Lucia adds to Vegas resume
WEATHERFORD, Texas – Anthony Lucia has been a Las Vegas fixture every December since 2009 as host of Live with Lucia, presented by CINCH Jeans and Shirts, on the RideTV Stage during the Stetson Country Christmas at the Sands Expo. This year, though, the Weatherford man will add another key component to his Sin City […]
Bingham ready to chase the gold
HONEYVILLE, Utah – When Tim Bingham first started riding bucking animals, he knew he wanted to wear the gold buckle given to world champions. He was about 9 years old at the time, and he’s been dreaming about it ever since. Bingham will have another chance this December when he competes for the third time […]
Clements realizing NFR dream
SANTAQUIN, Utah – Mason Clements wasn’t always a bareback rider, but he was always a cowboy. As a boy, family friends introduced him to rodeo, and he fell for it. He wrestled steers and rode bulls. At age 20, he turned his attention to bucking horses and hasn’t looked back. It’s paid off well with […]
O’Connell ready to defend title
ZWINGLE, Iowa – As the reigning bareback riding world champion in ProRodeo, Tim O’Connell has a simple mission when he arrives in Las Vegas next week for his fourth qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I don’t plan on leaving there without another gold buckle,” said O’Connell, 26, of Zwingle. “I plan to ride […]
Baby has Breuer’s mind right for NFR
MANDAN, N.D. – The lead has changed to Ty Breuer’s story. The top story on Breuer’s 2017 season was his third qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. That changed on Nov. 9, when Kayd Lee Breuer was born to Breuer and his wife, Kelli. “It was sure life-changing,” Breuer said. “Right when she came […]
Pearson craves the world title
LOUISVILLE, Miss. – As a competitor, Tyler Pearson has always hungered to be better. Steer wrestling wasn’t always an easy venture for the 6-foot-2 cowboy, but he worked at it. He continues to work at it with a simple process: Practice, practice and more practice. That’s why the Louisville man is in the hunt for […]
Biglow enjoys life as a cowboy
CLEMENTS, Calif. – Cowboy is all Clayton Biglow has wanted to be, what he aspires to be. “Ever since I hit the ground, I wanted to be a cowboy,” said Biglow, 21, of Clements. “I never went a day without thinking about it.” That’s a good thing, since he’s pretty good at it. Biglow is […]
Aus is prepared for his 3rd NFR
GRANITE FALLS, Minn. – Even though he’s just 27 years old, Tanner Aus is a veteran bareback rider who is making a mark in the game he loves. The proof came through the 2017 regular season, where the Granite Falls man earned $136,657. It’s an incredible amount of money and put Aus No. 2 in […]
Champion still building his dreams
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Just above the fireplace in Richmond Champion’s house are two large cutouts that sit empty right now. He has plans to fill them, but they’re pretty specific. “The top two squares are big enough to fit a saddle in,” said Champion, a 24-year-old bareback rider from The Woodlands who is about […]
Jarrett takes simple approach to NFR
COMANCHE, Okla. – The pace of life around here is a bit slower than most places in the world. It’s definitely much different than the bright lights and hustle of Las Vegas. That’s just the way Ryan Jarrett likes it. Still, his annual trek to the Nevada desert comes with the possibility of great rewards. […]
BFO is returning to Vegas
Bullfighters Only to award more than $100,000 during Las Vegas Championship LAS VEGAS – Continuing its effort to revolutionize the sport of freestyle bullfighting, Bullfighters Only will award a $50,000 bonus to the 2017 BFO world champion upon the completion of the 2017 BFO Las Vegas Championship – scheduled for Dec. 7-10 and 13-16 at […]
Newlywed Larsen ready for NFR
INGLIS, Manitoba – Many things went Orin Larsen’s way in 2017. He qualified for both the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the Canadian Finals Rodeo and has established himself as one of the best bareback riders in the sport today. But the best part of his year came on Oct. 14, when he married his […]
Irwin happy with return to NFR
ROBERTSDALE, Ala. – Kyle Irwin has an infectious smile the shines brightly under the cowboy hat he wears. He loves to laugh and share that smile with just about anyone. He’s had plenty of opportunities in 2017, both at home and on the rodeo trail. He’s hoping it all pays off over 10 December nights […]
NFR is a celebration for Braden
WELCH, Okla. – How good was 2017 to saddle bronc rider Hardy Braden? He earned nearly as much money during the regular season as he had the previous six years combined. It is, by far, his greatest season in ProRodeo, and he will cap the campaign with his inaugural trip to the Wrangler National Finals […]
Struxness works hard for NFR bid
APPLETON, Minn. – J.D. Struxness isn’t afraid of hard work. It’s coming in quite handy these days as he prepares to compete at his second Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, set for Dec. 7-16 in Las Vegas. He enters ProRodeo’s finale 13th in the steer wrestling standings with $76,442; it’s just inside the top 15 but […]
Proctor heading to a fourth NFR
PRYOR, Okla. – Coleman Proctor has had a pretty good year, but he’s hoping it just keeps getting better. “The best part of this year was definitely having this little princess,” Proctor said of Stella Rein Lèon Proctor, born Oct. 27. “Watching her being born, seeing the gift of life right in front of you […]
Smith wins Canadian title
Idaho cowboy points his focus to NFR, world championship REXBURG, Idaho – Garrett Smith has proven a little something to himself in 2017, and he’s doing it in a big way. The 22-year-old from Rexburg has quickly made himself into one of the best bull riders in rodeo. Not only has he earned more than […]
Braden earns 2nd Claremore title
CLAREMORE, Okla. – From many of the best cowboys in the world to the top bucking animals, Claremore’s Extreme Roughstock presented by the Kubota Center of Oklahoma has quickly become a major event. “It was a really cool idea,” said Hardy Braden of nearby Welch, Okla., who won the saddle bronc riding title and $3,500. […]