Take II: Pope wins eighth round
Jess Pope smiles to the crowd during his victory lap after winning Thursday’s eighth round of the National Finals Rodeo. It was his second straight round win this NFR. (PRCA PHOTO BY CLICK THOMPSON) LAS VEGAS – Jess Pope was 20 the first time he arrived in this desert city with a love for […]
Struxness stays in world-title hunt
By finishing in a three-way tie for fifth place in Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo, J.D. Struxness remains in the hunt to defend his world championship. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – J.D. Struxness is stalking his prey. He’s sixth in the steer wrestling world standings with $206,631, but he’s […]
Solid run pays off for Anderson
Bridger Anderson scored a 4.3-second run to finish in a tie for third place during Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY KATHRYN COLEMAN) LAS VEGAS – When half the equation in rodeo involves livestock, there’s never a guaranteed outcome. The steer wrestlers found that out during Wednesday’s seventh round […]
Miller battles for 7th-round cash
Bradlee Miller had his work cut out for him during an 84-point ride on Brookman Rodeo’s SOS during Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – The reality of the National Finals Rodeo is that it’s an incredible competition stretched out over a week and a half […]
It was money or mud for Franks
Cole Franks spurs Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Silver Beaver for 85.75 points to finish in a tie for second place during Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – There was never panic, but dire thoughts crossed Cole Franks’ mind. It was during Wednesday’s seventh round of the […]
Sonnier stays on his Vegas roll
Kade Sonnier has been riding a nice wave, securing his fifth payday so far. He rode Andrews Rodeo’s Empty Promises for 83.75 points to finish sixth in Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – There are times an athlete has to reach beyond what might […]
Allen powers to 2nd-place finish
California bulldogger Tucker Allen mustered some extra umpth in order to power through a 4.2-second run to finish second during Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – It’s been that kind of a week for steer wrestler Tucker Allen. He didn’t make the kind of run […]
Bourgeois puts end to cold streak
Bareback rider Waylon Bourgeois spurred Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage for 85.5 points to finish fourth in Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. That marked the final ride for the nearly 24-year-old world champion bucking horse. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage has quite the resume: a two-time […]
Patterson rides back to NFR cash
Saddle bronc rider Weston Patterson returneed to the pay window when his 86-point ride on Burch Rodeo’s Calico Color helped him finish in fifth place during Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – Even though it’s in the desert, there can be some cold spells in […]
Pope makes big move with win
Bareback rider Jess Pope rides Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Foxhole Gunner for 88 points to win Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY KATHRYN COLEMAN) LAS VEGAS – Jess Pope has never been afraid of going to work. As a professional bareback rider, that’s part of the job description, but […]
Anderson cashes on a weird night
Steer wrestler Bridger Anderson grabs ahold of his cow en route to a 4.9-second run, which helped him finish in a four-way tie for sixth place in Tuesday’s sixth round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS – Strange things happen in Las Vegas, and it’s not just […]
Franks, old friend tangle in Vegas
Bareback rider Cole Franks was matched with an old friend in Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co.’s Sippin Firewater. Franks rode the horse nearly five years ago, and the two tangled again for 85.5 points. Franks finished in a tie for fourth place in Tuesday’s sixth round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) […]
Sonnier wins NFR’s sixth round
Bareback rider Kade Sonnier picked up his first National Finals Rodeo go-round win, scoring 88 points on Land Of Fancy from Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics to do it during Tuesday’s sixth round. (PHOTO BY CASEY ST BLANC) LAS VEGAS – It’s taken 16 nights of bucking horses at the National Finals Rodeo, […]
Miller returns to NFR pay window
Bradlee Miller got back in the money with an 87.25-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Blasting Sand to finish in a tie for fifth place in Monday’s Round 5 at the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY KATHRYN COLEMAN) LAS VEGAS – Perseverance pays dividends in the end. It’s been a much rougher start to […]
Franks grabs another NFR payout
Cole Franks rides J-Bar-J’s Fringe Jacket for 87.25 points to finish in a tie for fifth place during Monday’s fifth round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY KATHRYN COLEMAN) LAS VEGAS – Six years ago, Cole Franks was 18 years old with an eye for bucking horses. Fringe Jacket was 3 and […]
Struxness has a swagger at NFR
With veteran Matt Reeves hazing on trusty Kirk, left, J.D. Struxness placed again with a 4.0-second run during Monday’s fifth round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY KATHRYN COLEMAN) LAS VEGAS – The National Finals Rodeo arena inside the Thomas & Mack Center is tiny. It’s dimensions pale to most complexes. Think […]
Sonnier riding hot streak in Vegas
Kade Sonnier – seen celebrating at the end of his Round 4 ride – was all smiles after placing again with an 87.75-point ride during Monday’s fifth round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN) LAS VEGAS – The smile on Kade Sonnier’s face was infectious. He’d just completed an 87.75-point […]
Franks breaks ice; earns 1st check
Cole Franks rides Andrews Rodeo’s Fresno for 84 points to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place during Sunday’s fourth round of the National Finals Rodeo. It was the Texas cowboy’s first payday of this year’s championship. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) LAS VEGAS – It’s a good thing Cole Franks spoke […]
Faith, routine help Pope at NFR
A powerful faith and a consistent routine are a big part of Jess Pope’s life. He uses them in competition, too, and it works. He rode Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Happy Hour to a third-place finish in Sunday’s fourth round. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – The only things that have changed since […]
Big ride gives Sonnier momentum
Bareback rider Kade Sonnier is trying to make the most out of his second trip to the National Finals Rodeo. He placed second in Sunday’s fourth round with an 86.75-point score. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – When Kade Sonnier speaks, it’s deliberate and well-intentioned. He’s mindful of his thoughts, which come from […]
Allen bets on Banker in Vegas
Steer wrestler Tucker Allen scored his second round victory of the 2025 National Finals Rodeo, blasting a 4.0-second run to share the fourth-round title with Will Lummus. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – Tucker Allen may need the write-off anyway. After his pickup was stolen from a parking lot near the Thomas & […]
Shadbolt grits out 2 tough rides
Garrett Shadbolt rides Smith Pro Rodeos’ Mr. Harry for 85.5 points to place during Saturday’s third round of the National Finals Rodeo. After being offered a reride on his first attempt, the Nebraska cowboy had to tussle with two horses in the “eliminator pen.” (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – The “eliminator pen” […]
Allen snags another NFR check
Steer wrestler Tucker Allen slides his steer en route to a 4.4-second run to finish in the money during Saturday’s third round of the National Finals Rodeo. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – When Tucker Allen enters the timed-event box, he turns around on a powerful bay gelding and backs Banker into the […]
Struxness stays steady at NFR
J.D. Struxness, the reigning world champion steer wrestler, continues to grind at the National Finals Rodeo. He finished fourth during Saturday’s third round. (PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL) LAS VEGAS – Just like a snake in hiding, reigning world champion steer wrestler J.D. Struxness is waiting to strike. “I feel like we ran some runners,” […]