2020 Media Guide - World Champions

2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Sage Kimzey won his sixth consecutive bull riding world championship and third average title at the 2019 Wrangler NFR, finishing the seasonwith a record $480,797.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

All-Around

Rookie Stetson Wright wins the all-around

For the first time in 21 years, the all-around world champion is a roughstock rider – and he did it as a rookie. Bull rider and saddle bronc rider StetsonWright maintained his position at the top of the all-around world standings throughout the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to win the most coveted award in ProRodeo with $297,923. The 20-year-old cowboy edged team roping heading world champion Clay Smith by $18,251 and 2017 all-around champTuf Cooper by $32,129. “I don’t know, I guess I just got lucky all year or something,”Wright said.“It’s pretty awesome. I don’t have much to say, but I’m super happy right now.” The all-around world title race depended on

Holy Holly. Although he finished fifth in the bull riding average with 448.5 points on five head, he earned $114,923 at theWrangler NFR to finish atop the all-around world standings. The young cowboy was thrilled to come through in the clutch like a veteran. “I do it for these moments right here,” he said. “Being a world champion is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. Hopefully (I can win) many more world titles. I hope to win a bunch more and have a healthy season (in 2020).” Stetson is the youngest competing member of theWright family and the only one to climb the ranks in bull riding andwin an all-aroundworld title. – Matt Naber

howwell Cooper performed at both the ClemMcSpaddenNational Finals Steer Roping and at the Wrangler NFR in tie-down roping. It also depended on how well Smith did in team roping and Caleb Smidt in tie-down roping at the Wrangler NFR. By Round 10, Wright, Smith and Cooper were still in the hunt. “You can’t control much other than what you do in your event,” Wright said. “In the all-around you aren’t competing against them; you just have to do your events. Clay Smith and Tuf Cooper are two of the greatest cowboys I’ve ever seen.” The last cowboy to enter the bucking chutes with an all-around crown was ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray in 1998. Wright also won the PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year titles for all-around, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He ranked 20th in the PRCA | RAM World Stand- ings for saddle bronc riding with $71,301 and third for bull ridingwith $267,345. In Las Vegas,Wright won Round 1 with a 92.5-point ride on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Monte Walsh and Round 4 with 91 points on Painted Pony Championship Rodeo’s

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Dan Hubbell

Stetson Wright made his Wrangler NFR debut last year, finishing third in the bull riding world standings and earning his first all-around world championship with $297,923.

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2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Bareback Riding Biglow wins five rounds en route to a world title

A dream became a reality for bareback rider Clayton Biglow at the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The Clements, Calif., cowboy captured his first career gold buckle with a performance for the ages at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Biglow won five rounds at the Wrangler NFR, including Round 10, with a Wrangler NFR record- tying ride of 93 points on Northcott Macza’s Stevie Knicks. It was all part of a victory binge for Biglow. He also won the average with 886.5 points on 10 head and earned $243,891 at the Wrangler NFR. That total was the most money earned of any contestant at the Wrangler NFR – not counting ground money – and earned him the RAM Top Gun Award. “This is crazy,” said Biglow, 23. “I have been dreaming of this for a long time, and I don’t know what to say. This is something you work for your entire life, and when it finally happens, you don’t realize it happened. It hasn’t hit me yet, but it will. It’s hard to put into words.”

Biglow set a bareback riding record for most money in a regular season with $425,843. The previous high was $374,272 by Tim O’Connell in 2016. Biglow alsomade history by becoming the first bareback rider to win four consecutive rounds at the Wrangler NFR, winning Rounds 5 through 8. “This is the Finals I dreamed of,”he said.“I liter- ally laid in bed every night for the last threemonths thinking about this moment. That gold buckle is going right on my belt.” Biglow said chasing a gold buckle was amental challenge. “To get my mind off the gold buckle, I just kept thinking, ‘Go win that Top Gun,”’ he said. “If you win that, the world championship is yours because you’re going to win more money than anybody else.” As the 2019 Top Gun Award recipient, Biglow earned a 2020 RAM 3500 Heavy Duty Truck, a one- of-a-kind RAM Top Gun-branded revolver from Commemorative Firearms and a custom Top Gun buckle from Montana Silversmiths. Biglow also became

2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

the fourth cowboy from California to win a bare- back riding world cham- pionship. He joins Smoky Snyder (1932, 1936), Frank Schneider (1935) and John Hawkins (1963). It was Biglow’s fourth appearance at the Wran- gler NFR (2016-19); his best finish in the world standings before 2019 was fourth in 2018. “This (winning a gold buckle) is motivation and relief,” Biglow said. “This motivates me to do it again next year and the year after that.That’s what I want. I finally got my first one, and I’m ready for as many more as they will give me.” – Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Dan Hubbell

Biglow won five rounds at his fourth Wrangler NFR, capturing his first gold buckle after winning $243,843, more than any other contestant.

