2018 PRCA Media Guide - PRCA Awards

2017 Stock of the Year

Best saddle bronc 2017

Wound Up Beutler and Son Rodeo It’s been a while since Beutler and Son Rodeo could claim a Saddle Bronc of the Year Award, but Wound Up (right with Rusty Wright) put an end to that streak. The 9-year-old mare that weighs in at about 1,200 pounds was the stock contractor’s first Saddle Bronc of the Year winner since Challenger tied to win the award in 1987 with Kloud Grey Skoal. “It’s the first time that I’ve won a bronc of the year award,” said Rhett Beutler, who wasn’t quite 11 years old when the award was announced in ’87. But Rhett’s father Bennie said he remembers the award well, and they’ve won plenty of other awards

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

in between. The father and son duo have had bareback horses and bulls claim yearly honors since. Medicine Woman won the honor the last three years; in 2016 Wound Up was runner-up. “It’s the first time I’ve been involved with one,” said Rhett Beutler. “This is quite the honor to get this award.” At the 2016 Wrangler NFR, Wound Up bucked off Rusty Wright in the fifth round but paired with Cody Wright for a 90.5-point ride to win the 10th round. Rusty Wright got back on her at Rodeo Austin (Texas) to score 88 on her. “That horse is really, really fun,” Rusty Wright said. “She’s one you want to draw every time. She jumps out of there, bucks very hard. It’s just awesome getting on her.”

Best bucking bull 2017

SweetPro’s Bruiser D&H Cattle D&H Cattle’s SweetPro Bruiser (right with Brennon Eldred) is proof that cowboys respect a bull even when they throw them off. Bruiser, the 2017 Bucking Bull of the Year, was ridden just twice in the 2017 season. Roscoe Jarboe scored 91 on Bruiser at San Antonio in February – he tied for the third-highest score of 2017 – while Cole Melancon rode him for 90 points at the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo in August. For Melancon, it was his second successful ride atop Bruiser, the only cowboy to accomplish that in the PRCA.“Most of the time on that kind of a bull, when you nod your head, you’re probably going to be at least 90-plus points,” Melancon said. “That’s always a good one to see by your name when it comes to the short round or for the finals.” Bruiser’s 94.5 at the 2016 Wrangler NFR with Brennon Eldred aboard was the highest scored ride of 2016. The highest during the 2016 regular season also belonged to Bruiser. That was 92.5 points with Melancon aboard in Vernal, Utah, at the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

PRCA AWARDS

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2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE