roper in PRCA history.

 “It means everything to me really, it’s quite an honor,” Gellerman said. “When I started my career, it wasn’t anything I really even thought about. It was one of those things, where if it happened it happened, if it didn’t, I was good with it.

 

“Winning a world championship was something I wanted since I was a kid. That was one of my goals and I got that accomplished. So, I’d say that was my most memorable moment.”

 By nature, Clabaugh wasn’t about the spotlight at all. He didn’t seek attention nor boast about his accomplishments.

 However, after being selected as a pickup man for the NFR six times, he didn’t go unnoticed by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame selection committee.

 “Oh my gosh, are you serious? This means everything to me, I’m really in shock,” Clabaugh said. “This isn’t even something that I thought would be possible when I was picking up at rodeos. It was quite a life and an enjoyable life that’s for sure. I’m looking forward to getting out to Colorado Springs, but right now I’m still in shock this is happening.”

 

Knowles made a name for himself as a TV commentator, including countless broadcasts from the NFR. He also qualified for the NFR in saddle bronc riding in 1981, 1983, and 1986-87. He won the NFR average in 1987.

 “That’s pretty humbling, holy cow. For a guy that does a lot of talking I don’t have a ton of words to say right now. This is the last thing that I ever thought would happen. It is quite an honor, it’s probably not the place that I feel like I should be. But it’s an honor to be thought of that way, it really is.

 “I’ve never ever thought my place would be in the Hall of Fame, I’m just that type of guy. I’ve enjoyed the ride that I’ve had. I look up to all those guys in the Hall of Fame and I think they’ve made incredible marks in the sport of rodeo in their lives.”

 

Feller is a cowboy through and through. His loyalty to the sport of rodeo and his commitment to ProRodeo programs such as the Justin Sportsmedicine team and the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund gained him entrance into the Hall.

 Feller also was a barrelman at the NFR in 1981 and was an alternate in 1976, 1982, 1985.

 “This is mind-boggling,” Feller said. “This is not anything I would have ever thought about. I think the only thing that stands out is the people in the business. They are lifelong friends and people who you can count on.”

 Famous “Night Jacket” raised by Jim and Maggie Zinser, who founded J Bar J Rodeo Company, is a horse that will be remembered for decades to come.

 

Night Jacket competed at every Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as a bareback horse from 2000-2007. During that time, the horse helped six different cowboys reach the pay window in Las Vegas. Even with

Night Jacket’s success inside the arena, the horse may be more known for his star-studded offspring.

 Moving from J Bar J to Pickett Pro Rodeo, NFR bucking horses like Fringe Jacket, Straight Jacket, and Night Gazer are direct descendants of Night Jacket. Many more are lighting up the ProRodeo ranks as we speak, carrying on this once in a lifetime horses’ legacy.

 “I’m at a loss for words, I really am. I didn’t ever think that would happen in the lifetime that we lived,” Maggie Zinser said.

 

Jim shared the same sentiments.

 “That horse had so many offspring that were buckers throughout their lives. It seemed like every single one of them were 20-to-22-point horses when you would buck them. Over 50 percent of them turned into fantastic horses from Night Jacket.”

 Cullen Pickett, who bought Night Jacket in 2009, also praised the horse.

“It means the world to us for sure. Just to be a part of that elite club is truly an hour.”

 “The horse was unlike any other as far as that many offspring and colts that have moved on to be great ProRodeo animals. Not to mention he had a great bucking career as well.”

 This also was a special honor for the St. Paul Rodeo.

 

“This is fabulous,” said Kevin Smith, a member of the St. Paul Rodeo committee. “A small town with some serious roots is a good place for rodeo and we have been one of those. Half of our board is grandsons and great grandsons of our rodeo in 1936. This is just a great honor for us to receive.”

 Cowtown has had a storied rodeo tradition, but rodeo secretary Betsy Harris, who has been an integral part of the rodeo for decades couldn’t believe the phone call she received on Monday.

 “Seriously,” Harris said when told Cowtown Rodeo was Hall of Fame bound. “Oh, my goodness. My husband and I have been doing this for 44 years and we never saw this coming. Our rodeo committee is just four of us, my son-in-law and daughter and my husband Grant and me. We have a huge work force that does work for us and so dedicated and wonderful. I’m really in shock, not the call I was expecting. This is wonderful.”

 

Johnson will join the Hall of Fame alongside her world champion horse Star Plaudit “Red,” who was inducted in 2017 and her sister Florence Youree, who was inducted as a notable in the 2019 Class.

 “I am in shock,” stated Johnson upon learning of her induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “I knew when Jimmie (Munroe) called me that she wasn’t fibbing, but it is still just so hard to grasp. It is such a blessing to be put in the Hall with my horse Red and my sister. It definitely brings my career around full circle.

 Born August 16, 1938, in Duncan, Okla., Johnson has made her home in Addington, Oklahoma. During her career she qualified for 12 National Finals Rodeos, the first coming in 1959 at the first GRA (predecessor to the WPRA) Finals in Clayton, N.M. and the last in 1991 under the bright lights of Las Vegas, a span of four decades (1959-68, 1970, 1991).

 She won her first WPRA world title in 1961 in the all-around category, but the highlight of her career would come in 1962 when she won the barrel racing world title aboard Star Plaudit “Red.”

 Johnson made her mark in the National High School Association as well, winning the all-around title, barrel racing and breakaway roping titles in 1955.

 Johnson gave back to the WPRA, serving on the Board of Directors from 1963-1971, including a stint as the Vice President. She was named Coca-Cola Woman of the Year in 1997 and was inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in 2005.

 

In July, she will cement her place in ProRodeo history with her induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

 “When I got my card and went to the first NFR in Clayton (N.M.), I would have never dreamt of this day and what the Association has become. It is just truly a great day.”

 Horton Leach led the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA-now WPRA) as a founding member, competitor, and board member. One of the 38 women who met in San Angelo, Texas, on February 28, 1948, to form the very first professional sports association created solely for women by women.

 “This is quite an honor. I don’t know that I truly deserve it but know it is a big deal,” said Leach, who makes her home in Kilgore, Texas. “We worked very hard in the early years for the Association but never really got to reap the benefits, but they are now. I am so thankful the girls now can expect to make some money as we were lucky to run at $20 day money. I love to see the progress the Association and the sport of rodeo has made.”

Leach never won a world title in the barrel racing, but she qualified for nine consecutive NFRs (1959-1967). She would finish third in the world in 1962 behind Johnson and Bush.

 Like many cowgirls during this era, they competed in many different events with calf roping being one of Leach’s favorites. In fact, she broke her mentor’s streak of six consecutive titles in the calf roping when she beat Bush for the world title in 1957. She would add three more of those titles in 1959, 1963 and 1971. She won the all-around in 1960, the flag race world title in 1964 and one that might surprise everyone was her bull riding title in 1966.

 In 1967, Fay Ann married Billy Leach, who competed in the RCA roping calves and steer wrestling. Together they founded Billy Leach Ropes.

 In 2011, she was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame under the category of Trailblazers and now she will be immortalized in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame for her dedication to building a strong foundation for women in rodeo

Listen to Riley Webb talk, and it can raise eyebrows. He sounds young, but he competes like a veteran. He qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as a rookie last season. Still a teenager, Webb continued his meteoric rise in the sport, winning the tie-down roping championship at RodeoHouston on Sunday.

Webb, 19, walked away with one of the biggest purses in ProRodeo, pocketing $50,000 with an 8.9 second-run in the Championship Shootout and nearly $10,000 for his steady round runs to reach the finals.

As he enjoyed dinner with his mom and grandma in Houston, Webb revealed why he’s enjoying success. Nothing seems to bother him – not a packed arena of screaming fans or a reporter asking questions as knives and forks click off plates around him.

“It’s pretty cool,” Webb said. “I had my aunt and uncle there (for one round), then my mom and grandma there tonight. It was special.”

That it ended up this way is a testament to Webb’s approach. The stage is never too big. He won’t let it be with his narrow focus and even-keel demeanor.

“You just have to do your job (even in the championship shootout round). When you have a good calf, it’s about making no mistakes and winning what you can win. It’s about not trying to do too much, just doing what you can,” Webb said.

Webb entered the finals with confidence. He placed in every round, including a 9.0- second time in his first RodeoHouston run, posting a win.

“To make that first run like that really helped,” said Webb, who placed 10th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings last season, earning $188,597.

Webb, who hails from Denton, Texas, kept piling up strong performances, finishing third and fourth in subsequent runs before notching a second-place finish in the semifinal qualifier. It set the stage for the biggest regular-season win of his career as he bested Hunter Herrin (9.6, $20,000) and Reese Riemer (15.4, $10,000).

“I had a good feeling going into it,” Webb said. “It was cool.”

Riley was featured in the Rodeo News in July of 2021. Here is a link to that story:

https://reader.mediawiremobile.com/RodeoNews/issues/207284/viewer

Other winners at the $1,950,030 rodeo were bareback rider Leighton Berry (90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Yippee Kibitz); steer wrestler Dalton Massey (4.5 seconds); team ropers Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler (5.5 seconds); saddle bronc rider Sage Newman (90 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Womanizer); breakaway roper Hali Williams (3.6 seconds); barrel racer Jordon Briggs (14.73 seconds); and bull rider Ky Hamilton (90.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Dim Tricks).

Results from Houston Championship
Bareback Riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party; 2. Kaycee Feild, 89; 3. Leighton Berry, 88; 4. Keenan Hayes, 87; 5. Tim O’Connell, 86.5, $2,500; 6. Chad Rutherford, 85, $2,500; 7. Jayco Roper, 84.5, $2,500; 8. Jess Pope, 83.5, $2,500; 9. Richmond Champion, 82.5, $2,500; 10. Sam Petersen, 81, $2,500.
Steer Wrestling: 1. (tie) Dalton Massey and Rowdy Parrott, 4.8 seconds; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 5.3; 4. Cody Devers, 6.1; 5. J.D. Struxness, 6.1, $2,500; 6. Clayton Hass, 6.3, $2,500; 7. Jesse Brown, 6.6, $2,500; 8. Stephen Culling, 6.6, $2,500; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, 14.6, $2,500; 10. Jacob Talley, 15.9, $2,500.
Team Roping: 1. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.5 seconds; 2. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 5.7; 3. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 5.8; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis, 5.9; 5. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 5.9, $2,500 each; 6. Cory Kidd V/Lane Mitchell, 6.4, $2,500; 7. (tie) Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Levi Simpson/Caleb Hendrix, Coy Rahlmann/Jonathan Torres and Chad Masters/Trey Yates, NT, $2,500 each.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Sage Newman, 90 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Hitman; 2. (tie) Ben Andersen and Zeke Thurston, 88; 4. Chase Brooks, 87.5; 5. Kade Bruno, 86.5, $2,500; 6. Ryder Wright, 86, $2,500; 7. Ross Griffin, 85, $2,500; 8. Brody Cress, 83, $2,500; 9. Isaac Diaz, 81, $2,500; 10. Riggin Smith, 75.5, $2,500.
Tie-Down Roping: 1. Beau Cooper, 8.5 seconds; 2. Reese Riemer, 8.9; 3. Riley Mason Webb, 9.9; 4. Hunter Herrin, 9.9; 5. Caleb Smidt, 10.8, $2,500; 6. Shad Mayfield, 11.8, $2,500; 7. Adam Gray, 11.8, $2,500; 8. Matt Shiozawa, 12.6, $2,500; 9. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Cory Solomon, NT, $2,500 each.
Barrel Racing: 1. Jessica Routier, 14.63 seconds; 2. Molly Otto, 14.66; 3. Jordon Briggs, 14.73, $2,500; 4. Sissy Winn, 14.75; 5. Hailey Kinsel, 14.84, $2,500; 6. Shelley Morgan, 14.88, $2,500; 7. Summer Kosel, 14.90, $2,500; 8. Sarah Rose Waguespack, 15.07, $2,500; 9. Wenda Johnson, 15.28, $2,500; 10. Kassie Mowry, 20.79, $2,500.
Bull Riding: 1. Ky Hamilton, 86.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Flight Risk; 2. Creek Young, NS; 3. J.B. Mauney, NS; 4. Josh Frost, NS; 5. (tie) Trey Benton III, Jeff Askey, Ernie Courson Jr., T. Parker, Chance Schott and Brady Porternier, NS, $2,500 each.

Championship Shootout
Bareback Riding: 1. Leighton Berry, 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Yippee Kibitz, $50,000; 2. Kaycee Feild, 89, $20,000; 3. Keenan Hayes, 88, $10,000; 4. Cole Reiner, 87, $5,500.
Steer Wrestling: 1. Dalton Massey, 4.5 seconds, $50,000; 2. (tie) Cody Devers and Tyler Waguespack, 4.7, $15,000 each; 4. Rowdy Parrot, 5.1, $5,500.
Team Roping: 1. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 5.5 seconds, $50,000 each; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis, 9.9, $20,000; 3. (tie) Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry and Brenton Hall/Paden Bray, NT, $7,750 each.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Sage Newman, 90 points, $50,000; 2. Chase Brooks, 87, $20,000; 3. Ben Andersen, 83, $10,000; 4. Zeke Thurston, 81, $5,500.
Tie-Down Roping: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 8.9 seconds, $50,000; 2. Hunter Herrin, 9.6, $20,000; 3. Reese Riemer, 15.4, $10,000; 4. Beau Cooper, 18.5, $5,500.
Barrel Racing: 1. Jordon Briggs, 14.73 seconds, $50,000; 2. Molly Otto, 14.75, $20,000; 3. Jessica Routier, 14.79, $10,000; 4. Sissy Winn, 19.94, $5,500.
Bull Riding: 1. Ky Hamilton, 90.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Dim Tricks, $50,000; 2. Josh Frost, 86, $20,000; 3. Creek Young, NS, $10,000; 4. J.B. Mauney, Injured, $5,500.
*(all totals include ground money)

Total payoff: $1,950,030. Stock contractor: Cervi Championship Rodeo. Sub-contractors: Bailey Pro Rodeo, Calgary Stampede, J Bar J, Big Rafter Rodeo, Silver Spurs Club, Generations Pro Rodeo, The Cervi Brothers, Rocky Mountain Rodeo, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Stace Smith Pro Rodeos and Pickett Pro Rodeo Co. Rodeo secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom. Officials: Butch Kirby, Will Lynd, Mike Todd and Harry Rose Jr. Timers: Molly Jane Twitchell and Vicki Pack. Announcers: Boyd Polhamus, Andy Seiler and Bob Tallman. Specialty act: Shelby Pierson. Bullfighters: Nathan Jestes, Beau Schueth and Dusty Tuckness. Clown/barrelman: Leon Coffee. Flankmen: Chuck Kite, Shad Smith, Ken Rehill and Cullen Pickett. Chute boss: Binion Cervi. Pickup men: Matt Twitchell, Chase Cervi, Gary Rempel and Randy Britton. Photographer: Mallory Beinborn. Music director: Benje Bendele.