2020 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Steer Wrestling

After coming up short in past, Erickson wins gold

The third time was a charm for steer wrestler Ty Erickson. The Helena, Mont., cowboy had come into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in the pole position three of the last four years, but it wasn’t until 2019 when he left theThomas &Mack with a gold buckle. Erickson earned $88,410 at the Finals to finish atop the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $234,491. Erickson edged reserve champion Bridger Chambers, who earned $217,362. Erickson finished fifth in the average with a 62.7-second time on 10 head towin $22,846, which helped secure the world championship. “Ohman, that’s better than I expected,”Erickson said on being called a world champion. “This is a dream come true and I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little kid. Now that it’s happened, it’s pretty surreal.” Erickson tried to keep his emotions in check before Round 10. “I was just focused onmy job andwhat I wanted to do,”he said.“I just wanted to get a good start and make a good run. After I saw what I had drawn, I knew I had a good steer and would be able to do what I wanted. I was just outside (the money) in the round, but that was OK because I made the

run I wanted and everything worked out.”Erickson clocked a 4.4-second run in Round 10 that helped him finish fifth in the average. He was handed the gold buckle by his aunt Judy Wagner of Montana Silversmiths. “This means everything,” he said. “This is all we’ve been working for the last seven years. Every morning, this is what we get up andwork toward, so now that it’s actually come true and we’ve accom- plished that, it couldn’t mean any more to me. My aunt being the one to hand me the buckle made it even more special.” Erickson’s feat was more impressive considering the six-time Wrangler NFR qualifier was riding Crush, a horse that had never competed at the Finals. “My horse worked great,” he said. Erickson placed second in Round 4, split third in Round 7 and had a huge win in Round 9 with a 3.6-second run that earned him $26,231. “Anytime you can get a round win at theWran- gler National Finals Rodeo, it’s exciting,” Erickson said. “I’m so happy I was able to get a go-round win, especially with the week I’ve been having. I just tried to go back to fundamentals and make the best run I could and it worked out.” – Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Steve Gray

By finishing fifth in the average at the 2019 Finals, Erickson secured his first world title with $234,491.

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2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Saddle Bronc Riding

Thurston claims second world title in record fashion

The first time Zeke Thurston won the saddle bronc riding world championship he was 22 years old. The Canadian cowboy did it again in 2019 at the ripe age of 25, winning his second title with a record-breaking $347,056 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. Thurston entered theWrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in second place. He promptly won the first round, added a win in the seventh round, capped it off with a Round 9 win and took home $170,064 to blow out the competition. Unlike his first world-title trip when Thurston had to win the average in the 10th round to win the gold buckle, Thurston was in firm control in the latter stages of the Finals. He finished fourth in the aggregate with 699.5 points on eight head. That garnered him another $31,731. He finished ahead of second-place Brody Cress by $60,684.

“Man, the first one, I didn’t know it was coming because I was coming from behind,”said Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta. “This year, just being out front and having everybody chasing you, I’d rather have it the other way. It’s pretty stressful, it starts playing tricks with your mind and you think you’re losing it. But it all worked out.” In the last four seasons, Thurston has won two world titles, he finished third in 2018 and finished seventh in 2017. In that time, he’s earned more than $1 million. “I’ve been super lucky,” he said. “I love bronc riding, the sport of rodeo and everything about it. I’ll probably always be involved with it until the day I die. It’s amazing.” When the Finals kicked off Dec. 5, Thurston trailed leader RyderWright by $47,497. He cut that leadmore than in half by winning the first round. It wasWright’s 2017 record of most money earned in a

2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

season including the Finals that Thurston shattered, besting it by $89,118. In addition to his three round victories, Thurston placed in four other rounds, including splitting third in the final with an 88.5-point ride. His round wins came aboard Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue (Round 1, 88 points), Northcott Macza’s Get Smart (Round 7, 92.5) and Vold Rodeo Co.’s Sun Glow (Round 9, 91) This title was oneThur- ston craved. “It’s awesome,”he said. “I wanted this second one worse than I wanted the first one. I came close last year, but it was a roller- coaster out here. Lots of ups and down, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” – Scott Kaniewski

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Dan Hubbell

Thurston surpassed his competition at the 2019 Wrangler NFR after entering in second place and winning three rounds.

2020 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Team Roping

Unmatched pair wins

After a large-scale game of musical chairs last season with team ropers switching partners, the 2019 heading and heelingworld champions did not compete together at the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Header Clay Smith and heeler Jade Corkill placed sixth in the average and won enough to keep Smith at the top of the heading world standings with $268,820 for his second consecutive world title. Meanwhile, heeling world champion Wesley Thorp placed first in the average along with his header Cody Snow, leavingThorp at the top of the heeling standings with $249,181. Corkill finished fourth in the heeling world standings with $226,946. Smith and Corkill didn’t

compete together during the entire season, but paired up for the Wrangler NFR, leaving them on uneven ground in the world standings. “I really want to thank Jade for heeling steers, there were ones only he could heel this week,”Smith said.“I feel bad, like I let him down. It’s a team deal and I didn’t do well enough for him to win too. He is the best heeler in the world.” Snow finished second in the heading standings with $256,938 – about $11,000 behind Smith. “I’m so proud of how he (Snow) has done this week,” Thorp said. “I truly thought he had more control with his roping and his horse than anyone in this arena and that goes a long way. Hemademy job easier and ropes phenomenally all year long. He is one of my best friends.”

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

Header Clay Smith won his second straight gold buckle after entering as season leader and earning $118,308 at the 2019 Wrangler NFR.

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2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Team Roping

team roping world titles

This was Thorp’s first world title thanks to placing in six rounds and winning Round 7. Smith’s second consecutive title came after placing in six rounds, including a win in Round 2. He entered the Finals in first after setting a single- season record for most money won before the Wrangler NFR with $150,512. “It means a lot tome – it comes in order of faith for me, thenmy family and this is No. 3, and it’s all I think about,”he said.“We were raised in rodeo, and to win the world is an accomplishment, a big one for me. I’m very thankful.” Winning the world had a different meaning for Thorp. “It means that these are the guys I looked up to growing up and who I put on a pedestal as heroes,”

Thorp said.“It’s like they were on a different playing field and even today, they are guys I look up to. To be one of them is amazing and a dream come true. You hope it could come true, but you never grasp what it feels like. I’m at a loss for words on it, but it feels unbelievable and I’mhappy with everything. We came with a game plan and stuck with it. I had tremendous support the whole time.” Both world champions are already looking ahead for the 2020 season. “You start at ground zero going into the new season and everyone wants to win,”Smith said.“It doesn’t mean anything other than that you were the best that year. It’s like you are on a wheel, like a hamster on a wheel that keeps turning.” –Matt Naber

2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

Heeler Wesley Thorp secured his first world championship by placing in six rounds and winning Round 7 at the 2019 Finals. He finished first in the world standings with $249,181.

2020 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Tie-down Roping

Meged wins gold in season debut

A tight race in tie-down roping at the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo saw rookie Haven Meged emerge with the gold buckle after finishing the season with $246,013. Meged tacked on the average title for good measure with an 85.7-second time on 10 head. The 21-year-old narrowly defeated Shane Hanchey, the 2013 tie-down roping world cham- pion, by less than $1,200 for the world champi- onship. Hanchey needed to win the final round outright with a time of 7.0 seconds or quicker to capture his second gold buckle. Hanchey stopped the clock at 7.1, splitting the win with Adam Gray and placing second in the world with $244,832. “It’s been close, and hats off to (Tyson) Durfey (who finished third) and everybody here,” Meged

said.“Everyone has ropedwell, and it’s been a tough deal.You’ve got theTop 15, the best of the best, here every night battling it out and I’m just fortunate to come out on top.” Meged, the 2019 PRCA | Resistol Tie-down Roping Rookie of the Year, is the first rookie to win a tie-down roping world title since Joe Beaver did it in 1985. “It’s a dream come true to win Rookie of theYear, the average saddle and this (a gold buckle),”he said. The Miles City, Mont., cowboy was competing on an injured ankle after a bad sprain three weeks before the Finals. Meged received shots and physical therapy to improve before Round 1. “I couldn’t walk for four days after I hurt my

ankle,” he said. “I had to have faith in God that it would be alright, and this is his plan.” The 2019 RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo champion was quick to credit his parents and longtime friend Brett Fleming for his success. Meged competed on Fleming’s horse, Beyonce, whomhe purchased off Facebook. “I couldn’t have done it without my parents,”he said.“They’re always willing to help me wherever and whenever, and without them I’d never be anywhere in life. “Brett Fleming has helped me since Day 1, sendingme all my prac- tice and roping videos since I was in eighth grade. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without my family, sponsors andmy horse. It’s just a big deal to have that support system, always there to pick you up, cheer you on – it’s unbelievable.” After collecting $126,135 at the Finals, Meged plans to put it toward his future. “I’ve spent a lot of money on calves this year,” he said. “I’m just going to takemymoney and invest it and get ready for next year.” –Amber Baillie

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Dan Hubbell

Rookie HavenMeged earned his first gold buckle after winning the average with 85.7 seconds on 10 head at the 2019Wrangler NFR.

