Category: Rodeo Life Today

Written by: Mid-Plains Community College

 

From Iowa to Oklahoma, Kansas to Hawaii, Garrett Nokes had friends all over the country. If there’s one thing his student athletes can agree on, it’s that any friend of his was a friend for life.

“He definitely had the gift of gab and never met a stranger,” said Riley Weehler, former Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team member. “It always amazed me how he could know all these people from all different backgrounds and have a bond with each of them. He found a way to relate to everyone. When you were with Garrett, you felt like you were home.”

 

Nokes, legendary timed event competitor and head coach of the MPCC Rodeo Team, passed away Sunday while recovering from a horse-related accident sustained Jan. 28. He left behind a legacy of kindness, strength and integrity that lives on in all of those who knew him.

“One thing Garrett used to say all the time to me was, ‘It’s a great day to have a great day,’ I think that speaks to the kind of person he was,” said Marshall Still, current MPCC Rodeo Team member. “Garrett was extremely positive and super driven, and he was a huge mentor of mine not only in the arena but also out. He gave me so many opportunities to be successful. He was a one in a million type of guy.”

 

Nokes began coaching Still in steer wrestling when Still was in the sixth grade. By the time Still joined the MPCC Rodeo Team in 2018, he felt like part of the Nokes family.

 

“Garrett was one of the funniest guys to be around,” Still said. “He was always cracking jokes and having fun – even though, more often than not, I was the butt of the jokes. He did so much for the MPCC Rodeo Team. Everybody who rodeoed for him has the biggest respect for him.”

Nokes introduced Still to his fiancé, Mykelsi Schnose, of Oelrichs, S.D. Like many members of the rodeo team, Schnose also found Nokes’ farm to be a home away from home.

“I spent probably half a summer at the Nokes’ house just traveling to rodeos with them,” Schnose said.

Over the years, Nokes helped her cope with the loss of her father, brother and grandfather. He offered support and encouragement no matter how many times she wanted to give up.

“Halfway through my first year at MPCC, I was homesick, six hours from home and had no points for the rodeo team,” Schnose said. “I was in tears and told Garrett I wanted to quit. He told me to give him one more semester, and he bet I would make the college finals in the spring. That spring, I did.”

In doing so, Schnose made history as the first woman to represent MPCC at the College National Finals Rodeo. Nokes couldn’t have been more proud.

“Garrett believed in everyone more than they believed in themselves,” Schnose said. “He could also make people believe in themselves more than I’ve seen anyone do before. There was just a way about him. There were so many times when I didn’t think I could handle life. Garrett taught me to leave everything in the arena – to just get in there and do what I was supposed to do.”

Current MPCC Rodeo Team member Landon Sivertsen had a similar experience.

“Garrett picked me up when I was down,” Sivertsen said. “I didn’t do well in school, and he got me going again. If not for him, I probably wouldn’t still be in school. He took me from rock bottom to the Dean’s List.”

Sivertsen said that’s because Nokes expected the best out of him. Nokes taught his student athletes to be winners in everything they did.

“He passed his love of rodeo on to all of us,” said Sivertsen. “I learned about the business side of the sport from him – everything from how to enter rodeos, to how to care for my horses and myself on the road. I have plans to rodeo professionally, and there are so many things I wish I could still learn from him. He knew what to tell you and when to tell you. Garrett knew who wanted to be the best and who really wanted his advice. If someone didn’t, he would back off. But, for those who were all about it and all in, he was there every step of the way.”

 

Sivertsen met Nokes while attending one of Nokes’ calf roping schools. Sivertsen learned so much in three days that when he decided to start steer wrestling there was only one coach he wanted.

 

“I didn’t begin steer wrestling until college, and now that’s my best event,” Sivertsen said. “Garrett taught me everything I know. Then, I started working for him and learned a lot about training horses, horsemanship and life in general. He showed me what it means to be a good person, a good friend and a man of ambition. I know how to treat people because of him.”

 

Like Sivertsen, Weehler also worked for Nokes on his farm and benefited from his knowledge and experience.

 

“Garrett had a work ethic second to none,” Weehler said. “He did whatever it took to get a job done. He was an excellent horseman and helped my horsemanship tremendously. I rode better, I roped better because of it.”

 

Like so many others, Weehler also found himself impacted by Nokes’ positive mindset.

 

“Garrett was a winner, and I fed off that,” Weehler said. “He was mentally very strong, and in life, that counts for a lot. Even if he was having a rough day, he talked his way out of it and finished on a good note. He never stayed negative. He had that ‘Go get ’em’ mentality.”

 

One of his favorite memories of Nokes stemmed from a fencing project. He and Nokes were building fence in Maywood, and Weehler had gone on ahead and dug all the holes.

 

“Garrett was coming along with the wire and fell in one of those holes,” Weehler said. “I looked up and he was doing the splits. So, I did what anyone would do in that situation – I got my phone out and sent a Snapchat of him to all the other rodeo team members.”

 

Fun was a key element to the MPCC Rodeo Team. Several of the rodeo team members recounted Nokes’ old, bright blue semi he used to haul the trailer of rodeo horses.

 

“We called it the ‘Blue Whale’,” said Kaile Jacobson, former MPCC Rodeo Team member. “We would cram in there, and he would make us watch ‘Lonesome Dove’ the entire way. I hate that movie to this day because I saw it so many times. We also had a chair/table thing in the middle of the truck, and we would crowd around that and play cards.”

 

She and her brother, Koby Jacobson, were among those who traveled the furthest from home to train with Nokes – all the way from Makawao, Hawaii. Kaile competed on the rodeo team for four years while earning both nursing and business degrees from MPCC.

 

“Garrett gave me his personal horse to use the first three years that I was there,” Kaile said. “I came in the middle of winter, which was something I had never experienced. Garrett had to explain how to dress warmly for practices. He was pretty much like my dad. His family took me in instantly. I would stay at their house and sleep on the couch. I spent holidays with them, and during the summer, Garrett would take me to amateur rodeos. He raised us all through our toughest moments.”

