PRORODEO Sports News - August 5, 2026

PRORODEO COWBOYS SHARE FAVORITE RODEO MEMORIES In honor of the 90th anniversary of PRORODEO, the PRORODEO Sports News spoke to multiple cowboys on the road and asked them to share their favorite memories – both new and old – of the Western sport. These memories will be shared in the print editions of the PRORODEO Sports News every month leading up to the official anniversary of the PRCA in October.

“The Saturday of the 10th round of the NFR in 2019. I knew going into that whole day that it was going to be between three guys to have a shot to win the world title, and it was going to be the fastest man wins. Everybody was about the same. The average balanced out to where whoever won the best in that round was going to win it. I had to go first, but I knew we all had an equal chance. Up to that point, it was the best chance I’d ever have to win a world title. “I just remember it being a pretty special day. Getting ready for it all day

“It happens almost every year when you’re driving all night on the Fourth of July, just hauling to another rodeo, and you’re watching fireworks in every town as you go through them. You really feel free at that point, and that’s why it’s got to be my favorite memory of PRORODEO.” T.J. GRAY, TWO-TIME NFR QUALIFIER AND THE 2025 NFR AVERAGE CHAMPION FROM DAIRY, ORE. “I don’t know if it’s the coolest one, but the one that sticks in my mind the most is when the flag horse ran into my head horse at Reno (in 2018) and almost knocked me off my horse. That’s probably the one that sticks with me the most. He knocked the air out of me.” TANNER GREEN, TIE-DOWN ROPER

WESLEY THORP

T.J. GRAY

long, you’re anticipating the fact that it’s coming, you’ve got a shot at the gold buckle and you’re one steer away from it. I just remember that whole day being really special, from eating lunch to walking around town with the family to warming up before the rodeo that night to knowing what steer we drew to riding in the tunnel. “It’s all a special memory to me. We ended up drawing a good steer, made a good run, first out and ended up being the fastest one of the three to win the gold memory. It’s a very special memory for me.” WESLEY THORP, THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION AND 10-TIME NFR QUALIFIER FROM STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS

“Getting on my first bull at my first NFR in 2021 and taking the re ride, and then I ended up winning the round. I got the monkey off my back and got a round win and all within my rookie year. It was really fun.” CREEK YOUNG, FOUR-TIME NFR QUALIFIER FROM ROGERSVILLE, MO.

TANNER GREEN

CREEK YOUNG

August 5, 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 39