PRORODEO Sports News - February 21, 2025

THE COWBOYS’ CHOICE SINCE 1952

SPORTS NEWS

FEB 2025 21

COLUMBIA RIVER CIRCUIT THRIVING BRUNO CAPTURES FORT WORTH CROWN MURPHY'S

BIG WIN AT DIXIE NATIONAL

STEPHENVILLE : HOME TO MORE PRORODEO COWBOYS THAN ANYWHERE COWBOY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

HOW THE WEST IS WORN

RYDER WRIGHT 2024 WORLD CHAMPION SADDLE BRONC RIDER

CONTENTS

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE

2 0 2 5 FEB 2 1

An aerial view of the state of the art Tarleton State University rodeo complex.

6 COWBOY GRILLE Heimburg on the right track to have a successful PRORODEO career

SUNSHINE STATE SUCCESS Trey Benton III wins in Okeechobee 22 28 SAN ANTONIO XTREME BULLS Amped up Jax Mills gets dream matchup

8

MANAGER’S MESSAGE The winter run is in full force helping to fuel Wrangler NFR dreams 2 THE CHUTE BOSSES Resistol Rookie saddle bronc rider Ira Dickinson is the featured guest on The Chute Bosses 5

32

COLUMBIA RIVER A thriving Circuit with a storied tradi tion, growing payouts and the same hospitality 16 COWBOY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD Stephenville, Texas, is home to more PRORODEO cowboys than anywhere

FORT WORTH Saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno captures inaugural Fort Worth crown

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT 38

20

COVER PHOTO by Caitlin Moyer of sellout crowd watching the action at the Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo in Stephenville.

DIXIE NATIONAL Macon Murphy on fire in Jackson, Mississippi at Dixie National Rodeo

CONTRIBUTORS

Tracy has three decades of expe rience in sports journalism. He previously served three years as the editor of the PRORODEO Sports News, and before that he spent sev en years as a media coordinator at the PRCA. TRACY RENCK MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

ALEX DODD MEDIA REPORTER

LISA CUSH MANAGER OF DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS

Alex has worked in sports media for over a decade and most re cently served as a sports editor in Rapid City, South Dakota. Alex is a proud Clemson University alum.

Lisa is responsible for the visual style, layout, and graphic design of the digital PSN. She leans into her Western roots to make sure the magazine’s content reflects the PRCA’s mission, vision and values.

MATTHEW CASTANEDA STATS AND RECORDS SPECIALIST

TAYLOR BROWN VIDEO PRODUCER

Darla oversees requests regarding advertising in PRCA publications (PRORODEO Sports News, PRO RODEO Programs, & the Contract Personnel Directory). DARLA LINDT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER 719.528.4708

Matthew collects, organizes and maintains the PRCA’s statistical data - ensuring the accuracy and accessibility of relevant records as well as day-to-day operations in the Media Department including PSN Subscriptions.

With over a decade of experience in sports videography, Taylor over sees production of PRORODEO Films and social media content. He is a graduate of West Virginia University.

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS | (ISSN 0161-5815; USPS 469-620) is published by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 | DISCLAIMER: The PSN carries advertising as a service to PRCA members and PSN readers. However, publication of advertisements in the PSN does not in any way, whether expressed or implied, commit the PSN to guarantee or warrant any of the merchandise or livestock advertised. TO SUBSCRIBE: 800.763.3648 TO ADVERTISE: 719.528.4708 | © 2025, PRCA Properties Inc. , a marketing service and subsidiary of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information retrieval system, without permission in writing from PRCA Properties Inc.

