Continuity is key for local rodeo
Tie-down roper Cory Solomon grew up roping at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead, Texas. In October 2012, he was heading to his second straight National Finals Rodeo. He just roped at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo this past week and is heading to his 11th NFR in December. Just like the Hempstead rodeo, Solomon has been a fixture in ProRodeo for 16 years. (PHOTO BY JAMES PHIFER) HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Waller County Fair Board members firmly believe that consistency breeds success. It’s something the board has hung its hat on over most of the last two decades and has been the foundation behind capital campaigns and increasing attendance of its annual exposition. The Waller County Fair and Rodeo wrapped its 82nd edition this past Saturday night. Cohesion is also why there were more than 600 entries into this year’s ProRodeo and why so many of the sport’s superstars want to kick off each new campaign in Hempstead every year. This area of Texas is rich in rodeo history, and Waller County likes to celebrate it. “When we started our PRCA rodeo 16 years ago, we just had a vision of what we wanted,” said Clint Sciba, co-chairman of the fair board’s rodeo committee. “The idea was to bring in the best people in rodeo to help us make that vision a reality, and that’s what has happened. We got the best stock contractor in rodeo with Pete Carr. We’ve got the best announcer in Andy Stewart. “They’ve been here since our first year, and most of the other personnel has been here a very long time. When you have that kind of continuity, it helps everything run smoothly.” Relationships were formed in 2011, the first year of ProRodeo in Waller County. They’ve cemented over the years since, and trust is shared between all involved. It’s similar to how the fair’s volunteers continue to show up time after time, handling the labor it takes to produce an event of this magnitude. “It comes down to trusting everyone you’re working with,” said Paul Shollar, another co-chairman of the rodeo committee. “We’ve got the best professionals rodeo has to offer. They come here to do a job, and they do it very well. I’m proud to say we put on a great rodeo every year.” The Waller County Fair Association was created in 1945 and serves the communities within the county’s borders. The primary mission is on youth, and the livestock shows and other exhibits are important factors in the expo’s success. The other activities – rodeo-related events, the carnival and the various concerts – are attractions to help entice fair-goers. The goal is to provide members of the community with 10 days of entertainment while focusing resources toward the county’s young people. It takes a dedicated team of volunteers that work year-round to make it happen on a yearly basis. A core group has been instrumental to the fair’s development over the last decade and a half, and that faction has led to many positive changes in that time. The group has worked closely with major donors and sponsors to build this exposition and the facilities. Everything continues to work seamlessly. This year, the event is a finalist for the Texas Circuit Medium Rodeo Committee of the Year; it’s an honor that proves the point “The recognition is great, but we’ve been building this for Waller County,” Sciba said. “None of this happens without people who work together for a greater cause.”
The calls make rodeo better
Scott Grover grew up dreaming about being involved in rodeo. The dream hasn’t changed; he’s just living it now. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) Scott Grover is living his dream as an elite ProRodeo announcer CAMDEN POINT, Mo. – Growing up in Morrowville, Kansas, Scott Grover had a young man’s dreams pouring through his adolescent mind. His visions were shaped by rodeo, a sport built in the rugged West that continues to hold centuries-old traditions and the best mix of a working man and an athlete. He was captivated by it and even tried his hand at competition. “I was probably influenced the most by growing up going to rodeos that Jimmy Crowther put on,” said Grover, one of ProRodeo’s featured announcers. “I didn’t know that you could have a rodeo in Kansas without Jimmy Crowther being the stock contractor and Rex Bugby picking up. Those were the greatest memories that I have. “Max Stoll was a rodeo announcer, and he was the guy I grew up listening to. He had a tractor shop and also lived outside Manhattan (Kansas), and I would go up there and sit for hours in his office. We would just talk rodeo and other things. I had no Idea I was going to learn from that guy throughout my time, but he really gave me the kind of start where I was thinking that being an announcer was going to be cool.” Many boys have envisioned being professional athletes like George Brett or Joe Montana, and some followed that passion through high school. Most never played beyond those Friday Night Lights, but those that did were living their dreams. Grover’s eyes were fixed on the broncs, fast horses and raging bulls, describing them while entertaining fans. By the time he graduated college – first at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska, then Kansas State University in Manhattan – he’d already been working on his craft. In 2005, he stepped onto the sport’s biggest stage as a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and Grover has continued to climb in status year after year. “The biggest thing that’s changed since I first started is how much I thought I loved rodeo compared to how much I truly love rodeo,” he said. “I love the lifestyle that I’m able to raise my family in it. I’m literally living my dream. How many people can say that in their lifetime that this is what they dreamed of and this is what they get to do? “This is the culmination things where I took a risk, I tried it and it worked out. I’ve never looked back since.” The windshield is bigger than the rear-view mirror for a reason. Over the last two decades, Grover has emceed some of the biggest events in the sport. He’s been one of the voices for the Professional Bull Riders World Finals, the PRCA’s National Circuit Finals, the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping and has been named the Announcer of the Year by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. He also works annually at some of the most recognized events in ProRodeo, like the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City, Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene, Kansas, and the Will Rogers Stampede in Claremore, Oklahoma. “The coolest thing is getting to share the stories of the cowboys and the horses and my love for the sport,” said Grover, who lives outside Weston with his wife, Becky, and their three children when the family isn’t on the rodeo trail. “I’ve always been a fan of guys like Joe Buck and those people that you can truly tell they love the sports they talk about. “For me to be able to talk about all the things I grew up wanting to be is probably the main reason I love it.” His family is along for the ride. Whether he’s announcing in South Dakota or his native Kansas, the rest of his clan is likely with him. “That’s one of the things that makes it easier for me to do my job,” he said. “My biggest fans are my wife and those three kids. When I get done with the show or I ride out or walk out of the arena, it’s the hug that comes next. That’s the most important part of the night. “Rodeos know when they hire me, they get the whole circus.” That lifestyle doesn’t come without pitfalls. They pack themselves into a bus that pulls a horse trailer and head out on the road. Home may be in Oklahoma one week and 1,000 miles away the next. As the children grow older, they get involved in other activities. “It’s becoming harder to stay together all the time with the kids being involved in gymnastics or starting to do rodeo or other things like that,” Grover said. “That’s something Becky and I made a pact on when we got married and started having kids: We were going to do this together as much as we could. “I try to have them on the road as much as I can, and they’ve grown up at all these rodeos that I do. The committees know them, so that’s been a very special part of my journey.” Another aspect of that venture is time and experience. Grover has developed his own style and voice, and it’s become prominent in the game. Much has changed since his first performance in Claremore in 2005, both within himself and within the sport. “It’s crazy, because the guys that I looked up to when I was a kid or when I started announcing … I’m starting to announce their kids,” he said. “It makes you feel a little bit old, but it’s cool to watch that next group come along. “The greatest part of my job is that sometimes I get to introduce my heroes.”
Thompson building ’27 resume
Dean Thompson, who missed a good portion of the 2026 regular season, is off to a hot start in 2027 after winning the bareback riding title at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. With the win, he also recieved an automatic bid into RodeoHouston next March. (PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER) HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Dean Thompson will likely never forget 2026, but he’s glad the ProRodeo calendar has moved on to next year. Coming off his third straight qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, Thompson had big expectations for the season that concluded Wednesday. He was building the momentum necessary to return to Las Vegas for the fourth consecutive December, then his world came out from under him. In April, he was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a rare and fast-growing cancer. Thompson immediately sought treatment, which lasted three months. By the time he was cancer-free, he had already entered his first ProRodeo in Oregon. Within a month, Thompson was winning again. It’s time to move on, which is just what he’s doing in southeast Texas. During Saturday’s final performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, Thompson rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Scarlet Dunn It for 86.5 points to win the bareback riding championship. With it came a payday worth $1,997, but there was another reward that might just be bigger. “That was big for my confidence,” said Thompson, the 2024 world champion who also advanced into the field at RodeoHouston next March since the Hempstead rodeo served as a qualifier to one of the highest-paying regular-season events in the PRCA. “I’m excited. I felt like those first couple of jumps, I was a little reserved because I thought there’s a story to this horse. “When I saw that I’d drawn that horse, the first thing I did was look up the 90-point ride from this summer. What I saw was a horse that was popping, just a rank, freaking awesome horse.” He watched other videos and noticed something else. On his way to Waller County, Thompson noticed that the horse had moments where it was more of an “eliminator,” the kind of horse that can get a cowboy down in a hurry. He prepared his mind and body for that moment. “Those first couple of jumps, I was really expecting this horse to go out there and be the eliminator that I’d seen, and she kind of turned out to the right,” he said. “Finally at about six seconds in, I realized she was going to stay right here, and then she started swooping and ducking and mad. It was just a good test for me.” He’s been tested a lot this year, from chemotherapy to exhaustion to getting back to the game he has craved. He scored 92.5 points in late August to win in Tremonton, Utah, and realized that his body just wasn’t quite ready to handle the riggers of riding bucking horses. He needed to build his muscles and his stamina to handle 1,200 pounds of bucking dynamite on a regular basis. He’s getting back to his world championship form, and he’s excited to continue to gain strength by the time he rolls into Houston in five months. He finished the 2026 regular season 41st on the money list, and only a handful of the top finishers will earn the bids to compete at Reliant Stadium. Thompson needed to fast-track his opportunity. “That’s why I’m down here,” he said of the opening event of the 2027 regular season. “You had to be top five in the world or win a Houston qualifier, and you can never count on being top five with these guys that are rodeoing that hard. You have to give yourself every chance. I’m down here to qualify for these winter rodeos and set myself up to make it to Houston.” RodeoHouston’s top prize of $65,000 per event is plenty of incentive for the sport’s biggest stars to find their way to the Bayou City. In a sport where dollars equal championship points, every penny is valuable. “If you can win Houston, then you’re well on your way to making the finals,” Thompson said. “It’s a huge head start.” Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 2-4 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Dean Thompson, 86.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Scarlet Dunn It, $1,997; 2. (tie) Kade Berry and Lane McGehee, 84, $1,331 each; 4. Brayze Schill, 82.5, $732; 5. Colt Eck, 81, $466; 6. Toby Deudney, 80.5, $333; 7. Matt McLanahan, 79, $266; 8. (tie) Bodee Lammers and Kash Loyd, 78, $100 each. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Cody Harmon and Cameron Haumea, 3.8 seconds, $2,256 each; 3. (tie) Austin Hurlburt and Tristan Martin, 4.0, $1,692 each; 5. (tie) Emmett Edler, Logan Mullin and Justin Shaffer, 4.2, $1,269 each; 8. (tie) Jacob Daniell, Colin Fox and Rhett Witt, 4.3, $799 each. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Kincade Henry, Lane Livingston and Clint Singleton, 8.0 seconds, $2,693 each; 4. Lane Webb, 8.2, $1,975; 5. (tie) James Collins Jr., Cash Enderli and Shad Mayfield, 8.5, $1,616 each; 8. Shane Hanchey, 8.6, $1,257; 9. Landyn Duncan, 8.7, $1,077; 10. (tie) Jarvis Demery and Austin Hurlburt, 8.9, $359 each. Breakaway roping: 1. Kirby Rawlinson, 1.8 seconds, $4,719; 2. (tie) Jordi Edens-Mitchell, Rylee A George and Aspen Miller, 2.1, $3,067 each; 5. (tie) Jade Mitchell, Tiffany Schieck and Loni Kay Yates, 2.2, $1,494 each; 8. Hadley Thompson, 2.3, $1,062; 9. Macy Hancock, 2.4, $944; 10. (tie) Bailey Gubert, Taylor Jones and Amy Ohrt, 2.5, $708 each; 13. (tie) Rylie Edens and Samantha Kingsbury, 2.6, $413 each; 15. (tie) Stephanie Braman, Amber Crawford and Rainey Skelton, 2.7, $79 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Ethan Cart, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Full Moon, Ira Dickinson, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Downtown, and Wyatt Lavergne, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret Agent, 84.5 points, $1,711 each; 4. (tie) Carson Bingham and Thayne Elshere, 83, $660 each; 6. Cole Futrell, 82.5, $367; 7. Ryder Sanford, 82, $293; 8. Tucker Bourdet, 81,
