Kade Sonnier secured his first payday of the National Finals Rodeo after an 83.75-point ride on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Minnesota Joe during Friday’s second round.
(PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL)
LAS VEGAS – True competitors know how to rise to the occasion.
Take bareback rider Kade Sonnier. His opening night of the National Finals Rodeo didn’t go as he had planned. He finished toward the bottom of the round after an 81.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Delta.
He wanted better. He expected better
He got it during Friday’s second round with an 83.75-point ride on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Minnesota Joe to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place to collect $5,126. With go-round winners pocketing nearly $37,000 a night, Sonnier is pushing for more, but he’ll take any dollars he can get out of Las Vegas.
Two seasons ago, Sonnier – a 26-year-old, second-generation NFR cowboy from Carencro, Louisiana – earned his first trip to the bright lights in the City of Entertainment. He shined among them all, placing in seven rounds and finishing in a tie for third in the all-important average. He left town with $112,000 in his Ariat jeans and was building a solid resume during his rookie season in ProRodeo.
He finished the year third in the world standings with more than $270,000 in earnings. His sophomore campaign wasn’t quite as luxurious, though. Injuries blasted his momentum, and even though he earned nearly $100,000 in 2024, he did not finish among the top 15 at the end of the regular season, which is what it takes to play on the sport’s biggest stage.
He rallied this year. He has pushed his earnings to $186,633 and sits 10th on the money list. The best part for the southern Louisiana bronc buster is that there are eight nights of big bucks remaining.
The next run-in will be with Dakota Rodeo’s Wild N Out in Saturday’s “eliminator pen” of bucking horses, the hardest-to-ride of the 105 animals selected to buck at the NFR. The big, powerful horse has been part of some key rides this season. In January, judges marked Wild N Out 48 out of a possible 50 points.
That’s an opportunity and a challenge, which is what the elite bareback riders face on a regular basis. Over the course of the season, Sonnier secured victories at 13 rodeos. He’s at the biggest one of the year, home of a $13.5 million purse. This is where he wants to get on a roll and return home with boatload of Las Vegas cash.
One comment
Kade, believe in yourself and ride like you love it. I’m a n old bareback rider from Church Point, La and had to end my love for the sport after fracturing my sternum and breaking 9 ribs. I’ve been following you and I think you’re among the best in your event. Always ride because you love it and believe in yourself. When your 8 seconds is over know that you whore the hair off of your draw. Don’t ever look back at what you should have done. You control your own destiny. Let’ter buck and when you nod your head mean it. Good luck, I believe in you.
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