2018 PRCA Media Guide - PRCA Awards

Resistol Rookies of the Year A PRCA rookie is a cowboy competing in his first year as a full member of the organization. (Cowboys first join under the PRCA’s permit system, which allows them to compete for some time without becoming full-fledged members. Once a cowboy has “filled his permit” by winning $1,000 at PRCA- sanctioned rodeos, he can apply to become a full member and is considered a rookie for the remainder of that season.) The PRCA’s Resistol Rookies of the Year are the first-season cowboys who earn the most money in their events during that season.

The Resistol All-around Rookie of theYear is the rookie who earned themost money among all rookies in two or more events. The PRCA rookie standings and Rookie of the Year Awards are sponsored by Resistol Hats. In 2017, 24-year-old Nelson Wyatt received the All-Around honor; the Clanton, Ala., cowboy said he wasn’t expecting to win the team roping header rookie standings with $52,012 and all-around rookie race with $54,317. “When I bought my card, it was my goal to win the rookie header, and the all-around was a big plus,” Wyatt said. “I had some good partners and horses, and a lot of people behind me. Without them, I definitely wouldn’t have accomplished it.” During the season, Wyatt and his team roping partner Trace Porter won the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo in Casper for a grand total of $5,927 each. Wyatt also earned $2,304 in calf roping in 2017. “I always keep a positivemindset,Wyatt said.“Take every steer and don’t take anything for granted. Keeping a positivemindset is the biggest thing I learned.” Wyatt went on to win the first round and place third in the Gold Medal Round at the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo in Salt Lake City, Utah – good for $15,200. He also competed at Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days and the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. “There aren’t any rodeos like that where I come from and it was cool to see those,”he said. Wyatt spent most of the year competing on Nemo, his 12-year-old sorrel gelding, and on his 8-year-old gelding, Teddy Bear, as backup. “They’re both really fast, easy to get along with and travel good,” Wyatt said. “I definitely wouldn’t have won as much without my sorrel, he took care of me and was easy to win on.” Wyatt ended the season with $19, 000 more than last year’s all-around rookie of the year Taylor Santos, but more importantly, Wyatt said he learned valuable lessons while gaining confidence for the future of his ProRodeo career. “It gives me more hope I can go and make the NFR,”Wyatt said.

Alabama cowboy Nelson Wyatt earned the 2017 All-around Rookie of the Year Award by focusing on team roping but also competing in calf roping.

– Matt Naber, PRCA Media

2017 PRCA Resistol Rookies of the Year with Earnings All-around NelsonWyatt, Clanton, Ala. $54,317 Bareback riding Tanner Phipps, Dalton, Ga. 57,739 Steer wrestling Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore. 15,501 Team roping (header) NelsonWyatt, Clanton, Ala. 52,012 Team roping (heeler) Cody Hogan, Athens, Texas 43,793 Saddle bronc riding Shade Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla. 41,726 Tie-down roping Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla. 53,870 Bull riding Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas 88,062 Steer roping Kelton McMillen, Paden, Okla. 8,625

Rookie World Champions

Six cowboys have won world championships their rookie years: Harry Charters, steer wrestling, 1959 Bill Kornell, bull riding, 1963 (youngest bull riding world champion at 19 years, 9 months)

Roy Cooper, tie-down roping, 1976 TeeWoolman, team roping, 1980 Joe Beaver, tie-down roping, 1985 Sage Kimzey, bull riding, 2014

580

PRORODEO AWARDS