Utah steer wrestler Cash Robb will be one of nearly 450 contestants that will be part of next week’s Utah’s Own Rodeo, which takes place during the Utah State Fair. Robb, who won the National Finals Rodeo average title in 2024, is No. 3 in the world standings and is returning to ProRodeo’s grand finale in December.
(PRCA PHOTO BY ROSEANNA SALES)
ProRodeo’s stars chasing the bucks at this year’s Utah’s Own Rodeo
SALT LAKE CITY – When competition starts at Utah’s Own Rodeo next week, there will be just 20 days remaining in the sport’s regular season.
This is a mad dash to the finish. The marathon that began Oct. 1, 2025, will be a sprint to the end as the biggest names in ProRodeo battle for those elusive 15 spots in the grand finale, the National Finals Rodeo. In a sport where dollars equal championship points, every penny counts.
More than 450 contestants entered the competition for Utah’s Own Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11; Saturday, Sept. 12; and Monday, Sept. 14, in the Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. Tickets can be purchased at UtahStateFair.com/tickets.
Why? The event features $10,000 in local dollars per event to be mixed with the contestants’ entry fees. When it’s combined, it will make the total purse. That’s $90,000 already in the kitty, making the state fair’s rodeo a significant stop on tour.
“By increasing that money, it’s got a lot more competitors,” said tie-down roper Justin Brinkeroff, 34, of Corrine, Utah. “I think it helps (contestants) feel like they get to compete at a bigger rodeo here in Salt Lake.”
The numbers add up to something special. Of those who are scheduled to compete, 82 have qualified for the NFR, a 10-day championship each December at Las Vegas, where the year’s titlists will be crowned.
The field includes 13 world champions who account for 22 gold buckles, men like all-around cowboy Shad Mayfield, a two-time titlist, bareback rider Tim O’Connell and team roping header Clay Tryan, both of whom own three. They’re expected to be part of the field on opening night.
That Friday night show will have 20 NFR qualifiers. Another 14 are set to compete during the Saturday evening performance, including bareback riding titlists Rocker Steiner and Jess Pope, and bronc riding champ Jesse Wright, one of six from the Utah Wright family who have earned gold buckles – combined, the Wrights have 18 between them. That night should also be highlighted by Rusty Wright, who leads the bronc riding world standings.
While Saturday night live might look like the best night for rodeo’s superstars, that actually falls Monday, the final night of this year’s rodeo, which will feature 34 NFR qualifiers and four world champions: Utah bareback rider Dean Thompson, tie-down roper Marcos Costa, barrel racer Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and 2026 PBR champion John Crimber, a PRCA rookie who is in line to make his first NFR. If he’s able to do that, he will be the first cowboy to make both the PBR World Finals and NFR in the same season since 2019.
The greatest to play the game follow the money, especially when the calendar turns to September. This is a great time for them to secure their spots in the NFR field, which is why Utah’s Own Rodeo is so valuable.
“That’s a lot of money for that committee to round up,” said Cash Robb, 23, the No. 3 steer wrestler in the world standings and the 2024 NFR average champion. “Kudos to them for wanting to get bigger. It’s awesome to see committees do everything they can to improve their rodeos so they can be one of those events guys want to go to.”