 

Koby visited Kaile in Nebraska during those summers. He made the National High School Rodeo Association Finals twice in steer wrestling, but because the event wasn’t as popular in Hawaii as on the mainland, Koby would train with Nokes ahead of time.

 

When Koby did join the MPCC Rodeo Team, Nokes found him a horse as well. Although he had success in the timed events, Koby’s strength has proven to be in roughstock. He is currently the top ranked collegiate bull rider in the nation.

 

“What I appreciated about Garrett was that at the end of the rodeo, instead of going home or to the hotel like a lot of other timed event coaches would, he was always at the bucking chutes cheering me on,” Koby said. “Bull riding might not have been his specialty, but he was there, and it was the most awesome thing to know that my coach was on both ends of the arena with me. His support got me to where I am today.”

 

For Kaile, that support came in the form of Nokes standing beside the roping chute.

 

“There was never a time that I backed into the box when he wasn’t there watching me,” Kaile said. “He would tell us ahead of time how calves would run. He would help get the box ready, and our horses set, and he always watched the barrier for us. If we heard him yell, “Yeah!” from behind us, we knew we had to get something done because we had cleared the barrier and were set up for a great run.”

 

Nokes gave lots of praise and encouragement, but he also wasn’t afraid to give constructive criticism where needed.

 

“That’s what made him so motivational,” Kaile said. “Nobody got special treatment. If we needed the extra help, we could go to his house on the weekends and practice. He was always available. That’s just how he was. He was incredible.”

 

Kaile ended up at Mid-Plains in the first place because she followed her friend and current assistant MPCC Rodeo Team coach Aukai Kaai. At that time, Nokes was the assistant coach, and the head coach was former world champion bull rider Dustin Elliott.

 

A bull rider, himself, most of Kaai’s training was with Elliott. However, he had the opportunity to work with Nokes extensively this past year when he was promoted to assistant and Nokes took over as head coach July 1.

 

“Garrett was a great ambassador for the sport,” Kaai said. “He gave me, along with many others, the opportunity to become better both in and out of the arena. No one cared more about the future of the sport and the kids than Garrett. He was truly an amazing person and knew how to light up any room he walked into.”

 

Elliott and Nokes’ history went back way before their time at MPCC. The two traveled the same rodeo circuit and both competed at the 2005 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. They each finished fourth in the world that year in their respective events – Nokes in steer wrestling and Elliott in bull riding.

 

“I’ve known Garrett for most of my rodeo career,” Elliott said. “He has always been a top-notch guy willing to help anyone. He was a competitor, too, and he passed that on to our college athletes. He always had a passion for sharing his knowledge of the sport, and he did such a great job. He was awesome.”

 

It was Elliott who talked Nokes into coaching for Mid-Plains.

 

“He was the only phone call I needed to make,” Elliott said. “I knew his timed event knowledge paired with my roughstock background would make a great team for all rodeo athletes, and we would win. Garrett played a huge part in the success of the team. I believe his calling was being a rodeo coach.”

 

Carol Garrison worked with Nokes for several years while serving as chair of the rodeo team’s booster committee, The Wranglers. She will always remember Nokes as being one of the most positive people she’s ever known.

 

“Garrett was a joy to be around,” Garrison said. “His guidance when planning college rodeo events was so helpful. He just made everything more fun, and he always showed appreciation for the smallest things. Garrett had a contagious smile, laughter and positive ‘can do’ attitude. He was so much fun to talk to. I’m going to miss that.”

 

A career for the books

 

Nokes was named Coach of the Year for the Great Plains Region in May – a tremendous honor voted on by coaches and captains from every team in the region at the end of every season.

 

He was instrumental in taking MPCC to its current position in the collegiate rodeo standings. MPCC has the number one men’s team in the region and is sitting third on the national leaderboard.

 

Part of what made Nokes so special was that he didn’t just talk the talk to his team. He led by experience.

 

Nokes remained an active competitor up until his death and achieved more throughout his rodeo career than most ever dream of.

 

In addition to his triumph at the 2005 WNFR, Nokes won the 2017 Ariat World Series of Team Roping in Las Vegas, Nev. – beating out more than 500 other teams for a spot in the final round.

 

In his early days, Nokes competed on Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s first two national championship teams. He placed third in the nation in the tie-down roping in 1997 and was the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Central Plains Regional Champion Steer Wrestler and All-Around Cowboy in ’98.

 

At the local level, Nokes won the Nebraska State Rodeo Association’s “Rookie of the Year” title in 1996 and was the all-around champion in 2011 and 2014. He became the organization’s tie-down champion in 2011, ’13 and ’14.

 

Nokes also took home the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association’s titles of all-around champion in 1996, 2010, ’12 and ’14, steer wrestling champion in ’96 and tie-down roping champion in 2011, ’13 and ’14.

 

A member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 1996, Nokes went on to win all-around titles at numerous rodeos in that circuit as well. Those included the National Western Stock Show in Denver in 2005 and Cheyenne Frontier Days in ’06. He was a three-time Prairie Circuit steer wrestling and all-around champion and was also tie-down roping champion in 2007.

 

Closer to home, Nokes earned the all-around title and was co-champion in the team roping, alongside Matt Wilken, at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte in 2012. He had previously won the tie-down roping at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in 1997 and steer wrestling there in ’98.

 

Altogether, Nokes had more than $740,000 in PRCA career earnings.

 

Leaving a legacy

 

Nokes spent countless hours at the Kiplinger Arena – working not just with his own sons and the MPCC Rodeo Team, but also hosting numerous clinics and roping schools, which drew in youth from across the nation.

 

When not in the arena, Nokes could be found working on his farm south of McCook where he raised crops, cattle and performance horses. Nokes also served as a crop insurance agent for First Crop Insurance, LLC.

 

Nokes leaves behind his wife, Laura, sons, Trevor and Parker, and numerous mentees, friends and loved ones.

 

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kiplinger Arena, in McCook. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel, in McCook.

 

MPCC Rodeo Team members past and present will serve as honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers it is asked that contributions be made to the Garrett Nokes Family Account, c/o First Central Bank, P.O. Box 1297, McCook, NE 69001.

