There was a lot of talk about the families that were part of this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and rightly so.

You had the team roping Tryans, Travis, Clay and Brady; the tie down roping Coopers, Clint, Clif and Tuf; the bronc riding DeMosses, Heith and Cody, and Wrights, Cody and Jesse; and the steer wrestling Cassidys, Cody and Curtis. Throw in the fact that Tuf and Clif Cooper are brothers-in-law to Trevor Brazile and nephews of Stran Smith, the family ties that bind are wrapped tightly.

But rodeo is family, and you can see it in many ways. Take bareback riders D.V. Fennell and Justin McDaniel, best friends and brothers in arms despite their 13 years difference in age, or bull rider Kanin Asay and bullfighter Dusty Tuckness, who grew up together.

It’s that kind of stuff that makes rodeo special.