Author: PRCA

Vold Rodeo Company’s Painted Valley, a multi-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo bareback and saddle bronc horse, passed away Jan. 14, according to Kirsten Vold, owner of Vold Rodeo Company. Painted Valley was 19. Painted Valley was a ranch-raised stud. The horse was a product of decades spent selectively breeding bucking horses on the Vold Ranch in Avondale, Colo. Painted Valley was the 2010 PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year and the top saddle bronc horse of the 2009 National Finals Rodeo. Painted Valley, on the maternal side, was a son of Harry Vold‘s six-time NFR mare 050 Big Valley. Big Valley is a daughter of the producing-Vold mare Yellow Valley and Vold stud named Kojak, all ranch raised. In 2007, Painted Valley was selected to his first NFR as a bareback horse. The following year, he debuted in Las Vegas as a saddle bronc horse. Selected to his third NFR in 2009, Painted Valley had a breakout year, from carrying ProRodeo Hall of Famer Billy Etbauer to an 89-point ride in Cheyenne, Wyo., to earning best bronc at San Antonio. He was also selected best saddle bronc at the Mountain States Circuit that year and third runner-up in the Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year voting to go with the NFR saddle bronc of the year honor. Painted Valley retired from bucking in March 2014.

ARLINGTON, Texas – A night after winning the coveted all-around world championship, Stetson Wright returned to make his 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo one for the ages.

 

It ended in fitting fashion as Wright split first with a 92-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Angel’s Landing to win the bull riding world championship at Globe Life Field, Dec. 12.

 

“I was in the race for the all-around and to come out on top I was at a loss for words, I was star struck to beat guys I look up to,” said Wright, who locked up the all-around crown Dec. 11. “But winning the all-around world title meant so much to me, but to win it again feels better for the simple fact that people might say I was lucky my first time. But I feel like after the second one, maybe they’ll still think I’m lucky, but everyone has their own opinion, and it doesn’t change the fact that I got what I wanted, so I’m just happy to be here.”

 

Wright has won back-to-back all-around world championships – the first to do so since Trevor Brazile in 2014 and 2015.

 

At 21, Wright is the youngest cowboy to be crowned All-Around World Champion in his first two seasons. He became the first cowboy to win the all-around gold buckle and a roughstock world championship in the same year since Ty Murray in 1998. Murray won the all-around and bull riding titles that year.

 

“That’s what I always wanted growing up, to be one of the best cowboys to ever live,” Wright said. “That means a lot to hear people talk that highly about me makes me feel lucky and happy to be where I’m at.”

In the bull riding, Wright edged Ty Wallace for the world crown. Wright finished with $267,941, edging Ty Wallace, who came in with $256,599.

 

Stetson clinched his inaugural bull riding world title by placing second in the average with 539 points on six head. Wallace was third in the average with 533.5 points on six. Colten Fritzlan won the average with 605 points on seven.

 

“It was crazy. Ty Wallace, Colten Fritzlan and Ky Hamilton all rode phenomenally,” Wright said. “Every guy did this week, but it came down to us four in the last round and it was crazy to come out on top. This is what I live for, the stories when it comes down to the last ride.”

 

Kaycee Feild becomes third bareback rider to win five world titles

 

Kaycee Feild is a world champion again.

 

Feild won his fifth bareback world championship and first since 2014 with a 91-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Junior Bonner on a re-ride.

 

“I’m trying to block it all out before I start crying when I see my family,” Feild said. “This is pretty special. I have a lot to say, but I don’t even know where to begin. I’m really excited.”

 

Feild finished first in the world standings with $277,648. Tim O’Connell finished second with $270,991.

 

The difference in the world title was Feild placed second in the average with 849.5 points on 10 head and earned $54,576, while O’Connell was third in the average with 847.5 points and earned $43,154.

 

Feild, who also won world championships in 2011-2014, is tied with ProRodeo Hall of Famers Joe Alexander and Bruce Ford with the most bareback riding world titles in PRCA history.

 

“This one is better than the first one, second one, all of them,” he said. “The competition is stiffer than ever. Finding the motivation and the drive was something I had to dig really deep for, more than I have in the past.”

 

Saddle bronc rider Ryder Wright captures second world title

 

Ryder Wright split the Round 10 win with a 91-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Big Texas to catapult to the world and average championships at the 2020 Wrangler NFR.

 

Wright also won a world title in 2017.

 

“(This feels) twice as good,” Wright said. “That horse has been around forever. I remember my dad (Cody) got on that horse when I was little. I think he’s like 20 years old. Super happy to have him.”

 

By splitting the go-round with his brother Stetson, Ryder finished with five go-round wins – Rounds 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. He tied the PRCA record for most saddle bronc riding wins at the NFR for the second time in his career, doing it first in 2016. He shares the record with Billy Etbauer (1992, 1999 and 2005) and Dan Mortensen (1998).

 

Ryder also established a saddle bronc riding average record at the NFR with 876.5 points on 10 head.

 

“I’ve had an awesome week,” Ryder said. “Couldn’t have drawn any better than I did. That’s a huge part in winning world titles, drawing good horses. I was lucky enough to capitalize on them. I was feeling pretty good today. I was confident and just let it play out, and it worked out in my favor.”

 

Mayfield holds on to win first gold buckle

 

Tie-down roper Shad Mayfield had a forgetful 2020 Wrangler NFR, placing in just two rounds and registering six no-times.

 

But Mayfield rode a huge regular-season performance to finish atop the world standings with $198,399, just $231 more than second-place Marty Yates.

 

Mayfield came into the NFR with an $89,479 lead over his nearest competitor, and he needed every dollar.

 

“It means the world to me,” Mayfield said. “It’s something I wanted growing up, it’s been a dream of mine. I had a great year coming in, the best year I could ever imagine having. I had a rough Finals, I really didn’t rope like I should have, but God had big plans, he put me here for a reason, and I think just having a good season paid off.

 

“I don’t think I roped to my full capability, and I knew it could go either way. I just kept my head up, knew what the other guys had to beat and paid attention to that and knew I needed to make my best run (in Round 10). I really didn’t think I’d won the world walking out of there but then they told me, and it’s a great feeling.”

 

Team roping partners Lovell, Eaves win world titles

 

With a world championship in reach, team ropers Colby Lovell and Paul Eaves won Round 10 with a 4.4-second run to capture coveted world championship gold buckles.

 

Lovell finished with $187,836 in the world standings, defeating second-place Luke Brown by $453. Eaves finished with $178,486, edging runner-up Payden Bray by $2,983. Eaves also won a team roping heeling world championship in 2018 while roping with Clay Smith.

 

“It was crucial, we had to do it,” Eaves said. “We had to win the round to win the world and it was everything, and we knew coming into it that it would be that way.”

 

Despite the magnitude of the moment in Round 10 Lovell stayed calm.

 

“Everything this week we’ve been through with the ups and downs and trying to stay focused, do our job and being fortunate enough here at the end, I didn’t have any jitters,” Lovell said. “If it came together, it came together. I told my wife if it happens, it happens and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Paul and I talked before this and I made up my mind if Luke (Brown’s) run placed in the round I was just going to go win money and try to get paid, but the way it fell together, Paul and I were talking and I said we’ll try to win the round.

 

“Our steer was slower, and he came to the left. I was relying on my horse (Bartender) to let me catch up fast and be really close to the steer. When I got up there and stuck it on him, I knew I was in a bad spot and I tried to hang him, and I saw Paul coming and I went for it, and he heeled the fire out of him.”

 

Eaves said he and Lovell tried to keep things simple in Round 10.

 

“When we were here (Friday), we saw the standings, and the average plays such a big part in this deal that nobody ever wins the world without at least some average money,” Eaves said. “I guess it wasn’t entirely in our hands, we had to do the best we could do, and it had to fall right, but it was exciting all day knowing we had a chance.”

 

Lovell reflected on what it was like to win his inaugural gold buckle.

 

“Man, it’s everything,” he said. “There’s a fine line of people that have it and you grow up roping your whole life wanting it. Last night on the stage (for the Round 9 winner’s presentation) I was the only one without one (a world champion buckle) and I thought about that while standing up there. You strive to be the best and strive to keep the confidence to think you’re the best. If you don’t think you’re the best then it’s hard to compete against these guys.”

 

Eaves was also happy with gold buckle No. 2.

 

“It’s a personal thing, satisfaction, to do that,” Eaves said. “Everyone forgets about it the next year but for yourself on the inside, it’s an awesome stage to be on.”

 

Edler wins world in Wrangler NFR debut

 

Steer wrestler Jacob Edler will never forget his first trip to the Wrangler NFR.

 

The State Center, Iowa, cowboy clocked a 3.9-second time to place fourth in the final round and win the average and world championships.

 

Edler finished with $200,510 in the world standings to edge Stetson Jorgensen, who had $198,830.

 

Edler won the average with a 43.4-second time on 10 head. Jorgenson was second at 43.7 seconds.

Jorgensen had a 5.0-second run and failed to place in Round 10.

 

“I’m still trying to make everything come to reality right now,” Edler said. “I don’t know whether to cheer, laugh, cry, what I’m supposed to do. I’ve wanted this so bad and I’ve worked so hard the last six years.

 

Coming into my first NFR and doing this, it’s unbelievable right now.”

 

Edler didn’t out-think himself before he arrived at Globe Life Field, Dec. 12.

 

“My thoughts were, I knew it was going to be a one-hitter,” he said. “I wasn’t the favorite coming into today. I was a little bit of an underdog coming into today. I knew that I really needed to take as much start as I could at that steer and have everything line out perfectly, and it ended up lining out perfectly.

 

“Stetson’s such a great competitor, he got a little bit of a bad draw today. I am ever-so grateful for him letting me ride his horse. Without Stetson Jorgensen, there is no way I could ever have done this.

“I told him, ‘Thank you so much. Thank you for being a friend. One of these gold buckles is headed your way. You bulldog way too good not to have one.’”

 

Kinsel finishes record-setting NFR with third world title

 

Hailey Kinsel now has three barrel racing world titles, and all three over the last three seasons.

 

The Cotulla, Texas, cowgirl won five rounds and placed in eight at the 2020 Wrangler NFR to finish with $349,076 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings.

 

Kinsel earned $270,615 at the NFR, a barrel racing record. Thanks to those earnings, Kinsel also won the RAM Top Gun Award, which goes to the contestant who wins the most money in any single event at the Wrangler NFR.

 

“They’re all so equally different in so many ways,” Kinsel said about her world titles. “The first one being a dream that you know is there. The second being you know what it really feels like. And the third, being this year and being as crazy as it was, it was more than just a want. It was something, I set goals. It doesn’t fulfill everything for you, it doesn’t just completely bring you all the joy in the world, but it dang sure helps. To be able to pull it off this year with all the craziness we went through and the hard times in my life and to be able to rise up from that and do something so awesome here is not something I could have planned.”

 

Kinsel also knows she has a superstar horse in Sister.

 

“They ask if she knows how special she is, and absolutely she knows she’s special to me, but I don’t think she knows she’s done a great thing,” Kinsel said. “I think she just has a great time. That, for me, is the most important thing. She loves it, she continues to love it, she has a blast out there. She doesn’t do it for anything I do it for. She does it because she thinks I asked her to and she likes me.”

 

 

2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results

Round 10, Dec. 12

Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas

Bareback Riding: 1. Kaycee Feild, 91 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Junior Bonner, $26,231; 2. Jess Pope, 89.5, $20,731; 3. Tim O’Connell, 89, $15,654; 4. Clayton Biglow, 88, $11,000; 5. Jake Brown, 87, $6,769; 6. Cole Reiner, 85.5, $4,231; 7. Mason Clements, 84; 8. (tie) Leighton Berry and Winn Ratliff, 83.5 each; 10. Tanner Aus, 83; 11. Chad Rutherford, 82; 12. Tilden Hooper, 79; 13. Jamie Howlett, 75.5; 14. Orin Larsen, NS. 15. Richmond Champion, OUT. Average: 1. Jess Pope, 853 points on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Kaycee Feild, 849.5, $54,577; 3. Tim O’Connell, 847.5, $43,154; 4. Tanner Aus, 829, $31,731; 5. Mason Clements, 810.5, $22,846; 6. Cole Reiner, 764 points on nine head, $16,500; 7. Leighton Berry, 748.5, $11,423; 8. Orin Larsen, 741.5, $6,346; 9. Tilden Hooper, 734; 10. Chad Rutherford, 729.5; 11. Winn Ratliff, 715.5; 12. Jamie Howlett, 712.5; 13. Richmond Champion, 680.5 points on eight head; 14. Clayton Biglow, 640; 15. Jake Brown, 494.5 points on six head. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $277,648; 2. Tim O’Connell, $270,991; 3. Jess Pope, $220,029; 4. Tanner Aus, $174,533; 5. Cole Reiner, $154,325; 6. Orin Larsen, $152,526; 7. Clayton Biglow, $151,415; 8. Richmond Champion, $142,123; 9. Leighton Berry, $132,065; 10. Mason Clements, $124,770; 11. Tilden Hooper, $116,530; 12. Jamie Howlett, $80,813; 13. Chad Rutherford, $77,874; 14. Winn Ratliff, $77,243; 15. Jake Brown, $59,547.

Steer Wrestling: 1. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Will Lummus, 3.7 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. Blake Knowles, 3.8, $15,654; 4. (tie) Matt Reeves and Jacob Edler, 3.9, $8,885 each; 6. Clayton Hass, 4.3, $4,231; 7. Bridger Anderson, 4.9; 8. (tie) Tanner Brunner and Stetson Jorgensen, 5.0 each; 10. Jace Melvin, 6.0; 11. Curtis Cassidy, 7.3; 12. Jacob Talley, 13.2; 13. Dakota Eldridge, 13.5; 14. Jule Hazen, 14.4; 15. Jesse Brown, NT. Average: 1. Jacob Edler, 43.4 seconds on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, 43.7, $54,577; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 51.4, $43,154; 4. Will Lummus, 52.3, $31,731; 5. Dakota Eldridge, 54.4, $22,846; 6. Bridger Anderson, 56.2, $16,500; 7. Jace Melvin, 85.1, $11,423; 8. Jule Hazen, 85.8, $6,346; 9. Blake Knowles, 37.3 seconds on nine head; 10. Matt Reeves, 52.4; 11. Jacob Talley, 65.2; 12. Curtis Cassidy, 72.3; 13. Tanner Brunner, 46.5 seconds on eight head; 14. Clayton Hass, 53.6; 15. Jesse Brown, 34.1 seconds on seven head. World standings: 1. Jacob Edler, $200,510; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, $198,830; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $192,845; 4. Matt Reeves, $164,566; 5. Will Lummus, $155,837; 6. Dakota Eldridge, $148,649; 7. Jacob Talley, $138,329; 8. Blake Knowles, $132,304; 9. Bridger Anderson, $120,934; 10. Jace Melvin, $111,014; 11. Clayton Hass, $93,302; 12. Tanner Brunner, $93,270; 13. Jesse Brown, $88,559; 14. Jule Hazen , $75,961; 15. Curtis Cassidy, $68,932.

Team Roping: 1. Colby Lovell/Paul Eaves, 4.4 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. Charly Crawford/Logan Medlin, 4.7, $20,731; 3. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.8, $15,654; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 5.2, $11,000; 5. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 5.6, $6,769; 6. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 6.5, $4,231; 7. Luke Brown/Joseph Harrison, 10.6; 8. Chad Masters/Wesley Thorp, 11.2; 9. Levi Simpson/Shay Dixon Carroll, 14.4; 10. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, Cody Snow/Junior Nogueira, Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, Clay Tryan/Jake Long, Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch and Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, NT. Average: 1. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 80.2 seconds on 10 head, $67,269 each; 2. Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell/Tyler Worley, 54.0 seconds on nine head, $54,577; 3. Nelson Wyatt./Levi Lord, 55.9, $43,154; 4. Luke Brown/Joseph Harrison, 62.3, $31,731; 5. Chad Masters/Wesley Thorp, 68.6, $22,846; 6. Charly Crawford/Logan Medlin, 83.6, $16,500; 7. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 41.4 seconds on seven head, $11,423; 8. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 48.0, $6,346; 9. Levi Simpson/Shay Dixon Carroll, 50.2; 10. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 55.0; 11. Colby Lovell/Paul Eaves, 55.3 seconds on six head; 12. Clay Tryan, Billings/Jake Long, 21.9 seconds on five head; 13. Cody Snow/Junior Nogueira, 37.4; 14. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 47.0; 15. Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 27.9 seconds on three head. World standings (headers): 1. Colby Lovell, $187,835; 2. Luke Brown, $187,383; 3. Erich Rogers, $175,503; 4. Nelson Wyatt, $166,390; 5. Andrew Ward, $160,180; 6. Clay Smith, $155,011; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $151,176; 8. Jeff Flenniken, $149,084; 9. Clay Tryan, $140,540; 10. Chad Masters, $139,048; 11. Charly Crawford, $132,922; 12. Cody Snow, $125,343; 13. Levi Simpson, $101,648; 14. Brenten Hall, $90,145; 15. Kolton Schmidt, $76,676. World standings (heelers): 1. Paul Eaves, $178,486; 2. Paden Bray, $175,503; 3. Joseph Harrison, $168,017; 4. Levi Lord, $167,589; 5. Buddy Hawkins II, $160,180; 6. Jade Corkill, $155,011; 7. Tyler Worley, $150,830; 8. Jake Long, $146,137; 9. Travis Graves, $143,514; 10. Wesley Thorp, $139,048; 11. Logan Medlin, $132,313; 12. Junior Nogueira, $114,199; 13. Shay Dixon Carroll, $107,517; 14. Chase Tryan, $90,145; 15. Hunter Koch, $76,676.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. (tie) Stetson Dell Wright, on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin and Ryder Wright, points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Big Tex, 91 points, $23,481 each; 3. Brody Cress, 90.5, $15,654; 4. (tie) Lefty Holman and Zeke Thurston, 87, $8,885 each; 6. (tie) Sterling Crawley and Rusty Wright, 86.5, $2,115 each; 8. (tie) Wyatt Casper and Shorty Garrett, 83.5; 10. Taos Muncy, 83; 11. Chase Brooks, 82.5; 12. (tie) Allen Boore, Jacobs Crawley, Cole Elshere and Isaac Diaz, Jacobs Crawley, NS. Average: 1. Ryder Wright, 876.5 points on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Wyatt Casper, 774 points on nine, $54,577; 3. Chase Brooks, 742.5, $43,154; 4. Zeke Thurston, 741, $31,731; 5. Rusty Wright, 683 points on eight head, $22,846; 6. Lefty Holman, 681, $16,500; 7.Sterling Crawley, 670.5, $11,423; 8.Shorty Garrett, 660, $6,346; 9. Isaac Diaz, 657.5; 10. Stetson Dell Wright, 610 points on seven head; 11. Brody Cress, 598; 12. Allen Boore, 594; 13. Taos Muncy, 562; 14. Jacobs Crawley, 480.5 points on six head; 15. Cole Elshere, 79.5 points on one head. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $358,471; 2. Wyatt Casper, $320,984; 3. Brody Cress, $173,847; 4. Rusty Wright, $164,587; 5. Allen Boore, $163,654; 6. Lefty Holman, $160,997; 7. Stetson Dell Wright, $154,101; 8. Chase Brooks, $150,034; 9. Zeke Thurston, $141,261; 10. Shorty Garrett, $118,621; 11. Sterling Crawley, $90,378; 12. Isaac Diaz, $81,063; 13. Cole Elshere, $64,351; 14. Jacobs Crawley, $60,930; 15. Taos Muncy, $59,073.

Tie-Down Roping: 1. Haven Meged, 7.4 seconds, $26,231; 2. Hunter Herrin, 7.5, $20,731; 3. (tie) Ty Harris and Tyson Durfey, 7.9, $13,327 each; 5. Shane Hanchey, 8.0, $6,769; 6. Marty Yates, 8.1, $4,231; 7. Timber Moore, 8.3; 8. Westyn Hughes, 8.8; 9. Cory Solomon, 9.0; 10. Ryan Jarrett, 9.3; 11. Tyler Milligan, 9.4; 12. Caddo Lewallen, 12.3; 13. Adam Gray, 19.1; 14. (tie) Shad Mayfield, and Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, NT. Average: 1. Shane Hanchey, 83.1 seconds on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Marty Yates, 90.4, $54,577; 3. Cory Solomon, 95.2, $43,154; 4. Caddo Lewallen, 97.3, $31,731; 5. Ryan Jarrett, 105.0, $22,846; 6. Ty Harris, 108.5, $16,500; 7. Adam Gray, 119.0, $11,423; 8. Tyler Milligan, 143.4, $6,346; 9. Hunter Herrin, 78.7 seconds on nine head; 10. Westyn Hughes, 87.8; 11. Haven Meged, 93.5; 12. Timber Moore, 101.9; 13. Tuf Cooper, 89.2 seconds on eight head; 14. Tyson Durfey, 66.3 seconds on six head: 15. Shad Mayfield, 44.0 second on four head. World standings: 1. Shad Mayfield, $198,399; 2. Marty Yates, $198,168; 3. Shane Hanchey, $195,991; 4. Hunter Herrin, $188,895; 5. Cory Solomon, $170,527; 6. Westyn Hughes, $146,968; 7. Haven Meged, $141,479; 8. Tuf Cooper, $135,151; 9. Ty Harris, $129,549; 10. Ryan Jarrett, $127,234; 11. Tyson Durfey, $120,120; 12. Adam Gray, $116,505; 13. Caddo Lewallen, $108,333; 14. Tyler Milligan, $106,034; 15. Timber Moore, $83,898.

Barrel Racing: 1. Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 16.79 seconds, $26,231; 2. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 16.88, $20,731; 3. Jill Wilson, 17.11, $15,654; 4. Jimmie Smith, 17.16, $11,000; 5. Jessica Routier, 17.17, $6,769; 6. Tiany Schuster, 17.32, $4,231; 7. Ryann Pedone, 17.34; 8. Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.53; 9. Emily Miller, 17.57; 10. Brittney Barnett, 17.58; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.68; 12. Jessica Telford, 17.83; 13. Wenda Johnson, 22.02; 14. Shelley Morgan, 22.40; 15. Lisa Lockhart, 26.89. Average: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 170.95 seconds on 10 runs, $67,269; 2. Jill Wilson, 174.10, $54,577; 3. Jessica Routier, 174.59, $43,154; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 175.23, $31,731; 5. Emily Miller, 177.72, $22,846; 6. Ryann Pedone, 177.78, $16,500; 7. Jimmie Smith, 180.00, $11,423; 8. Wenda Johnson, 184.92, $6,346; 9. Cheyenne Wimberley, 185.47; 10. Tiany Schuster, 185.72; 11. Shelley Morgan, 189.66; 12. Brittney Barnett, 191.18; 13. Stevi Hillman, 191.84; 14. Jessica Telford, 195.29; 15. Lisa Lockhart, 221.85. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $349,076; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $201,225; 3. Jill Wilson, $165,756; 4. Emily Miller, $159,427; 5. Jimmie Smith, $153,291; 6. Stevi Hillman, $137,273; 7. Jessica Routier, $133,717; 8. Lisa Lockhart, $119,866; 9. Shelley Morgan, $116,383; 10. Tiany Schuster, $109,483; 11. Cheyenne Wimberley, $94,693; 12. Wenda Johnson, $90,569; 13. Dona Kay Rule, $77,454; 14. Ryann Pedone, $75,850; 15. Brittney Barnett, $70,296; 16. Jessica Telford, $59,477.