Baker makes bull ride count
Bull rider Kristopher Baker rides Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s East Texas Gangs for 81 points Friday night to take the lead at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. (PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER) HEMPSTEAD, Texas – For the past two seasons, Kristopher Baker has been testing the waters in ProRodeo as a permit-holder. In order to play on the biggest stages in the sport, cowboys must perform on their permits until they earn enough money to qualify for their PRCA card, which allows them the opportunity to battle in the world standings. That’s where Baker has been, but he’s got big plans, and he’s hoping to gain momentum to build toward the dreams he’s had most of his life. During Friday’s second performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, he rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s East Texas Gangs for 81 points, the only bull rider to last a qualifying eight seconds through two nights of rodeo in Hempstead. “When I got my (random) draw Monday or Tuesday, I looked him up and seen he’d only been ridden once,” said Baker, 20, of Coldspring, Texas. “I looked up some videos of him on The Cowboy Channel, and I knew he was real good, he was going to fit me. I couldn’t waste the opportunity.” So far so good. Of the 22 bull riders who have competed over the opening two nights of rodeo at the Waller County Fairgrounds, Baker is the only one to conquer the demon. He’ll have to wait out the 16 cowboys that are scheduled to ride Saturday night to see how he finishes. For now, though, he’ll take the top spot and run with it. Not only does the rodeo in Hempstead pay top dollar, it’s also a qualifier for RodeoHouston, which takes place next March. All winners from Waller County earn an automatic bid to compete next spring in Reliant Stadium. “I want to go to Houston,” said Baker, a graduate of Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. “I’m about to buy my rookie card in a few days, and I was just trying to make some money to do that. Hopefully, we go to Houston, and I’ll take all that money there. “I’m going to go and see if it works out and trust in the Lord and hope He makes my plan come true.” Faith is an important part of Baker’s competitive nature. Riding bulls is a dangerous business, and he’s able to approach the game with a positive mindset because of his trust in God. “I jut have the faith in Him that He’s going to let me walk away and He’s going to allow me to do what I need to do each and every day,” he said. Baker has been competing on bucking animals for much of his life. In youth rodeo, it starts with calves, then cowboys graduate to steers before getting on bulls. He’s ready to continue building his confidence and his resume, and this is where it starts. Should he finish among the top eight in Hempstead, it will mark the first time since early July that he’s earned a payday riding bulls. He understands that bulls will win most of the time, but persistence pays off. “I always love being in competition, and I love every aspect of it,” Baker said. “I love being around people and all the family and friends I have. I’ve made more friends and family in this industry than anything I could have ever done.” Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 2-4 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Lane McGehee, 84 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Marie; 2. Brayze Schill, 82.5; 3. Colt Eck, 81; 4. Toby Deudney, 80.5; 5. Matt McLanahan, 79; 6. (tie) Bodee Lammers and Kash Loyd, 78; 8. Blayn Hughston, 74.5 Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Cody Harmon and Cameron Haumea, 3.8 seconds; 3. (tie) Austin Hurlburt and Tristan Martin, 4.0; 5. (tie) Emmett Edler, Logan Mullin and Justin Shaffer, 4.2; 8. (tie) Jacob Daniell, Colin Fox and Rhett Witt, 4.3. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Kincade Henry, Lane Livingston and Clint Singleton, 8.0 seconds; 4. Lane Webb, 8.2; 5. (tie) James Collins Jr., Cash Enderli and Shad Mayfield, 8.5; 8. Landyn Duncan, 8.7. Breakaway roping: 1. Kirby Rawlinson, 1.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Rylee A George, Jordi Edens-Mitchell and Aspen Miller, 2.1 each; 5. (tie) Jade Mitchell, Tiffany Schieck and Loni Kay Yates, 2.2; 8. Hadley Thompson, 2.3; 9. (tie) Bailey Gubert, Taylor Jones and Amy Ohrt, 2.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Ethan Cart, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Full Moon, Ira Dickinson, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Downtown, and Wyatt Lavergne, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret Agent, 84.5 points; 4. (tie) Carson Bingham and Thayne Elshere, 83; 6. Cole Futrell, 82.5; 7. Will Pollock, 80.5; 8. Blake Starrett, 78.5. Team roping: 1. (tie) Brenten Hall/Jake Clay and Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 4.4 seconds; 3. Treyden Larmon/Tyler Hutchins, 4.9; 4. Wyatt Bray/Sid Sporer, 5.0; 5. Denton Parish/Brock Borkman, 5.1; 6. (tie) Jeff Kanady/Caden Beatty and Cole Thomas/Boogie Ray, 5.2; 8. Kody Harrell/Kinney Harrell, 5.3. Barrel racing: 1. Morgan Addison, 15.25 seconds; 2. Emma Parr, 15.33; 3. Abby Fields, 15.37; 4. Ceily Simpton, 15.40; 5. (tie) Gracen Harman and London Lyne, 15.44; 7. Brittany Fellows, 15.46; 8. Tiany Schuster, 15.48; 9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.50; 10. Kaycee Killingsworth, 15.56; 11. Taylor Baize, 15.58; 12. Carlee Otero, 15.61; 13. Shelley Morgan and Sherri Reagan, 15.62; 15. Acey Pinkston, 15.63. Bull riding: 1. Kristopher Baker, 81 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s East Texas Gangs; no other qualified rides.
Knudsen lives cowboy way
Over his lifetime in rodeo, Jesse Knudsen has worn many hats. His forte is as a music director and announcer, and he’s where he flourishes. (PHOTO BY DAVE McKISSICK) Wisconsin man takes a different approach to the rodeo road MANAWA, Wis. – Deep in the chest of Jesse Knudsen sits the heart of a cowboy. He may wear trucker hat a lot of the time, and his saddle involves a couple of laptops and a sound board, but that’s for comfort. He can handle himself astride a horse or nursing a sick momma cow back to health. Rodeo is a lifestyle for Knudsen, but it’s also a livelihood. He takes to the game much differently than his younger years, when he was a competitor, a stockman, a bullfighter … you name it, and he’s probably done it or at least tried it. These days, he’s a music director and announcer, lending his voice and his talents to help keep audiences entertained. In fact, he was selected to be the music director at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping for the second time and the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo for the second straight year. “My job as an announcer is a lot of storytelling, and I guess a little of that is involved in being a music director,” said Knudsen of Manawa. “The crowd believes whatever we say, so when you tell a story about a contestant where last Saturday, he was in Okeechobee, Florida, and today he’s riding for you in Los Fresnos, Texas, that instantly adds credibility to that contestant we’re talking about.” It’s not just a belief; it’s a mindset he hangs his hat on, and it’s just one of many reasons why others in his line of work have asked him to be the group’s representative on the Contract Personnel Executive Council, a post for which he is now serving a fifth term. With that task, he serves as the voice for others, then passes along their thoughts to Josh Edwards, the PRCA board’s personnel director. It’s just one of many hats he wears. He has them in a variety, from cowboy hat to ball cap, of which most proudly display “920,” a tip of the hat, if you will, for the area code to his hometown. No matter where he is in the world, he always has home on his mind. That’s where his passion for rodeo began. His father, Don, was heavily involved in the sport, serving on the Little Britches of Wisconsin board and being the livestock director and flank man. The bucking bulls found a home at the Knudsen house. Don Knudsen was also flankman for Rodeo’s Incorporated, which was owned by ProRodeo Hall of Fame member Mel Potter. Knudsen was 8 the first time he entered a rodeo, but he had already spent his early life around it. He rode saddle broncs and bulls through high school, college and early in his professional career. He fought bulls, was a pickup man, worked the back pens and pulled gates. He’s even been a rodeo judge. “I think all of that helped me do what I do today,” Knudsen said. “I’ve been in the position those contestants have been in. I know what it’s like getting on an 1,800-pound bull, and I know how music can help influence my attitude. I know how the announcer can help instill confidence in me the way he is building you up or by the way the music’s playing. “I know I enjoyed hearing what the announcer is saying and what music is being played, so I try to translate that into my experiences.”
Schill leads in familiar place
Bareback rider Brayze Schill rides Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Blue Wake for 82.5 points to take the early lead at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. (PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER) HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Just four years ago, the Waller County Fair Board rebuilt and rebranded its rodeo arena, putting a roof over the top of it so the facility could be used year-round. It came in handy during Thursday’s first performance of the PRCA rodeo at the Waller County Fairgrounds. Even with recurring deluges of rain, the covering offered a nice respite for all inside to either watch the action or be part of it. Bareback rider Brayze Schill has ridden in the mud inside the same complex many times before. He rode Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Blue Wake for 82.5 points to take the early lead in Hempstead. “I actually came to youth rodeos over here that were put on by the Cannon family,” said Schill, 21, from West Columbia, Texas, a community of 3,600 people about 80 miles south of Hempstead. “They put on a youth rodeo here every weekend when I was growing up, so I’ve spent a lot of time in this arena before it had a cover. “We’ve rode ponies in the mud here many times before.” He may have trudged through a little mud and a lot of wet ground to get inside the complex, but he was plenty comfortable once it was time to compete. He rode the powerful bay to take the lead with two nights remaining. “I knew that was a pretty good horse,” he said of Blue Wake. “I knew I had a pretty good chance of winning. I just had to show up and do my job right and get it done.” Schill is a bit of a hybrid. Not only does he compete in ProRodeo, he’s also attending Sam Houston State University on a rodeo scholarship. Just two weekends ago, he won the bareback riding title at the first intercollegiate event of the Southern Region in Panola, Texas. “This past year was pretty rough for me,” Schill said. “I broke my leg, and last (2025) summer was pretty slow. This year, my winter started off pretty slow, so I stayed fairly close to the house to work some and rodeo close to here to save up some money so I can go hard for (the 2027 season).” He’s timed it well. The 2026 regular season concluded Wednesday, so the next season’s run of rodeos started Oct. 1. Whatever earnings he claims in Hempstead will count toward qualifications in 2027. “So, 2027 is my year, and so far, we’re starting it off pretty good,” he said. He needs a good jump start to build his credentials. Every event titlist at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo earns an automatic qualification into RodeoHouston, one of the sport’s highest-paying regular-season events that takes place each March. Money earned in Reliant Stadium can go a long way toward world championships. In fact, of the nine RodeoHouston Champions, all but one have qualified for the 2026 National Finals Rodeo – the only holdout suffered a serious injury this year and missed most of the season with it. “We’re going to make the NFR this year, and it will be my first NFR,” Schill said. “We’re going to speak it into existence.” Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 2-4 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Brayze Schill, 82.5 points on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Blue Wake; 2. Toby Deudney, 80.5; 3. (tie) Bodee Lammers and Kash Loyd, 78 each; 5. Blayn Hughston, 74.5; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Cody Harmon and Cameron Haumea, 3.8 seconds; 3. (tie) Austin Hurlburt and Tristan Martin, 4.0; 5. Justin Shaffer, 4.2; 6. (tie) Jacob Daniell, Colin Fox and Rhett Witt, 4.3; 8. (tie) Grant Peterson and Brayden Tanner, 4.6. Team roping: 1. (tie) Brenten Hall/Jake Clay and Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 4.4 seconds; 3. Wyatt Bray/Sid Sporer, 5.0; 4. Denton Parish/Brock Borkman, 5.1; 5. (tie) Jeff Kanady/Caden Beatty and Cole Thomas/Boogie Ray, 5.2; 7. Kody Harrell/Kinney Harrell, 5.3; 8. Conley Kleinhans/Kyler Kanady, 5.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Ethan Cart, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Full Moon, Ira Dickinson, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Downtown, and Wyatt Lavergne, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret Agent, 84.5 points; 4. Zane Magner, 76; 5. Blaise Freeman, 74.5; 6. Warwick Southern, 72; 7. Dane McPhail, 70; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Kincade Henry and Lane Livingston, 8.0 seconds; 3. Lane Webb, 8.2; 4. (tie) James Collins Jr., Cash Enderli and Shad Mayfield, 8.5; 7. Landyn Duncan, 8.7; 8. (tie) Austin Hurlburt and Jarvis Demery, 8.9. Breakaway roping: 1. Kirby Rawlinson, 1.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Rylee A George and Aspen Miller, 2.1 each; 4. (tie) Jade Mitchell and Loni Kay Yates, 2.2; 6. Hadley Thompson, 2.3; 7. (tie) Bailey Gubert, Taylor Jones and Amy Ohrt, 2.5; 10. (tie) Samantha Kingsbury and Rylie Edens. Barrel racing: 1. Morgan Addison, 15.25 seconds; 2. Emma Parr, 15.33; 3. Abby Fields, 15.37; 4. Ceily Simpton, 15.40; 5. (tie) Gracen Harman and London Lyne, 15.44; 7. Brittany Fellows, 15.46; 8. Tiany Schuster, 15.48; 9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.50; 10. Kaycee Killingsworth, 15.56; 11. Shelley Morgan and Sherri Reagan, 15.62; 13. Acey Pinkston, 15.63; 14. Jennifer Driver, 15.66; 15. Lauren Davang, 15.68. Bull riding: No qualified rides.
Updated payout makes sense
TWISTED RODEO ANALYSIS The initial scan of the 2026 National Finals Rodeo payout seems to show a decrease, but don’t let your eyes fool you. The overall go-round purse has increased by nearly $77,000 per night, $9,615 per event. The top number is what everyone sees, though; if it looks deflated, that’s because it is. A year ago, round winners grabbed $36,668 for each of the 10 nights. This year, that figure is $33,893. It’s not a negative, though – far from it. The main reason comes with the inclusion in who gets paid. For more than three decades, NFR go-rounds paid the top six places. Starting this year, that number increases to eight. That means on average, at least 53 percent of the field will be paid each night. More than half will earn money. That’s a good thing. “It’s going to pay just a tick under what it did last year, which is still over $30,000 for eight seconds,” said Tim O’Connell, a three-time world champion bareback rider who serves as an analyst on Cowboy+ broadcasts when he’s not competing. “When you come to the National Finals, you have the most elite athletes in the world with the most elite stock in the world. “I’ve been on the side where you can draw no wrong and you can ride no wrong, and you make huge amounts of money very quickly. I’ve also been on the other side of that, where you start cold, then you have to work your way back in and don’t make as much money out there even though you’re riding good.” O’Connell talked about nights when he finished just out of the money, in that seventh- and eighth-place range. He made no money on those nights, but he was still riding well. The competition at the NFR might be the most intense of the season. “The main reason for it passing was just trying to get all 15 guys more money,” said Riley Duvall, now a five-time NFR qualifier who is the PRCA’s steer wrestling event director. “If you make the finals, you should not be leaving in the hole (financially). “There have been multiple guys throughout the years that have left Vegas down on money, did not win anything. Hopefully now, though, the lowest guy leaves there with $20,000-something.” Each of the 120 spots earns a $10,000 qualifying bonus that counts toward world standings. Stetson Wright, for example, earns that in both events in which he competes. That bonus, though, is typically gone before the players arrive, spent on tickets for family for each of the 10 days of the championship. If a contestant fails to finish in the money over that stretch, he or she will go home empty-handed. “I don’t see the downside to us expanding this to eight places,” Duvall said. “First place still pays $33,000 and next year should go back to $36,000. Vegas is going to keep up the money. I see on Facebook some (people) are already complaining, but it’s going to be more guys making more money. In the bulldogging, that means the hazers make more money and the guys that own horses will make more money.” In the breakdown, the top three holes in go-round payout will see a deficit from last year: First place: $2,775 decreased from last year. Second place: $1,482 less Third place: $140 less You read that right. Combined, the top three spots will drop $4,397. The margins turn beginning at fourth place, though, and the money goes up: Fourth place: $610 more Fifth Place: $2,048 more Sixth place: $2,399 more That’s a $5,057 gain in what has been paid to the bottom three places. In essence, the payout for the top six is an increase, and then seventh and eighth place will be able to cash in to the tune of almost $9,000; seventh place will pay $5,755, and eighth will be $3,197. Take bareback rider Bradlee Miller, for example. At the 2025 NFR, Miller placed three times and finished seventh in the average. He earned $42,582 for his 10 days. Had the new pay scale been implemented, he would have placed on seven nights and reeled in $64,248. That’s substantial, and it’s the reason the PRCA made the change. “I knew there’d be some backlash, because there were a few bulldoggers that didn’t like it,” Duvall said. “I just don’t see a problem if more guys are making more money. We’re going to leave the average where it’s at for a while – I think it pays plenty – so we’re just working on building the rounds.” O’Connell sees the positives. “Paying eight is very similar to the rodeos we compete at during the regular season against 45 guys or 60 guys,” he said. “The NFR is the cream of the crop. There is no room for error. Even if you want that eighth-place check, you’d better be bringing it every night anyway. “I think it’s going to play into the world-title race at the end of the year, too. I think that’s good. I think that creates drama for the sport. Does the No. 1 guy in the world like that? Probably not, but at the end of the day, how it shakes out is how it shakes out. “It’s just good for everybody.”
Bubble will burst in Sioux Falls
Saddle bronc rider Damian Brennan is trying to hold on to the 15th spot if not move up a little in the world standings. Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup will help decide who will find themselves inside the bubble by the time the regular season ends. (PRCA PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN) The Governor’s Cup will help solidify this year’s NFR qualifiers SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Damian Brennan is starring in the role of a swashbuckler, protecting the castle from every intruder. Brennan is the No. 15 saddle bronc riding in the ProRodeo world standings, and he’s trying to stave off a list of contenders for his precious placement on the money list; Brennan’s only weapon is his ability to spur bucking horses. He’ll pull his sword and slash away during the Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup, presented by Texas Precious Metals, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 25-Saturday, Sept. 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. So far this season, Brennan has earned $145,962. If he holds par and maintains his status, he’ll join the other 14 bronc busters as qualifiers for the National Finals Rodeo. Of course, he’d like to move up a few spots and save himself the angst, and that’s certainly possible at The Governor’s Cup. Men like No. 16 Zac Dallas, No. 17 Brody Cress and No. 18 Statler Wright are hiding just beyond the portcullis protecting the entryway to Brennan’s fortress. Dallas is the closest, about $8,800 behind, while Wright and Cress are about $20,000 out. Others in the mix at Sioux Falls have placed their sights on Brennan as the target. This is what the Cinch Playoffs is all about and why having its championship event is vital for the season. “When you think of playoff football, two teams in NFC and two teams in the AFC are battling it out in the championship games; one of them has got to win to go to the Super Bowl,” said Garrett Yerigan, who will emcee the rodeo with Boyd Polhamus. “There’s a similar narrative to what we’re doing. “When you’re in those situations where you are 16th – and in some events, you could go down to 25th – it is so tight. It’s going to come down to Sioux Falls to see who will make the NFR.” The tournament-style format will feature two initial go-rounds, which will pay its winners $12,533. The top eight in the two-round aggregate will advance to Sunday’s semifinals, and the best four scores or times from that round will move on to the championship shootout. The cowboy or cowgirl who does the best on his or her final run will earn $34,000. In a sport where money equals points, the difference between making or missing the NFR is small. Like all the others, Brennan knows this. He suffered injuries this season, and time away from elite competition meant he wasn’t making the kind of money he had hoped. Even toward the end of the season with so much on the line, there have been some other extenuating circumstances, too. He left the rodeo trail Aug. 9 and went home to Injune, Queensland, to be with his wife, Jessie, for the birth of their first child, a little girl named Kaia Lolly born Aug. 15. He returned to the game two weeks ago and has snared a little more than $8,000 at five rodeos. Others have been collecting cash, too. That’s why making it to Sioux Falls has been so critical for Brennan. There are other bubble storylines that come with The Governor’s Cup, whether it’s four breakaway ropers sitting outside the top 15 with hope of sneaking in or South Dakota steer wrestler Eli Lord hoping to move just one spot and earn his first NFR qualification. Lord, 32, sits 16th in the world standings with $108,597. He’s just $789 behind the No. 15 man, Will Lummus, but holds just a $281 lead over Justin Shaffer, the 17th-ranked bulldogger. Just $2,000 behind Shaffer is Dalton Massey. All but Lummus will be in Sioux Falls. Virtually every event has a bubble race. If contestants finish among the top 15 when the regular season closes Sept. 30, they’re inside the bubble and can safely make their NFR plans for December in Las Vegas. If they’re on the outside, though, it’s time to pack things up and head home, missing out on a $13.5 million payday and a shot at a world championship. “That $34,000 payday for the winners on Sunday is going to be huge,” Yerigan said.
Cowboys spur toward money
Kade Sonnier is excited to show his stuff along with the other 11 bareback riders who will be in the field during the Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup, which takes place Friday-Sunday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (PRCA PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN) The Governor’s Cup bareback riders chasing every dollar SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kade Sonnier is a motivated soul. He’s a rodeo athlete, so he has to be. There is no employer lurking over his work station. He is the boss, and his daily assignments revolve around riding bareback horses for a living. He’s pretty good at it, too. Sonnier is having the best regular season of his career and will be part of an elite field at the Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup, presented by Texas Precious Metals, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 25-Saturday, Sept. 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. “Making it to Sioux Falls is one of the goals you create for yourself at the beginning of the year,” said Sonnier, the fourth-ranked bareback rider in the world standings. “There’s so much money on the line there. It’s so tough. This will be the third time I’ve been there, and I haven’t made the short round yet. I’m looking forward to that this year.” For much of the summer, Sonnier was the top dog in the PRCA’s Playoff Series bareback riding standings. He held that spot until this past weekend, when 2022 world champion Jess Pope shot into the lead with top-five finishes at the final two tour rodeos of the 2026 campaign. Both men have secured their qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo, which takes place Dec. Dec. 3-12 in Las Vegas. While Sonnier is No. 4, Pope is third, about $14,000 ahead. Texan Bradlee Miller holds the lead on the money list with more than $290,000, and Jacob Lees is second with about $223,000. For them and a handful of others, competition in Sioux Falls is about putting themselves in better position to win a world championship when they battle in the Nevada desert in a couple months. Others, though, are still battling for a spot at the NFR, the sport’s grand finale. Take Clayton Biglow, the 2019 world champion from Clements, California. He enters this week 15th on the money list, the bottom spot in the standings to qualify for the NFR. Biglow made it eight straight years beginning in 2016, the year he was named Resistol Rookie of the Year, but he hasn’t been back in Sin City since 2023. He’s eager to return, and The Governor’s Cup could be the remedy. “It’s a clean slate when you get there,” said Sonnier, now a three-time NFR qualifier from Carencro, Louisiana. “All the points are gone, so it’s those 12 guys trying to win the money.” Money is vital in rodeo. Not only will it go toward filling tanks with diesel that’s running an average of $6.50 per gallon, dollars equal championship points. The contestants in each event with the most money earned through mid-December will be crowned world champions. There is big cash up for grabs at The Governor’s Cup. Cowboys and cowgirls will compete in two rounds, with Friday and Saturday night’s winners pocketing $12,533. The top eight times will advance to Sunday’s final performance for a semifinal round, then the top four will move on to the championship. The top score or time in the shootout will win $34,000. That kind of cash can make a difference for someone like Biglow, Oklahoman Jayco Roper or Nebraska cowboy Garrett Shadbolt, the last of whom spent several months on injured reserve after having surgery at the beginning of the year to repair a torn labrum in his hip. All three men are at or near the bottom of the money list. Any earnings they have in Sioux Falls can be a big plus to get them to Las Vegas “We take a lot of horses there that have the potential to buck at the NFR,” Sonnier said. “It’s not just important for us; it’s important for the animals, too. “Everybody does a great job of trying to get the horses as even as it possibly can. They’re bringing the best horses there to give everybody a chance, and that’s important. That thing’s like a miniature NFR, and the atmosphere in that building is great.” The goal, as always, is to walk away with rodeo’s gold, that precious metal buckle awarded to world champions in each event. That doesn’t happen without the cash to prove it. It takes money to make the NFR, where the purse is estimated to be greater than $13.5 million. What happens in Sioux Falls could be the difference between first and second. “Bradlee’s got about $70,000 on the field right now,” Sonnier said. “If I can win Sioux Falls, that cuts his lead in half, and then I’m just about (an NFR) round win within first place. You set yourself up for having a real good chance to win a world title. That’s the main goal. That’s the goal at the beginning of the year. “That’s what makes me excited to go back to Sioux Falls.”
Competitors’ homecoming
Team roping heeler Levi Lord of Sturgis is one of two South Dakotans who will be part of the field this week during the Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup, which takes place Friday-Sunday in Sioux Falls, S.D. He will be joined by barrel racer Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, who is hoping to qualify for her 20th straight National Finals Rodeo. (PRCA PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN) The Governor’s Cup provides sanctuary for South Dakota stars SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In western South Dakota, the Plains offer respite from what many perceive as typical “city life.” It’s open and inviting, and the expansiveness offers a variety of opportunities individuals to learn about themselves. Some are involved with agriculture. Some play sports. Only a few dozen or a few hundred attend from most rural high school, and that’s just fine for a bunch of them. That’s where Levi Lord was raised. It was an instrument to help make him into the man he is today, one of ProRodeo’s elite team ropers who has already qualified for his sixth National Finals Rodeo in seven years. “I am super proud of where I came from, and it’s still home now matter how long it’s been since I lived there,” said Lord, 30, a healer originally from Sturgis, South Dakota, but now living in Texas. “It’s a great place to be from.” He’ll return to his roots at the Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup, presented by Texas Precious Metals, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 25-Saturday, Sept. 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. Lord will be joined by his brother, Eli, who has qualified in steer wrestling, and two barrel racers, Lisa Lockhart, a 19-time NFR qualifier from Oelrichs, and Michelle Alley, originally from Tabor but now living in Madisonville, Texas. Levi Lord and Lockhart earned automatic bids to The Governor’s Cup by finishing among the top four during the wildcard round of the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, Washington. Lord and his header, James Arviso, shared the final-round, while Lockhart snagged third place. The other eight in the field is determined by the top finishers in the Cinch Playoff Series, a 60-event tour featured at the largest rodeos in the sport. Lockhart was raised near the tiny community of Circle, Montana, but she’s been part of South Dakota lore most of her career. She announced her presence in 2006 when she became one of the first Americans to win the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association title, joining Missouri-born tie-down roper Tyson Durfey. Lockhart has won three more Canadian titles. She earned her first NFR bid in 2007, and there hasn’t been one without her since. No other member of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association has more qualifications, and Lockhart has won the coveted NFR average title three times, 2014, ’16, and ’23. Outside the world championship that has so far eluded her, winning in Las Vegas is the second-most prestigious crown in ProRodeo. Though she was raised in northeastern Montana, her home is southwestern South Dakota. It’s where she and her husband, Grady, have raised their three children. It’s where she continues to be a dominant force in barrel racing. She’s galloping toward a 20th straight qualification to ProRodeo’s grandest stage, and she’d like good fortune in her home state to be a catalyst. Levi Lord has already secured his bid for the 10 magical days during December in Las Vegas. He is among the top five in the world standings. “I started the year with a different partner than I have now,” said Levi Lord, whose father, J.B., was a ProRodeo cowboy. “That kind of throws a curveball into things, but the thing has worked out pretty good. I roped with Tyler Tryan in the wintertime, and we did pretty dang good. We had some success, and then I ended up starting with James in the springtime, and it just came together for us.” The Governor’s Cup is a major stepping stone toward a world championship. There is an opportunity for one contestant (or one team) in each event to win nearly $60,000 in three days. In a sport where dollars equal title points, every penny counts. “The main goal is to get to the NFR first, then put yourself in a chance where you can win the world once you get there,” he said. “Anybody that’s entered at the NFR can win the world, because there’s so much money to be won there.” Lockhart is close to clinching her place in Las Vegas, but she wants to grab some Sioux Falls cash in order to advance. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event advance to the NFR, and she is still in a bit of a scramble mode. As of Monday, she sat 10th in the world standings, but there are others hunting her down. “While all the money at the end of the year is great for us, I’d rather not have to have it to make the finals,” said Levi Lord, who has been on the bubble before and had to chase every dollar possible in September just to qualify. This year, though, his plan is to enjoy his Sioux Falls experience like he’s sitting down for some home cooking. He qualified for The Governor’s Cup in 2024 but missed out a year ago. “I’ve only been once out of the first three years, and that stinks, but I’m excited to go back,” Levi Lord said. “It’s just kind of an NFR-like atmosphere. They’ve got a little arena in Sioux Falls, and the fans are right on top of you. The people in South Dakota know rodeo, so the fans know what’s going on. “They know what’s on the line. There’s just so much pressure right there at the end for some guys, and all the money that’s up the last weekend of the (regular) season. “It’s just a great event there for the drama, for the money
Bull riding is in the blood
Stetson Wright is one of at least three second-generation cowboy superstars that will be in the field at Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup, which takes place next weekend in Sioux Falls, S.D. He will be joined by rookies Noah Lee and John Crimber, whose fathers were major players in the PBR. (PRCA PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) 2nd-generation to bring big-time talent to The Governor’s Cup SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It wasn’t that long ago that their surnames were household brands for rodeo and bull riding fans. This is just the next generation of incredible talent carrying on a family legacy at the Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup, presented by Texas Precious Metals, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 25-Saturday, Sept. 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Danny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls. Mike Lee won the PBR world championship in 2004 and qualified for the PBR World Finals 16 times, and now Noah Lee is the No. 1 bull rider in ProRodeo. Paulo Crimber made the World Finals 10 times and the National Finals Rodeo once, and John Crimber is about to follow suit, becoming the first bull rider to make the championship events in both organizations in seven years. Saddle bronc rider Cody Wright made 13 trips to the NFR and won rodeo’s gold in 2008 and 2010, and all four of his sons have played on the sport’s biggest stage. Stetson Wright, though, is the most-decorated cowboy of this generation with 11 NFR qualifications and 10 world championships, six in the all-around, one in saddle bronc riding and three in bull riding. All three will be in the field in Sioux Falls, battling for the big bucks up for grabs in Sioux Falls while hoping they build toward the 2026 world title. “Bull riding is going to be pretty interesting,” said Garrett Yerigan, one of the two announcers that will emcee The Governor’s Cup. “When you look at who will be there and who should be there, it’s a pretty big deal.” The top four from the Sept. 10-13 Puyallup (Washington) Rodeo receive an automatic bid into Sioux Falls. The other eight are determined by the final Cinch Playoff Series standings, which were to be released the week of competition in southeastern South Dakota. Crimber won the title in Washington and will be joined by Colten Fritzlan, Dakota Hill and Jace Trosclair as those that advance. Based on points, Lee, Wright, Luke Mackey and T.J. Gray are virtual locks. That leaves just four more who were to have secured their spots in either Pendleton, Oregon, or Mandan, North Dakota, the final two avenues of the 60-event Playoff Series. “We have the four that have punched their ticket because of how they did at Puyallup (Washington), and we’ll have to see who the other eight are going to be,” Yerigan said. “There’s a little side story on John Crimber, to tore his groin in Puyallup. He’s got a hematoma on the inside of his thigh, probably the size of a grapefruit, so he’s riding hurt, trying to grit through this.” It’s been a hectic season for men like Crimber, who joins Lee as rookies in the mix. Not only has Crimber ridden a full season in the PBR, but he’s among the top 10 in the PRCA world standings and should be secure in his first venture to Las Vegas for the sport’s grand finale. He’d love to add to his earnings in Sioux Falls, though. Hutchings leads the Playoff Series standings, but Lee is second and leads the world standings, having been a force in 2026. He entered mid-September with $358,507 in season earnings, about $40,000 ahead of Hutchings in the race for the gold buckle. That’s where The Governor’s Cup comes in. One person in each event can earn almost $59,000 over the course of the weekend. Even though Lee has set a new PRCA regular-season earnings mark, his lead isn’t safe. Of course, nothing is safe with Wright lurking. He is the face of ProRodeo, a cowboy who has left an indelible mark on the sport while still playing it. Wright burst onto the scene in 2019, winning the Resistol Rookie of the Year awards in saddle bronc riding, bull riding and the all-around. He won the all-around world title that year, then won four more in a row before sitting out the 2024 season with injury. He returned to the game last year and won gold in the all-around and bull riding. He’s also one of six members of his family to have won titles, joining his father, uncles Jesse and Spencer, and brothers Ryder and Statler, all of whom claimed championships in bronc riding. Bull riding is a different monster altogether, but he’s excelled, as have the other 11 men who will be part of the competition in Sioux Falls. “There are definitely some interesting scenarios that could come in bull riding,” Yerigan said. “That’s going to make it a lot of fun to watch.”
Hurt speeds to Utah’s Own win
ProRodeo rookie Clay Tom Hurt posted his fastest bulldogging run ever in 3.2 seconds to win the title during Monday’s third performance of Utah’s Own Rodeo. (PHOTO BY STEVE GRAY) SALT LAKE CITY – Clay Tom Hurt’s rookie season in ProRodeo began almost 11 and a half months ago. He’s made dozens, if not hundreds, of steer wrestling runs, but none have been faster than Monday’s 3.2-second finish to win the bulldogging title at Utah’s Own Rodeo, worth $2,317. It pushed his 2026 earnings to more than $62,000 with just 15 days remaining on this campaign. “That’s the fastest run I’ve ever had,” said Hurt, 23, of Dilley, Texas. That’s saying something, but Hurt knew he needed to be fast. Veterans Mike McGinn and Jace Melvin had posted 3.7 runs earlier in the rodeo, so he needed to beat it. Everything had to come together very well for him to post such a fast score. He had to do all the technical things right, and he had to draw a steer that would work to stop the clock that quickly. Most importantly, he was well-mounted, riding Banker, the 2025 Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year owned by fellow bulldogger Justin Shaffer. “That horse is outstanding,” Hurt said of the powerful bay gelding. “He’s one of the coolest horses I’ve ever rodeo.” Banker has been Hurt’s primary horse this year. He began traveling with Shaffer earlier in the summer and found comfort in the horse. “I’ve been getting to ride him pretty much at all the big rodeos and anything else that works,” he said. “He gives you a lot of confidence in yourself and a lot of confidence that there are not many steers that get out around you. He’s going to show up and do his job every time.” The chance to compete at big-time events like Utah State Fair’s rodeo is just icing on an already plentiful cake. He’s out of the chance to win the Rookie of the Year title and to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, but he’s taking every opportunity he can to grow in the game he loves. “This year has been awesome,” Hurt said. “It’s been an amazing experience. This is what I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and I get to go with the guys I get to go with. They’re all veterans, and they’ve all taught me more than I could have ever imagined.” Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo Sept. 11, 12 and 14 Salt Lake City Bareback riding: 1. Kody Lamb, 90.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail, $3,948; 2. Tim O’Connell, 88.5, $3,027; 3. Orin Larsen, 86, $2,237; 4. Jacek Frost, 85.5, $1,448; 5. Connor Griffith, 85, $921; 6. (tie) Cole Franks, Lane McGehee and Bradlee Miller, 83.5, $526 each. Steer wrestling: 1. Clay Tom Hurt, 3.2 seconds, $2,317; 2. (tie) Mike McGinn and Jace Melvin, 3.7, $1,908 each; 4. (tie) Logan Kenline, Gavin Soileau and Tad Williams, 4.0, $1,363 each; 7. Jacob Wang, 4.1, $1,090; 8. Tyke Kipp, 4.3, $954; 9. Landris White, 4.4, $818; 10. (tie) Talon Roseland and Justin Shaffer, 4.7, $273 each. Team roping: 1. (tie) Brodi Jones/Clay Elkington and Wyatt Murray/Jake Freeland, 4.9 seconds, $2,895 each; 3. Cody Snow/Lane Mitchell, 5.0, $2,352; 4. (tie) Kellan Johnson/Trae Smith and Cody Stubbs/Wyatt Thomas, 5.1, $1,900 each; 6. Jet Toberer/Dan Scarbrough, 5.3, $1,629; 7. Clay Tryan/Braylon Tryan, 6.0, $1,448; 8. Tadd Thomas/Brock Andrus, 6.2, $1,267; 9. Rhett Anderson/Chase Tryan, 6.6, $1,086; 10. Jade Anderson/Kycen Winn, 10.4, $724. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Wright, 90.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Heavy Feathers, $3,751; 2. (tie) Damian Brennan and Chase Brooks, 87, $2,500 each; 4. (tie) Hayz Madsen and Bailey Small, 86, $1,125 each; 6. Kaden Chance Horrocks, 85.5, $625; 7. (tie) Zachary Dallas, Darcy Radel and Kolby Wanchuk, 84.5, $292 each. Tie-down roping: 1. Tom Simpson, 7.6 seconds, $3,596; 2. King Pickett, 7.8, $3,173; 3. Riley Wakefield, 8.2, $2,750; 4. Tate Crandall, 8.6, $2,327; 5. Tom Crouse, 8.7, $2,115; 6. Bryce Derrer, 8.8, $1,904; 7. Britt Bedke, 9.1, $1,692; 8. Justin Brinkerhoff, 9.3, $1,481; 9. Logan Corta, 9.5, $1,269; 10. Gary Grant, 9.7, $846. Breakaway roping: 1. Hali Williams, 1.7 seconds, $4,183; 2. Josie Conner, 1.8, $3,346; 3. Rickie Engesser, 2.0, $2,719; 4. (tie) Zoie Bedke, Jordan Jo Hollabaugh and Ali Norcutt, 2.1, $1,673 each; 7. Samantha Kingsbury, 2.2, $1,046; 8. (tie) Kimberly Sanford and Brylee Smith, 2.3, $889 each; 10. (tie) Sloan Anderson and Jill Tanner, 2.4, $680 each; 12. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, Jenna Dallyn, Erika Frost and Kimberly Williams, 2.5, $366 each. Barrel racing: 1. KariAnn Cross, 16.61 seconds, $2,997; 2. Tayla Moeykens, 16.72, $2,547; 3. Austyn Tobey, 16.75, $2,098; 4. Sonya Madsen, 16.79, $1,798; 5. (tie) Jennifer Kalafatic and Haylee Moosman Woodward, 16.99, $1,274 each; 7. Andrea Busby, 17.01, $749; 8. Alyssa Urbanek-Wade, 17.05, $599; 9. Anita Ellis, 17.06, $524; 10. Katie Barton, 17.15, $450; 11. Emma Smith, 17.21, $375; 12. Emma Parr, 17.22, $300. Bull riding: 1. Colton Young, 89 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Best Chance, $4,729; 2. Elijah Mora, 86.5, $3,776; 3. Tristan Mize, 86, $2,960; 4. Dakota Adams, 72, $2,143; no other qualified rides.
Rangers start season off strong
Brylee Zook, a junior at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, won the breakaway roping title this past weekend at Colby, Kansas. Northwestern finished second in the women’s team race, and the Rangers men were third. (PHOTO BY DALE HIRSCHMAN) ALVA, Okla. – Cali Griffin was giddy. The Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team had performed well at the first event of the 2026-27 season, and there was plenty of excitement all around. The women finished second and the men third in Colby, Kansas. “I’m just pumped up right now,” said Griffin, now in her third year coaching the Rangers. “We’re trying to build something here, so that makes it really exciting for us.” Ten ladies made Sunday’s championship performance, the largest short-round contingent from the Northwestern women’s team in several years. Half that was featured in breakaway roping, which Ranger Brylee Zook won. “That was breakaway domination,” Griffin said. “I love my job, but I love my job especially when we have a bunch of girls in the short round. This was a blast. This is what we’ve been trying to do.” Zook understands that. She stopped the clock in 2.6 seconds to finish in a tie for ninth place in the opening round. That put her among the 12 to compete in the championship, where she posted a 1.9-second run, the fastest of the weekend, to not only win the finale but also the overall title with a two-run cumulative time of 4.5 seconds. “Fresh calves are not my thing,” she said, referring to cattle that had not been used at any rodeos. “I can make them work, but they’re not my favorite. In the long round, I took my first best shot, and it got me back to the short round. From where I was, I knew I could win the whole thing or I could just go for the short-round win. I nodded my head and just reacted, and it worked out.” It was a big deal for Zook, a junior from Garnett, Kansas. Not only did she pick up her first intercollegiate title, but she moved into the early lead in the Central Plains Region standings. This is just the first of 10 events, so she hopes to maintain consistency through the rest of the campaign. The goal, though, is also to win the region as a team. “There are a lot of really good girls, all talented, and they’re going to kick ass just about anywhere they go in college rodeo,” Zook said. “I’d love to win the region, but I think we can come really close. If we keep doing what we did in Colby, it could be a very good year.” Zook led the charge, but she was joined by four other ropers in Sunday’s field. Bleu Hall of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, placed in both rounds and finished in a tie for second; Ally Brennaman of Deerfield, Kansas, also placed in both rounds and finished in a tie for fifth; Carsyn Haddock of Collinsville, Oklahoma, won the first round with a 2.2-second run; and Brana Thomson of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, made the short round, where she placed and finished in a tie for fifth in the average. Goat-tier Laynee Ohm of Hyannis, Nebraska, finished second in both rounds and the aggregate, while Payton Dingman utilized a solid final-round run to place on the final day and the average. Three barrel racers made the short round: Sadie Rempell of Nelson, Nebraska; Minda Woodward of Dupree, South Dakota; and Savannah Greenfield of Lakeview, Oregon. Rempel led the way by placing third in the final round and fifth overall, while Woodward was fifth in the opener. The men’s team was led by tie-down roper Carter Anderson of Merriman, Nebraska, who won the first round, then finished second in the finale and in the aggregate. Steer wrestler Nathan Duvall of Henryetta, Oklahoma, made the most of his short-round run to finish second overall, while fellow bulldogger Sam Daly of Tryon, Nebraska, placed in the short round and finished third in the average. Creyo Koop of Howard, Kansas, was 5.7 to finish third in the opening round and just missed out on placing in the average. Colorado team roping header Traegyn Duarte snagged first-round points while roping with heeler Bryce Teut of Southwestern Oklahoma State University. “I love what I’m seeing with this team,” Griffin said. “We’ve got some great kids on the team. We enjoy going to practice. They build off each other. They push each other. This group wants each other to win more than they want to win themselves, and that’s how you win as a team.”
Utah ropers catch the lead
Team ropers Jake Freeland, left, and Wyatt Murray stopped the clock in 4.9 seconds during Saturday’s second performance of Utah’s Own Rodeo. The Utah ropers took the lead with the run. (PHOTOS BY STEVE GRAY) SALT LAKE CITY – There are times that a Hail Mary works in rodeo. Utah team ropers Wyatt Murray and Jake Freeland can attest to it, because that’s pretty much what happened during Saturday’s second performance of Utah’s Own Rodeo in conjunction with the Utah State Fair. “That steer didn’t start very good, so I pulled,” the header, Murray, said, referring to slowing his horse down to allow the steer a legal head start. “I was late, so I was like, ‘Well, if I’m going to win something, I’ve got to throw.’ “So, I just bombed off and hoped it went on, and it worked.” The result was a 4.9-second run, which put the tandem into the No. 1 position with just Monday’s final performance left in the three-day rodeo; there is no ProRodeo competition Sunday, so action will return to the Days of ’47 Arena to kick off the second week of the state fair. “I just seen the steer turn and whipped (the rope) down there, and he jumped in it real nice,” said Freeland, 42, a heeler. “I’m from Spanish Fork, and I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid. My birthday’s always around the state fair.” The duo began roping together this season, and they’ve already found some fortune. Together they picked up wins in Cortez, Utah, and Price, Utah, in June. Murray is 11th in the Wilderness Circuit, a series of rodeos and contestants primarily in the Utah and southern Idaho region. Freeland is 17th. Both want to finish the circuit season among the top 12 to qualify for the year-end championship, which will take place the first weekend of November in Heber City, Utah. “With Jake, I don’t have to worry about nothing,” said Murray, 26, of Neola, Utah. “If I turn him, he’s going to catch him. I don’t have to do anything special.” It’s an approach that has them holding an advantage with 10 more teams scheduled to compete on the final night. “Wyatt does an awesome job,” Freeland said. “He’s riding an awesome horse, and the team works really good together.” That’s critical, since there are five souls involved in every run: two ropers, two horses and one steer. Murray and Freeland lead the pack that includes National Finals Rodeo qualifiers and a three-time world champion in Clay Tryan, who sits sixth with his son, Braylon. “Winning this rodeo would mean a lot being a native and that this rodeo is usually tough,” Murray said. “It got tough tonight. It would mean a lot to win something against the top guys.” Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo Sept. 11, 12 and 14 Salt Lake City Bareback riding: 1. Kody Lamb, 90.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Tim O’Connell, 88.5; 3. Orin Larsen, 86; 4. Jacek Frost, 85.5; 5. Connor Griffith, 85; 6. (tie) Lane McGehee and Bradlee Miller, 83.5; 7. Mason Yancy, 82; 8. Lincoln Reeder, 81.5. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Mike McGinn and Jace Melvin, 3.7 seconds each; 3. Logan Kenline, 4.0; 4. Tyke Kipp, 4.3; 5. Landris White, 4.4; 6. Talon Roseland, 4.7; 7. Hazen Smith, 6.5; 8. Chase Black, 6.5. Team roping: 1. Wyatt Murray/Jake Freeland, 4.9 seconds; 2. Cody Snow/Lane Mitchell, 5.0; 3. (tie) Kellan Johnson/Trae Smith and Cody Stubbs/Wyatt Thomas, 5.1 each; 5. Jet Toberer/Dan Scarbrough, 5.3; 6. Clay Tryan/Braylon Tryan, 6.0; 7. Brock Andrus/Tadd Thomas, 6.2; 8. Tyler Whitlow/Travis Whitlow, 13.9. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Wright, 90.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Heavy Feathers; 2. Chase Brooks, 87; 3. (tie) Hayz Madsen and Bailey Small, 86 each; 5. (tie) Darcy Radel and Kolby Wanchuk, 84.5; 7. Bryett Larsen, 84; 8. (tie) Christian Bolli and Tanner Butner, 76. Tie-down roping: 1. Tom Simpson, 7.6 seconds; 2. King Pickett, 7.8; 3. Riley Wakefield, 8.2; 4. Tate Crandall, 8.6; 5. Britt Bedke, 9.1; 6. Justin Brinkerhoff, 9.3; 7. Logan Corta, 9.5; 8. Gary Grand, 9.7. Breakaway roping: 1. Rickie Engesser, 2.0 seconds; 2. (tie) Zoie Bedke and Ali Norcutt, 2.1; 4. Samantha Kingsbury, 2.2; 5. (tie) Kimberly Sanford and Brylee Smith, 2.3; 7. Sloan Anderson, 2.4; 8. (tie) Jenna Dallyn, Erika Frost and Kimberly Williams, 2.5. Barrel racing: 1. KariAnn Cross, 16.61 seconds; 2. Austyn Tobey, 16.75; 3. Sonya Madsen, 16.79; 4. Anita Ellis, 17.06; 5. Katie Barton, 17.15; 6. Emma Smith, 17.21; 7. Carlee Otero, 17.25; 8. (tie) Sabrina Polfer and McKinlee Kellett, 17.48; 10. Sandy Bywater, 17.74. Bull riding: 1. Tristan Mize, 86 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Side Quest; 2. Dakota Adams, 72; no other qualified rides.
Wright stays on a roll in SLC
Saddle bronc rider Rusty Wright contemplates his 90.5-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Heavy Feathers to take the saddle bronc riding lead during Friday’s opening night of Utah’s Own Rodeo. (PHOTO BY STEVE GRAY) SALT LAKE CITY – There’s an old adage about world-class athletes, and most understand it well. “You know, it’s 90 percent mental, they say, and the rest is between your ears,” said saddle bronc rider Rusty Wright, 32, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Milford, Utah. “I think the biggest change in my bronc riding isn’t that I’m doing anything different practicing anymore; it’s all just in my mind.” Whatever the case, Wright is having the best regular season of his ProRodeo career. He is the No. 1 man in the world standings with more than $250,000 in earnings. He is actually about $12,000 behind his best year ever. In 2018, he finished with $262,434 after the NFR. He has yet to ride a bronc in Las Vegas this year, and there is still almost three weeks left on the regular season. He looks to pad his bank account even more after posting a 90.5-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Heavy Feathers to take the bronc riding lead during Friday’s first performance of Utah’s Own Rodeo. “My goal when I started out this year wasn’t only to win the world,” said Wright, the oldest son of Cody Wright, a two-time world champion and an inductee in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “I had a goal to beat the regular-season earnings record, so I’ve had my eye on that. It’s helped a ton. “This year, I wanted to make sure I could have something to shoot for, because I’ve watched people get in first place, and then kind of set the cruise control I didn’t want that to happen to me this year, so I set goals so that after I got in first, I can keep going.” Like the Energizer bunny, he’s still going. It’s good for the banker and his place in the standings. In rodeo, money not only pays the bills, but dollars also equal championship points. He owns a lead of nearly $16,000 over his younger brother, Ryder, a three-time world champion. In third place is the third of four sons and the middle of five children raised by Cody and ShaRee Wright, Stetson, a 10-time titlist. The earnings mark? That’s $293,994 and was set last year by Ryder Wright. This is a sibling rivalry, for sure, but they’re also each other’s biggest cheerleaders. Not only do the middle boys own rodeo’s gold, but so does Statler, the youngest of the four boys and the defending world champ. “I’ve got to watch my brothers, and it sucked not being down there (behind the chutes) with them,” said Rusty Wright, who qualified for five NFRs in a span of six years from 2015-2020 but hasn’t been in the mix since then. “I’m just glad they go their world titles, because I’m not going to let them have any more very easily.” That’s the swagger that defines champions, but it’s not ego-driven. It’s confidence, which is a major piece of a gold buckle. Success helps with it, but he has another cog that drives his motivation in his wife, Haley, a breakaway roper who is also competing this weekend in Salt Lake City. “My wife’s been super important for my mental game,” he said. “She never lets me get down. She lets me complain sometimes, but as soon as I’m done, she reminds me of all the things that are good and what I should be grateful for, and that’s super important. “I’ve always had great traveling partners with my brothers, my uncles and my dad, but she’s had some things that I was missing, and I’ve had things she was missing. I feel so mentally strong. I’ve always been pretty positive, as much as I could be, but I feel unstoppable in my mental game. I feel like I can ride anything.” That helped Friday. Heavy Feathers gave Wright everything he could handle. “I knew that horse bucked,” he said. “I watched Brody Cress get on my, and my uncle, Jesse, got on him in Gooding, but I didn’t realize how hard that horse bucks. That horse is getting my vote for Horse of the Year this year. “Everybody has a chance to win on him.” Wright’s in the driver’s seat in Salt Lake City, just like he has been in the world standings. The chance to ride in front of his home state during the Utah State Fair is just a bonus. “I love doing good anywhere, but it’s really awesome when you get to do it in Utah,” Wright said. “We’ve got lots of fans here. Nowhere is it louder for us than in Utah, so it’s super awesome to come here and get on Summit’s horses. You can’t ask for better. “With a Utah crowd and them bucking horses, it’s just living a dream.” Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo Sept. 11, 12 and 14 Salt Lake City Bareback riding: 1. Kody Lamb, 90.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Tim O’Connell, 88.5; 3. Connor Griffith, 85; 4. (tie) Lane McGehee and Bradlee Miller, 83.5 each; 6. Mason Yancy, 82; 7. Tristan Hansen, 79.5; 8. Tyson Hirschi, 76. Steer wrestling: 1. Mike McGinn, 3.7 seconds; 2. Logan Kenline, 4.0; 3. Tyke Kipp, 4.3; 4. Talon Roseland, 4.7; 5. Hazen Smith, 5.3; 6. Chase Black, 6.5; no other qualified runs. Team roping: 1. Clay Tryan/Braylon Tryan, 6.0 seconds; 2. Tadd Thomas/Brock Andrus, 6.2; 3. Travis Whitlow/Tyler Whitlow, 13.9; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Wright, 90.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Heavy Feathers; 2. Chase Brooks, 87; 3. Bailey Small, 86; 4. Kolby Wanchuk, 84.5; 5. (tie) Christian Bolli and Tanner Butner, 76; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: 1. Gary Grant, 9.7 seconds; 2. Rowdy McKee, 10.8; 3. Zaine Mikita, 11.0; no other qualified runs.
Harrison stars in comedic role
Fans at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo have come to love John Harrison, not only for his acts and comedy but also for his personality, which shines in a crowd. He will return to Hempstead, Texas, for this year’s rodeo. (PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER) HEMPSTEAD, Texas – His look is familiar, if not a bit stylish. John Harrison is identified by his yellow Cinch shirt with red fringe and a red cowboy hat. It’s not the typical Western attire, but it’s a reflection of his persona as one of the world’s greatest rodeo clowns. His body of work is well-recognized: Three-time PRCA Clown of the Year Seven-time Coors Man in the Can for top barrelman Nine-time PRCA Comedy Act of the Year Ten-time National Finals Rodeo barrelman He returns to southeast Texas for this year’s Waller County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1-Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. “Since we’ve been a PRCA rodeo, I don’t think there’s been another funny man that we’ve had at our rodeo more than John Harrison,” said Paul Shollar, co-captain of the Waller County Fair Board’s rodeo committee. “John is great to work with, has great acts and is just funny. We love having him here.” So do the people who pack into the rodeo arena to be entertained by his antics that add comedic flair to a show that is filled with world-class competition. “John and I are friends, and he’s just funny to be around,” said Andy Stewart, the rodeo’s announcer. “He takes a lot of pride in his work and puts a lot of work into what he does. He enjoys entertaining, and I enjoy being there to entertain with him.” Harrison was raised around rodeo. From the southeastern Oklahoma hamlet of Soper, his grandfather was a world champion bull rider. Freckles Brown gained acclaim 60 years ago when he rode the previously unridden bull Tornado during the 1967 NFR Harrison’s foray into the game came on the entertainment side of things. He was an accomplished trick and Roman rider, which displays acrobatics on a galloping horse. He was selected to perform at the NFR, the sport’s 10-day championship. “When I was 18, Cotton Rosser had a Roman team he had bought at the National Finals Bucking Horse Sale, and I ended up buying them,” Harrison said. “Those were the horses that took me to the (National Finals Rodeo).” He then diversified and added clowning to his repertoire, and Harrison’s been gathering awards and other accomplishments since. His 10 appearances as the clown at the NFR are just a taste of what he brings to the table. He’s won the Triple Crown of clowning – all three awards in the same year – three times. Harrison carries a trailer full of enlightening acts, but what makes him stand out is his ability to interact well with the audience. “I try to say I’m not scripted, and I really try to go off the cuff,” Harrison said. “I try to adapt to each announcer and adapt to each crowd. “To be able to adapt to that is important to what I do.”
Money makes the difference
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.”
Brothers in the fight together
Dane Pokorny puts his athleticism on the line to help keep bull riders safe, standing between the animal and the cowboy most of the time. He will work with his brother, Cauy, next week at Utah’s Own Rodeo. (PHOTO COURTESY OF DANE POKORNY) Pokornys will be in Salt Lake City to protect cowboys at Utah’s Own Rodeo SALT LAKE CITY – The Nebraska Sandhills cover more than 19,000 square miles and feature sand dunes that are stabilized by grass through a prairie of rolling hills. It’s a great place for livestock, and the region’s ranches provide testimony to that. They raise food that feeds the world. They also raise kids, little ones that grow into big ones with an undeniable work ethic. This is the home of Cauy and Dane Pokorny. The brothers will leave central Nebraska next week, out of the rural life and into the metro to fight bulls and protect cowboys at 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. “The big thing about fighting bulls is the adrenaline you feel,” said Dane Pokorny, the youngest. “It’s something that glues you in, and you just keep coming back for more. Even if it ends in the worst way and you break your arm or break your collarbone, once you’re healed up – even when you’re not healed up – you’re raring to go back. You want to fight more bulls.” It wasn’t always this way. The brothers – including the oldest, Cade – grew up on the ranch and got into rodeo a more traditional way. They competed in tie-down roping, team roping and steer wrestling. Cauy and Dane even went to Laramie County (Wyoming) Community College on rodeo scholarships. That’s where Cauy Pokorny started fighting bulls. Still in high school, Dane, made the 300-mile-plus drive to Laramie to tour the campus and visit his brother. He was fascinated by it. “Cauy is three years older than me, and after the college visit, I signed to go to school there when I was a sophomore or junior,” Dane Pokorny said. “I fought my first bull then. Cauy was already fighting bulls there in college, so I never really thought anything of it. We had fun. “I went back to finish high school, then to college and started fighting bulls for every practice. Then, I would go around to all the other colleges’ practices and fight bulls for them. Pretty soon, I was fighting all the college rodeos, and it took off.” There’s a rush that comes with competition. Pokorny was raised on it. He qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo as a steer wrestler while at Laramie. It was just the succession of things for a family that grew up horseback. “Not many people know the Sandhills,” he said. “We like to say, ‘There’s nobody there, and we like it that way.’ We’ll tell you how great it is but take out word for it, because we don’t want you to come.” He was being funny but was somewhat serious at the notion. Country life isn’t for everyone, but it is for him. “I’m just so used to being alone in a sense, and it’s great,” Pokorny said. “You help each other out and just do stuff you love. There is no noise, no lights at night. “It’s the best place in the world.” He was riding horses before he can remember doing so. He was working cows and riding fences and doing all the things that cowboys do. Because of his upbringing, he’s able to understand livestock; that comes in handy when fighting bulls and protecting others. “You get to knowing what a bull’s going to do before he even does it from just practicing at it every day of our lives in that way,” he said. “When you’re out there in the pasture, you have to know how to be able to put pressure on a cow to make him go the direction you want. That’s no different than when a bull faces you and is mean. “You can watch his shoulders and his hips. It’s just having that cattle sense that we’ve known since we were 5 years old.” Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Pokorny will be working with a person he’s known all his life in Cauy. “Out of everybody I fight bulls with through the year, Cauy is the guy that I trust the most,” Pokorny said. “I know what he’s going to do before he does it, and vice versa. I know if he’s going to roll high, and I don’t have to question if he’s got my back. He’s going to be there.” That comes with years spent together, but there is also something that ties them together through their genetics. “We’ll slow down a video, and me and him are making the exact same movements with out feet, hands, body and head,” he said. “We’re doing the exact same thing at the exact same time with a situation that’s uncontrollable. It’s our instincts that are making us do almost identical things., so there’s nothing better than fighting with him.” Next week, they’ll have the opportunity to do it together with 36 of the greatest bullfighters in the world.
Una fiesta en Salt Lake City
Tomás Garcilazo has put his Mexican legacy on display for millions of fans, and he’s added his family to the mix. Not only will his beautiful wife, Justine, be part of the show at Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo, but so will two sons, 12-year-old Louis and 3-year-old Ulysse. (PHOTO BY ALEXIS CADY) Garcilazos will put Mexican legacy on display at Utah’s Own Rodeo SALT LAKE CITY – Ulysse Garcilazo is 3 years old, but he already steals the show. Sure, that happens in households around the world. Toddlers toddling makes for entertainment, but Ulysse is different. He comes from a family of entertainers, a fourth-generation charro that is still learning about La Cherreria, a skill performed only by the Mexican charro. He will be part of the Garcilazo family’s acts during 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. The patriarch is Tomás Garcilazo, who brought his family’s legacy to the United States from his native Mexico. He is a four-time PRCA Specialty Act of the Year award-winner and returns to Salt Lake City eager to share the pageantry of La Cherreria with the thousands who will pack into the stadium for three nights during the Utah State Fair. “I’m a charro,” said Tomás, who also shares the arena with his wife, Justine, and their oldest son, Louis. “My background is competition. A charro is a horseman, a Mexican horseman that has a skill with a rope and, of course, with the horses, and I passed it on to my sons. It is my goal, and it’s a treasure because it is my heritage, and we want to preserve those roots and culture. We don’t want to let it die.” Louis has already been a major part of the act. Fluent in English, Spanish and French, the 12-year-old introduces his father before riding to center stage with him, performing roping and riding maneuvers most adults can’t perform. Even at a young age, Louis’ confidence shines in the spotlight. “Part of my pride is that he has to have his background as a competitor,” Tomás said. “He has already competed a couple of times in the all-around charro style, which is comprised by seven events, and he’s doing really good. That foundation is important for me, because I don’t want him to just be a performer on the stage. I want him to be a competitor. I want him to break his own colts, to build them, to make them, to have the communication with them so he can understand how important the tradition is.” They have another young son, 5-year-old Gaspar, who remains an integral part of the family, though his interest has yet to be in the performance. With the brawn comes the beauty in Justine, a French-born horsewoman who is building a business with the boys in her life. Together with Tomás, they are raising their family with an understanding of all traditions: French, Mexican and American. “Something that’s really important to us is that from head to toes, we have the Western-style and charro-style, which are very beautiful and unique,” Tomás said. “My horses’ tack, our outfits and the handle of the horse, beauty has to be the one thing in the mind and in the picture. This is also something we take great pride in. “Altogether, this is a message to the kids, to the girls, because my wife is performing as a female and my son as a boy. He’s projecting himself to encourage the new generation and to encourage me as a senior just to keep up with him. We travel 365 days a year, all year long, and this is our pride.” Soon enough, though, the Garcilazos will have two young men driving them. Now in his late-50s, Tomás loves that his family’s legacy is continuing. “I emphasize the tradition a lot,” he said. “The heritage is very strong. For me, it is big that those are being carried on in modern day and that it is a privilege for me to keep up with this way of life.”
Stewart’s voice echoes in Texas
Rodeo announcer Andy Stewart has emceed the Waller County Fair’s marquee event since it became a professional rodeo in 2011. He understands the community, the livestock and the contestants, which makes him a valuable piece to the event. (PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER) HEMPSTEAD, Texas – When the Waller County Fair Board opted to make its marquee event a PRCA rodeo, they entrusted the sounds to announcer Andy Stewart. Fifteen years later, he’s still the voice of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1-Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. There are plenty of reasons for it, from Stewart’s energized approach to his job to him just being part of the family. “Everybody there takes a lot of pride in what they do, and I appreciate working for people like that,” said Stewart, a 10-time nominee for PRCA Announcer of the Year. “They take pride in having a good show, and they definitely have a good show. Even before they covered that arena and made all those changes to it, they had a good show. “Covering that arena was huge, and it just adds to that rodeo.” Stewart has seen the changes. He was there in 2011, when the fair board added the professional moniker to its longstanding rodeo. With that, the best cowboys and cowgirls in the world started making regular appearances in Hempstead. He has announced it all with a slight hint of Louisiana twang. It’s not quite as pronounced when he’s on the microphone, but it’s powerful and charged. “Andy’s energy just adds to our rodeo,” said Paul Shollar, co-captain of the rodeo committee. “Everybody in Waller County loves Andy. He is the voice of our rodeo.” Stewart has plenty of accolades, highlighted by having been one of the emcees at the 2019 National Finals Rodeo. His style has been shared with dozens of rodeos annually. “I think the big thing is how I connect with the audience, to draw them into the rodeo and make them feel like they’re part of what’s going on,” Stewart said. “I always say I like to talk with the audience. I try to transfer that from the microphone to be able to make that connection with the people in the crowd and take them on a ride, an emotional roller coaster throughout the performance.” It’s a process that works. He studies the contestants and the livestock. When it comes to Waller County, he has an inside track because he works several events with the rodeo’s livestock producer, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo. “With an impressive lineup of animals Pete has, with his company being so well represented every year at the NFR and the crew he has, it makes my job so much easier,” Stewart said. “I know the product I have to sell is going to be good, and I know it’s going to be run well. The production is going to be unbelievably smooth, so there are tremendous advantages that come with working with Carr rodeo.” It reverberates inside the arena and across the faces of the fans who attend the three nights of rodeo at the Waller County Fairgrounds. “If you look at those grounds, you can see the improvements that they’ve made, and you can understand the quality of everything around there has definitely increased,” he said. “Hats off to that committee for a great job.”
Wearing blue for Hayes
Bareback rider Leighton Berry wears a blue shirt to honor the life of 6-year-old Hayes Hamaker and the Summit Pro Rodeo family during his rodeo-winning 91-point ride on Summit’s Game Trail last week in Gooding, Idaho. (PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES) Cowboy’s attire was just part of tribute to Summit family SALT LAKE CITY – Bareback rider Leighton Berry reached toward a hanging rack in his rodeo rig and pulled out a shirt he doesn’t wear often. It was blue, emblazoned with sponsors’ patches and was the perfect attire for his mid-August match-up with Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail, considered by many cowboys as one of the elite bareback buckers. It was also a fitting tribute to the company and its family. A few days before Berry’s ride, 6-year-old Hayes Hamaker was killed in a ranching accident. Hayes’ grandfather, J.D. Hamaker, co-owns Wyoming-based Summit with Daniel Beard and Byron Juma. Hayes’ daddy, Ty Hamaker, is a flankman and a major piece of the puzzle for the outfit. If it falls under the Summit brand, they’re all family, as are most who come in contact with them. That includes organizers of Utah’s Own Rodeo during the Utah State Fair in Salt Lake City, with performances planned for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11; Saturday, Sept. 12; and Monday, Sept. 14, in the Days of ’47 Arena. Cowboys are an extension of that familial bond, and Berry’s dress code was inspired by that. Hayes was laid to rest Aug. 24, and a sea of blue sent him on his journey. It was the little boy’s favorite color, which prompted Berry to dress as he did. He’d ridden Game Trail three times before, with rodeo-winning rides of 87, 88 and 89 points. In southern Idaho, he and Game Trail matched for 91. “When you’ve got a bucking horse like Game Trail of Summit Pro Rodeo, what more can you say?” said Berry, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Weatherford, Texas. “I’ve never been 90 (on that horse). That was my goal. It was good for Hayes Hamaker just being able to accomplish that goal.” Berry’s feet moved faster, his drive on the electric bay was more pronounced. He wanted to prove something during his winning ride to send a message to the Hamakers and the rest of the Summit crew that he and the horse were doing something special to honor a boy gone too soon. It’s a tribute that many others hope to extend over the next few weeks and months as a family mourns. They will have plenty of opportunities, because the Summit team has a crescendo of amazing animal athletes. Evidence of that happens every year inside the Days of ’47 Arena at Utah State Fairpark during the September festivities. It’s also shown across the country. Take this year’s Cheyenne (Wyoming) Frontier Days Rodeo. Jayco roper won the bareback riding title after a 93-point effort on CC Blue, an energetic blue roan bucker. Wyoming cowboy Brody Cress shared the saddle bronc riding crown with two others, posting a 92-point ride on Heavy Feathers. “Those Summit horses really showed out at Cheyenne,” said Garrett Shadbolt, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Merriman, Nebraska. A week later, those animals were performing at a high capacity again, this time at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo in Castle Rock, Colorado. That’s where Nick Pelke won bareback riding with a 92-point ride on Game Trail, besting a couple of 90s, including one by 2022 world champion Jess Pope, who was matched with Red Feathers. That sorrel bronc, by the way, guided two more world titlists, Clayton Biglow (2019) and Dean Thompson (2024), to 88.5-point rides to finish in a tie for second place in Idaho behind Berry – Biglow rode Red Feathers to open the rodeo on Aug. 19, and Thompson closed out the show three nights later. “I’ve been getting on Summit horses from the very beginning,” said Cole Reiner, a five-time NFR qualifier from Buffalo, Wyoming. “They have put together a string of horses like no one else. I would say Summit has one of the deepest, most-consistent set of horses in the PRCA.”
Fair’s hospitality is hard to beat
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Travel is subjective. A five-hour drive for some is long and grueling. For rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, that’s a day-trip. Most are accustomed to leaving Texas in early June and not returning until September. Twelve-hour, overnight drives are nothing new. It might mean competing one night in southern Oklahoma Plains and the next morning in the Colorado mountains. The Waller County Fair Board understands the road-weariness that comes with competing in rodeo, which is why its volunteers take their contestant hospitality so seriously. “We don’t really care if they’ve been on the road for months or just came down that day, we want the cowboys to know they’re appreciated,” said Paul Shollar, co-captain of the rodeo committee. “Life on the road isn’t easy, so we want to extend as much of our Southern hospitality as possible for our guests.” It’s a staple of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, set for Thursday, Sept. 24 -Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. Contestants have learned that good things await them when they arrive. “We’ve always taken pride in what we do around here,” Shollar said. “We’ve had some amazing sponsors that have helped us with hospitality, and there are some dedicated volunteers who really make it special. When it comes together like that year after year, it’s hard to beat.” The fair board expanded on that three years ago during other upgrades to the facility. When the arena was covered in time for the 2023 exposition, the Cowboy & Cowgirl Facility was also developed. The 2,500-square-foot was donated by CRC – Barns, Arenas & Fencing and features plenty of room for dining, a walk-up bar, a restroom, storage and roll-up doors in a climate-controlled building with an HVAC system. “We’ve got the cook shack on the outside, so it’s always pretty comfortable inside,” said Sherry Roesner, the facility coordinator. “It’s a state-of-the-art facility that upgrades our hospitality even more.” Cowboys, cowgirls, volunteers, VIPs and rodeo personnel utilize the facility before, during and after the night’s events. During the PRCA rodeo, which begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1-Saturday, Oct. 3, the hospitality building offers respite for those that have spent the last few months on the rodeo trail. “The best part of the building is that there is plenty of room to enjoy a good meal, whether you get it before or after the rodeo,” Roesner said. “You can enjoy the food, a drink and a chance to catch up with friends. “We wanted to make it feel as much like home as possible. These people are a big part of our rodeo, and we want them to know just how much we appreciate them.”