 

 

 

March 6-7, 2021 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

 February 4, 2021 – Fort Worth, Texas – RFD-TV’s The American Rodeo presented by Durango Boots announced today the top 10 cowboys and cowgirls in each event who will be competing at this year’s richest weekend in western sports taking place March 6-7, 2021 at AT&T Stadium.

“The American Rodeo is the only place to see the top 10 best cowboys and cowgirls in the world compete under the same roof, on the same night, other than the NFR,” said Randy Bernard, The American Rodeo CEO. “This rodeo is life-changing with the amount of money that is available for these athletes to win in one weekend and brings out a level of competition you just don’t see at other rodeos.”

The American Rodeo has catapulted careers for competitors such as Richmond Champion, who in The American’s inaugural year, won the bareback riding at the age 21 and was awarded $1.1 million dollars as he not only won the event, but won as a qualifier which made him eligible for the million dollar bonus. That year he then qualified for his first NFR.  Hailey Kinsel who also competed as an American qualifier, first won the 2017 American in barrel racing and continues to break records today as a WPRA and NFR World Champion.

The following are quotes from several top competitors for this year’s event:

“The American is like no other!” said Shad Mayfield, Tie-Down Roper.  “It’s been an amazing feeling to get to compete at the highest level against the best for the highest amount of money and I am really looking forward to it this year.”

“I’m glad that a rodeo like The American is sticking their neck out in the midst of what’s going on to allow us to make a living,” said Will Lummus, Steer Wrestling.

“I’m thankful for The American because in a time of uncertainty, they always press forward for the sake of the Cowboys and Cowgirls, helping us fulfill our American dream,” said Tim O’Connell, bareback rider.

The 2021 American Rodeo Top 10 Contestants are as follows:

Bareback: Kaycee Feild, Tim O’Connell, Jess Pope, Tanner Aus, Cole Reiner, Orin Larsen, Clayton Bigelow, Richmond Champion, Mason Clements and Tilden Hooper. (Leighton Berry qualified for the Top 10, however due to injury at Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo, he is unable to compete and therefore Tildan Hooper, the #11 in the world standings from NFR is taking his place)

Saddle Bronc: Ryder Wright, Wyatt Caspter, Brody Cress, Rusty Wright, Allen Boore, Lefty Holman, Stetson Wright, Chase Brooks, Zeke Thurston, and Shorty Garrett.

Bull Riding: Stetson Wright, Ty Wllance, Colten Drizlan, Ky Hamilton, Sage Kimzey, Roscoe Jarboe, Jeff Askey, Dustin Boquet, Brady Portenier, and Boudreaux Campbell

Steer Wrestling: Jacob Edler, Stetson Jorgensen, Tyler, Waguespack, Matt Reeves, Will Lummus, Dakota Eldridge, Jacob Talley, Blake Knowles, Bridger Anderson, and Jace Melvin.

Team Roping (Header): Colby Lovell, Luke Brown, Erich Rogers, Nelson Wyatt, Andrew Ward, Clay Smith, Dustin Egusquita, Jeff Flenniken, Clay Tryan, and Chad Masters.

Team Roping (Heeler): Paul Eaves, Paden Bray, Joseph Harrison, Levi Lord, Buddy Hawkins, Jade Corkill, Tyler Worley, Jake Long, Travis Graves, and Wesley Thorp.

Tie Down Roping: Shad Mayfriend, Marty Yates, Shane Hanchey, Hunter Herrin, Cory Solomon, Westyn Hughes, Haven Meged, Tuf Cooper, Ty Harris, and Ryan Jarrett.

Barrel Racing: Hailey Kinsel, Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi, Jill Wilson, Emily Miller, Jimmie Smith, Stevi Hillman, Jessica Routier, Lisa Lockhard, Shelley Morgan and Tiany Schuster.

For this year’s competition, the American Rodeo extended an exemption invitation to tie-down roper Caleb Smidt and barrel racer Dona Kay Rule.  Due to an unfortunate turn of events last year and testing positive for COVID-19, both Smidt and Rule were sent home and unable to participate in the 2020 National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and interfered with the opportunity to be invited to compete at the 2021 American Rodeo as a Top 10 contestant. Rule accepted the exemption invitation and will be joining the Top 10 barrel racers in the world to compete for $100,000 at AT&T Stadium.  Smidt, thankful for the exemption opportunity, decided to turn the invitation down and try to make the finals on his own and win a shot at the $1 million qualifier cash bonus.

 

The American Rodeo is known as the world’s richest weekend in western sports due to its tremendous prize offering of $2.3 million.  Qualifying events are held across the country, throughout the calendar year, as ropers and riders hope to compete and make it to The American Rodeo Semi-Finals and Finals in Texas.

 

The 11-day rodeo competition kicks off on February 25th in the Fort Worth Stockyards for slack and semi-finals and the finals take place over the weekend of March 6-7, 2021 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.  The American Rodeo unites the top athletes in the world from the PRCA and pits them against underdogs who advance from The American Rodeo Semi-Finals, together to battle for the biggest single, life-changing paycheck of their lives. All events will be broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV.

Tickets for The American Rodeo at AT&T Stadium March 6-7, 2021 can be purchased atSeatGeek.com.  Standard ticket prices range from $20-$150, encompassing four pricing tiers for every level of rodeo fan.  Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, only a limited number of tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Tickets will be sold in seating pods of 2, 4, or 6.  Tickets to The American Rodeo Semi-Finals March 3-5, 2021 at Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards can be purchased atCowtownColiseum.com. Standard ticket prices range from $25-$55.