Bull Riding: 1. (tie) Sage Kimzey, on Dakota Rodeo’s Safety Meeting and Roscoe Jarboe, on Rafter G Rodeo’s Freddy Fender, 92 points, $23,481 each; 3. Brady Por10ier, 90, $15,654; 4. (tie) Stetson Dell Wright and     Ty Wallace, 89, $8,885; 6. Col10 Fritzlan, 87.5, $4,231; 7. Clayton Sellars, 83; 8. (tie) Ky Hamilton, Dustin Boquet, Denton Fugate, Jeff Askey, Boudreaux Campbell, Tyler Bingham, Parker McCown and Trevor Kastner, NS. Average: 1. Col10 Fritzlan, 605 points on seven head, $67,269; 2. Stetson Dell Wright, 539 points on six head, $54,577; 3. Ty Wallace, 533.5, $43,154; 4. Ky Hamilton, 430.5 points on five head, $31,731; 5. Jeff Askey, 428.5, $22,846; 6. Sage Kimzey, 423.0, $16,500; 7. Roscoe Jarboe, 353.5 points on four head, $11,423; 8. Clayton Sellars, 256 points on three head, $6,346; 9. Brady Por10ier, 255.5; 10. Parker McCown, 246; 11. Dustin Boquet, 169.5 points on two head; 12. Tyler Bingham, 161; 13. Boudreaux Campbell, 87.5 points on one head; 14. Trevor Kastner, 87; 15. Denton Fugate, NS. World standings: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $267,941; 2. Ty Wallace, $256,599; 3. Col10 Fritzlan, $241,447; 4. Ky Hamilton, $201,831; 5. Sage Kimzey, $184,764; 6. Roscoe Jarboe, $177,609; 7. Jeff Askey, $168,387; 8. Dustin Boquet, $124,778; 9. Brady Por10ier, $114,413; 10. Boudreaux Campbell, $106,746; 11. Parker McCown, $98,138; 12. Clayton Sellars, $83,279; 13. Tyler Bingham, $82,058; 14. Trevor Kastner, $80,935; 15. Denton Fugate, $62,236.

All-Around: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $392,302; 2. Tuf Cooper, $179,412; 3. Clay Smith, $159,699; 4. Trevor Brazile, $94,803.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The drama is over in the PRCA all-around world championship race. Stetson Wright took care of that with a go-round to spare.

For the second consecutive year, Wright won the all-around gold buckle.

The Milford, Utah, cowboy officially clinched the title when he won Round 9 in the bull riding with a 92-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Record Rack’s Smoke Stack at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at Globe Life Field, Dec. 11 to add another $26,231 to his haul.

At 21, Wright is the youngest cowboy to be crowned All-Around World Champion in his first two seasons.

He’s trying to become the first cowboy to win the all-around gold buckle and a roughstock world championship in the same year since Ty Murray did it in 1998. Murray won the all-around and bull riding titles that year.

Wright has $305,360 in the all-around PRCA | RAM World Standings. Tuf Cooper is at $179,412 while reigning two-time world champion header Clay Smith is third in the all-around standings with $159,699. Neither can catch Wright.

“I have no words for it other than I’m happy to do it again,” Wright said. “I expected it from myself, but I didn’t want to say anything until it was final. I wanted to keep on keeping on, so this just makes me happy. I worked hard at this all year. It was a tough year and a tougher year than it was last year.

“To get it this year means a lot, and winning it again makes me feel good because everybody might say that the first one was off pure luck, but how many times can you be so lucky.”

Wright clinched his second all-around crown with an amazing 2020 Wrangler NFR that doesn’t end until Dec. 12.

Wright has won Rounds 1, 2, 7 and 9 in bull riding and added a Round 7 win in saddle bronc riding. He was the first cowboy to win two roughstock events in one night at the Finals since 2001. In Round 4 that year, Jesse Bail split the win in saddle bronc riding and won the bull riding outright.

“The key for me has just been to keep a level head,” Wright said. “I just go out there and do my thing and not worry about whether 90 points the night before or zero. You just have to forget about it and move on and make the best ride you can the next time. That’s what my dad (Cody) has preached to us, and you have to have a level head and just keep doing your thing.”

Wright is the first cowboy to win back-to-back all-around gold buckles since Trevor Brazile in 2014-15. Wright is the first cowboy to qualify for multiple Wrangler NFR roughstock events since Bail qualified in saddle bronc riding and bull riding in 2003.

 

Brazile has won a PRCA-record 26 gold buckles, including a PRCA-record 14 in all-around (2002-04, 2006-15, 2018).

 

“It is kind of hard to put my name next to him (Brazile),” Stetson said. “He has 26. I have to win a few more to even be in the same sentence as him.”

 

Wright had a simple plan for celebrating Friday night.

 

“I’m going home to get some sleep and keep a level head, there’s still another day,” Wright said. “I’m just going to try and do my best (Saturday) and keep pushing.”

 

Wright is in a tight battle to win his first career bull riding world championship. He’s second in the world standings with $204,479. He trails standings-leader Ty Wallace by a mere $82. Wright is second in the average with 450 points on five head. Wallace is third with 444.5 points on five. Stetson is seventh in the saddle bronc riding world standings.

 

“I’m going to root on every bronc rider and root on every bull rider and one of us is going to walk out of here a world champion,” Wright said.

 

Barrel racer Kinsel on cusp of another title

 

Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel’s amazing Wrangler NFR keeps improving with each round.

 

The Cotulla, Texas, cowgirl won her fifth round of the NFR – Round 9 with a 16.81-second run.

 

Kinsel leads the world standings with $261,076 and is on the cusp of winning her third consecutive world title.

 

Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi is in second place in the world standings with $169,494 and still mathematically has a chance to win the world title. Tonozzi needs to win the Round 10 and NFR average and Kinsel would have to not earn any money in Round 10 or the average.

 

“This is insane,” Kinsel said. “I wanted to have a good Finals and I prepped to have a good Finals, but you can’t even get this by just work. It’s like super-natural stuff going on. I’m up here going, what next?”

 

Kinsel will have a strong understanding of what she needs to do in Round 10 before she arrives at Globe Life Field.

 

“I’m a numbers person. I’m going to look at it and see what I need to do in the last round,” she said. “If I need to make a clean round there’s a chance I’ll change horses. I’m shuffling back to the bottom again, so I’ll be sixth out after the tractor. It looked great tonight, from what I could tell. But it’s definitely firmed up and packed up, so I want to watch it close and see.

 

“My horse (Sister) has been incredible and she owes me zip, zero. If I can get on something to go make a nice clean run like the sorrel horse I ran in Round 6, I’ve got a black horse and a young mare that we prepped to make runs, and if I need to do that I won’t hesitate.”

 

Casper keeps applying pressure in saddle bronc riding

 

Wyatt Casper is making his first trip to the Wrangler NFR and has represented himself well.

 

The Texas cowboy came in as the world-standings leader and remains in a battle with Ryder Wright to win a gold buckle.

 

Casper kept the race tight by winning Round 9 with an 88-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Xena Warrior.

 

“That horse just felt like she was getting better and better every jump,” Casper said. “As the ride went on, I was getting a good seat and getting a good hold with my feet. It felt good.”

 

Wright split second in the round with an 87-point ride on Four Star Rodeo’s Wall Street.

 

Heading into Round 10, Wright leads the world standings with $267,721. Casper is second with $266,407.

 

Wright, who won the 2017 world title, is first in the average with 785.5 points on nine head, followed by Casper with 690.5 points on eight head.

 

Casper has won two rounds at his inaugural Wrangler NFR, Rounds 5 and 9. He’s placed in seven rounds and earned $121,269.

 

“This week has been unreal,” Casper said. “Just lucky to be able to beat all those great bronc riders.

 

Anybody can win. To be able to draw good horses like that and come away with checks in seven of nine nights so far has been unreal.

 

“I don’t know if I ever pictured coming to the NFR and being in this close of a race, but it’s dang sure going to be a nail-biter. I like the competition. I like having to do well to win.”

 

Bareback rider Reiner grabs second go-round win

 

After winning Round 6 with an 87-point ride on Flying U Rodeo’s Lil Hawk, Cole Reiner doubled his pleasure at his Wrangler NFR debut.

 

The Wyoming native had an 89.5-point trip on Calgary Stampede’s Arbitrator Joe to win Round 9.

 

“That was pretty exciting to have that happen after last night’s round didn’t go too well for a lot of us,” said Reiner, who was bucked off. “In Round 8, I was able to come back and re-prove to myself and everyone here that I belong here and I can do this. It’s a cool feeling.”

 

Reiner is seventh in the world standings with $133,594. He has earned $88,551 at the NFR.

 

“My goal was to come here and win at least one round, and after I won that one (Round 6) I figured why stop at one,” Reiner said. “It’s too much fun and excitement and a great feeling. To be able to do it twice in one year is really special.”

 

Steer wrestlers Reeves, Waguespack, Talley split Round 9

 

The Round 9 win in steer wrestling was celebrated by a trio of cowboys – Matt Reeves, Tyler Waguespack and Jacob Talley – as they each had 3.5-second runs.

 

“Everybody is really good, the horses have been good, that set of steers is outstanding,” Reeves said. “Three-point-eight has been the bottom every night. That’s just a phenomenal set of animals. Everybody here is just good. It’s not tight every year for no reason.”

 

Waguespack also split the Round 2 win in 3.8.

 

“I was very pleased with my run,” Waguespack said. “The steer I had they had had some success on this week already. I got a great start riding Scooter, put my feet on the ground in a great spot and was able to finish.”

 

“I drew good, too,” said Talley, who won Round 4 in 3.4 seconds. “They had success on him too early in the week. Riding the horses we’re riding, it just makes it easy. We just have to do our job. I want to win the round tomorrow, too.”

 

Reeves is first in the world standings with $155,681. Talley’s third with $138,329, and Waguespack’s fourth at $126,210.

 

“Bear down, hit the barrier and win some,” Reeves said about his plan for Round 10.

 

Waguespack had a simple approach for Saturday night.

 

“Got one more and hopefully can finish off the Finals strong, see how much we can get out of this week,” Waguespack said.

 

Two sets of team ropers split Round 9

 

Colby Lovell and Paul Eaves are making the most of their opportunities in the Wrangler NFR after being knocked out of the average.

 

The duo won their second round in a row with a 3.8-second time. They shared the winner’s circle with Chad Masters and Wesley Thorp, who also made a 3.8-second run to get their first go-round win of the 2020 Wrangler NFR.

 

Lovell and Eaves are leading their respective world standings with $161,605 and $152,255.

 

“Everyone wants this all week, but to finish what you started is good,” Eaves said.

 

Lovell said Round 8’s performance was a catalyst for the Round 9 win.

 

“Last night (Dec. 10) kind of got the ball rolling,” Lovell said. “A go-round always helps when placing first or second, it just paves the way for these last couple of steers and just gets the momentum and confidence going. The steer tonight and the steer last night dang sure helped the week out.”

 

“The times might not say it, but you never know what the cows might be like. It might be the strong pen, but the steers are getting tricky toward the end, and it’s pretty fierce every night.”

In 2009, Masters set the Wrangler NFR Round 9 record at 3.3 seconds.

“I guess it’s just my lucky round,” Masters said. “I wish I had a reason why it works out or doesn’t, but it just seems to go my way sometimes.”

 

Masters won team roping header world championships in 2007 and 2012. Thorp is the reigning 2019 team roping heeler world champ.

 

“We had a really good steer, you couldn’t draw a better one than that,” Thorp said. “We had some stronger ones the last couple of nights and we were glad to have a good one.”

Masters was quick to praise his partner.

 

“I knew if I could just get out of the barrier and catch the cow that he would be in a good spot and we’d have a good chance on him,” Masters said.

 

Tuf Cooper gets first go-round win of 2020 NFR

 

Tie-down roper Tuf Cooper has struggled during the 2020 Wrangler NFR, especially in the first seven rounds, placing just twice – fourth in Round 4 and second in Round 7.

 

On Friday, the four-time world champ captured a victory in Round 9 with a 6.9-second run.

 

“I won the ninth go-round when I was 18 years old, my first round win, so it’s cool to come back and win the ninth round this year,” said Cooper, who won tie-down roping titles in 2011-12 and 2014 and the all-around in 2017. “I’m very grateful we’re having the NFR here in Texas. It’s been a rough go these first eight rounds, but here we are, I got the round win and there is another round ahead of us. We’re just grateful for the opportunity, everybody coming out, supporting the NFR in Texas and having it live, it’s really awesome for everybody.”

 

Cooper has ridden three horses at this NFR.

 

“Tonight, I rode Cade Swor’s horse,” he said. “He’s a younger horse, he fits me really well. Cade has ridden him throughout the year and has seasoned him. The horse has a bright future ahead of him. I can score good, go out the way I want to. I’m thankful I get to ride him.

 

“With one round left I get to come back here at Globe Life and just take it all in. I get to compete and do what I love to do in front of fans live.”

 

 

2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results

Round 9, Dec. 11

Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas

Bareback Riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 89.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Arbitrator Joe, $26,231; 2. Kaycee Feild, 87.5, $20,731; 3. Richmond Champion, 86.5, $15,654; 4. Clayton Biglow, 85.5, $11,000; 5. Mason Clements, 84, $6,769; 6. Orin Larsen, 83.5, $4,231; 7. Tim O’Connell, 83; 8. (tie) Jamie Howlett and Jess Pope, 82.5; 10. Leighton Berry, 82; 11. (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., Jake Brown, and Chad Rutherford, 81.5 each; 14. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Winn Ratliff, 80.5 each. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 763.5 points on nine head; 2. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Kaycee Feild, 758.5 each; 4. Tanner Aus, 746; 5. Orin Larsen, 741.5; 6. Mason Clements, 726.5; 7. Richmond Champion, 680.5 points on eight head; 8. Cole Reiner, 678.5; 9. Leighton Berry, 665; 10. Tilden Hooper, 655; 11. Chad Rutherford, 647.5; 12. Jamie Howlett, 637; 13. Winn Ratliff, 632; 14. Clayton Biglow, 552 points on seven head; 15. Jake Brown, 407.5 points on five head. World standings: 1. Tim O’Connell, $212,184; 2. Kaycee Feild, $196,840; 3. Orin Larsen, $146,180; 4. Tanner Aus, $142,802; 5. Richmond Champion, $142,123; 6. Clayton Biglow, $140,415; 7. Cole Reiner, $133,594; 8. Jess Pope, $132,029; 9. Leighton Berry, $120,642; 10. Tilden Hooper, $116,530; 11. Mason Clements, $101,924; 12. Jamie Howlett, $80,813; 13. Chad Rutherford, $77,874; 14. Winn Ratliff, $77,243; 15. Jake Brown, $52,778.

Steer Wrestling: 1. (tie) Matt Reeves, Jacob Talley and Tyler Waguespack, 3.5 seconds, $20,872 each; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.6, $11,000; 5. Jace Melvin, 3.7, $6,769; 6. Dakota Eldridge, 3.8, $4,231; 7. Will Lummus, 3.9; 8. (tie) Curtis Cassidy and Tanner Brunner, 4.6 each; 10. Clayton Hass, 4.7; 11. Jacob Edler, 4.8; 12. Blake Knowles, 5.0; 13. Jule Hazen, 6.7; 14. Bridger Anderson, 14.4; 15. Jesse Brown, NS. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 38.7 seconds on nine head; 2. Jacob Edler, 39.5; 3. Dakota Eldridge 40.9; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 47.7; 5. Will Lummus, 48.6; 6. Bridger Anderson, 51.3; 7. Jule Hazen, 71.4; 8. Jace Melvin, 79.1; 9. Blake Knowles, 33.5 seconds on eight head; 10. Matt Reeves, 48.5; 11. Jacob Talley, 52.0; 12. Curtis Cassidy, 65.0; 13. Jesse Brown, 34.1 seconds on seven head; 14. Tanner Brunner, 41.5; 15. Clayton Hass, 49.3. World standings: 1. Matt Reeves, $155,681; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, $144,253; 3. Jacob Talley, $138,329; 4. Tyler Waguespack, $126,210; 5. Dakota Eldridge, $125,803; 6. Jacob Edler, $124,357; 7. Blake Knowles, $116,650; 8. Bridger Anderson, $104,434; 9. Will Lummus, $100,626; 10. Jace Melvin, $99,591; 11. Tanner Brunner, $93,270; 12. Clayton Hass, $89,071; 13. Jesse Brown, $88,559; Jule Hazen, $69,615; 15. Curtis Cassidy, $68,932.

Team Roping: 1. (tie) Colby Lovell/Paul Eaves, Chad Masters/Wesley Thorp, 3.8 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 4.1, $15,654; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.4, $11,000; 5. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 4.6, $6,769; 6. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 4.9, $4,231; 7. Luke Brown/Joseph Harrison, 6.9; 8. (tie) Cody Snow/Junior Nogueira and Charly Crawford/Logan Medlin, 9.5; 10. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 9.6; 11. Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 14.0; 12. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, Levi Simpson/Shay Dixon Carroll and Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, NT. Average leaders: 1. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 74.6 seconds on nine head; 2. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 47.5 seconds on eight head; 3. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 50.7; 4. Luke Brown/Joseph Harrison, 51.7; 5. Chad Masters/Wesley Thorp, 57.4; 6. Charly Crawford/Logan Medlin, 78.9; 7. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 48.0 seconds on seven head; 8. Dustin Egusquiza./Travis Graves, 55.0; 9. Levi Simpson/Shay Dixon Carroll, 35.8 seconds on six head; 10. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 36.6; 11. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 21.9 seconds on five head; 12. Cody Snow/Junior Nogueira, 37.4; 13. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 47.0; 14. Colby Lovell/Paul Eaves, 50.9; 15. Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 27.9 seconds on three head. World standings (headers): 1. Colby Lovell, $161,605; 2. Luke Brown, $155,652; 3. Dustin Egusquiza, $151,176; 4. Clay Smith, $148,665; 5. Clay Tryan, $140,540; 6. Andrew Ward, $133,103; 7. Cody Snow, $125,343; 8. Chad Masters, $116,202; 9. Nelson Wyatt, $112,236; 10. Levi Simpson, $101,648; 11. Erich Rogers, $101,465; 12. Charly Crawford, $95,691; 13. Jeff Flenniken, $90,276; 14. Brenten Hall, $90,145; 15. Kolton Schmidt, $76,676; World standings (heeler): 1. Paul Eaves, $152,255; 2. Jade Corkill, $148,665; 3. Jake Long, $146,137; 4. Travis Graves, $143,514; 5. Joseph Harrison, $136,286; 6. Buddy Hawkins II, $133,103; 7. Wesley Thorp, $116,202; 8. Junior Nogueira, $114,199; 9. Levi Lord, $113,435; 10. Shay Dixon Carroll, $107,517; 11. Paden Bray, $101,465; 12. Logan Medlin, $95,082; 13. Tyler Worley, $92,022; 14. Chase Tryan, $90,145; 15. Hunter Koch, $76,676.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Wyatt Casper, 88 points on Calgary Stampede’s Xena Warrior, $26,231; 2. (tie) Ryder Wright and Allen Boore, 87, $18,192 each; 4. Isaac Diaz, 84, $11,000; 5. Taos Muncy, 82.5, $6,769; 6. Sterling Crawley, 82, $4,231; 7. Lefty Holman, 81.5; 8. Brody Cress, 79.5; 9. Shorty Garrett, 78.5; 10. (tie) Chase Brooks and Zeke Thurston, 72.5 each; 12. (tie) Stetson Dell Wright, Jacobs Crawley, Rusty Wright and Cole Elshere, NS. Average leaders: 1. Ryder Wright, 785.5 points on nine head; 2. Wyatt Casper, 690.5 points on eight head; 3. Chase Brooks, 660; 4. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 657.5; 5. Zeke Thurston, 654; 6. Rusty Wright, 596.5 seconds on seven head; 7. (tie) Allen Boore and Lefty Holman, 594 each; 9. Sterling Crawley, 584; 10. Shorty Garrett, 576.5; 11. Stetson Dell Wright, 519 points on six head; 12. Brody Cress, 507.5; 13. Jacobs Crawley, 480.5; 14. Taos Muncy, 479; 15. Cole Elshere, 79.5 points on one head. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $267,721; 2. Wyatt Casper, $266,407; 3. Allen Boore, $163,654; 4. Brody Cress, $158,193; 5. Rusty Wright, $139,625; 6. Lefty Holman, $135,612; 7. Stetson Dell Wright, $130,620; 8. Shorty Garrett, $112,275; 9. Chase Brooks, $106,881; 10. Zeke Thurston, $100,645; 11. Isaac Diaz, $81,063; 12. Sterling Crawley, $76,839; 13. Cole Elshere, $64,351; 14. Jacobs Crawley, $60,930; 15. Taos Muncy, $59,073.

Tie-Down Roping: 1. Tuf Cooper, 6.9 seconds, $26,231; 2. Marty Yates, 7.0, $20,731; 3. Ty Harris, 7.3, $15,654; 4. Adam Gray, 7.6, $11,000; 5. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Shane Hanchey, 8.4, $5,500; 7. Westyn Hughes, 8.5; 8. Caddo Lewallen, 8.7; 9. Haven Meged, 9.6; 10. Hunter Herrin, 12.1; 11. Timber Moore, 12.3; 12. Tyler Milligan, 18.4; 13. Cory Solomon, 18.7; 14. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Tyson Durfey, NT. Average leaders: 1. Shane Hanchey, 75.1 seconds on nine head; 2. Marty Yates, 82.3; 3. Caddo Lewallen, 85.0; 4. Cory Solomon, 86.2; 5. Ryan Jarrett, 95.7; 6. Adam Gray, 99.9; 7. Ty Harris, 100.6; 8. Tyler Milligan, 134.0; 9. Hunter Herrin, 71.2 seconds on eight head; 10. Westyn Hughes, 79.0; 11. Haven Meged, 86.1; 12. Tuf Cooper, 89.2; 13. Timber Moore, 93.6; 14. Tyson Durfey, 58.4 seconds on five head; 15. Shad Mayfield, 44.0 seconds on four head. World standings: 1. Shad Mayfield, $198,399; 2. Hunter Herrin, $168,165; 3. Westyn Hughes, $146,968; 4. Marty Yates, $139,361; 5. Tuf Cooper, $135,151; 6. Cory Solomon, $127,374; 7. Shane Hanchey, $121,953; 8. Haven Meged, $115,248; 9. Tyson Durfey, $106,793; 10. Adam Gray, $105,082; 11. Ryan Jarrett, $104,387; 12. Ty Harris, $99,722; 13. Tyler Milligan, $99,688; 14. Timber Moore, $83,898; 15. Caddo Lewallen, $76,602.

Barrel Racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 16.81 seconds, $26,231; 2. Wenda Johnson, 17.18, $20,731; 3. Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.21, $15,654; 4. Emily Miller, 17.22, $11,000; 5. Ryann Pedone, 17.28, $6,769; 6. Tiany Schuster, 17.33, $4,231; 7. Jill Wilson, 17.52; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.58; 9. Jessica Routier, 17.66; 10. Jimmie Smith, 22.05; 11. Stevi Hillman, 22.28; 12. Shelley Morgan, 22.60; 13. Brittney Barnett, 23.17; 14. Lisa Lockhart, 27.16; 15. Jessica Telford, 27.39. Average leaders: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 154.07 seconds on nine runs; 2. Jill Wilson, 156.99; 3. Jessica Routier, 157.42; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 157.55; 5. Emily Miller, 160.15; 6. Ryann Pedone, 160.44; 7. Jimmie Smith, 162.84; 8. Wenda Johnson, 162.90; 9. Shelley Morgan, 167.26; 10. Cheyenne Wimberley, 167.94; 11. Tiany Schuster, 168.40; 12. Brittney Barnett, 173.60; 13. Stevi Hillman, 175.05; 14. Jessica Telford, 177.46; 15. Lisa Lockhart, 194.96. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $261,076; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $169,494; 3. Emily Miller, $136,581; 4. Jimmie Smith, $130,868; 5. Lisa Lockhart, $119,866; 6. Shelley Morgan, $116,383; 7. Stevi Hillman, $111,043; 8. Tiany Schuster, $105,253; 9. Jill Wilson, $95,525; 10. Cheyenne Wimberley, $94,693; 11. Wenda Johnson, $84,222; 12. Jessica Routier, $83,794; 13. Dona Kay Rule, $77,454; 14. Brittney Barnett, $70,296; 15. Jessica Telford, $59,477.

Bull Riding: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 92 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Record Rack’s Smoke Stack, $26,231; 2. Jeff Askey, 89.5, $20,731; 3. Brady Portenier, 87.5, $15,654; 4. Sage Kimzey, 87, $11,000; 5. Ky Hamilton, 83.5, $6,769; 6. Dustin Boquet, 80, $4,231; 7. (tie) Roscoe Jarboe, Denton Fugate, Colten Fritzlan, Boudreaux Campbell, Tyler Bingham, Ty Wallace, Parker McCown, Trevor Kastner and Clayton Sellars, NS. Average leaders: 1. Colten Fritzlan, 517.5 points on six head; 2. Stetson Dell Wright, 450 points on five head; 3. Ty Wallace, 444.5; 4. Ky Hamilton, 430.5; 5. Jeff Askey, 428.5; 6. Sage Kimzey, 331 points on four head; 7. Roscoe Jarboe, 261.5 points on three head; 8. Parker McCown, 246; 9. Clayton Sellars, 173 points on two head; 10. Dustin Boquet, 169.5; 11. Brady Portenier, 165.5; 12. Tyler Bingham, 161; 13. Boudreaux Campbell, 87.5 points on one head; 14. Trevor Kastner, 87; 15. Denton Fugate, NS. World standings: 1. Ty Wallace, $204,561; 2. Stetson Dell Wright, $204,479; 3. Ky Hamilton, $170,100; 4. Colten Fritzlan, $169,947; 5. Jeff Askey, $145,541; 6. Sage Kimzey, $144,783; 7. Roscoe Jarboe, $142,706; 8. Dustin Boquet, $124,778; 9. Boudreaux Campbell, $106,746; 10. Brady Portenier, $98,759; 11. Parker McCown, $98,138; 12. Tyler Bingham, $82,058; 13. Trevor Kastner, $80,935; 14. Clayton Sellars, $76,933; 15. Denton Fugate, $62,236.

All-Around: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $305,360; 2. Tuf Cooper, $179,412; 3. Clay Smith, $159,699; 4. Trevor Brazile, $94,803.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – It’s common for rodeo athletes and fans to use the hashtags “grateful” or “blessed.” Each year, that gratefulness is expressed at the annual PRCA Awards Banquet before the start of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

The final online ballot process will be open Oct. 19-23 for applicable voting PRCA members. Eligible voters will need to keep an eye on their email’s inbox for voting information on Oct. 19.

The winners for each category will be announced at the PRCA Awards Banquet at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 2.

The following men, women and committees are the nominees:

Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award

Cindy Rosser

Duane Reichert

Edie Longfellow

Gene Hyder

Kay Gay

Stock Contractor of the Year

Beutler & Son Rodeo Co.

Cervi Championship Rodeo

Frontier Rodeo Company

Pete Carr Pro Rodeo

Stace Smith Pro Rodeos

Announcer of the Year

Andy Stewart

Bob Tallman

Randy Corley

Wayne Brooks

Will Rasmussen

Secretary of the Year

Amanda Sanders

Brenda Crowder

Eva Chadwick

Sandy Gwatney

Sunni Deb Backstrom

Bullfighter of the Year

Cody Webster

Dusty Tuckness

Evan Allard

Nathan Jestes

Wacey Munsell

Pickup Man of the Year

Chase Cervi

Jason Bottoms

Josh Edwards

Matt Twitchell

Rex Bugbee

Clown of the Year

Cody Sosebee

JJ Harrison

John Harrison

Justin Rumford

Keith Isley

Timer of the Year

Amy Muller

Brenda Crowder

Jayme Pemberton

Shawna Ray

Toby Dunlavy

Music Director of the Year

Bradley Narducci

Brandy Edmonds

Jill Franzen Loden

Josh Hilton

Randy Mayer

Photographer of the Year

Dale Hirschman

Dan Hubbell

James Phifer

Matt Cohen

Robby Freeman

Comedy Act of the Year

Gizmo McCracken

John Harrison

Justin Rumford

Keith Isley

Matt Tarr

Dress Act of the Year

Haley Ganzel Proctor

John Payne

Madison MacDonald & Piper Yule

Rider Kiesner & Bethany Iles

Tomas Garcilazo

Small Rodeo of the Year

Alamosa, Colo.

Blackfoot, Idaho

Jerome, Idaho

Mesquite, Texas

Yuma, Colo.

Medium Rodeo of the Year

Belle Fourche, S.D.

Burwell, Neb.

Cave Creek, Ariz.

Coleman, Texas

Guymon, Okla.

Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year

Cody, Wyo.

Deadwood, S.D.

Dodge City, Kan.

Gooding, Idaho

Prescott, Ariz.

Spanish Fork, Utah

Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year

Arlington, Texas

Denver, Colo.

Fort Worth, Texas

Rapid City, S.D.

San Antonio, Texas

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – ProRodeo Hall of Fame announcer Bob Tallman has been named the 2020 Legend of ProRodeo.

Tallman will be honored at the Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala on Nov. 30 at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth.

“I’ve been the host of the Legend of ProRodeo event three or four times, and I asked (ProRodeo Hall of Fame director) Kent Sturman, ‘Is there somebody older than me who might not be in good health that is more deserving?’” Tallman said. “I have been so over awarded in 50 years, and in one week I got the call to work the (2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo), then I passed my real estate test and then I got a call from Kent Sturman. It was a Triple Crown week.

“I’m going to give the credit to the selection committees. I’m going to give the credit to the Lord. As long as I can be humble enough to accept by those who chose this and I can be an example for others who will receive it (Legend of ProRodeo) in the future and that I can walk the walk and talk the talk and set the example in receiving it for the younger people coming up in the world, I accept it.”

During a career that has spanned more than five decades, Tallman has announced more than 15,000 rodeo performances in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Tallman’s gravel-laced baritone and story-telling prowess are legendary in ProRodeo. In 2020, Tallman will work his record 26th NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 3-12. Tallman was named the 2019 PRCA Announcer of the Year for the 10th time and was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2004.

“When you think of legends in professional rodeo, Bob Tallman has to come to mind,” Sturman said. “He is one of the best rodeo announcers of all time. He is a wealth of information and stories. He has seen it all in our sport and has worked tirelessly to inform the fans, give back to our industry and help to make the sport better than when he started. He was an obvious choice for the 2020 Legend of ProRodeo.”

Born Oct. 25, 1947, in Winnemucca, Nev., Tallman tried his hand as a rodeo competitor, but he quickly discovered his forte was behind a microphone, as evidenced by his first PRCA Announcer of the Year Award in 1982.

Tallman’s career began in Fallon, Nev., when he told a rodeo producer he thought he could do a better job than the announcer was doing. The producer told him to give it a try. Tallman earned $100 for that first job and has never looked back.

“This (Legend of ProRodeo honor) was never on my radar,” Tallman said. “Any time you try in life to set yourself up for things like this, God doesn’t like that. It’s co-mingling the truth and honesty with something that’s going to bite you. I didn’t have a clue about this award. I want to give everyone else within the vicinity of that reception hope that they would be able to be standing in that same spotlight.

“The toughest part of accepting an award this prestigious is to walk away from there gracefully and let people want to walk in your path with them.”

Tallman is the 15th man to be honored as a Legend of ProRodeo, following Jake Barnes, Jim Shoulders, Clem McSpadden, Harry Vold, Larry Mahan, Shawn Davis, Dean Oliver, Donnie Gay, Benny Binion, Mel Potter, Neal Gay, Michael Gaughan, Keith Martin and Cotton Rosser.

The Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala will include a reception at 6 p.m. (CT), followed by a 7 p.m. dinner with live auction and program. Entertainment will be provided by musical artist Paul Bogart.

Inaugural Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. September 23, 2020 – In conjunction with the 2020 Wrangler® National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, women ropers will compete for the first-ever world championship: The Wrangler® National Finals Breakaway Roping (NFBR) and a $200,000 purse at this three-day event.

 

Breakaway roping is one of the hottest events sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is proud to share the venue with some of the best cowgirls in rodeo for this event. The PRCA and the WPRA have been working together for the last year to promote breakaway roping and grow the sport.

 

“We are thrilled that we’ve been able to move breakaway roping to this point and so appreciative of the good people at Wrangler, for helping us make this possible,” said George Taylor, chief executive officer of the PRCA. “We’re giving our fans everything they wanted and more at the Wrangler NFR this year. This 10-day event – the Super Bowl of rodeo – will be a spectacular fan experience.”

 

The Wrangler NFBR will take place over three days during the Wrangler NFR this year. Cowgirls competing for this first world championship will be in the arena December 8-10, 2020. The Wrangler NFBR will be a separate ticketed event from the Wrangler NFR.

 

“We are excited about this new chapter in the storied history of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association,” said Doreen Wintermute, CEO of the WPRA. “We are thankful for our partnership with the PRCA to grow this women’s discipline and this is a huge step to have this inaugural Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping event alongside the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.”

 

“We’re a newer event and trying to earn our stripes like anybody else,” said Jordan Fabrizio, a top-ranked breakaway roper. “To have the opportunity to be in that environment, in that venue and compete at that level it’s just a spectacular opportunity for the sport of breakaway, the sport of rodeo, and for women and girls coming up.”

 

Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams praised the decision to name a world champion cowgirl roper at this year’s event.

 

“I couldn’t be prouder that the PRCA has selected Arlington for the inaugural Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping in December,” Williams said. “We can’t wait to crown the world champion breakaway cowgirl at Globe Life Field, the new gold standard venue not only for Major League Baseball but also for many special events, especially rodeo!”

 

Tickets for the 2020 Wrangler NFR will go on sale to the public September 25, 2020, at www.texasrangers.com/NFR. Tickets for the Wrangler NFBR will go on sale at a later date.

 

For fans who are unable to attend the Wrangler NFBR at Globe Life Field in December, the three performances will be live streamed on the Wrangler Network (www.wranglernetwork.com) and will be rebroadcast at a later date on The Cowboy Channel.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has conducted a survey, and the results could not be clearer: PRCA fans want to attend the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, regardless of location.

 

In early August, the PRCA and Las Vegas Events surveyed fans nationwide. With more than 40,000 responses, nearly 80 percent said they would travel to attend the NFR. Given an array of options, most fans prefer to see the event somewhere in Texas.

 

“The fans have spoken, and we hear them,” PRCA CEO George Taylor said. “Our fans are imperative to the National Finals Rodeo. The PRCA is committed to the NFR, our sponsors, our members and our fans.”

 

The PRCA is asking rodeo fans to sign up at https://prorodeo.com/2020-nfr-ticket-drawing to get early news on the announcement of a location for the 2020 Wrangler NFR. Fans will get advance notice of the 2020 venue plus a chance to win a pair of tickets to one performance of the Wrangler NFR.

 

When it came to other events critical to the 2020 NFR, the most important event for fans was Cowboy Christmas, at nearly 90%, followed by the Wrangler NFR Nightly Buckle Presentation.

 

The PRCA is committed to finding a location to host the NFR and to provide ample space for the additional events that come with the PRCA’S marquee event.

 

“We’re watching other professional sports struggle,” Taylor said. “This has been a tough year for all of us. Our approach to getting through this is to listen to our fans and to stay connected to the character of the cowboys who are at the center of rodeo.”

 

In this year of the COVID-19 pandemic, PRORODEO fans indicated that hand sanitizing stations were the most important aspect of maintaining a clean arena. Enhanced sanitizing was also high on the priority list, while masks being offered, temperature checks, maintaining social distancing, cashless processes and queuing lines were deemed less important.

 

Las Vegas isn’t a feasible option to host the NFR this year, so the PRCA has been exploring other options.

The PRCA is committed to recreating the experience of the NFR in Las Vegas wherever it lands, and a decision on the 2020 venue will be announced by September 30.

FORT WORTH, Texas – Bridger Chambers has been the runner-up for the steer wrestling world title the last two seasons. Although he’s hungrier than ever for the gold buckle, he was facing a tough decision – rodeo full time or return to working full time.

Scoring a $6,000 boost in the world standings in a single day helped the Montana cowboy make his decision.

“I don’t really have a job outside of rodeo, and I’d have to choose one or the other,” Chambers said. “I think I doubled my (world) standings total, and it’s awesome. It’s a good opportunity and makes that decision easier to make.”

Chambers was 46th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $6,778 before winning Bracket 4 of the Super Series Finish in Fort Worth on Saturday.

“You can go broke rodeoing hard, especially this year, so you have to be very strategic in how you proceed,” Chambers said.

The 31-year-old cowboy qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2018 and 2019, missing the world title by $43,251 and $17,129, respectively.

“Before, I never considered myself a contender with it, but going through that maybe I proved it to myself,” Chambers said. “Now I know I have the ability to get there. Now that’s the main goal, you don’t want anything else until you reach the top.”

Chambers practiced a lot during the COVID-19 hiatus, but he was more excited about the other rare opportunity that came with being home for the spring.

“It was awesome to get the time off to reconnect with my wife and four kids,” Chambers said. “I hadn’t seen them much when going hard, so there was some good that came out of it.

Spending time with them is super important.”

Just like a fast steer wrestling run, it was a zero to 60 transition back into competition, as Chambers and everyone else at the Super Series Finish dived back into action with three rounds in a single day Saturday to determine the winner of Bracket 4.

“Usually you pull in with 20 minutes to warm up and then hit the road,” Chambers said. “But here, it’s all day, and that makes for a long day for you and your horses. But we have also not done anything for more than two months or however long it has been, so we’re all excited to be doing something.”

Chambers tied for first in the first two rounds and placed third in the final round to win Bracket 4 with 13.0 seconds on three head.

“It’s awesome to be competing again,” Chambers said. “Everyone feels the same way and is wearing a mask. It may be an inconvenience, but at least we get to rodeo.”

The empty stadium changed the vibe of the competition, but fans saw it all by tuning in to The Cowboy Channel or logging on to the PRCA and the Cowboy Channel Plus App. Even Chambers’ dad saw him win via broadcast, which was presented in part by the hit-show “Yellowstone.”

“I have my dad here (in Fort Worth), but he’s watching it on TV and that’s a bummer,” Chambers said. “That’s the longest he’s traveled to watch TV.”

“The cowboys miss them (the fans),” Chambers said, adding how appreciative he is of the fans’ support. “It’s hard to have a rodeo without fans and being away (from competition) you don’t know how much you miss something until it’s gone.”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – ProRodeo is targeting Memorial Day weekend for a return to competition, PRCA CEO George Taylor told The Cowboy Channel in an interview Saturday.

 

Taylor addressed several topics in the interview, including the affect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on PRCA rodeos and a timetable for the possible return of rodeos.

 

“You know, sooner is better, for sure,” Taylor said. “We’re really hopeful Memorial Day weekend (May 23-25) that we can get something started. We’re working very closely right now with Fort Smith (Ark.) and the local officials there in order to have a rodeo. Whether that means it is a fan-less event or reduced occupancy style of event, that’s really our direction and what we are going to try to pull off because we do need to get the rodeo engine going and have everybody in these communities see some encouraging things. We are really excited about the potential of starting that on Memorial Day weekend.”

 

The “Kick Open the Chutes” PRCA incentive plan, which will help rodeo committees, is also something Taylor discussed.

 

“The big focus of this is, ‘How do we get going?’” Taylor said. “What we are going to do as the PRCA is we’re looking to partner with PRCA rodeo committees to begin to understand what they can do to just say, ‘Yes.’ … These are challenging times. How can we supplement some of the things the local committees are trying to do, whether they have lost sponsors, their gate might be reduced substantially, or maybe we are just helping to try and give them a backstop of some additional funds.

 

“The PRCA wants all our committees and communities to know that we are very flexible, that we work with them on the format, the number of days, but we really want to get going and create some good for all of our membership, for the committees and the communities they serve, as well as their charities. We are starting out looking through June initially just to provide some incentive and some additional stimulus to get rodeo going.”

 

Taylor also touched on the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Dec. 3-12.

 

“We’re having regular conversations with them and we have gone to weekly meetings,” Taylor said. “We’re really working on what’s the format going to be in terms of additional entertainment we might have and how do we make this NFR even better than the last one. We’re beginning to have some of those discussions now and (are) working with them. Obviously, it’s really critical for Las Vegas to open back up. We’re hearing some rumors that in May, early June, we will start to see some of the casinos open again. We can just hope and pray that there’s no additional spikes of activity relative to the virus and that we can get that planned and have our season and have that crowning of our world champions on our normal schedule.”

 

Taylor also talked about the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) and encouraging members to apply with new stimulus money available.

 

“The President (Donald Trump) just signed nearly another $500 billion into stimulus that will help fund that,” Taylor said. “Our membership, much of it, is eligible for those types of forgivable loans as they go forward. So, we’re really wanting to make sure that our members are utilizing those things and pursuing them. The money had run out, but now it has been replenished, and we need to act fast and keep everybody with money and food on the table, if you will.”