Bull rider Trevor Kastner, who qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo seven times in 2011-13, 2018-20, and 2022, confirmed to ProRodeo Sports News he has called it a career.

Kastner, 35, joined the PRCA in 2008.

“I’m not calling it retirement because if you retire you don’t have to work anymore,” Kastner said with a laugh. “I was getting a little older and I wanted to spend more time with my family. I just thought it was time. It (rodeo) treated me good. I was wanting to step away whenever I was still competitive.”

Kastner and his wife Katie have two children, son, Korbyn, 3, and daughter, McKenna, 5. The family resides in Roff, Okla.

A year ago, Kastner finished fifth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $255,179. He earned $131,640 at the NFR. Kastner placed in five rounds, highlighted by his Round 7 win with a 90.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Midnight Rider at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

During his seven NFR qualifications, Kastner placed in 14 rounds, including winning four.

“I had so many great memories it is hard to pick any single one out,” Kastner said. “I didn’t plan on riding bulls as long as I did, but it worked out that way. I wanted to go out on top of my game and quit on my own terms.”

Kastner’s full-time job now is as a real estate agent. He works for Legacy Land Group based out of Durant, Okla.

“I have always been interested in the real estate stuff, and I got my license and I’m getting started in it,” he said.

 

The rodeo lifestyle is all encompassing, taking families on a zig-zag pattern across the country. It provides unique memories, watching children grow up in the backdrop of their parents’ careers.

Saddle bronc rider Jesse Kruse, father of three, knows all too well. On a night he clinched his seventh RAM Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo win, the spotlight was on his son, Kree. His son took part in rodeo clown JJ Harrison’s act, bringing a smile to his parents’ face. His wife, Lindsay, and Kruse chuckled saying, “it was the highlight of the rodeo for my wife and I.”

Inside the chutes, it was quite a weekend for the hometown cowboy. Kruse captured the win with 235 points on three head, bringing home the title with an 83-point trip on J Bar J’s Stacked Deck. He earned $9,455 in the three-day span. The saddle bronc rider admitted it wasn’t his best showing. But in rodeo, you need not apologize for winning.

“I definitely drew good. I thought I could have ridden better on all three of them, but it ended up working out,” said Kruse. “So, a guy can’t complain.”

The three-time NFR qualifier is proud of his hometown, Great Falls. The passionate fan base gives Kruse an electric roar, motivating the cowboy to deliver some of the best performances of his career.

“The Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals is pretty special in my opinion. I’m a home-towner and I definitely can feel the energy in the crowd for me,” Kruse admitted. “Even the other guys, they know a good ride and it’s pretty cool to hear them let loose, no matter what.”

The win provides the 2009 PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion a chance to compete in the NFR Open this summer. Kruse believes it’s the opportunity he needs to reach the NFR for the first time since 2011.

“It’s always good to be riding well and get the chance to ride at these big rodeos. Hopefully it helps me get a better chance of reaching the finals,” said the 36-year-old. “I hope to stay healthy and keep it going.”

Kruse plans to attack rodeo full-time in 2023. As he continues his trek back to Las Vegas, the cowboy hopes to enter as many rodeos as they’ll let him in.

“If I can get in them, I will dang-sure be in them.”

Other winners at the $219,571 rodeo were all-around cowboy Caleb Berquist ($4,574, tie-down roping and team roping); bareback rider Caleb Bennett (253 points on three head); steer wrestler Ty Erickson (12.7 seconds on three head); team ropers Dustin Bird/Ike Folsom (18.3 seconds on three head); tie-down roper Dillon Hahnkamp (27.3 seconds on three head); barrel racer Abigail Knight (38.95 seconds on three runs); and bull rider Hawk Whitt (174.5 points on two head).

 

LAS VEGAS – Saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay picked a good day to have a great day.   The Canadian tied the Round 9 record with a winning ride of 92 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s BDM Mud’s Killer Bee before 17,762 spectators Friday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center.   “Yeah, that’s a crazy good horse,” said Hay, 24. “I remember when I first started riding broncs and I saw that horse come on through the years to become the legendary status we all know it has. I’d never had the chance to draw that horse before. I saw it on the list, and I told my wife, ‘I’m going to draw that horse at the NFR this year.’ I thought it was going to be in the first round but we got her.”   The ride was noteworthy not only because of tying the round record, but also because it was the final out of Killer Bee’s career.   “I’m not sure it’s even sunk in yet,” Hay said. “It’s such an incredible feeling. Going through that ride, I’m not sure I’ve ever been on a horse that feels quite like that. That’s a ride that’s going to stick with me forever. It’s a special moment and the kind of thing we’ve always dreamed of since we were little.”   For the performance, Killer Bee was chosen top saddle bronc horse of Round 9. In Round 4 of the 2022 NFR, Killer Bee carried Chase Brooks to an 88-point ride and was selected saddle bronc horse of the night.   At the 2020 Wrangler NFR, Killer Bee was chosen the top bareback horse. She was the 2019 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year and voted top bareback horse of Round 3 of the 2019 NFR after bucking off Austin Foss. Killer Bee was also the top bareback horse of the 2018 NFR and top saddle bronc horse of the 2013 and 2014 NFRs.   Killer Bee, 17, weighs 1,350 pounds and is 16.3 hands.   Bareback rider Tim O’Connell snares win   Veteran Tim O’Connell, a three-time world champion – 2016-18 – won Round 8 with an 88-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Star Witness on a re-ride.   “I have never been on that horse, but I have seen videos of him, and I knew what he was capable of,” O’Connell said. “You don’t anticipate coming here and getting a re-ride because you have been thinking about a horse for like 16 hours. I was thankful for getting it (the re-ride). I knew I had to take care of business. He gave me the opportunity to go out there and win and I took it.”   This was O’Connell’s first round win since Round 4 of the 2020 NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. O’Connell won that round with a 90.5-point ride on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Pop A Top.   “It feels great. It was so exciting,” O’Connell said of getting to make an NFR victory lap again. “I’m sore. I’m beat up but I love this. At the end of the day, I love being a bareback rider.”   Hunter Cure nabs third round win of 2022 NFR   Make it three round wins for steer wrestler Hunter Cure.   The Texas cowboy clocked a 3.6-second run to win Round 9. He also won Round 2 (3.7 seconds) and Round 4 (3.4 seconds).   “That was actually the steer I had in Houston to win the 50 thousand, I am sure glad I got the one I did to have such a smooth and nice run,” said Cure 39.   Cure is fourth in the world standings with $206,270. He is a two-time world champion in 2013 and 2015.   “(My horse) is a paint mare owned by Ringo Robinson, I know it takes a little time in the box, but I am looking for a certain feel and make sure she has her weight on her front end and she is square, I know we can knock things out on a steer that runs this fast,” Cure said of his horsepower.   “Nerves don’t really play into things this late in the rodeo, just trying to get as much money as I can. I never thought I would be taking 3 firsts, but at this point in the game, that’s really what I have to do.”   Cure has earned $96,741 at the NFR.   Marty Yates wins another round in tie-down roping   Marty Yates’ late charge at the Wrangler NFR continued on Friday.   The Stephenville, Texas, cowboy clocked a 7.8-second run to win Round 9.   Yates also won Round 4 (7.4 seconds) and Round 5 (7.3 seconds).   “I’m feeling good. Wishing I had had a little more success in some of those other rounds; but it all works out,” Yates said. “I’m getting a lot of money out of here and I’ll start over again here in a couple weeks.”   Yates is sixth in the world standings $215,981. He has earned $93,710 at the NFR.   Team ropers Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler capture victory   Stating the obvious Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler have had a disappointing 2022 Wrangler NFR.   The duo received a no-time in six of the eight rounds – but Richard/Buhler bounced back in Round 9 getting the win with a 3.8-second run.   I think I got a good start and got it on the steer, everything flowed pretty good,” Richard said. “Jeremy hooked his horse’s tail – so I didn’t really see that. But he still heeled him fast and I actually faced a little bit early which probably cost us from being a little faster but I’m glad it worked out.”   Buhler was thrilled with his result. “I don’t know, that was the first time I’ve been under 4 seconds at the Thomas & Mack,” Buhler said.   Richard is 10th in the header world standings with $155,448 and Buhler is 11th in the heeler standings with $156,386.   Bull rider Trey Holston tops Round 9   NFR newcomer Trey Holston got to experience the glory of being a round winner.   Holston recorded an 89.5-point ride on Salt River Rodeo’s Belly Dump to win Round 9.   “It’s one thing to come in feeling fresh and how we want to with all this time to prepare,” Holston said. “What they don’t teach you is when you’re in Round 8, 9, 10 and you’re sore. It’s about clearing your stuff out and giving your best effort. To come out and get a go-round win, I’m feeling blessed.”   Surviving the marathon – known as the NFR – has been quite the experience for Holston.   “I feel like I’ve been an example of the test this week puts you through,” Holston said. “It’s been tough, it’s a long week. I felt the best I could coming in here and there’s just some things you can’t experience without being out here in Las Vegas at the NFR. Being this far and healthy, I’m happy. I have my family here, my friends here and now with a go-round win and a little money in my pocket. It doesn’t get much better than that.”   Holston is ninth in the world standings with $164,362.   Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel wins Round 9, takes standings lead   Hailey Kinsel is on pace to win her fourth world title in five years.   The Texas cowgirl moved into first place in the world standings with – $266,263 – after winning Round 9 at 13.34 seconds. That was the fastest run of the 2022 NFR and it also set the new Round 9 record. It was held by Kinsel at 13.40 seconds in 2018.   “My horse (Sister) was just feeling it tonight,” Kinsel said. “She was kind of doing everything fast; we even warmed-up fast. She was shaking her head in the alley thinking, ‘just let me at them.’ She nailed her first barrel and that was something we’ve been working on so once we got through that, we were flying.”   Kinsel welcomes the atmosphere of competing in the Thomas & Mack Center.   “Knowing that when you get into the arena, you hear so much,” Kinsel said. “It becomes sensory overload. It’s kind of strange that she knows when it’s coming so we’re always aware of that. Of course, when you’re at the NFR, you have to appreciate your time here. It’s about feeling appreciative and grateful for the opportunity because you’re never sure when you’re going to be back.   “Winning definitely never gets old. It’s exciting, it’s truly an honor. That’s the best way I can describe it. I’m thankful for a great horse in Sister that gives me the opportunity to win as much as I do.”     2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results Round 9, Dec. 9 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.   Bareback Riding: Ninth round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 88 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Star Witness, $28,914; 2. Kaycee Feild, 87.5, $22,851; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, 87, $17,255; 4. (tie) Cole Reiner, Jess Pope and Clayton Biglow, 85.5, $8,083; 7. Cole Franks, 85; 8. Rocker Steiner, 84.5; 9. Caleb Bennett, 84; 10. R.C. Landingham, 83; 11. Tilden Hooper, 82.5; 12. Leighton Berry, 81.5; 13. Tanner Aus, 76.5; 14. Ty Breuer, 75; 15. Orin Larsen, Out. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 778.5 points on nine head; 2. Cole Franks, 764; 3. R.C. Landingham, 762; 4. Kaycee Feild, 759; 5. Leighton Berry, 752.5; 6. Tim O’Connell, 750; 7. Cole Reiner, 749; 8. Ty Breuer, 729.5; 9. Garrett Shadbolt, 723; 10. Caleb Bennett, 721; 11. Tilden Hooper, 676 points on eight head; 12. Rocker Steiner, 666.5; 13. Tanner Aus, 650; 14. Clayton Biglow, 589 points on seven head; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5 points on three head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $316,470; 2. Leighton Berry, $242,091; 3. Kaycee Feild, $240,009; 4. Cole Reiner, $215,429; 5. R.C. Landingham, $211,720; 6. Tim O’Connell, $201,354; 7. Cole Franks, $197,156; 8. Tanner Aus, $192,161; 9. Tilden Hooper, $188,477; 10. Rocker Steiner, $179,304; 11. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 12. Garrett Shadbolt, $151,257; 13. Clayton Biglow, $150,754; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $115,749. Steer Wrestling: Ninth round: 1. Hunter Cure, 3.6 seconds, $28,914; 2. Jesse Brown, 3.7, $22,851; 3. J.D. Struxness, 3.9, $17,255; 4. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Dakota Eldridge, 4.0, $9,793; 6. (tie) Tanner Brunner, Rowdy Parrott and Timmy Sparing, 4.2, $1,555 each; 9. Will Lummus, 4.4; 10. Ty Erickson, 4.5; 11. Dirk Tavenner, 4.7; 12. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Nick Guy, 5.2; 14. Kyle Irwin, 5.3; 15. Tristan Martin, NT. Average leaders: 1. Kyle Irwin, 42.1 seconds on nine head; 2. Jesse Brown, 44.7; 3. Will Lummus, 47.0; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 53.1; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, 55.7; 6. Tanner Brunner, 65.3; 7.   