For more information and a complete listing of all RFD-TV’s The American Rodeo presented by Durango Boots events in Fort Worth and Arlington, please visitwww.americanrodeo.com

Facebook: @RFDTVTheAmerican | Twitter: @RFDTVAmerican | Instagram: @RFDTVAmerican

 

About RFD-TV:

RFD-TV is the flagship network for Rural Media Group. Launched in December of 2000, RFD-TV is the nation’s first 24-hour television network featuring programming focused on the agribusiness, equine and the rural lifestyles, along with traditional country music and entertainment. RFD-TV produces six hours of live news each weekday in support of rural America and is a leading independent cable channel available in more than 52 million homes on DISH, DIRECTV®, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Spectrum, Cox, Comcast, Mediacom, Suddenlink, and many other rural cable systems. In addition, RFD-TV can be streamed online via RFD-TV Now at watchrfdtv.com, DIRECTV NOW, Roku, iOS, Android, Firestick, Apple TV, and Sling TV’s Heartland Extra package. For more information, please visitRFDTV.com.

 

Facebook: @OfficialRFDTV | Twitter: @OfficialRFDTV | Instagram: @RFDTV

 

About The Cowboy Channel:

The Cowboy Channel is the official network of PRCA and the first 24-hour television network totally dedicated to western sports and the western lifestyle. Headquartered in the Fort Worth Stockyards, The Cowboy Channel also features a wide variety of “live” coverage from major western events showcasing the world’s toughest and most talented cowboys and cowgirls. The network reaches 42 million homes on cable/satellite systems on Altice, Charter Spectrum, DISH, DIRECTV®, AT&T U-Verse, Cox, Comcast, Mediacom, Verizon FIOS TV, and many other rural cable systems. The Cowboy Channel can also be streamed online via The Cowboy Channel Plus at cowboychannelplus.com, DIRECTV NOW, Roku, iOS, Android, Firestick, Apple TV, and Sling TV’s Heartland Extra package. For more information, please visit thecowboychannel.com

Facebook: @CowboyChannel | Twitter: @Cowboy_Channel | Instagram: @TheCowboyChannel

 

About AT&T Stadium:

 

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year round. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 92 works of art by 62 established and emerging artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50^thAnniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show and WrestleMania 32. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches and other special events. For more information, go to attstadium.com.

 

 

 

Sharon Shoulders passed away, Saturday, January 30^th,  2021, at home with family.  She was the wife and partner of Jim Shoulders, 16 time World Champion PRCA All-Around and roughstock  rodeo competitor, stock-contractor/rodeo producer, and icon of rodeo.  She should be called “MRS RODEO” because she did it all – except compete.

“I never met a cowboy, until I met Jim Shoulders,” said Sharon.  She was born December 30, 1929 in Bell, California.  Her family moved to Oklahoma in 1941 where she met Jim Shoulders in high school.  The year they graduated high school, 1947  in Tulsa, they were married.  Their honeymoon that fall was at a Madison Square Garden  rodeo in New York City.  Sharon, only 17, was asked to ride a horse in the rodeo parade, and she had to borrow the proper rodeo clothes.  But she never forgot the older rodeo wives she met there.  “They were so kind to me, she remembered. “ I wanted to be just like them.”

Sharon always had a huge heart and a natural tendency to care for others.  It started with their children; Jamie, born in 1948, Marvin Paul in 1951, Jana in 1956,  and Marcie in 1961.  They bought a ranch at Henryetta, Oklahoma, in 1951, and Sharon ran it, while Jim was away at rodeos, making the money needed to pay for it.  She learned to saddle and ride a horse to check their cows, she took laundry to town to wash for years, she even took the children several miles to catch the school bus, in a less than an adequate vehicle.  She even became the President of the Salorn Cattle Association, (French Salers and Texas Longhorn)  and had one of the first Salorn cattle in Oklahoma.  They were was striving for a breed of cattle to produce leaner beef.  Regardless of what she was doing she was happy and remembered it all with the fondest of memories.

In time she began helping in their community, church, rodeo and so much more.   Jim began producing rodeos, and holding rodeo schools, so she learned to time and secretary, plus so much more.  She and good friend, Donna McSpadden, plus other rodeo wives, began the Ladies Fashion Show and Luncheon  during the National Finals when it was held in Oklahoma City, and donated the profit to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.  This luncheon is still being held at the NFR today.

Sharon and Jim were committed to the development of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, in Oklahoma City, where many of the Jim Shoulder’s memorabilia are housed today.  In fact, they attended the ground-breaking of the building, on a cold, blustery day in the early 1950s, when Jim turned over the first shovel of dirt on Persimmon Hill.  She also spent many years on the Board of Directors of the Rodeo Historical Society, housed in the Hall, and became President in 2016-2017.

As a long-time Sunday School teacher and active member of the  First United Methodist Church Sharon  held practically every position in the church and seldom missed attending.  The family originated the local PRCA rodeo and it  has been called the Jim Shoulders Living Legends Rodeo, in Henryetta for many years.  The entire family never misses being in the bleachers during each performance.

Since 2010 the Professional Bull Riders started giving a Sharon Shoulders Award, recognizing the work, partnership and faith of one of the wives of a bull rider in the PBR.  Jim’s association with Wrangler, the clothing manufacturer, as a sports icon and  representative, until his death,  is the longest association any sportsman had with a continuing sponsor.  Sharon has continued that family association with Wrangler since Jim’s death in 2007.

Sharon’s good friend, Donna McSpadden shared with her desire to form a group of rodeo women to assist rodeo people with problems and financial needs.   H.A.N.D.S. (Help A Needy Diva Survive) was started in 2003 and Sharon became one of the first to join, along with June Ivory, Liz Kesler and Donna.  The membership of 50 women continue to send cards, and assist financially if needed, to those in the rodeo world who lose a family member, have a serious injury or health issue, or other serious problems.  Sharon has always been at the forefront of this important organization.

 

Sharon always had a smile for everyone she met, and her giving so much of her self to others.  Her kindness  has definitely been recognized and applauded by those that have been fortunate enough to know her.

She is survived by her brother, James Heindselman; her daughters, Jana and husband Robert Soza; Marcie and husband, Joel Roth; and son Marvin Paul and wife, Lori Shoulders; grandchildren;  Dana, Justin and wife, Kim, James, Rob, Patty, Ellie, Buzz, Grace, Derek, Ashton, Langley and Logan.  She was preceded in death by husband Jim, and daughter Jamie.

A celebration of life is being postponed at this time due to the restrictions of gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The casket remained closed and no public viewing was held.  Burial was at the New Sonora Cemetery with immediate family only.  A public memorial will be held, when it is safe to gather,  at the First United Methodist Church in Henryetta, OK.

Contributions can be made in Sharon’s behalf to the First Methodist Church, 1212 Lake Road, Henryetta, OK 74437 or the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, 101 ProRodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.

 

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.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – A difference maker and major advocate for women’s breakaway roping it is only fitting that Jackie Crawford would be crowned the 2020 WPRA World Champion Breakaway Roper on December 10 inside Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, as part of the first-ever National Finals Breakaway Roping (NFBR).

With the title Crawford now holds three WPRA world titles in breakaway roping, her 20^th overall world title. She is the second most decorated member in the history of the WPRA, trailing the late Wanda Harper Bush, a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, who collected 32 WPRA world titles during her career.

“I make fun of my husband (Charly) for crying in interviews, so I’ve got to put my big girl boots on for a second,” said a very emotional Crawford after learning of her recent world title. “I think all of us are put here for a reason and God places talents in our lives and we have a purpose. I am still trying to figure out why he is letting me be on this journey and have me win these things because I know it is out of my control. I just hope I can fulfill the purpose he has me here for because this is one amazing journey that I am getting to be on and little Journey (the baby girl she is carrying at six months pregnant) getting to be on it to. She was giving me some kicks today, so she was excited.

“I am fortunate to get to be here and be in front of the camera and be able to win this thing but the credit is due to so many people who have been behind this. You guys don’t know how much we appreciate it, the fans, the people that have produced this and made this all possible and I just can’t thank you enough from all of us from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you guys for adding breakaway roping to ProRodeos.”

Crawford started off this historic event winning the first round of the NFBR in a time of 1.9 seconds to win the Betty Gayle Cooper Ratliff fast time award, presented by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Crawford would start the final day of the NFBR back in the winner’s circle in a time of 2.0 seconds.

“I wanted to come out here and treat it just like I did on that first day and go at these rounds,” said Crawford after the ninth round victory and second go-round win. “I don’t think any of these are less meaningful right now.”

She would come back in the 10^th round and lay down a 2.3 second run which was good for second in the round. It wasn’t the National Finals Breakaway Roping 17-time WPRA World Champion JJ Hampton was hoping for but she ended it on a high note winning the 10^th round in a time of 2.2 seconds. Hampton a real estate agent in nearby Stephenville, Texas, was just honored to be a part of this historic event after being a member of the WPRA since the 1991.

“I want to thank everyone for coming and cheering me on. I have the best fans,” said Hampton, following her round win. “This means a whole lot to me. I didn’t perform as well as I wanted to this week and was just lucky to pull out the win in the tenth round. I am just glad I finally got a chance to rope on this stage.”

Following the 10^th round the top eight in the average advanced to the semifinal round. Crawford was fourth in the average in a total time of 22.2 seconds on nine head. Her only no time came in the fifth round when she roped a leg and being the honest competitor she is, she pointed the illegal catch out to the pro officials who had given her a time of 2.4 seconds.

Once in the semifinals things heated up quickly with three ladies, including Crawford, stopping the clock 1.8 seconds to win the semifinals and easily advance to the final round. Joining Crawford in the winner’s circle of the semifinals was Martha Angelone of Stephenville, Texas, who finished second the average in a time of 34.8 seconds on 10 head, and Jordan Fabrizio of Canyon, Texas, who won the average in a time of 34.5 seconds on 10 head,.

Eight-time WPRA World Champion Lari Dee Guy would round out the top four advancing to the finals after posting a 2.0-second run. As a result, Guy would be the first gunner out in the final round and knowing she would have to win the round to have any chance at the world title she came out fast, actually a little too fast breaking the barrier and ending with a time of 12.0 seconds.

Crawford was next out and she too would incur a speeding penalty breaking the barrier and finishing with an 11.8-second run. Angelone, the NFBR champion, performed with ice in her veins stopping the clock in a cool 2.3 seconds to take over the lead in the Finals with one roper to go.

Fabrizio would be clean but not quite fast enough to catch Angelone after finishing with a 2.5-second run.

When the dust settled and all the calculating was complete, Crawford would find her name atop the WPRA World Standings for the year with $47,185. She entered the first-ever NFBR ranked second but would leave No. 1 after winning $25,536 in Arlington.

Angelone was the reserve world champion with $45,261. Angelone entered the NFBR ranked third in the world and won an event best $29,343 during the three-day competition.

 

 

Ten-time Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger’s Smooth Operator dominates to win second-consecutive YETI PBR World Champion Bull title

ARLINGTON, Texas – Competing at his first-ever PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Finals, Boudreaux Campbell (Crockett, Texas) delivered a near perfect 4-for-5 performance inside AT&T Stadium, to win the 2020 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast event title, clinching the 2020 PBR Rookie of the Year honor and propelling to No. 3 in the world.

Just as the 2020 PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (RIbas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) had loudly announced his arrival at the top of the sport by dominating the World Finals event in 2017, Campbell, winner of the four-day 2020 season-culminating event, also put the bull riding world on notice that a new title-contending cowboy is on the scene.

“I’m lost for words,” Campbell said. “I’ve been working at this all year long, especially with the year we had. It was crazy. We had to go through a lot of obstacles. PBR went through a ton of stress to get us to where we are. And heck, my emotions right now are so happy.”

“I’ve always dreamed of a PBR World title. This is one step closer to that goal. It’s a big accomplishment.”

Beginning the season-culminating event No. 33 in the world, Campbell began his surge up the standings when he covered Heartbreak Kid (D&H Cattle/Buck Cattle/Erwin Cattle) for 88 points in Round 1 on Thursday night.

The Texas native then drafted Bullseye (Mears Owen) for Round 2 of the event in his home state, once again reaching the requisite 8, this time for a score of 89.25 points.

Campbell then recorded the second 90-point ride of his Unleash The Beast career, and his first-at the PBR World Finals, on Safety Meeting (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Hruby/Kainz) for a commanding 90 points in Round 4.

While the 22-year-old, who is the lone rider to qualify for both the PBR World Finals and National Finals Rodeo, was unable to remain perfect at the sport’s most prestigious event, bucked off by Silent Night (Hart Cattle Co./Randy Wood) in 4.13 seconds in Round 4, he punctuated his World Finals debut with a score when he covered Buckin For Cash (Paradigm Bull Company) for a sensational 90.75 points in the championship round as cowboy hats from fellow riders zinged in celebration over the dirt before the ride was complete.

Including the $300,000 World Finals event winner bonus, Campbell netted a check for $368,500 as well as 710 world points. He surged 30 positions in the world standings to conclude his first season with the PBR No. 3 in the world, 722.34 points behind PBR World Champion Leme.

“I’m so happy to be here in this spot,” Campbell said. “Winning the Rookie of the Year, that was a goal I had coming in here, and I knew I was far behind, and I knew I needed some help drawing and riding. And I’m glad everything worked out this week, and it all played in my favor.”

In his blazing path to the Rookie of the Year honor, Campbell overtook fellow Texan Cole Melancon (Paris, Texas) for the title. Melancon concluded the race amongst first-year professionals second, while Alex Cerqueira (Iguatemi, Brazil) was third, Mauricio Moreira (Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil) was fourth, and Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) rounded out the Top 5 in fifth.

Leme was crowned the 2020 PBR World Champion Saturday evening following his monstrous 95.75-point, Round 3-winning ride aboard Woopaa (Barker Bucking Bulls).

The statement 8-second effort, a career-best for Leme, was also the high-marked ride of the 2020 PBR World Finals, earning the Brazilian phenom his second Lane Frost/Brent Thurman Award. Leme also captured the honor in 2017 when he covered Magic Train (Jared Allen’s Pro Bull Team) for 94.5 points in the championship round.

Adding to the significance of Leme’s title-clinching ride, his match-up with Woopaa, solidified a world title for both the bull rider and bovine athlete.

Woopaa bucked to both the 2020 ABBI Classic World Championship and the 2020 ABBI Classic Bull of the Finals title courtesy of his monstrous out, netting a collective $150,000 in bonuses.

In 2020, in addition to winning a league-leading seven Unleash The Beast events and 16 rounds, Leme went a torrid 44-for-65 covering a head-turning 67.69% of the planet’s rankest bovine athletes.

In the league’s 27-year history, Leme is the 19^th different rider – and seventh Brazilian – to claim the PBR World Champion gold buckle. His title is the eleventh time a rider from the nation of Brazil has won what’s been called the most difficult individual championship in professional sports.

After entering the 2020 PBR World Finals 0.03 points behind the regular season’s No. 1 bull Chiseled (Flinn/D&H Cattle Co.), Smooth Operator (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) delivered two commanding outs inside the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys to win his second consecutive YETI PBR World Champion Bull title and $100,000 bonus.

In Round 1, Smooth Operator overtook the lead in the race amongst the league’s bovine athletes when he bucked off Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil) in 3.57 seconds to earn a 46-point bull score. He then cemented his victory in besting veteran rider Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) in 2.6 seconds in the championship round to earn a 46.25-point bull score.

Ten-year-old Smooth Operator is now the oldest two-time World Champion Bull in league history, and the sixth animal athlete ever to win the honor in multiple seasons. He joins the elite club which includes two-time PBR World Champion Bulls Dillinger (Herrington Cattle Co.) and Bones (Teague Bucking Bulls), and three-time PBR World Champion Bulls Little Yellow Jacket (Berger/Teague/Taupin), Bushwacker (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) and SweetPro’s Bruiser (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.).

Smooth Operator concluded the 2020 season 0.10 points ahead of runner-up Chiseled with a 46.13-point world average.

Smooth Operator also tied with I’m Busted (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Ken Barnhardt) for the 2020 PBR Bull of the World Finals. I’m Busted also posted 46.25 and 46-point scores, compliments of his 6.09-second and 4.95-second buckoffs of Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) in Round 1 and the championship round, respectively.

On an evening of competition when his bulls were dominant, Chad Berger was crowned the 2020 PBR Stock Contractor of the Year for an unprecedented tenth time, including the past seven consecutive seasons.

Dakota Buttar (Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Canada) was awarded the Glen Keeley Award for the fourth consecutive year. This award goes to the Canadian bull rider earning the most points during the season.

The final day of the 2020 PBR World Finals also held the last day of action for the inaugural $750,000 Women’s Rodeo World Championship.

In breakaway roping, 18-year-old Madison Outhier (Utopia, Texas) was the undeniable star of the discipline, delivering what would be the most groundbreaking performance of the event. As the quickest athlete to earn a qualified time, her 2.05-second effort elevated her to a $60,000 payday.

Fans can relive all the action from the 2020 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast on demand on RidePass at 8:00 a.m. ET on Monday, November 16. RidePass is available at RidePass.com or via the RidePass app available on iOS, Android and Roku.

2020 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast

AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Round 5-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Boudreaux Campbell, 88-89.25-90-0-90.75-358.00-710 Points.
2. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-91-90-0-93.75-274.75-485 Points.
3. Marco Eguchi, 0-88.75-83.25-84.75-91-347.75-445.5 Points.
4. Cole Melancon, 0-88.75-0-88.5-92.25-269.50-265 Points.
5. Eduardo Aparecido, 91.5-89-0-87.5-0-268.00-246.5 Points.
6. Jose Vitor Leme, 87.5-83.25-95.75-0-0-266.50-231.5 Points.
7. Derek Kolbaba, 92.75-0-90.75-0-0-183.50-150 Points.
8. Cody Teel, 87.5-88.25-88.5-0-0-264.25-130 Points.
9. Cooper Davis, 82.75-0-87.75-89.25-0-259.75-117 Points.
10. Jess Lockwood, 0-0-0-91-0-91.00-100 Points.
11. Silvano Alves, 85.25-87.25-0-0-86.75-259.25-76 Points.
12. Daylon Swearingen, 0-88.5-0-90.25-0-178.75-75.5 Points.
13. Tye Chandler, 89.5-88.5-0-0-0-178.00-69.5 Points.
14. Ryan Dirteater, 0-88.25-91-0-0-179.25-66.5 Points.
15. Dalton Kasel, 0-0-87.5-89-0-176.50-46 Points.
16. Alex Cerqueira, 0-89-0-0-0-89.00-42.5 Points.
17. Mason Taylor, 89.25-0-0-0-0-89.25-40 Points.
18. Kyler Oliver, 0-0-90-0-0-90.00-35 Points.
19. Joao Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0-88.5-0-88.50-32.5 Points.

(tie). Dakota Louis, 89-0-0-0-0-89.00-32.5 Points.

(tie). Brock Radford, 89-0-0-0-0-89.00-32.5 Points.

22. Kaique Pacheco, 87-84.25-84.5-0-0-255.75-32 Points.
23. Dener Barbosa, 0-0-0-88.25-0-88.25-25 Points.

(tie). J.B. Mauney, 0-0-89.75-0-0-89.75-25 Points.

25. Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-89-0-0-89.00-17.5 Points.

(tie). Taylor Toves, 0-0-89-0-0-89.00-17.5 Points.

27. Luciano De Castro, 83.75-85.5-0-0-0-169.25-9 Points.
28. Alex Cardozo, 0-87.5-0-0-0-87.50-6 Points.
29. Brennon Eldred, 0-83.75-0-0-0-83.75-2 Points.

João Ricardo Vieira, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Lucas Divino, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Colten Jesse, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Fabiano Vieira, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Ramon de Lima, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Andrew Alvidrez, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Aaron Kleier, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Amadeu Campos Silva, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Marcus Mast, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Wallace Vieira de Oliveira, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Cody Casper, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Bradley Brittain, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Cody Campbell, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

Andre da Cruz de Souza, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00

 

2020 PBR World Standings

(Place, Rider, Events, Wins, Top 5’s, Points, Total Winnings)

1. Jose Vitor Leme, 43, 17, 25, 1,573.00, $1,601,931.57
2. João Ricardo Vieira, 31, 4, 13, 916.91, $277,740.85
3. Boudreaux Campbell, 20, 2, 7, 850.66, $471,671.36
4. Marco Eguchi, 26, 3, 12, 700.25, $198,644.87
5. Jess Lockwood, 21, 1, 10, 696.00, $275,558.74
6. Kaique Pacheco, 31, 1, 10, 685.50, $153,803.77
7. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 27, 3, 10, 685.00, $299,217.38
8. Cooper Davis, 27, 4, 17, 679.00, $175,826.25
9. Daylon Swearingen, 45, 4, 13, 678.66, $273,056.48
10. Cole Melancon, 36, 2, 7, 579.50, $313,791.07
11. Lucas Divino, 33, 2, 11, 571.50, $155,998.53
12. Eduardo Aparecido, 24, 0, 5, 557.50, $160,383.78
13. Derek Kolbaba, 42, 4, 11, 516.00, $164,244.93
14. Colten Jesse, 43, 4, 12, 472.00, $130,471.29
15. Mason Taylor, 38, 3, 9, 462.75, $144,899.94
16. Cody Teel, 27, 0, 4, 386.25, $147,177.88
17. Dener Barbosa, 18, 2, 7, 352.41, $93,548.60
18. Ezekiel Mitchell, 38, 1, 6, 351.50, $84,722.55
19. Alex Cerqueira, 29, 1, 6, 302.00, $74,822.26
20. Silvano Alves, 38, 1, 5, 273.00, $72,171.95
21. Brennon Eldred, 30, 1, 4, 259.50, $77,691.38
22. Fabiano Vieira, 23, 3, 6, 258.50, $52,703.97
23. Ramon de Lima, 20, 1, 2, 248.16, $90,862.79
24. Matt Triplett, 30, 3, 8, 241.50, $126,996.48
25. Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 38, 4, 11, 221.83, $63,920.90
26. Andrew Alvidrez, 32, 2, 7, 217.66, $63,434.11
27. Aaron Kleier, 31, 4, 13, 214.83, $49,861.58
28. J.B. Mauney, 10, 0, 4, 209.00, $43,708.02
29. Stetson Lawrence, 34, 1, 8, 203.00, $75,945.93
30. Tye Chandler, 12, 1, 3, 192.83, $55,556.67
31. Ryan Dirteater, 16, 0, 6, 186.50, $86,061.41
32. Claudio Montanha Jr., 23, 0, 3, 185.00, $53,422.84
33. Joao Henrique Lucas, 33, 1, 4, 184.41, $42,800.37
34. Dakota Buttar, 20, 6, 11, 170.00, $55,309.65
35. Lachlan Richardson, 19, 4, 9, 166.00, $52,577.61
36. Taylor Toves, 28, 1, 3, 157.50, $56,030.35
37. Kyler Oliver, 13, 2, 5, 151.00, $38,989.25
38. Dakota Louis, 40, 1, 7, 135.50, $52,437.23
39. Brock Radford, 28, 2, 9, 124.66, $35,406.25
40. Dalton Kasel, 12, 0, 3, 117.50, $33,101.11
41. Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 25, 1, 6, 106.00, $31,043.02
42. Amadeu Campos Silva, 34, 0, 4, 104.66, $31,425.29
43. Junior Patrik Souza, 32, 0, 5, 104.50, $26,817.17
44. Alex Cardozo, 18, 0, 4, 102.33, $18,584.63
45. Marcus Mast, 40, 0, 7, 99.16, $34,598.99

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – Every year since the early 1990s the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and Justin Brands have honored rodeo committees in each of the 12 circuits that have went above and beyond to ensure safe ground for the animal athletes of rodeo, specifically the barrel racing horses.

 

The Justin Best Footing Awards® program was created when Tom Feller, director of event marketing for Justin Brands, approached the WPRA about partnering on a program that would focus on the health and well being of the animal athlete. Not only does the program keep animal athletes performing at the top level, but it also recognizes the hard work and time rodeo committees put into making their ground as safe as possible for the barrel horse and all rodeo livestock.

 

This award is determined by votes by the WPRA membership and Circuit Directors and represents our members’ voices saying “thank you” for a job well done. Due to the way the 2020 rodeo season played out this awards program was scaled back for this year only honoring a first place in all 12 circuits and for circuits that had five or more rodeos a second place recipient was named. Each first place award winner will receive a plaque, $800 cash award and a Justin certificate redeemable for one pair smooth ostrich boots. They will be officially recognized during the WPRA Star Celebration in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday, December 3. All second place award winners will receive a plaque and a $400 cash award.

 

This year’s award winners featured some brand new rodeos and some that have been in business for decades. The Buffalo Stampede in Kadoka, S.D., held their first PRCA/WPRA rodeo in 2020 and was one of the few rodeos that were able to take place in June despite COVID-19 restrictions. In their first year, they hosted almost 400 contestants including WPRA breakaway ropers. They will receive the Justin Best Footing Award for the Badlands Circuit.

 

On the other side of the coin, the Dodge City (KS) Roundup is the richest rodeo in the State of Kansas paying out over $400,000 in 2020. The Dodge City Roundup was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2012 and hosted a record number of contestants in 2020 during the first weekend of August with over 900 entries. They will be recognized with the Justin Best Footing Award for the Prairie Circuit.

Congratulations to the following rodeo committees being honored in 2020 and the WPRA thanks you for making your ground safe and consistent.

 

2020 Justin Best Footing Award Winners

Badlands Circuit

First – Buffalo Stampede, Kadoka, SD

Second – Black Hills Roundup, Belle Fourche, SD

 

California Circuit       

First – Salinas Valley Wine Country Rodeo, King City

 

Columbia River Circuit          

First – Cascade Chute Out, Redmond, OR

 

First Frontier Circuit

First – Adirondack Stampede Rodeo, Glen Falls, NY

 

Great Lakes Circuit

First – Carson (IA) Community Rodeo

Second – Brown Co. Fair Pro Rodeo, Depere, WI

 

Montana Circuit

First – Rodeo Roundup – Roundup

Second – McCone Fair & PRCA Rodeo – Circle

 

Mountain States Circuit          

First – Wyoming State Fair & Rodeo – Douglas, WY

Second – Cody (WY) Stampede Rodeo

 

Prairie Circuit

First – Dodge City (KS) Roundup Rodeo

Second – Nebraska’s Big Rodeo – Burwell

 

Southeastern Circuit   

First – Rotary Rodeo – Starkville, MS

Second – Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo – Lake City

 

Texas Circuit

First – (tie) Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo,

Stephenville and Heart O’ Texas Rodeo – Waco

 

Turquoise Circuit       

First – Roots N’ Boots Queen Creek (AZ) Pro Rodeo

Second – Annual World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo, Payson, AZ

 

Wilderness Circuit      

First – Gooding (ID) Pro Rodeo

Second – Cassia County Fair & Rodeo, Burley, ID

 

 

 

 

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

Clayton Hass has made three trips to the NFR and ended this season in the 12th spot with $41,840.34 won in the steer wrestling. He competes in team roping as a header and tie down roping as well. He went to the NFR 2014, 2015, and 2016. “In 2017 I missed it by $300,” said 36 year old from Weatherford, Texas. “I went through a couple transition years and changed some things, like my horse, who got crippled so I started a new horse. He was young, but worked great. I was trying to train instead of doing my job.”

Clayton started early in rodeo – 7 years old. “I grew up on a ranch in Texas, so it just went from there.” He joined the Nutrena team and is now part of the Record Rack team, preparing to go to his first Bucks for the Brave this November. “I think it’s a great opportunity to give back to the guys that serve our country. It’s awesome to see what they’ve gone through and how they come out of it.” Clayton is an avid archery hunter. “I hunt everything from waterfowl to elk, deer – I’ll try anything once.” He hunts in Montana and south Texas, bringing home meat for his family every year. His wife, Alex, is an excellent cook and she loves the elk and exotic animals. “We’re always coming up with new recipes.”

He got his first bow in high school. “Growing up I heard how much fun it was, so I tried it. Once you harvest your first animal, you never go back. It’s more of a hunt.”

Along with rodeo and hunting, Clayton has a small construction company and trains horses. His wife, Alex, owns a children’s boutique, AddyMay Kid’s Shop.  She also trains a few horses and ponies. They have three children, Addy, Izzy, and Mac.

Covid has made rodeo a little different. “There’s a lot more miles in between,” he said. “We got to rodeo more than I thought we would. There are a lot more one headers than ever, not as much money to be won and a lot more guys to split the money up.” He is excited that the NFR is moving to Texas. “It’s about 45 minutes from my house.” He spends time in between rodeos playing a little golf. “I’m above average – not great but decent.”

He plans to continue rodeo and continue to build up his construction business. “

Championship rodeo to take place in Minot this weekend

Minot, N.D. (October 7, 2020) – The best of the best for the Dakotas will be in Minot this weekend, to duke it out for the title of Badlands champ.

The annual Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo will take place at the North Dakota State Fair Center October 9-11, with performances at 7 pm on October 9, 6 pm October 10, and at 1:30 pm on October 11.

 

More than 100 cowboys and cowgirls, with about a dozen in each of eight events, will compete, said Max Weppler, organizer for the rodeo and a member of the PRCA’s Badlands Circuit committee. “The fans will see the best talent in the Dakotas,” Weppler said.

 

This part of the country has its share of rodeo talent which will be on exhibit this weekend, Weppler said. “Some of the best saddle bronc riders and barrel racers, and other events, as well, come from the northern plains.”

 

The rodeo will also include an expo and trade show.

 

Tickets for the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 3-12. They can be purchased online at gethookedup.com/rodeoticket.com (search for Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo), at 52 West (2815 S. Broadway A, Minot), and North Country Mercantile (2000 20^th Ave. SE, Minot) and at the gate. The Sunday matinee is sponsored by EPIC Companies, Spicy Pie, Bud Light, Pepsi and the North Dakota State Fair. Discounted tickets are available at Spicy Pie in Minot.

 

For more information, visit the Facebook page (Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo).