Culling stays consistent at NFR
LAS VEGAS – Forgive Stephen Culling if he was hoping for more from his first National Finals Rodeo. He’s placed six times, which is an incredible feat considering only the best in ProRodeo play on this stage, but he’s finished at or near the bottom five of those nights. His only five-figure payout came Sunday […]
Fast starts key for Anderson
LAS VEGAS – No matter how fast sprinter Usain Bolt is, he understands that a good start is the key to making a good run. Steer wrestlers compete similarly. They need to start fast to stop the clock in quick order, all while riding a fast horse that’s chasing a running steer. When Bridger Anderson […]
Devers gets 1st NFR check with win
LAS VEGAS – Cody Devers dreamed of this moment from the time he was a young child. After two National Finals Rodeo qualifications and 14 go-rounds in Las Vegas, the Perryton, Texas, took the victory lap inside the Thomas & Mack Center. He wrestled his steer to the ground in 3.5 seconds to win Friday’s […]
O’Connell in gunslinger mode
LAS VEGAS – Several weeks ago, the top 15 bareback riders in ProRodeo convened on a conference call to decide the bucking horses to be selected to the National Finals Rodeo. It’s a tough list to crack. This is the sport’s Super Bowl and World Series wrapped into a 10-day championship, and only the very […]
Pope closing in on 4th NFR title
LAS VEGAS – When he’s not on the rodeo trail, Jess Pope is quite comfortable working around his own place in eastern Kansas. He has a cow herd and also offers up his services for day work for other ranchers in the area. He’s a cowboy who knows the importance of handling his business. He’s […]
Larsen secures his first NFR check
LAS VEGAS – When things are askew in his personal life, Orin Larsen leans on his family and close friends. When things are wrong in rodeo, he does the same thing. Whether it’s conversations with his mom and dad or a phone call to one of his siblings, they help him maintain a strong attitude […]
Struxness rebounds with fast run
LAS VEGAS – In the heat of competition, there are things that happen that can knock someone off his perch. J.D. Struxness experienced that during Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. His steer didn’t take the fall as expected, so the Milan, Minnesota, cowboy tried to grab a leg and pull the animal […]
Anderson earns Round 8 victory
LAS VEGAS – Steer wrestler Bridger Anderson picked a good time to make the fastest run of his professional career. He stopped the clock in 3.3 seconds to win Thursday’s eighth round of the National Finals Rodeo, pocketing $30,706. That catapulted his Las Vegas earnings to nearly $85,000. What’s big is it was just his […]
Lees finds redemption at NFR
LAS VEGAS – Just qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo is a major accomplishment for bareback rider Jacob Lees. He finished the regular season 14th in the world standings to earn his spot during the 10-day championship, which takes place at the Thomas & Mack Center. There’s a learning curve when it comes to competing […]
Pope wins heavyweight fight
LAS VEGAS – Like those championship bouts that have made this city famous for decades, Jess Pope doesn’t mind scrapping. This isn’t a middleweight match of Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler from two decades ago. This is the reigning world champion bareback rider vs. 1,200 pounds of bucking muscle, and it took place Thursday night […]
Champion finds precious metal
LAS VEGAS – Every athlete knows that performing well doesn’t always translate into wins. Richmond Champion has that figured out after he picked up just his third paycheck of this year’s National Finals Rodeo. He matched moves with Three Hills Rodeo’s Tarnished Silver for 85.5 points and finished fourth during Thursday’s eighth round. “I feel […]
Culling places on Canada Night
LAS VEGAS – When Stephen Culling backs into the timed-event box to make his runs at the National Finals Rodeo, he has all the confidence necessary to win at an elite level. That’s why he’s here. He was one of the top 15 steer wrestlers in ProRodeo when the season closed Sept. 30, and he’s […]
Casper scores big in Round 8
LAS VEGAS – Sometimes in rodeo, it only takes one ride to make a change. That came for saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper after Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. He was just 74 points on King Rodeo & Wentz Bucking Bulls’ Popeye, and he knew things needed to turn around. Fast forward […]
Culling stays steady at NFR
LAS VEGAS – Slowly but surely, steer wrestler Stephen Culling is making money at the National Finals Rodeo. ProRodeo’s grand finale offers a purse of $100,000 per day, and it’s paid out to the top six places in descending order: Round winners earn the most, $30,706. Culling has been among the leaders four times in […]
Aus wins special morning round
LAS VEGAS – It doesn’t take long to turn everything around when things go right at the National Finals Rodeo. Tanner Aus has been in this situation before. He’d placed only once heading into Wednesday morning’s special performance, but he changed his perception on his week with an 87-point ride on Flying U Rodeo’s Little […]
Cowboys are giving back
Fundraising event to give portion to Montero Foundation LAS VEGAS – Rodeo is not only wildly fascinating and action-packed; it’s driven by passion. Cowboys play the game because of the rush they get and the people they meet. Bareback riders are the warriors, the men who wedge their specially designed gloves into a rigging that […]
Clements is having his best NFR
LAS VEGAS – It’s been six years since Mason Clements made his National Finals Rodeo debut, and his first year was his best year. Until now. Through Wednesday morning’s sixth round, Clements has placed four times and earned more than $85,000 in the process. He won Sunday’s first round, then nabbed paydays the next three, […]
O’Connell finally gets paid at NFR
LAS VEGAS – Three-time world champion bareback rider Tim O’Connell scored a little redemption during the seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo. “That’s the horse that actually threw me off in 2021, which was the first time I’d been thrown off a horse in about 88 rounds here at the National Finals Rodeo,” O’Connell […]
Casper places in another round
LAS VEGAS – Saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper has been looking for his opportunity to show off. He got it during a special Wednesday morning performance of the National Finals Rodeo, riding Legacy Pro Rodeo’s Jitter Bug for 85 points, good enough for fifth in the sixth go-round, worth just shy of $8,000. “That horse […]
Aus has a $40,000 day at NFR
LAS VEGAS – It’s not often that a cowboy can say they got on three elite bucking horses in one day. Tanner Aus can. His first came Wednesday morning during the sixth round of the National Finals Rodeo. His initial mount didn’t have a good day, so he was offered a re-ride so he had […]
Culling slides into Round 6 check
LAS VEGAS – The times are fast at the National Finals Rodeo every year. Even though he’s never played on this stage, Stephen Culling knew what to expect. He wanted to be one of the fastest steer wrestlers in the field, and earning a spot among the top 15 is a major accomplishment. He has […]
Pope still shining brightly at NFR
LAS VEGAS – Not many people in rodeo are more consistent at the National Finals Rodeo than bareback rider Jess Pope. He’s won the last three NFR average titles and is the reigning world champion, and he’s done it with a steady run of success since he first qualified in 2020. There’s more proof, though: […]
Pope scores big on electric horse
LAS VEGAS – When a bolt of lightning fires, it can send shockwaves. Reigning world champion bareback rider Jess Pope got to experience that with Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks. The dark sorrel mare provided enough electricity to help produce an 88.5-point ride and push Pope to a third-place finish in Tuesday’s fifth round of […]
Casper returns to NFR payday
LAS VEGAS – When the best broncs in the world are featured at the National Finals Rodeo, everyone expects big moments and even bigger scores. Saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper was in the mix, riding Calgary Stampede’s Xena Warrior for 87.5 points to finish in a tie for fourth place in Tuesday’s fifth round. That […]