Hunter Cure, 35.6 seconds on eight head; 8. Rowdy Parrott, 36.3; 9. J.D. Struxness, 37.4; 10.Dakota Eldridge, 37.6; 11. Dirk Tavenner, 49.5; 12. Timmy Sparing, 49.9; 13. Ty Erickson, 57.1; 14. Tristan Martin, 30.4 seconds on seven head; 15. Nick Guy, 42.6. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, $235,288; 2. Will Lummus, $231,212; 3.Tyler Waguespack, $211,520; 4. Hunter Cure, $206,270; 5. Ty Erickson, $187,737; 6. J.D. Struxness, $184,636; 7. Tristan Martin, $170,981; 8. Kyle Irwin, $165,948; 9. Dakota Eldridge, $152,261; 10. Jesse Brown, $152,079; 11. Nick Guy, $148,880; 12. Tanner Brunner, $132,308; 13. Rowdy Parrott, $130,926; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $127,177; 15. Timmy Sparing, $95,199. Team Roping: Ninth round: 1. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 3.8 seconds, $28,914 each; 2. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 3.9, $20,053 each; 4. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.2, $12,125; 5. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 4.3, $7,462; 6. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.6, $4,664; 7. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.7; 8. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 4.9; 10. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.0; 11. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 8.5; 12. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 8.9; 13. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, Tyler Wade/Trey Yates and Clay Smith/Jake Long, NT. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 49.3 seconds on nine head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 65.2 seconds on eight; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 68.7; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 34.2 seconds on seven head; 5. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 38.4; 6. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 41.0; 7. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 45.5; 8. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 46.9; 9. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 32.2 seconds on six head; 10. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 35.3; 11. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 44.9; 12. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 26.6 seconds on five head; 13. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 36.6; 14. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 50.6 seconds on four head; 15. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 18.0 seconds on three head. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $280,549; 2. Clay Tryan, $252,363; 3. Tanner Tomlinson, $209,939; 4. Andrew Ward, $191,747; 5. Coleman Proctor, $188,234; 6. Jr. Dees, $184,547; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $183,643; 8. Tyler Wade, $173,862; 9. Chad Masters, $169,184; 10. Rhen Richard, $155,448; 11. Lightning Aguilera, $145,424; 12. Cody Snow, $137,363; 13. Clay Smith, $131,807; 14. Jake Orman, $129,422; 15. Riley Minor, $103,686. World standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $280,549; 2. Jade Corkill, $218,556; 3. Patrick Smith, $209,939; 4. Buddy Hawkins II, $190,204; 5. Logan Medlin, $188,234; 6. Levi Lord, $185,945; 7. Travis Graves, $184,358; 8. Joseph Harrison, $173,855; 9. Jake Long, $173,287; 10. Trey Yates, $170,300; 11. Jeremy Buhler, $156,383; 12. Jonathan Torres, $137,971; 13. Wesley Thorp, $137,363; 14. Brye Crites, $130,764; 15. Brady Minor, $103,686. Saddle Bronc Riding: Ninth round: 1. Dawson Hay, 92 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s BDM Mud’s Killer Bee, $28,914; 2. Lefty Holman, 89.5, $22,851; 3. Zeke Thurston, 88, $17,255; 4. Logan Hay, 86.5, $12,125; 5. Chase Brooks, 85.5, $7,462; 6. Stetson Wright, 84, $4,664; 7. Ryder Wright, 83.5; 8. (tie) Kade Bruno and Tanner Butner, 81.5; 10. Layton Green, 65; 11. Brody Cress, 64; 12.     (tie) Sage Newman, Kolby Wanchuk, Wyatt Casper, Kole Ashbacher, NS. Average leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 787 points on nine head; 2. Logan Hay, 777; 3. Tanner Butner, 728; 4. Brody Cress, 692; 5. Lefty Holman, 699 points on eight head; 6. Stetson Wright, 693.5; 7. Dawson Hay, 688.5; 8. Kade Bruno, 670.5; 9. Kolby Wanchuk, 658.5; 10. Chase Brooks, 597.5 points on seven head; 11. Ryder Wright, 578; 12. Sage Newman, 577.5; 13. Kole Ashbacher, 572.5; 14. Wyatt Casper, 565.5; 15. Layton Green, 562.5. World standings: 1. Sage Newman, $308,349; 2. Lefty Holman, $306,413; 3. Stetson Wright, $304,551; 4. Zeke Thurston, $302,759; 5. Logan Hay, $279,241; 6. Brody Cress, $198,707; 7. Dawson Hay, $194,935; 8. Ryder Wright, $186,610; 9. Kolby Wanchuk, $181,631; 10. Chase Brooks, $181,120; 11. Layton Green, $175,808; 12. Kade Bruno, $165,914; 13. Wyatt Casper, $145,150; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543. Tie-Down Roping: Ninth round: 1. Marty Yates, 7.8 seconds, $28,914; 2. Ty Harris, 8.0, $22,851; 3. Tuf Cooper, 8.2, $17,255; 4. Hunter Herrin, 8.6, $12,125; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 8.8, $7,462; 6. Haven Meged, 9.3, $4,664; 7. Caleb Smidt, 9.5; 8. Tyler Milligan, 10.5; 9. Cory Solomon, 12.2; 10. Macon Murphy, 22.5; 11. (tie) Shad Mayfield, John Douch, Shane Hanchey, Riley Webb and Kincade Henry, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 73.7 seconds on nine head; 2. Cory Solomon, 85; 3. Zack Jongbloed, 87.1; 4. Haven Meged, 105.8; 5. Tyler Milligan, 112.1; 6. Macon Murphy, 117.9; 7. Hunter Herrin, 79.8 seconds on eight head; 8. Ty Harris, 89.6; 9.          Shad Mayfield, 92.8; 10. Shane Hanchey, 104.3; 11. Marty Yates, 61.1 seconds on seven head; 12. Riley Webb, 66.8; 13. Kincade Henry, 38.3 seconds on five head; 14. John Douch, 31.5 seconds on four head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 42.1. World standings: 1. 1. Caleb Smidt, $300,587; 2. Shad Mayfield, $269,936; 3. John Douch, $237,121; 4. Hunter Herrin, $223,170; 5. Kincade Henry, $217,108; 6. Marty Yates, $215,981; 7. Cory Solomon, $197,682; 8. Haven Meged, $192,920; 9. Riley Webb, $188,597; 10. Zack Jongbloed, $181,731; 11. Tuf Cooper, $168,892; 12. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 13. Ty Harris, $151,788; 14. Tyler Milligan, $135,703; 15. Macon Murphy, $130,717. Barrel Racing: Ninth round: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.34 seconds, $28,914; 2. Emily Beisel, 13.38, $22,851; 3. Shelley Morgan, 13.47, $17,255; 4. Margo Crowther, 13.52, $12,125; 5. (tie) Dona Kay Rule and Lisa Lockhart, 13.59, $6,063 each; 7. Wenda Johnson, 13.65; 8. Kassie Mowry, 13.71; 9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.77; 10. Bayleigh Choate, 13.80; 11. Jordon Briggs, 13.88; 12. Sissy Winn, 13.99; 13. Stevi Hillman, 14.92; 14. Jessica Routier, 23.69; 15. Leslie Smalygo, NT. Average leaders: 1. Shelley Morgan, 123.77 seconds on nine runs; 2. Bayleigh Choate, 125.33; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 128.00; 4. Jordon Briggs, 128.79; 5. Wenda Johnson, 129.09; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 129.16; 7. Sissy Winn, 130.02; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 132.71; 9. Margo Crowther, 133.55; 10. Kassie Mowry, 133.96; 11. Emily Beisel, 136.87; 12. Dona Kay Rule, 140.06; 13. Jessica Routier, 144.67; 14. Stevi Hillman, 145.59; 15. Leslie Smalygo, 119.55 seconds on eight head. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $266,263; 2. Jordon Briggs, $232,082; 3. Emily Beisel, $221,718; 4. Wenda Johnson, $206,677; 5. Lisa Lockhart, $205,629; 6. Shelley Morgan, $173,625; 7. Dona Kay Rule, $171,019; 8. Margo Crowther, $161,900; 9. Leslie Smalygo, $158,343; 10. Kassie Mowry, $150,121; 11. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 12. Sissy Winn, $136,565; 13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $135,973; 14. Bayleigh Choate, $118,148; 15. Jessica Routier, $111,320. Bull Riding: Ninth round: 1. Trey Holston, 89.5 points on Salt River Rodeo Company’s Belly Dump, $29,846; 2. Tristen Hutchings, 88.5, $23,784; 3.     Ky Hamilton, 88; $18,188; 4. Jeff Askey, 85, $13,058; 5. Stetson Wright, 82.5, $8,394; 6. (tie) Josh Frost, Garrett Smith, Trevor Kastner, Maverick Potter, Trey Kimzey, Jared Parsonage, Creek Young, Cole Fischer, NS. 13. Lukasey Morris, Reid Oftedahl, JR Stratford, Out. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 684.5 points on eight head; 2. Josh Frost, 589.5 points on seven head; 3. Ky Hamilton, 510 points on six head; 4. Trevor Kastner, 429 points on five head; 5. Tristen Hutchings, 357.5 points on four head; 6.        Trey Kimzey, 347; 7. Garrett Smith, 256.5 points on three head; 8. Trey Holston, 175.5 points on two head; 9. Jeff Askey, 175; 10. Creek Young, 169; 11. Cole Fischer, 159.5; 12. JR Stratford, 90 points on one head; 13. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 14. (tie) Maverick Potter, Lukasey Morris, Reid Oftedahl, NS. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $517,994; 2. Josh Frost, $349,470; 3. Tristen Hutchings, $251,539; 4. Ky Hamilton, $230,844; 5. Trevor Kastner, $229,996; 6. Jeff Askey, $229,905; 7. Garrett Smith, $185,002; 8. Trey Kimzey, $183,812; 9. Trey Holston, $164,362; 10. JR Stratford, $142,943; 11. Creek Young, $127,692; 12. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 13. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944. All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $653,433; 2. Caleb Smidt, $298,815; 3. Josh Frost, $247,542; 3. 4. Marty Yates, $213,607; 5. Coleman Proctor, $193,401; 6. Zack Jongbloed, $183,030; 7. Haven Meged, $179,329; 8. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 9. Rhen Richard, $156,696; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792. Top Gun leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, $163,662; 2. Zeke Thurston, $158,921; 3. Jess Pope, $157,211; 4. Lefty Holman, $156,434; 5. Caleb Smidt, $151,071; 6. Hailey Kinsel, $146,874; 7. Logan Hay, $139,801; 8. Emily Beisel, $127,753; 9. Lisa Lockhart, $120,758; 10. Tristen Hutchings, $119,592.