Thompson shines in Gooding
World champion Dean Thompson has not only survived cancer and it’s treatments, but he has returned to bareback riding. He rode Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Feathers during Saturday’s third performance to finish in a tie for second place at the Gooding Pro Rodeo. (PHOTO BY W.T. BRUCE) GOODING, Idaho – From anguish to exhilaration, the eyes speak volume. Over the past four months, Dean Thompson’s face has revealed pain, anger, exhaustion and, eventually, joy. It’s what happens when cancer enters one’s life. His was Burkitt’s Lymphoma, an aggressive disease he was diagnosed with in April. Treatments took his strength; they never took his will. A month ago, he revealed that he was cancer free, a day that brought sunshine to his heart and to his mind. He entered his first PRCA rodeo that same week, and he returned to the game last week. For the 2024 world champion bareback rider, it marks one of the biggest victories of his young life. He hadn’t entered the competition at the Gooding Pro Rodeo, but he opted to make the drive from his Altamont, Utah, home hoping to be a walk-up replacement Saturday night. His plan worked, and he made it pay off in a big way with an 88.5-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Feathers to finish in a tie for second place. That was worth $4,880. “This is kind of a full-circle moment,” said Thompson, who first competed in Gooding in 2022 as a walk-up replacement and finished with southern Idaho money that year. “Two times I’ve walked up, and I didn’t know I’d have a spot here. The first time, I remember drawing a horse that one of the best guys in the world had turned out. “I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to win the money on that horse.’ It was enough to make me know that I deserve to be there and can make other horses didn’t believe in. (Saturday) was a similar situation.” In March, Thompson rode a bronc in Watford City, N.D., then came the diagnosis. Chemotherapy began in April and ended in July. He got on his first bareback horse a week ago in Hermiston, Oregon, and also rode this week in Burley, Idaho, a community just 65 miles southeast of Gooding. When he put his name in the hat Saturday afternoon, a random draw matched him with a bronc that had been turned out, meaning that the cowboy who had originally drawn Red Feathers for the final night in Gooding opted to not to ride. The luck of the re-draw worked in Thompson’s favor. “That was one of the best walk-up pens I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Thompson, 24, a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Altamont, Utah. “When I drew that freaking Red Feathers, I’d been there one time, and I think I was 89 or something like that, so I knew the potential was there.” On Wednesday night, 2019 world champion Clayton Biglow rode Red Feathers for 88.5 points, so the powerful sorrel was part of both second-place scores. While Leighton Berry won the title in Gooding, Thompson also claimed victory. In addition to hair growing on what once was a smoothly bald head, this is another positive sign. “I’ve been saying all along, (this is) just a minor setback for a major comeback,” Thompson said. “It feels like that’s what’s going on right now. It still feels like I’m brushing the rust off. “It fills like just (Saturday) night, I was able to really shine like I’m supposed to.” Gooding Pro Rodeo Aug. 19-22 All-around cowboy: Haven Meged, $4,474 in tie-down roping and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Leighton Berry, 91 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail, $7,332; 2. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Dean Thompson, 88.5, $4,880 each; 4. (tie) Bradlee Miller and Ben Kramer, 87.5, $2,200 each; 6. Luke Thrash, 87, $1,222; 7. Cooper Cooke, 85, $978; 8. (tie) Jayco Roper, Cole Reiner and Carson Hildre, 84.5, $244 each. Steer wrestling: 1. Eli Lord, 3.1 seconds, $4,942; 2. (tie) J.D. Struxness and Rowdy Parrott, 3.3, $4,118 each; 4. (tie) Riley Duvall, Mike McGinn and Ringo Robinson, 3.5, $2,965 each; 7. (tie) Trisyn Kalawaia, Don Payne and Ty Erickson, 3.6, $1,977 each; 10. (tie) Bridger Anderson, Dalton Massey and Justin Shaffer, 3.7, $1,030 each; 14. (tie) Jace Melvin and Travis Munro, 3.8, $412 each. Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.1 seconds, $6,038; 2. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 4.2, $5,233; 3. (tie) Brye Crites/Ross Ashford and Dustin Egusquiza/J.C. Flake, 4.3, $4,428 each; 5. Riley Kittle/Trey Yates, 4.4, $3,623; 6. (tie) Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner and Slade Wood/Logan Moore, 4.5, $3,019 each; 8. (tie) Jaxon Hill/Jessen James, Coleman Proctor/Travis Graves and Klay Yaussi/Bo Yaussi, 4.6, $2,013 each; 11. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.7, $1,409; 12. (tie) Kolton Schmidt/Paden Bray and Cole Curry/Jayse Tettenhorst, 4.8, $1,006 each; 14. (tie) Coy Rahlmann/Logan Medlin, Clay Smith/Coleby Payne and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.9, $335 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ben Andersen, 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool, $7,558; 2. Waitley Sharon, 87.5, $5,794; 3. Stetson Wright, 86.5, $4,283; 4, (tie) Mitch Pollock and Christian Bolli, 86, $2,267 each; 6. (tie) Rusty Wright, Logan Hay and Layton Green, 85.5, $1,008 each. Breakaway roping: 1. Macy Young, 2.1, $7,280; 2. Erika Frost, 2.2, $5,824; 3. (tie) Haiden Thompson, Jacee Currin and Josie Goodrich, 2.3, $3,761 each; 6. (tie) Kadin Jodie, Maklee Larsen, Julia Reeves and Taylor Munsell, 2.4, $1,775 each; 10. (tie) Laramie Jackson and Ally McDaniel, 2.5, $1,183 each; 12. (tie) Josey Murphy and Millie Greenwood, 2.6, $819 each; 14. (tie) Jayce Blake, Timber Allenbrand, Karrigan Graves, Beau Peterson and Josie Conner, 2.7, $182 each. Tie-down roping: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 7.5 seconds, $6,712; 2. Tom Crouse, 8.4, $5,817; 3. Bryce Derrer, 8.5, $5,369; 4. Haven Meged, 8.6, $4,474; 5. Tyler Calhoun, 8.7, $4,027; 6. (tie) Beau Cooper, Hunter Herrin and Shane Hanchey, 8.9, $3,132 each; 9. (tie) Luke Potter, Britt Bedke and Cory Solomon, 9.0, $1,864 each; 12. (tie) Zack
Rookie rides right into second
Waitley Sharon is having a spectacular rookie season. He entered this week with more than $100,000 in earnings and will add to it with an 87.5-point ride on Korkow Rodeo’s Frenemies during Friday’s second performance of the Gooding Pro Rodeo. (PHOTO BY LAURA ST JACQUES) GOODING, Idaho – On the Plains of eastern Colorado, Waitley Sharon was dreaming of being a professional rodeo cowboy. At just 21 years old, he’s not only living that life but doing it at an elite level. Heading into this week of rodeos, he has earned more than $107,000 and is ranked 17th in the saddle bronc riding world standings. He might just move up after this weekend, though. During Friday’s second performance of the Gooding Pro Rodeo, Sharon rode Korkow Rodeos’ Frenemies for 87.5 points and moved into second place, trailing leader Ben Andersen by just half a point. Both will have to await Saturday’s final performance to see where they fall in the mix. “I grew up on a ranch in Ordway,” Sharon said the small Colorado community of about 1,000. “I’ve got four younger brothers, and we grew up riding steers and getting on broncs and were pretty much rodeoing all the time. If we weren’t working, we were going to a rodeo, so it was pretty wild.” He’s still wild, but it’s contained. Not only is he on the bubble to qualify for his first National Finals Rodeo, but Sharon is also the top dog in the race for the bronc riding Rookie of the Year title. He leads childhood friend Coleman Shallbetter of Gunnison, Colorado, by just $22,000 for that coveted title, but there are still five weeks remaining in ProRodeo’s regular season. “Mitchie Story, Coleman and I all started riding broncs together,” he said, mentioning his traveling partner from Bayfield, Colorado. We all started riding broncs together in high school rodeos and college rodeos. It’s all been always the same thing, and it’s just really cool for us to continue to keep it going.” Shallbetter is among the top 30 in the world standings, so he’ll need to hit a lick and collect a big chunk of change if he’s going to battle for the rookie title at the NFR, the sport’s 10-day grand finale. Story is still on his permit, a tryout time. He’ll buy his PRCA card and begin his rookie campaign in 2027, but he’s dominating the permit standings. They feed off each other’s successes, and none are riding like newcomers to a challenging game. Sharon said having a solid mindset has been instrumental to his season. “My wife does an awesome job of keeping me positive and keeping me on the right track,” Sharon said of Brendi, whom he married in mid-May. “Hopefully we can keep drawing some good horses, keep using them and keep this rolling.” He’s paid close attention to those who came to this game before him, and he realizes there are some special moments in rodeo. I really like getting to travel and see new country,” he said. “Just like cowboys back in the day, they always drifted around and didn’t really stay in one place too long. Rodeo is how you can do the same thing right now in modern times.” Gooding Pro Rodeo Aug. 19-22 Bareback riding: 1. Leighton Berry, 91 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Clayton Biglow, 88.5; 3. (tie) Bradlee Miller and Ben Kramer, 87.5; 5. Luke Thrash, 87; 6. Cooper Cooke, 85; 7. (tie) Jayco Roper and Carson Hildre, 84.5. Steer wrestling: 1. Eli Lord, 3.1 seconds; 2. (tie) J.D. Struxness and Rowdy Parrott, 3.3; 4. (tie) Riley Duvall, Mike McGinn and Ringo Robinson, 3.5; 7. (tie) Trisyn Kalawaia, Don Payne and Ty Erickson, 3.6; 10. (tie) Bridger Anderson, Dalton Massey and Justin Shaffer, 3.7; 14. (tie) Jace Melvin and Travis Munro, 3.8; 12; Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.1 seconds; 2. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 4.2; 3. Brye Crites/Ross Ashford, 4.3; 4. Riley Kittle/Trey Yates, 4.4; 5. (tie) Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner and Slade Wood/Logan Moore, 4.5; 7. (tie) Jaxon Hill/Jessen James, Coleman Proctor/Travis Graves and Klay Yaussi/Bo Yaussi, 4.6; 10. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.7; 11. (tie) Kolton Schmidt/Paden Bray and Cole Curry/Jayse Tettenhorst, 4.8; 13. (tie) Coy Rahlmann/Logan Medlin, Clay Smith/Coleby Payne and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.9. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ben Andersen, 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool; 2. Waitley Sharon, 87.5; 3. Stetson Wright, 86.5; 4, Mitch Pollock, 86; 5. (tie) Rusty Wright, Logan Hay and Layton Green, 85.5; 8. Q Taylor, 85; 6. (tie) Brody Cress and Cooper Thatcher, 83; 8. (tie) Ryder Wright, Brody Wells and Caleb Brangham, 82.5. Breakaway roping: 1. Macy Young, 2.1; 2. Erika Frost, 2.2; 3. (tie) Haiden Thompson, Jacee Currin and Josie Goodrich, 2.3; 6. (tie) Kadin Jodie, Maklee Larsen and Taylor Munsell, 2.4; 9. (tie) Laramie Jackson and Ally McDaniel, 2.5; 11. (tie) Josey Murphy and Millie Greenwood, 2.6; 13. (tie) Jayce Blake, Timber Allenbrand, Karrigan Graves, Beau Peterson and Josie Conner, 2.7. Tie-down roping: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 7.5 seconds; 2. Tom Crouse, 8.4; 3. Bryce Derrer, 8.5; 4. Haven Meged, 8.6; 5. Tyler Calhoun, 8.7; 6. (tie) Beau Cooper, Hunter Herrin and Shane Hanchey, 8.9; 9. (tie) Luke Potter, Britt Bedke and Cory Solomon, 9.0; 12. Zack Jongbloed, 9.2; 13. John Douch, 9.3; 14. Cash Hooper, 9.4; 15. Brodey Clemons, 9.5. Barrel racing: 1. Carlee Otero, 16.54 seconds; 2. Tayla Moeykens, 16.73; 3. Anita Ellis, 16.77; 4. Taylor Baize, 16.78; 5. Sydney Graham, 16.81; 6. Summer Kosel, 16.86; 7. Kathy Grimes, 16.89; 8. Katelyn Scott, 16.92; 9. Emma Smith, 16.96; 10. Andrea Busby, 16.97; 11. (tie) Megan McLeod-Sprague and Makenzie Mayes, 16.99; 12. Stevi Hillman, 17.01; 14. Tricia Aldridge, 17.06; 15. Haylee Moosman Woodward, 17.07. Bull riding: 1. Hudson Bolton, 90 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Howdy Rowdy; 2. Tristan Mize, 89.5; 3. Luke Mackey, 88; 4. (tie) Roscoe Jarboe and Colton Coffman, 86.5; 6. (tie) Cimarron Rucker, Dakota Adams, Tristen Hutchings and Jate Frost,