Monthly Archives: November 2020

SPANISH FORK, Utah – Several years ago, Mason Clements focused on his dreams of being one of the elite cowboys in professional rodeo. He’s earned his place as one of the top 20 bareback riders in the game each of the past five seasons, three of which feature qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo. That  Continue Reading »

FORT WORTH, Texas – When circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 global pandemic threatened the Permit Holder of the Year Challenge, Texas livestock producer Pete Carr stepped in. “The Permit Holder Challenge was always part of the bucking stock sale during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas,” said Carr, owner of Dallas-based Pete Carr Pro Rodeo.  Continue Reading »

COMANCHE, Okla. – The first time Ryan Jarrett qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2005, he was just 21 years old and looked like he could go days without shaving. Much has changed in the 16 years since, but Jarrett continues to be among the greatest cowboys to have ever played the game.  Continue Reading »

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Jace Melvin has known no other way. In a sense, he was born to be a professional rodeo cowboy, and he thrives in this environment. All roads have pointed to him being considered one of the best, and that’s the case in the 2020 ProRodeo campaign. Melvin earned $46,225 through the regular  Continue Reading »

HILLSBORO, Texas – Chad Rutherford has earned a milestone; he has qualified to the National Finals Rodeo for the first time in his 10-year career. As one of the top 15 bareback riders on the money list who will battle for the coveted world championship at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Rutherford has the  Continue Reading »

WAVERLY, Kan. – Jesse Pope didn’t grow up in a typical rodeo family, but that didn’t deter him from developing a passion for the sport. In just his second season in ProRodeo, the 22-year-old bareback rider from Waverly has already proven his place among the best in the game. He has earned his first qualification  Continue Reading »

RAMONA, Kan. –Tanner Brunner took a different approach to the 2020 ProRodeo season than many of his fellow steer wrestlers. “There were some guys that had the mentality that they had to rodeo harder because there weren’t as many opportunities as other years,” said Brunner, 27, from the rural community of Ramona. “My game plan  Continue Reading »

STEVENSVILLE, Mont. – Through the first nine years of his ProRodeo career, Richmond Champion has garnered a list of major accomplishments that many cowboys can only dream about. He became the first million-dollar winner at The American in 2014, then followed that by winning the prestigious Cheyenne (Wyoming) Frontier Days Rodeo’s bareback riding title. In  Continue Reading »

MIAMI, Texas – Life as Wyatt Casper knew it changed dramatically March 8. The 2016 intercollegiate national champion saddle bronc rider had been trying to make a living in his game of choice for years, and 2020 had already started as the best season of his professional life. That day eight months ago made everything  Continue Reading »

CARRINGTON, N.D. – Every step that Bridger Anderson has taken in his 22 years on Earth has led to this moment: His first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo. From being horseback before he can even remember to winning the state championship in wrestling just a few years ago, he had a solid background and  Continue Reading »

ZWINGLE, Iowa – Bareback rider Tim O’Connell is back in his rightful place: Atop the world standings heading into the sport’s world series, the National Finals Rodeo. O’Connell is a three-time world champion from Zwingle who had his streak of consecutive gold buckles interrupted last year. An injury forced him to miss all but three  Continue Reading »

INGLIS, Manitoba – In western Manitoba, Kevin and Wanda Larsen instilled a strong work ethic in their four children. It continues to pay off. For Orin Larsen, he’s worked to become one of the best bareback riders in professional rodeo. He’s earned that distinction over the years, now a six-time qualifier to the National Finals  Continue Reading »

GRANITE FALLS, Minn. – For every tunnel he passed, bareback rider Tanner Aus knew there was something awaiting him when the darkness cleared. That’s the thing about tunnels: They only last so long. Some are long and winding – much like the 2020, COVID-infected ProRodeo season. Others are short and pass quickly. Through each phase  Continue Reading »

Iowa farm boy proves to be a cowboy while earning first NFR qualification STATE CENTER, Iowa – Four falls ago, Jacob Edler was beat up and worn down. He’d experienced the roller coaster that is the sport of rodeo. The top of the mountain came in June 2016, when he finished as the reserve college  Continue Reading »

CLEMENTS, Calif. – Clayton Biglow wasn’t quite sure if he would be allowed to defend his bareback riding world championship. A year ago, he pocketed nearly $250,000 over 10 December nights at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which propelled him to the coveted Montana Silversmiths gold buckle and just shy of $426,000 in season earnings.  Continue Reading »