LAS VEGAS – The victory train that is Stetson Wright is unstoppable.

In Round 8, the Milford, Utah cowboy won his first saddle bronc riding round and added his third bull riding round win Thursday before 17,506 spectators at the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center.

 

Wright had a 90.5-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Hell Boy to capture the Round 8 victory.

 

Then, he came back a short time later and split the bull riding victory with 90.5-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Angels Landing. Ky Hamilton, who is Wright’s traveling partner, shared the Round 8 win as he was 90.5 points aboard Dakota Rodeo’s Bubba G.

 

“I mean it was just awesome. I’ve only won both events one time at the 2020 NFR in Round 7 and I’ve craved that moment ever since,” said Wright, 23. “It’s such a hard thing to do. It means you were better than 28 other guys in a night and that’s insane. I ended up drawing well and the best thing about it was that both of my matchups were from Utah.

 

“Best round win I’ve ever had in my life. This is an unforgettable moment for us. We travel together all the time and are around each other 24/7. We’ve been to the NFR for three years together so to get this round win together, it’s awesome.”

 

Wright has earned $295,765, counting ground money in bull riding. Wright holds the record for most money won at a single NFR when he earned $313,898 in 2020 in Arlington, Texas, at Globe Life Field.

 

Hamilton also was excited about his eight seconds of work.

 

“I’d seen that bull before, but I’ve never been on him,” Hamilton said. “He’s a big bucking bull with a lot of up and down in him, the kind that I really like. I knew he’d suit me well and he was everything I thought he was going to be, and it worked out well.

 

“It’s funny, I don’t get nervous here at all. It’s almost like something’s wrong with me. It’s weird. It’s the biggest rodeo and I don’t feel anything. I feel exactly how I feel right now when I’m getting on. I believe that works in my favor because in bull riding it’s all about reaction and being able to adjust to what the bull is doing. It’s not a bad place to be calm, cool, and collected.”

 

Already at the NFR, Wright has set the single-season PRCA earnings record, all-around single-season record and bull riding single-season record – he had not won a round in saddle bronc riding until Thursday.

 

“I would say that was the best thing that happened to me this week,” Wright said about being bucked off in Round 7 in saddle bronc riding. “It sounds really weird, but when you exit yourself from the average race, all of the stress is off. I’m still in the World Title race and now I can focus on winning rounds. I’ve never been an average rider and I felt like me getting bucked off last night reminded me that I wasn’t.

 

“I don’t think there’s a bull or a horse that should buck me off. I know that happened last night, but I feel as confident as ever,” Wright said. “I’m just having fun.”

 

Wright, who is the reigning PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion, is second in the world standings with $299,887. He is splitting sixth in the average.

 

Wright leads the bull riding world standings with $509,599 and he’s first in the average with 602 points on seven head. Wright also leads the RAM Top Gun standings with $156,201.

 

Hamilton is sixth in the world standings with $212,657.

 

Proctor/Medlin tie Round 8 record in win

 

Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin split the Round 5 with a 3.8-second run. They were celebrating again in Round 8 as they won in 3.5 seconds, tying the Round 8 record set by Travis Tryan and Cory Petska in 2008.

 

“Anytime you can beat the top 15 in the world, especially Kaleb Driggers (and Junior Nogueira) by half a second, that’s an amazing night.”

 

Medlin was direct with is plan.

 

“All I’m thinking about is (Friday night),” Medlin said.

 

Proctor/Medlin also split the Round 5 win in 3.8 seconds.

 

Proctor and Medlin are fifth in their respective header and heeler standings with $188,234. They are sixth in the average.

 

Bareback rider Leighton Berry wins his second round at 2022 NFR

 

Before the 2022 Wrangler NFR, Leighton Berry had never won a round at the Wrangler NFR. Now he has two on his resume.

 

Berry, who won Round 2, added a Round 8 victory with an 88-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Knot So Foxy.

 

“I don’t remember much of that one,” Berry said. “She kind of had me out of whack. It was one of those deals where I had to bear down and keep spurring. Tonight’s the night where you have to give it your all. You can’t quit. All these horses are going to be trying to jerk you down and make a guy look funny. You have to just stay back and keep setting your feet hard and the judges liked it so I’m thankful.”

 

Berry is second in the world standings with $242,091. He has earned $111,897 at the NFR.

 

“There are two rounds left and that for me means there are two more chances to win a go-round,” said Berry, 23. “I pretty much took myself out of a top average position because I was only 72 in Round 1. The rest of the seven rounds have gone great. I’m going to finish out as strong as I possibly can, and we will see how it shakes out.”

 

Hunter Herrin wins Round 8 in tie-down roping

 

Round 8 of the Wrangler NFR has been special for Hunter Herrin.

 

For the second year in a row, the Apache, Okla., cowboy won Round 8 at the NFR. His latest accomplishment came Thursday with his 7.2-second run. A year ago, he won Round 8 with a 7.1 second run.

 

“(I’ve) been pretty sick all week but these last couple of nights have made it a little better,” said Herrin, who is making his 12th NFR appearance.

 

Herrin is fifth in the world standings with $211,045. He has earned $96,275 at the NFR.

 

“It’s been my best run,” said Herrin, 38. “Last night I had a chance to go seven something  and I kind of balled my string a little bit but tonight I was able to put it all together and stay out of my own way. If you do that, you might not win first but you can live with it – as long as you compete to the best of your ability, you can live with that.

 

“I just need to be the same as the last two nights. First and foremost, I have to get a good flat start. My horse is standing out in the box, and he can really get across there and gives me a good throw. The last two nights I’ve done that. And if that’s the case, it gives me a good chance to win something if the calves allow it so that’s just going to be our game plan: good starts.”

 

Waguespack, Lummus split steer wrestling win

 

Tyler Waguespack has won three world titles, including last year. Will Lummus is chasing his first gold buckle.

 

The duo stayed in the gold buckle hunt by splitting the Round 8 with identical 3.6-second runs.

 

“They were 4-flat both times on that steer, I knew if I could keep him on his feet, I would be able to shape him and make a good run to get the win,” Waguespack said.

 

Lummus had this to say about his result.

 

“I knew the steer was good, he left sharp, the steer was great, I had to take a chance at the barrier, Clayton Haas did a great job on the haze and it all just worked out,” Lummus said.

 

Lummus is riding Benz owned by Haas.

 

“He’s an amazing animal, a little tough in the box, but when you get him lined out, he’s one of the easiest animals I have ever ridden,” Lummus said.

 

Lummus is second in the world standings with $231,212 and Waguespack is third with $201,727.

 

“Really at this point there is just excitement to make a good run and try to put myself in the mix for the average and the Gold Buckle,” Lummus said.

 

Waguespack has a simple plan moving forward.

 

“I’ve been in these situations before, so not really nerves, but just the energy of the run and trying to win,” Waguespack said.

 

Barrel racer Leslie Smalygo wins first career NFR round

 

Leslie Smalygo made her first trip to the Wrangler NFR even more memorable on Thursday.

 

The Oklahoma cowgirl won Round 8 with a 13.41-second time, the fastest run in barrel racing so far at this NFR.

 

“It’s a complete dream come true. I thought it was just a pipedream to make it out here. Gus is the only horse I rode all year and he’s the only one I took with me,” Smalygo said. “He’s just been so honest all year and exceeded any expectations I had. I was just hoping to be in the thirteens (seconds) this week so to win a round, I never thought we had this in us.”

 

Smalygo is seventh in the world standings with $158,343.

 

 

2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results

Round 8, Dec. 8

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Bareback Riding: Eighth round: 1. Leighton Berry, 88 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Knot So Foxy, $28,914; 2. (tie) Jess Pope, R.C. Landingham, Cole Franks, 87, $17,410 each; 5. Tanner Aus, 85, $7,462; 6. Tilden Hooper, 83, $4,664; 7. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Tim O’Connell, 82.5; 9. Ty Breuer, 80.5; 10. Kaycee Feild, 77; 11. Cole Reiner, 76; 12. Garrett Shadbolt, 71; 13. (tie) Rocker Steiner, Orin Larsen and Clayton Biglow, NS. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 693 points on eight head; 2. (tie) R.C. Landingham and Cole Franks, 679; 4. Kaycee Feild, 671.5; 5. Leighton Berry, 671; 6. Cole Reiner, 663.5; 7. Tim O’Connell, 662; 8. Ty Breuer, 654.5; 9. Caleb Bennett, 637; 10. Garrett Shadbolt, 636; 11. Tilden Hooper, 593.5 points on seven head; 12. Rocker Steiner, 582; 13. Tanner Aus, 573.5; 14. Clayton Biglow, 503.5 points on six head; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5 points on three head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $308,387; 2. Leighton Berry, $242,091; 3. Kaycee Field, $217,158; 4. R.C. Landingham, $211,720; 5. Cole Reiner, $207,346; 6. Cole Franks, $197,156; 7. Tanner Aus, $192,161; 8. Tilden Hooper, $188,477; 9. Rocker Steiner, $179,304; 10. Tim O’Connell, $172,440; 11. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 12. Clayton Biglow, $142,671; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, $134,002; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $115,749.

Steer Wrestling: Eighth round: 1. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Will Lummus, 3.6 seconds, $25,882 each; 3. Nick Guy, 4.1, $17,255; 4. (tie) Kyle Irwin and Dirk Tavenner, 4.2, $9,793 each; 6. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, J.D. Struxness and Dakota Eldridge, 4.3, $1,555; 9. Timmy Sparing, 4.5; 10. Tristan Martin, 4.6; 11. Hunter Cure, 4.8; 12. (tie) Tanner Brunner and Jesse Brown, 5.8; 14. Ty Erickson, 25.3; 15. Rowdy Parrott, NT. Average leaders: 1. Kyle Irwin, 36.8 seconds on eight head; 2. Jesse Brown, 41.0; 3. Will Lummus, 42.6; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 49.1; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, 50.5; 6. Tanner Brunner, 61.1; 7. Tristan Martin, 30.4 seconds on seven head; 8. Hunter Cure, 32.0; 9. Rowdy Parrott, 32.1; 10. J.D. Struxness, 33.5; 11. Dakota Eldridge, 33.6; 12. Dirk Tavenner, 44.8; 13. Timmy Sparing, 45.7; 14. Ty Erickson, 52.6; 15. Nick Guy, 37.4 seconds on six head. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, $235,288; 2. Will Lummus, $231,212; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $201,727; 4. Ty Erickson, $187,737; 5. Hunter Cure, $177,357; 6. Tristan Martin, $170,981; 7. J.D. Struxness, $167,381; 8. Kyle Irwin, $165,948; 9. Nick Guy, $148,880; 10. Dakota Eldridge, $142,467; 11. Tanner Brunner, $130,754; 12. Rowdy Parrott, $129,371; 13. Jesse Brown, $129,228; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $127,177; 15. Timmy Sparing, $93,644.

Team Roping: Eighth round: 1. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 3.5 seconds, $28,914 each; 2. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 3.8, $22,851; 3. (tie) Jr. Dees/Levi Lord and Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 3.9, $14,690; 5. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 4.0, $6,063; 7. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.1; 8. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.5; 9. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.5; 10. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 9.2; 11. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 19.0; 12. (tie) Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres and Clay Smith/Jake Long, NT. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 45.1 seconds on eight head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 60.3 seconds on seven head; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 63.7; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 29.5 seconds on six head; 5. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 34.5; 6. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 35.3; 7. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 36.1; 8. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 36.6; 9. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 38.4; 10. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 26.6 seconds on five head; 11. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 27.6; 12. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 41.0; 13. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 32.3 seconds on four head; 14. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 50.6; 15. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 14.2 seconds on two head. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $280,549; 2. Clay Tryan, $232,310; 3. Tanner Tomlinson, $197,814; 4. Andrew Ward, $191,747; 5. Coleman Proctor, $188,234; 6. Jr. Dees, $184,547; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $183,643; 8. Tyler Wade, $173,862; 9. Chad Masters, $149,131; 10. Lightning Aguilera, $137,963; 11. Cody Snow, $132,700; 12. Clay Smith, $131,807; 13. Jake Orman, $129,422; 14. Rhen Richard, $126,534; 15. Riley Minor, $103,686. World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $280,549; 2. Jade Corkill, $198,503; 3. Patrick Smith, $197,814; 4. Buddy Hawkins II, $190,204; 5. Logan Medlin, $188,234; 6. Levi Lord, $185,945; 7. Travis Graves, $184,358; 8. Jake Long, $173,287; 9. Trey Yates, $170,300; 10. Joseph Harrison; $153,802; 11. Wesley Thorp, $132,700; 12. Brye Crites, $130,764; 13. Jonathan Torres, $130,509; 14. Jeremy Buhler, $127,469; 15. Brady Minor, $103,686.

Saddle Bronc Riding: Eighth round: 1. Stetson Wright, 90.5 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Hell Boy, $28,914; 2. Zeke Thurston, 89.5, $22,851; 3. Lefty Holman, 88, $17,255; 4. Dawson Hay, 87.5, $12,125; 5. (tie) Logan Hay and Chase Brooks, 87, $6,063 each; 7. Ryder Wright, 86.5; 8. Kade Bruno, 85.5; 9. Sage Newman, 85; 10. Layton Green, 84.5; 11. Kolby Wanchuk, 83.5; 12. Kole Ashbacher, 79.5; 13. Tanner Butner, 76.5; 14. (tie) Brody Cress and Wyatt Casper, 69. Average leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 699 points on eight head; 2. Logan Hay, 690.5; 3. Kolby Wanchuk, 658.5; 4. Tanner Butner, 646.5; 5. Brody Cress, 628; 6. (tie) Stetson Wright and Lefty Holman, 609.5; 8. Dawson Hay, 596.5; 9. Kade Bruno, 589; 10. Sage Newman, 577.5; 11. Kole Ashbacher, 572.5; 12. Wyatt Casper, 565.5; 13. Chase Brooks, 512 points on six head; 14. Layton Green, 497.5; 15. Ryder Wright, 494.5. World standings: 1. Sage Newman, $308,349; 2. Stetson Wright, $299,887; 3. Zeke Thurston, $285,504; 4. Lefty Holman, $283,562; 5. Logan Hay, $267,116; 6. Brody Cress, $198,707; 7. Ryder Wright, $186,610; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, $181,631; 9. Layton Green, $175,808; 10. Chase Brooks, $173,658; 11. Dawson Hay, $166,021; 12. Kade Bruno, $165,914; 13. Wyatt Casper, $145,150; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.

Tie-Down Roping: Eighth round: 1. Hunter Herrin, 7.2 seconds, $28,914; 2. Zack Jongbloed, 7.6, $22,851; 3. Tuf Cooper, 7.8, $17,255; 4. Caleb Smidt, 8.0, $12,125; 5. Cory Solomon, 8.5, $7,462; 6. Shad Mayfield, 8.6, $4,664; 7. Tyler Milligan, 9.3; 8. Marty Yates, 9.4; 9. John Douch, 9.7; 10. Ty Harris, 13.2; 11. Shane Hanchey, 16.5; 12. Haven Meged, 16.7; 13. Macon Murphy, 17.6; 14. (tie) Riley Webb and Kincade Henry, NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 64.2 seconds on eight head; 2. Cory Solomon, 72.8; 3. Zack Jongbloed, 78.3; 4. Shad Mayfield, 92.8; 5. Macon Murphy, 95.4; 6. Haven Meged, 96.5; 7. Tyler Milligan, 101.6; 8. Shane Hanchey, 104.3; 9. Riley Webb, 66.8 seconds on seven head; 10. Hunter Herrin, 71.2; 11. Ty Harris, 81.6; 12. Marty Yates, 53.3 seconds on six head; 13. Kincade Henry, 38.3 seconds on five head; 14. John Douch, 31.5 seconds on four head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 33.9 seconds on three head. World standings: 1. Caleb Smidt , $300,587; 2. Shad Mayfield, $269,936; 3. John Douch, $237,121; 4. Kincade Henry, $217,108; 5. Hunter Herrin, $211,045; 6. Cory Solomon, $197,682; 7. Riley Webb, $188,597; 8. Haven Meged, $188,257; 9. Marty Yates, $187,068; 10. Zack Jongbloed, $174,269; 11. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 12. Tuf Cooper, $151,637. 13. Tyler Milligan, $135,703; 14. Macon Murphy, $130,717; 15. Ty Harris, $128,937.

Barrel Racing: Eighth round: 1. Leslie Smalygo, 13.41 seconds, $28,914; 2. Emily Beisel, 13.43, $22,851; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 13.49, $17,255; 4. Hailey Kinsel, 13.54, $12,125; 5. Kassie Mowry, 13.56, $7,462; 6. (tie) Jessica Routier and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.58, $2,332 each; 8. Jordon Briggs, 13.59; 9. Stevi Hillman, 13.60; 10. Shelley Morgan, 13.65; 11.  Bayleigh Choate, 13.67; 12. Margo Crowther, 18.54; 13. Sissy Winn, 18.71; 14. Dona Kay Rule, 18.85; 15. Wenda Johnson, 18.89. Average leaders: 1. Shelley Morgan, 110.30 seconds on eight runs; 2. Bayleigh Choate, 111.53; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 114.41; 4. Jordon Briggs, 114.91; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 115.39; 6. Wenda Johnson, 115.44; 7. Sissy Winn, 116.03; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 119.37; 9. Leslie Smalygo, 119.55; 10. Margo Crowther, 120.03; 11. Kassie Mowry, 120.25; 12. Jessica Routier, 120.98; 13.     Emily Beisel, 123.49; 14. Dona Kay Rule, 126.47; 15.   Stevi Hillman, 130.67. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $237,350; 2. Jordon Briggs, $232,082; 3. Wenda Johnson, $206,677; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $199,566; 5. Emily Beisel, $198,867; 6. Dona Kay Rule, $164,956; 7. Leslie Smalygo, $158,343; 8. Shelley Morgan, $156,370; 9. Kassie Mowry, $150,121; 10. Margo Crowther, $149,775; 11. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 12. Sissy Winn, $136,565; 13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $135,973; 14. Bayleigh Choate, $118,148; 15. Jessica Routier, $111,320.

Bull Riding: Eighth round: 1. (tie) Stetson Wright, on Bar T Rodeo’s Angels Landing and Ky Hamilton, on Dakota Rodeo’s Bubba G, 90 points, $26,815 each; 3. (tie) Trey Kimzey and Trey Holston, 86, $15,623 each; 5. Josh Frost, 85.5, $8,394; 6. (tie) Jeff Askey, Garrett Smith, Tristen Hutchings, Trevor Kastner, Maverick Potter, Jared Parsonage, Creek Young and Cole Fischer, NS. 13. JR Stratford, Lukasey Morris, and Reid Oftedahl, Out. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 602.0 points on seven head; 2. Josh Frost, 589.5; 3. Trevor Kastner, 429 points on five head; 4. Ky Hamilton, 422; 5. Trey Kimzey, 347 points on four head; 6. Tristen Hutchings, 269 points on three head; 7. Garrett Smith, 256.5; 8. Creek Young, 169 points on two head; 9. Cole Fischer, 159.5; 10. (tie) Jeff Askey and JR Stratford, 90 points on one head; 12. Trey Holston, 86; 13. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 14. (tie) Maverick Potter and Lukasey Morris, NS. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $509,599; 2. Josh Frost, $349,470; 3. Trevor Kastner, $229,996; 4. Tristen Hutchings, $227,756; 5. Jeff Askey, $216,848; 6. Ky Hamilton, $212,657; 7. Garrett Smith, $185,002; 8. Trey Kimzey, $183,811; 9. JR Stratford, $142,943; 10. Trey Holston, $134,515; 11. Creek Young, $127,692; 12. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 13. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944.

All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $641,308; 2. Caleb Smidt, $298,815; 3. Josh Frost, $247,542; 4. Coleman Proctor, $193,401; 5. Marty Yates, $184,694; 6. Zack Jongbloed, $175,568; 7. Haven Meged, $174,666; 8. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 9. Rhen Richard, $129,783; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.

Top Gun leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, $156,201; 2. Caleb Smidt, $151,071; 2. Jess Pope, $149,128; 4. Zeke Thurston, $141,666; 5. Lefty Holman, $133,583; 6. Logan Hay, $127,676; 7. Hailey Kinsel, $117,960; 9. Kincade Henry, $115,162; 10. Leighton Berry, $111,897.