Monthly Archives: December 2025
Learning under the Big Top
Written on December 31, 2025 at 4:29 pm, by Ted
Rodeo announcer Scott Grover will conduct the Big Top Rodeo Announcer & Music Director Seminar from Feb. 20-22 at the Four Points by Sheraton Kansas City Airport as a way to give others the insights he didn’t have when he began his career. He will be working with noted sound director Jesse Knudsen through the Continue Reading »
Riley casts a Webb on rodeo
Written on December 30, 2025 at 10:56 am, by Ted
Cinch cowboy Riley Webb secured his third straight world championship at this year’s National Finals Rodeo, becoming the first tie-down roper in more than 40 years to win at least three consecutive gold buckles. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) Cinch tie-down roper claims his 3rd straight world championship Four years ago, little went Continue Reading »
Money finds its way to Gray
Written on December 23, 2025 at 2:30 pm, by Ted
T.J. Gray placed on all seven bulls he rode during the National Finals Rodeo. He won the average championship, which included a $94,000 payday, and earned $295,665 during his 10-day stay in Las Vegas to also win the Top Gun award. He finished his second straight NFR as the reserve world champion bull rider. (PRCA Continue Reading »
Allen grabs 1st gold buckle
Written on December 22, 2025 at 1:37 pm, by Ted
Steer wrestling world champion handles his cow during another solid run at the 2025 National Finals Rodeo. Allen rode Banker, the 2025 Bulldogging Horse of the Year owned by Justin Shaffer, then dominated the 10 days of competition in Las Vegas. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) Cinch bulldogger handles the biggest rodeo test Continue Reading »
Champion was the star of the show
Written on December 16, 2025 at 2:53 pm, by Ted
When bull rider Tristen Hutchings won the third round of the National Finals Rodeo, he wanted to honor the fight of 6-year-old Casyn Cates, who has beaten pediatric cancer. Casyn and his mom went on the South Point Showroom stage with Hutchings on Dec. 6 to talk about Golden Circle of Champions, the organization that Continue Reading »
Sonnier cleans house at NFR
Written on December 14, 2025 at 6:44 pm, by Ted
Kade Sonnier rides the 2025 PRCA Horse of the Year, Brookman Rodeo’s Lunatic Heaven, for 90.75 points to win Saturday’s 10th round of the National Finals Rodeo. He also finished fourth in the average and fourth in the world, earning almost $200,000 in Las Vegas. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS – Continue Reading »
Anderson closes NFR on a high
Written on December 14, 2025 at 2:24 pm, by Ted
Bridger Anderson cashed in for the seventh time with a fifth-place finish during Saturday’s 10th round of the National Finals Rodeo. He finished the 10-day championship with $117,540 in earnings. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS – On the final night of the 2025 ProRodeo season, steer wrestler Bridger Anderson did what Continue Reading »
Struxness adds $60k NFR bonus
Written on December 14, 2025 at 1:43 pm, by Ted
Even though the breaks never came his way, J.D. Struxness was solid during his seventh National Finals Rodeo. He finished third in the average and left Las Vegas with more than $134,000. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS – The look of disappointment was evident. J.D. Struxness wanted another Montana Silversmiths gold Continue Reading »
Franks wraps another solid NFR
Written on December 14, 2025 at 12:34 pm, by Ted
Bareback rider Cole Franks considered his fourth National Finals Rodeo a disappointment, but he still earned almost $108,000 in 10 days. He finished fourth in the average race, and that $44,356 bonus was added into his earnings. He finished sixth in the world standings. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – It’s been a Continue Reading »
Patterson places on final night
Written on December 14, 2025 at 12:26 pm, by Ted
Weston Patterson closed out his first National Finals Rodeo in a big way. He placed in three of the final four nights, including an 87.75-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Larry Culpepper to finish fifth during Saturday’s 10th round. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – The National Finals Rodeo can be a Continue Reading »
Pope continues to excel in Vegas
Written on December 14, 2025 at 12:19 pm, by Ted
Jess Pope added another $76,000 to his National Finals Rodeo earnings this year by finishing second in the average. He has earned nearly $1.2 million at the NFR over his six qualifications. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS – Mr. Las Vegas was at it again over the last week and a Continue Reading »
Allen wins gold buckle
Written on December 13, 2025 at 10:56 pm, by Ted
Tucker Allen of Ventura, California, has plenty of reasons to celebrate after a dominating performance at the National Finals Rodeo, where he earned $248,000 in 10 days to claim the steer wrestling world championship. (PRCA PHOTO BY CLICK THOMPSON) He is 1st California bulldogger to win world title since Branquinho LAS VEGAS – Tucker Continue Reading »
Pope firmly in contention for gold
Written on December 13, 2025 at 2:53 pm, by Ted
Jess Pope rides Frontier Rodeo’s Painted Smoke for 84.5 points to place in Friday’s ninth round of the National Finals Rodeo. It was the third night in a row he has earned NFR money and sixth time overall. He will ride for a world championship Saturday night. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS Continue Reading »
Bourgeois gets jolted into reality
Written on December 13, 2025 at 1:32 pm, by Ted
Waylon Bourgeois’ first National Finals Rodeo hasn’t been all that dreams are made of, but it’s been pretty good. He has earned $131,000, the most recent of which came from finishing in a tie for second place during Friday’s ninth round with an 85.75-point ride on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Cosmic Stardust. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) Continue Reading »
Allen has a shot at winning gold
Written on December 13, 2025 at 1:25 pm, by Ted
Tucker Allen may have the lead in the National Finals Rodeo average race, but he plans to make a run at 10th-round victory anyway. He posted a 4.0-second run to finish sixth during Friday’s ninth round in Las Vegas and owns a 12.4-second lead in the aggregate. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – Continue Reading »
Anderson crosses $100k at NFR
Written on December 13, 2025 at 1:17 pm, by Ted
Bridger Anderson placed for the sixth time with his 3.8-second run to finish in a three-way tie for second during Friday’s ninth round of the National Finals Rodeo. This is the most he’s placed at an NFR in his three qualifications. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – The communication between teammates is vital Continue Reading »
He has cleats for a reason
Written on December 12, 2025 at 6:19 pm, by Ted
Bullfighters – Dusty Tuckness, foreground; Cody Webster, right; and Austin Ashley, background – try to gain the attention of Andrews Rodeos’ Buckin Hippie to keep everyone in the arena out of harm’s way during the opening round of the National Finals Rodeo. Ashley is working the NFR for the first time alongside his two mentors. Continue Reading »
Thompson hits third-place strike
Written on December 12, 2025 at 3:26 pm, by Ted
Dean Thompson spurs C5 Rodeo’s Winning Rose for 86.25 points to finish third during Thursday’s eighth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – Reigning world champion bareback rider Dean Thompson is still waiting for something big to happen in his third appearance at the National Finals Rodeo. He’s Continue Reading »
Franks gets rank to finish sixth
Written on December 12, 2025 at 2:55 pm, by Ted
Cole Franks grimaces as he battles Rosser Rodeo’s Right On Q for 83.75 points to finish sixth during Thursday’s eighth round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – Bareback rider Cole Franks stretched his right hand, rolled his neck around and winced. It looked like he’d just been in Continue Reading »
Rank ride gives Bourgeois cash
Written on December 12, 2025 at 2:25 pm, by Ted
Waylon Bourgeois felt everything that Championship Pro Rodeo’s Hooey Rocks threw at him, but he overcame the torture to finish fifth in Thursday’s eighth round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS – The confines of the dirt-filled arena inside the Thomas & Mack Center are tight, and Continue Reading »
Struxness settles for sixth place
Written on December 12, 2025 at 1:27 pm, by Ted
After his steer struggled in the chute, J.D. Struxness made a solid, 4.4-second run to finish sixth during Thursday’s eighth round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS – Steer wrestler J.D. Struxness wanted to finish higher. He needed to finish higher. But that wasn’t in the cards Continue Reading »
Anderson stays on track at NFR
Written on December 12, 2025 at 12:57 pm, by Ted
Bridger Anderson has placed five times over the course of the National Finals Rodeo, his most recent coming with a 4.2-second run to finish fourth in Thursday’s eighth round. (PRCA PHOTO BY CLICK THOMPSON) LAS VEGAS – Slowly but surely, Bridger Anderson is having a solid run at the National Finals Rodeo. He has Continue Reading »
Patterson claims Round 8 title
Written on December 12, 2025 at 11:58 am, by Ted
Weston Patterson spurs Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool for 89 points to win Thursday’s eighth round of the National Finals Rodeo. Patterson comes from the small town of Waverly, Kansas, population 526. He joined another hometown boy, bareback rider Jess Pope, in the winner’s circle Thursday. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS Continue Reading »
Allen scores another round title
Written on December 12, 2025 at 11:22 am, by Ted
Tucker Allen slides his steer to a stop during a 3.9-second run, which guided him to Thursday’s eighth-round victory at the National Finals Rodeo. It was his third round win in eight days. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS – Nine months ago, steer wrestler Tucker Allen sealed the biggest victory of Continue Reading »