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2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Bull Riding Kimzey wins sixth straight world title

Bull rider Sage Kimzey continues to rewrite the ProRodeo record books. Following another stellar performance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and a historic 2019 season, Kimzey became only the second cowboy in PRCA history to win six consecutive gold buckles – the first to do it in his first six seasons – and the third cowboy to win at least six bull riding world titles. “Each one is special,” said the 25-year-old. “I don’t get emotional often but this one is special. …This year I didn’t know if I could ride (due to an injury he suffered at the 2018 Finals), and then I found a brace that worked for my elbow. This year was a grind. Some years are smooth sailing, and this was a tough year. I’m thankful for the tough times because I wouldn’t be theman I amwithout them.”

Only two bull riders have as many world titles as Kimzey, and both of them are ProRodeo Hall of Famers: Jim Shoulders (1951, 1954-59) and Don Gay (1974-77, 1979-81, 1984). Kimzey is tied with Shoulders for the PRCA record for consecutive bull riding world champion- ships and has his sights set on surpassing Gay’s eight world titles. “It’s hard to put into words, it is something that will take a long time for me to realize what it means,” Kimzey said.“I’m just riding bulls and having fun. I feel good about it (passing Gay’s record).” The Strong City, Okla., cowboy finished the 2019 seasonwith a PRCA bull riding record earning $480,797, breaking his 2017 record of $436,479. During the 2019 summer run, rodeo started to wear on Kimzey. “I like my chances

2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

every year,” Kimzey said. “There are bumps along the road, and I still had a good winter run, mostly credited to RodeoHouston, but it was a bumpy road until August. I was talking to Alexis (Kimzey’s fiancée) and didn’t want to think about rodeo at the end of July. “But I went home for a day during Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days and she said, ‘You can fight through it or quit.’It is an eye-opening deal with two choices, and I’m happy with the choice I made.” Kimzey entered the 2019 Wrangler NFR with a $93,000 lead over second place and won the world by a margin of $136,224.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

After a historic 2019 season, Kimzey became the first cowboy in PRCA history to win six consecutive world titles in his first six season s.

–Matt Naber

2020 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Steer Roping

Brazile captures seventh steer roping gold buckle

Once again,Trevor Brazile showedwhy he is the most decorated PRCA cowboy of all time. The 2019 ClemMcSpaddenNational Finals Steer Roping at the Kansas Star Arena came down to Round 10 with the world championship in limbo. Brazile needed a catch and tie in Round 10 to capture a gold buckle. He stopped the clock in 14.1 seconds to secure the average win and his 25th gold buckle. Brazile finished with $129,552 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings to edge runner-up Vin Fisher Jr.’s $121,834. “We were in a battle, I wanted to do whatever it took to win,”said Brazile, 43.“All of the gold buckles are special. This one was really cool because I was able to stay home because the steer roping schedule fit the new lifestyle I have chosen.” Brazile placed in six rounds at the NFSR andwon the average with a 131.0-second time on 10 head, collecting his seventh steer roping gold buckle to go with the ones he won in (2006-07, 2011 and 2013-15).

Brazile was the last to rope in Round 10 and registered a time, giving him the average win. He was the only competitor to tie down 10, and that in turn clinched his world title. “It is a great scenario, but then again, it takes out trying towin something in the last round for money,” Brazile said.“It’s just one of those things where you just have to go do your job. I wasn’t scared of the barrier, that was probably the biggest difference in that scenario because I was going to be the onlyman to tie down 10 even if I broke the barrier. I wanted to have an aggressive start.” Fisher was gracious in defeat. He finished second in the world in 2015 and 2019, both times to Brazile. “Trevor Brazile is a hard man to beat,” Fisher said.“I thought I threw everything at him. He never stubbed his toe. Looking back, I’m going to realize that is the best roping I have ever done in my life.” Brazile has won a PRCA-record of 25 gold buckles –14 in all-around (2002-04, 2006-15, 2018), three in tie-down roping (2007, 2009-10) and one in team roping (2010). Brazile’s seven steer

roping gold buckles are second on the all-time list behind ProRodeo Hall of Famer Guy Allen’s 18 world championships. “Guy Allen is the legend,” Brazile said. “Nobody has ever domi- nated a single event like he has. He’s in no danger of me catching him. I just marveled watching him, and that’s good enough for me. If anybody deserves a record it is him.” Brazile earned $57,707 at the NFSR, including $27,347 for winning the average. Fisher was second in the average with a time of 114.1 seconds on nine head. – Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by William Kierce

Brazile placed in six rounds at the 2019 NFSR andwon the averagewith 131.0 seconds on 10 head, collecting his seventh steer ropingworld title.

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2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS