Two seasons ago, Riley O’Rourke was still dipping his toes into ProRodeo.
He was in the second year of his PRCA permit, a tryout of sorts. Once a cowboy earns enough money on a permit, he is eligible to become a card-carrying member of the association. During that stretch, the young single steer roper had accumulated $19,005 to lead the permit standings in that discipline
He had planned to follow that with a third year on his permit. He was just 20 years old and in no rush, but he received an intervention that changed everything.
“Thomas Smith calls and is like, ‘What are you going to do this year?’ and I was like, ‘I’m just trying to get my permit,’ ” O’Rourke recalled. “He was like, ‘Why don’t you buy your card and try to make the finals? You went to 12 rodeos and almost won $20,000, and it just takes $45,000 to make the finals.’ ”
“That’s when I decided to do that.”
Smith is a five-time qualifier to the National Finals Steer Roping. He was just one of the mentors who helped guide the fortunes for O’Rourke, who in 2025 finished second in the steer roping world standings as the PRCA Steer Roping Resistol Rookie of the Year.
“I really didn’t have a choice, because Jess told me I was buying my card, too,” O’Rourke said with a laugh, pointing out that Jess Tierney is the most veteran of his advisers as a 13-time finals qualifier.
Also in the mix is Billy Good, a three-time qualifier. The trio helped make O’Rourke’s inaugural year of ProRodeo memorable and profitable. O’Rourke spent the first half of his life in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, dubbed the “Steer Roping Capital of the World,” before his family moved to Skiatook, a town about 30 miles southeast.
During his career-opening campaign, O’Rourke won $151,000 focused on steer roping. About $40,000 came last July, and another $55,000 was secured during the steer roping finale this past November at Mulvane, Kansas. That’s where he experienced all the emotions of playing on the sport’s biggest stage.
“I was so nervous before my first steer I couldn’t spit,” he said. “That weekend was a mixed deal, because I roped so bad the first day.”
He rebounded, thanks to his “big brothers,” who were also in the field with him. Smith finished the year sixth in the world standings, followed by Tierney in eighth and Good in 13th. Their protégé led the charge, though, and he’s even more motivated for 2026.
“I really don’t like getting my ass kicked,” O’Rourke said with a laugh. “As much as it sucks, it still felt pretty good to have a chance.
“I’ve had a lot of help this winter, and I feel better about my roping now than I did at the finals.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Photo by Robbie Freeman