DODGE CITY, Kan. – Much has changed in Jayco Roper’s life over the last year and a half.

Just four months after his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo in December 2023, Roper suffered an injury that put his 2024 campaign on hold. He returned to the game and won a few here and there, but there was more going on outside the sport.

He got married about a year ago, and he and Breana welcomed twin girls, Avery Jeanette and Josie Ann, in December. They were tiny and born a little early, but the circumstances around Jayco Roper’s life had changed in a big way.

“They’re definitely motivating to me,” said Roper, a 24-year-old bareback rider from Oktaha, Oklahoma. “They really push me to ride better, and I just know they’re at home watching old dad, so I’ve got to give them a show.”

He put on a powerful performance for them and the rest of a sold-out crowd during Saturday’s fourth performance of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. Roper rode Championship Pro Rodeo’s Ranch & Co. Time for 88.5 points to win the first round and secure the top spot heading into Sunday’s final go-round.

“I didn’t know too much about the horse,” he said, noting that the animal’s owner gave some necessary details before he made the ride. “I’ve never been on it, but Will O’Connell said he was really good. It turned out to be true.

“My elbow has been hurting really bad, and when he’s one floating underneath you like that, it really don’t put much pressure on your elbow. I was really glad he had that trip.”

It was an electric night of rodeo at Roundup Arena. Not only was the audience into the action, but so were the cowboys. Roper led the way, but two other NFR qualifiers, Bradlee Miller and Garrett Shadbolt, were just a half point off the lead. Of the 12 contestants who have qualified for Sunday’s finale, five rode Saturday.

Other than his injury-riddled season last year, Roper has been in the upper echelon of bareback riders for several years. He finished 19th in 2022, which was painstakingly close to advancing to Las Vegas. The NFR features only the top 15 on the money list when the regular season ends. He was 36th a year ago, but he’s rebounded in fine fashion.

Heading into this week of rodeos, he was 10th in the world standings with nearly $110,000 in earnings. By winning the opening round, Roper snagged $3,022 and will join the other short-round qualifiers in trying to test their talent vs. some of the rankest bucking horses in rodeo.

It will make for a wild final night of rodeo in Dodge City.

Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
Dodge City, Kan.
July 30-Aug. 3
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Jayco Roper, 88.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Ranch & Co. Time, $3,021; 2. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt and Bradlee Miller, 88, $2,015 each; 4. (tie) Roedy Farrel and Sam Petersen, 85.5, $907 each; 6. (tie) Waylon Bourgeois and Jess Pope, 85, $453 each; 8. Tanner Aus, 84.5, $302; 9. Cole Franks, 84; 10. Gavin French, 83.5; 11. Andy Gingerich, 82; 12. Wacey Schalla, 80.5.

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Talon Roseland, 3.5 seconds, $3,427; 2. (tie) Kyler Dick, Will Lummus, Garrett Oates and Tyler Waguespack, 3.7, $2,309 each; 6. Emmett Edler, 3.8, $1,192; 7. Seth Peterson, 4.0, $745; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Grady Payne, 4.1, $149 each. Second round leaders: 1. Tristan Martin, 3.2 seconds, $3,427; 2. Levi Rudd, 3.3, $2,980; 3. Cody Devers, 3.5, $2,533; 4. Darcy Kersh, 3.8, $2,086; 5. Riley Westhaver, 3.9, $1,639; 6. (tie) Ty Allred and Tyler Waguespack, 4.0, $968 each; 8. Jay Williamson, 4.1, $298. Average leaders: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 7.7 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Cody Devers and Kyler Dick, 7.9; 4. Levi Rudd, 8.2; 5. Emmett Edler, 8.4; 6. (tie) Seth Peterson and Talon Roseland, 8.6; 8. (tie) Trisyn Kalawaia and Grady Payne, 8.7; 10. Darcy Kersh, 9.;0; 11. Brandon Harrison, 9.1; 12. (tie) Shayde Etherton and Garrett Oates, 9.2. Oates advances to championship round based on tie-breaker.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 4.7 seconds; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.9; 3. (tie) Luke Brown/Trey Yates, Cory Kidd V/Will Woodfin and Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 5.2 each; 6. (tie) Blake Barnes/Latham Dickson, Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, Brandon Farris/Braden Harmon, Walker Smith/Will Smith, Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson and Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 5.3 each. Second round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 4.1 seconds, $3,474; 2. Ryon Joe Boatright/Jett Hillman, 4.8, $3,021; 3. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.0, $2,568; 4. Jr. Dees/Seth Hall, 5.2, $2,114; 5. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch and Klay Yaussi/Kash Yaussi, 5.3, $1,435 each; 7. (tie) Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 5.4, $529 each. Average leaders: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 10.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Cory Kidd/Will Woodfin, 10.8; 3. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch and Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 10.9; 5. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 11.1; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 11.3; 7. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 1.5; 8. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 11.6; 9. Jhett Trenary/Gralyn Elkins, 11.7; 10. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 11.9; 11. Marcus Marriott/Jarrett Peek, 17.2; 12. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 17.3.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Ryder Sanford, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Colorado Kool-Aid, Shorty Garrett, on Frontier Rodeo’s 015, and Tom Webster, on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sweet Sue, 85.5 points, $2,652 each; 4. (tie) Isaac Diaz and Lefty Holman, 85, $1,023 each; 6. Brody Cress, 84.5, $568; 7. Roper Kiesner, 81, $454; 8. (tie) Shea Fournier, Cauy Masters and Brady Hill, 80.5, $114 each; 11. (tie) Waitley Sharon, Talon Elshere and Trent Burd, 80. Only 10 bronc riders will make it to the championship round because of the three-way tie for 11th.  

Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Erin Johnson, 2.4 seconds, $2,707; 2. Alli Masters, 2.5, $2,301; 3. Timber Allenbrand, 2.6, $1,895; 4. (tie) Aspen Miller and Beau Peterson, 2.8, $1,489 each; 6. Taylor Munsell, 2.9, $947; 7. Whitney Profili, 3.0, $677; 8. (tie) Mataya Eklund, Samantha Haardt, Alex Loiselle and Winter Williams, 3.1, $440 each; 12. Braylee Shepherd, 3.4, $271. Second round leaders: 1. Chenoa Vandestouwe, 1.9 seconds, $2,707; 2. Chloe Lambert, 2.6, $1,201; 3. Shalee King, 2.7, $1,895; 4. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2.8, $1,624; 5. (tie) Cheyanne McCartney and Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, 2.9, $1,150 each; 7. Braylee Sheperd, 3.0, $677; 8. Kinlie Brennise, 3.1, $541; 9. (tie) Jackie White and Bandee Winn, 3.2, $440 each; 11. Mollie Bassett and Beau Peterson, 3.3, $305 each. Average leaders: 1. Beau Peterson, 6.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Braylee Shepherd, 6.4; 3. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli-Meged and Taylor Munsell, 6.5; 5. Cheyanne McCartney, 6.6; 6. Jackie White, 6.7; 7. Timber Allenbrand, 7.2; 8. (tie) Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, Kinlie Brennise and Winter Williams, 7.3; 11. Sequin Brewer, 7.4; 12. Josie Conner, 7.8.

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Andrew Burks, 8.5 seconds, $3,584; 2. Hunter Herrin, 8.9, $3,117; 3. (tie) Brodey Clemons and Brushton Minton, 9.6, $2,415 each; 5. (tie) Marcos Costa and Quade Hiatt, 9.7, $1,480 each; 7. (tie) Jerry Adamson and Haven Meged, 9.8, $545 each. Second round leaders: 1. Kyan Wilhite, 7.6 seconds, $3,584; 2. Marty Yates, 8.2, 43,117; 3. (tie) Tyson Durfey and Riley Pruitt, 8.5, $2,415 each; 5. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Tom Simpson, 8.8, $1,480 each; 7. Richard Newton, 8.9, $779; 8. (tie) Kincade Henry, Seth Hall and Hagen Houck, 9.1, $104 each. Average leaders: 1. Kyan Wilhite, 17.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Andrew Burks, 19.4; 3. Tyler Calhoun, 19.5; 4. Quade Hiatt, 19.8; 5. Marcos Costa, 19.9; 6. Riley Pruitt, 10.0; 7. Kincade Henry, 20.4; 8. Riley Webb, 20.5; 9. (tie) Richard Newton and Chisum Allen, 20.6; 11. Haze Wright, 21.0; 12. (tie) Travis Staley and Macon Murphy, 21.3. All 13 tie-down ropers advance to the championship round.

Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. Avery Ledesma, 17.15 seconds, $2,376; 2. Kim Squires, 17.16, $2,036; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.22, $1,697; 4. Jessica Routier, 17.23, $1,471; 5. Austyn Tobey, 17.28, $1,131; 6. (tie) Piper Cordes and Katelyn Scott, 17.29, $792 each; 8. Paige Jones, 17.31, $453; 9. (tie) Keyla Costa and Lindsey McCuiston, 17.33, $283 each. Second round leaders: 1. Emily Beisel, 16.89 seconds, $2,376; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 16.94, $2,036; 3. Piper Cordes, 17.10, $1,697; 4. Tanna Renick, 17.11, $1,471; 5. Skyla Peters, 17.14, $1,331; 6. Austyn Tobey, 17.17, $905; 7. Ivy Hurst, 17.18, $679; 8. Cheryl Wallace, 17.25, $453; 9. Kim Squires, 17.29, $339; 10. Jessica Routier, 17.36, $226. Average leaders: 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 34.16 seconds on two runs; 2. Piper Cordes, 34.39; 3. (tie) Austin Tobey and Kim Squires, 34.45; 5. Jessica Routier, 24.39; 6. Ivy Hurst, 34.69; 7. Lindsey McCuiston, 34.77; 8. Keyla Costa, 34.80; 9. Jana Bean, 34.84; 10. Emma Parr, 34.87; 11. (tie) Cheryl Wallace and Erica Klein, 34.99.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Kody Aldrich, on Frontier Rodeo’s 202, and Nash Jones, on Frontier Rodeo’s 223, 85.5 points, $3,099 each; 3. (tie) J.R. Stratford, Hayden Welsh and Jessi Petri, 85, $1,364 each; 6. (tie) Qynn Andersen, Cutter Kaylor and Mason Moody, 84, $468 each; 9. Danien Wood, 82; 10. Ky Hamilton, 75.5; 11. Colton Byram, 75; no other qualified rides.