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 1

MANAGER’S MESSAGE

Tracy Renck

WINTER RUN HELPS FUEL WRANGLER NFR DREAMS

T he winter run is in full force. The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo ended Feb. 8 and each event champ earned a $20,000 payday; the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is over Feb. 22 and finals winners will collect $15,000; and that sets the stage for RodeoHouston (March 4-23) & Rodeo Austin (March 15-29). This is a hectic time for cowboys to try and grab their share of huge purs es at these lucrative rodeos. There’s no question a RodeoHouston victory sets a cowboy on a direct path to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. The 2024 winners at NRG Stadium pocketed $50,000 each for their vic tories. The list consisted of bareback rider Leighton Berry; steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge, team ropers J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II; saddle bronc rider Damian Brennan; tie down roper Ty Harris and bull rider Creek Young. Harris was the top money winner of RodeoHouston – putting $58,000 in his pockets. All those victorious cowboys quali fied for the 2024 Wrangler NFR. The high-paying rodeos don’t end in March either. They are littered throughout the season through

spring, summer and fall. Cashing checks and balancing rodeo counts is more important than ever for PROEODEO contestants. Consider how much the No. 15 qual ifiers for last year’s NFR made to get to Vegas. It is mind-boggling: BAREBACK RIDER RICHMOND CHAMPION $128,965 STEER WRESTLER SCOTT GUENTHNER $91,348 TEAM ROPING HEADER DEREK BEGAY $105,069 TEAM ROPING HEELER PAUL EAVES $108,912 SADDLE BRONC RIDER LOGAN HAY $127,250 TIE-DOWN ROPER QUADE HIATT $101,980 BULL RIDER CREEK YOUNG $121,609 Moreover, it is a credit to the PRCA, sponsors, and all the great rodeo committees for putting so much money into rodeos and standalone events. How much more? Well as recently as 2021 NFR here’s a list of the No. 15 qualifiers per event: BAREBACK RIDER ZACH HIBLER $65,381 TEAM ROPING HEADER QUINN KESLER $62,403 TEAM ROPING HEELER JOSEPH HARRISON $61,688 SADDLE BRONC RIDER SPENCER WRIGHT $74,061 TIE-DOWN ROPER JOHN DOUCH $88,874 STEER WRESTLER CURTIS CASSIDY $66,943

It doesn’t take an MIT grad to cal culate that the money is growing exponentially in PRORODEO. This is fantastic for competitors and a huge plus for fans – but it also increases the degree of difficulty to make the coveted NFR. That’s why cowboys must seize opportunities when they draw NFR roughstock or the top draws in the timed events. OPPORTUNITIES LOST CAN EASILY BE THE DIFFERENCE IN A COWBOY MAKING A RESERVATION FOR THE NFR OR STAYING HOME AND GETTING READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Making the NFR is priority No. 1 – but that is the same goal for most of the 6,000-plus members of the PRCA. The odds of reaching this goal – for most cowboys – are not great. That’s why cowboys need to be great when the spotlight is the brightest and moment is the biggest if they want to have a chance at a presti gious gold buckle in December. The 2025 NFR payout for contestants is $13,501,505 so anything is possible once at the Thomas & Mack Center. Let the fun heat up.

BULL RIDER ROSCOE JARBOE

$95,778

2 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 3

4 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

THE CHUTE BOSSES

IRA DICKINSON SADDLE BRONC RIDER SEASON 3, EPISODE 3

R

esistol Rookie saddle bronc rider Ira Dickinson broke

down his decision to get his PRCA card as

this week’s featured guest on The Chute Bosses. In the short round, Alex and Tracy recapped the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and its significance in the winter run. Our Historic NFR Moment of the Week features ProRodeo Hall of Fame bull rider Tuff Hedeman in the 1989 NFR.

The Chute Bosses w/ Ira Dickinson video here.

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 5

COWBOY GRILLE with Kensie Darst-Todd

Kooper Heimburg pairs with Honeycutt Rodeo's Sir Grit for an 81-point ride to win The Kingsmen Andy Devine PRCA Rodeo in June 2023 in Kingman, Ariz . PRCA Photo by Alexis Cady

K ooper Heimburg, 20, is on the right track to have a successful PRORODEO career. Last month, the Marshall, Mo., native won the bareback riding at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. Heimburg earned $6,477 with an 87-point ride atop Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Pearl Harbor in the finals to secure the victory. He kicked off his 2025 season at the PRCA Permit Finals in Waco, Tx., winning the three-head average and pocketing $1,564.

HOW’D YOU GET YOUR START IN RODEO? My family has always rodeoed. My older brother did tie-down and team roping, and my dad used to bulldog, team rope and tie-down rope. Watch ing it made me want to start riding bulls - that's what I started doing. Once I got into junior high, I started doing the bareback and saddle bronc on steers. WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD MAKE A CAREER OUT OF RODEO? I had a lot of help through high school, and I feel like I was making good prog ress and really learning how to ride.

DID YOU DO ANY OTHER RODEO EVENTS GROWING UP? Once I started junior high rodeo in sev enth grade, that's when I started riding bareback riding and saddle bronc. Once I graduated junior high, it just went straight up from there, competing in bareback riding. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO STAY ON YOUR PRCA PER MIT THIS YEAR? I wanted to stay my permit this year because I want to dominate that per mit section and go to all the big rodeos to win as much money as I can on a

But once I came to college, that really switched to making a career out of it. I've been in college for three years now, and in the first six months I was here, I could see a major difference in my riding. WHY DID YOU DECIDE BAREBACK RIDING WOULD BE YOUR EVENT? I always wanted to ride bulls. Back at home, I met people who were used to riding bareback horses. I was able to learn more about how to ride bareback horses than I was about riding bulls. I decided to go that way, and I seem to get hurt more often when I ride bulls instead of bareback horses.

6 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CANDY? I try not to eat candy much, but I like those gummy bears. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING WHEN YOU’RE NOT RODEOING? If I'm at home during the summer in Arizona, I like to go hunting. And my younger brother likes to fish a lot, so I get to try to do that. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY? I really enjoy Independence Day because it's a cool holiday, and all the rodeos are going on during the sum mer. During that time, they all had fireworks at the rodeos, and it was a really cool experience.

WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LIKE LISTENING TO? About an hour before I get on, I listen to rock and roll, like Nickelback or AC/ DC. Then, if I'm driving, I will typically play country.

permit. I want to go to all the rodeos I can get to in the summer and win the most I can over the next year. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO LEARN ON YOUR PRCA PERMIT? During my permit year, I want to be able to get into most of the rodeos that I haven't been able to compete in. I want to make the most of it. WHO’S SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO IN THE RODEO BUSINESS RIGHT NOW? Tim O’Connell, I know Tim from when I started coming to school here at Mis souri Valley (College). He and Jess Pope have really helped me a lot. It’s cool that I can have help whenever I need it from someone who’s been doing it for a while and who has done it really well. WHAT’S ONE RODEO YOU WANT TO WIN BEFORE YOUR CAREER IS OVER? I'd have to say Cheyenne or Calgary. Those two are really cool rodeos, and it would be really neat to pull away with those wins. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? I really like Tombstone, with Doc Hol iday and Wyatt Earp, because Tomb stone is a town in Arizona, back where I live, and I actually haven't been there. I know a lot of people who have been there, but they say it's just like the town they had in the movie. WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO RESTAURANT BEFORE OR AFTER A RODEO? We usually stop at Raising Cane’s on the way to rodeos and leaving rodeos. They're open so late and we like to eat there because it’s the only restaurant open. WHAT’S THE FIRST VEHICLE YOU DROVE? When I turned 16, I drove a 3/4-ton Dodge.

Kooper Heimburg collects his rigging on the dirt in Aug. 2024 during the Pioneer City Rodeo in Palestine, Ill. PRCA Photo by Tonya Evans

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 7

FEATURE

COWBOY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS, IS HOME TO MORE PRORODEO COWBOYS THAN ANYWHERE

By Tracy Renck

T

here’s no question Stephenville, Texas and PRCA cowboys have a history.

serving as President of that organiza tion in the early 1960s before moving on to Tarleton State University in Stephenville where he was part of the national championship team of 1967, and to timed-event competition at the PRCA level. With his wife, Delia, he moved to Stephenville in 1970 and built the first indoor arena in the area. “I've lived here since 1970 and back then, you could tell that it was

In the 1970s, Stephenville wasn’t littered with cowboys but that slowly changed thanks to late PRCA stock contractor Terry Walls. Walls sent many top animals to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo over the last three decades as owner of Terry Walls Rodeo Company and Pro Ro deo Inc. Walls was a champion tie-down rop er and steer wrestler in the American Junior Rodeo Association as well as

And it is storied one. In Erath County, where Stephenville is located, is where ProRodeo Hall of Famer Everett Colborn and his World Championship Rodeo Company held rodeos from 1937-57.

going to be a groundswell of cowboys,” Delia said. “My husband and I built the first indoor arena here, and we built it as a practice facility for Tar leton because they didn't have a covered place to practice. Then all of a sudden, the roughstock guys wanted us to add roughstock, and we only knew about timed events, but we learned. And we started having rodeos. We wound up having some thing nearly every night out there at that building. “We even had cuttings. We had quarter horse shows. So, there were all varieties of people coming to Stephenville, to that arena, and they began to fall in love with

8 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

Stephenville.” By the 1980s, and ‘90s, Stephenville kept attracting PRCA’s biggest stars – stars like nine-time PRCA World Champion Ty Murray. “I was raised in Arizona, and I came to Texas to go to college, and I went to Odessa (Texas) College, and I had some opportunities to go to some different colleges around the coun try, but I knew I was being recruited to take the place of Jim Sharp because he was in his last year, and he was a guy who I idolized at that time, being a few years older than me, he was setting the world on fire, in Intercollegiate Rodeo and PRORODEO, and I wanted to come to Texas,” Murray said. “I wanted to get around the best bull riders in the world. And I had an oppor tunity to come to Texas, and that also gave me the opportunity to travel with Jim and Cody Lambert and Lane Frost. That was a very lucky scenario for me to

Left to right, Chad Decker, founder of the Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo Association, rodeo secretary Delia Walls, and Casey Hammons, Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo As sociation, share a light moment on Feb. 7 in Stephenville.

start out as a rookie and be able to get in with those guys. So, I went to Odessa and Jim, and I became really good friends there and we lived together there. “We wanted to get closer to the DFW airport, because flying in and out of Odessa you always had to go to DFW anyway. When I got out of college, we loaded up and went to Benbrook (Texas). When we were living in Benbrook, Jim was dating a girl who went to Tarleton (in the late 1980s), here in Stephenville, so we'd come down here all the time.” That’s when Murray was first drawn to Stephenville. “Growing up in Arizona, I really like the country, and it was my dream

to try and own a ranch one day. So, growing up in the desert, when I saw this kind of country with all the grass and the trees and the water, I just thought it was ideal for me. After spending so much time in Stephen ville, I told Jim that I was going to buy a place there. He said, ‘If you are, I am too, and I bought a house, and he bought a piece of land, and we came down together.’ Tom Reeves (a ProRodeo Hall of Fame saddle bronc rider) was living with us as well. “The three of us came down to Ste phenville, and they both lived with me and then eventually they both built houses.” The fact that Murray, Sharp and Reeves picked Stephenville to estab

lish roots didn’t surprise Walls. “Stephenville is a very cowboy friendly town, and then the PRCA cowboys began to figure out they could live here and be within an hour and 45 minutes of either airport and easily be able to travel to wherever they needed to go,” Walls said. “The Chamber of Com merce and many of the businesses in Stephenville welcomed the cowboys here. When we first moved here, land was probably bringing $300 to $500 an acre, and that would be high. Now it's $10,000 to $15,000 an acre, and there's not much left, and it's just a wonderful place to live be cause it's rural, but we have access to the big cities, and everybody really likes it.”

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 9

JIM SHARP , the first bull rider to ride all 10 bulls at the NFR, with legendary nine-time PRCA World Champion TY MURRAY . They have lived in Stephenville for nearly four decades

10 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

COWBOY ATMOSPHERE HAS SNOWBALL EFFECT W hen Murray and his buddies moved to Ste phenville, he didn’t feel like he was establish ing a trend – he just loved the location. “We just thought this was a good area where we could have some land, because we didn't want to live up there in the Metroplex, but yet, we wanted to be some what closer to the airport,” Murray said. “So, you know. I just, I thought this was a good area for that. And Jim did too, and Tom liked it too. Then it just started snowballing. Rodeo type cowboys and cowgirls started coming in, and now it's, it's continuing to explode.” In 1988, Sharp rode his way into the history books by becoming the first bull rider to ride all 10 bulls at the National Finals Rodeo. And Sharp, a two-time PRCA World Champion in 1988 and 1990, has loved living in Stephenville for the last 37 years. “There’s always been a bunch of cowboys around here. Ty and I used to team rope a little bit. And you can find a team roping open to go to every day in Stephenville, Texas. And it just kind of fit. It was our kind of town, you know, it was a small country town, and that's what we were looking for. It's grown a lot since, since Ty and I moved here, but it's worked out really well. I really like living here.” Three-time PRCA World Champion heeler Wesley Thorp – 2019, 2023 and 2024 – echoed Sharp.

“I grew up coming to Stephenville for junior rodeos and starting about when I was 8 or 9 years old, making several trips a month down here for the jackpots and junior rodeos,” Thorp said. “And it just kind of stuck out to me, because it's where a lot of the guys lived. It's a central location. And from a young age, I knew I always wanted to be here, because you got to be around the best guys, to learn to be one of the best guys. I've always kind of had that mindset.

“You got to be around the best guys, to learn to be one of the best guys.” ~ Wesley Thorp

“Through the years, even further into high school, I just really tried to set myself up to move down here, and that was my plan all along, after high school. We've lived here 10 years, and it's definitely home to me. It is such a good location for the jackpot schedule, because there's anywhere from three to five jackpots within 30 to 45 minutes of right here. And a lot of them are in town. We can go, like I said, to a minimum of two and up to five jackpots per week, and it's just super handy to stay sharp, keep your horses working well, and have a shot to win some pretty good money on the side too.”

Three-time PRCA World Champion heeler WESLEY THORP

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 11

what (Wesley) Thorp was saying, to be one of the best, or to give it your best shot at being one of the best, you have to be around the best,” Dickinson said. “And this, this town, country environment, this school and facility, that's what it's all about.” TARLETON’S CALLING

Tarleton State has a tradition of perennial powerful national cham pionship rodeo teams, including the men’s team in 2024. The talent of Tarleton is a big draw to many cowboys. Many come to Tar leton and never leave Stephenville. Mark Eakin, who serves as the di rector of Rodeo Activities and head men’s rodeo coach at Tarleton, real izes his good fortune. “Everybody says (Stephenville) is the Cowboy Capital of the World for many reasons,” Eakin said. “A majority of PRCA athletes live right here. And you know, when you start talking about rodeo teams and things, this thing's been huge since they started winning national cham pionships here in 1967 and so just the atmosphere, the cowboy way of life right here is something that sets it apart from everything else.” Eakin acknowledged a lot has changed in the past two decades in Stephenville – especially at Tarleton. “Everything's changed, the growth from the academic side, as far as the campus goes, and the sports going (NCAA) Division 1 here at the college,” Eakin said. “We went from having a facility in town across from the Ag farm outdoors to having this amazing facility now that our ad ministration and everybody helped us get. I came back in 2008, and the student population, we had about 7,000 students, and now Tarleton is over 20,000 so just the growth of the town and growth of our university has really taken off.” PRORODEO Resistol Rookie saddle bronc rider Ira Dickinson, who spent his last two years of college at Tar leton, was thrilled to help Tarleton’s national title-winning team last year. “Coaching, the facility, and above ev erything, the quality of practice, this place, in this environment, similar to

12 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

An aerial view of the state of the art Tarleton State University rodeo complex. Tarleton State has a tradition of perennial powerful national championship rodeo teams, including the men’s team in 2024.

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 13

RODEO REVIVAL

T

he Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo in Stephenville has a rich history and has been a PRCA rodeo since 1970.

and they came into this property. There's 700 acres here that we're sitting on right now. They bought it for the water rights and for the water of Stephenville. I went and sat down with the manager and a couple of the councilmen and told them, ‘Look, I'm not interested in what's below the ground, but what's on top of the ground.' So, in a matter of 30 minutes, we signed an agreement and had a home for the Cowboy Capital Pro Rodeo Association for the next 100 years. “That's how Stephenville is. That's how they get behind rodeo, and that's how hardcore that they are really, really dedicated into what we do and how we do things. The city of Stephenville is the backbone, and they're our major support er of the rodeo that we have every year.”

However, the fate of the longstanding rodeo was tested in 2022 when committee members were told their rodeo would not have a home anymore. That’s when Chad Decker, founder of the Cow boy Capital of the World Rodeo Association, sprung into action. “So, in 2022 we were we were told that we weren't going to be able to have a home for our rodeo anymore,” Decker said. “We were at Lone Star Arena, so when we heard that we went into fast mode. I've been working real closely with the city through a bunch of different projects,

Stephenville's massively popular Hard Eight BBQ restaurant

14 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

least.” Decker also knows the smalltown vibe of Stephenville isn't going to last much longer. “I'm not surprised at the growth. You can't keep a good secret long,” Decker said. “As the cowboy lifestyle has grown over the years, and it continues to grow beyond even my expectations of what I expected the western lifestyle to be like. Then, you take into consideration some of the TV shows that they’ve brought out and ev erybody wants to be a cowboy now. And you know, we have people moving in here from California and Arizona and Utah, and, you know, all parts of the world that want to come in here and be a part of this lifestyle.” And Decker cherishes the fact he calls Stephenville home. “I came back here in 1995 met my wife through Tar leton, and it's been history ever since. We built a busi ness here. We built a family here. Stephenville is my home. It's the best place in the world to live, bar none. I love it here. I love the community, I love the people, I love the lifestyle. It is just home. And, you know, it's the Cowboy Capital of the World for a reason, and it lives and dies by the Cowboy Code. “There are so many people here that when you shake their hand and look them in the eye, they mean it. There's no such thing as a contract that goes along with it. It's word of mouth. It's their word, and that's what they mean. And it means a lot living in a community like that. That’s Stephenville.” The Cowboy Capital of the World.

A photo of the Decker family hangs at the Hard Eight BBQ restaurant

The brand new Priefert Fairgrounds Arena was built and up and running for the 2023 Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo in September. “In the Cowboy Capital of the World, that's what cow boys do. We make it happen, blood, sweat and tears, daylight to dark, every day, and we made it happen, and everybody had a vision, and it came true. And we've got a lot more growth. We've got a lot more that we have in mind,” Decker said. “It's, it's our home now, and we're lucky and fortunate to have Stephenville behind us to make it happen.” Decker also is known throughout Stephenville as the owner of the massively popular Hard Eight BBQ restau rant. “We started there in 2003 and I wanted to come here and be a rodeo cowboy, but I soon realized that I probably wasn't cutting the mustard enough to make a living,” Decker said. “So, I better figure out another way to do it. And so, me and my father-in-law and mother in-law came together, and we bought this little piece of property (at 1091 Glen Rose Road) and built the building ourselves and started from scratch, and it's afforded us to live here in Stephenville, and has been very success ful and reached out into all parts of North America and across the world. And it's been flattering to say the

A cowboy sings while children dance at the Hard Eight restaurant

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 15

NEW MONEY, STORIED TRADITION COLUMBIA RIVER CIRCUIT THRIVING WITH GROWING PAYOUTS, SAME HOSPITALITY By Alex Dodd

T here’s a lot to love about the Columbia River Circuit. The circuit consists of Oregon, Washington and the Northwestern part of Idaho. It is one of 12 regions in the PRCA Circuit System, celebrat ing its 50th anniversary during the 2025 season. The Columbia River Circuit also fea tures some of the most storied events on the PRORODEO calendar and a whole lot of added money. “The members of the circuit are pret ty aggressive and work really hard to produce top-notch rodeos,” Colum bia River Circuit president Pete Thiry said. “It’s a beautiful area, and it’s got a lot of unique things that make it an easy area to promote rodeo.” The Big 4 Rodeo Association com prised of the Horse Heaven Round Up in Kennewick, Wash., Walla Walla (Wash.) Fair & Frontier Days, Lew iston (Idaho) Roundup and Pendle ton (Ore.) Round-Up headlines the Columbia River Circuit and paid out more than $1.6 Million in four weeks last season. The association also exemplifies the cooperation between rodeo commit tees that makes the circuit successful. “The smaller rodeos in the area tend to work together a lot as well,” Thiry said. “They just try to support each other, and that’s where the circuit system comes in. We have meetings and rodeos network with each other and get ideas. That helps all of us.” Longtime Columbia River Circuit

16 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

treasurer and secretary Edie Long fellow is a diehard supporter and fan of the circuit. She said the notoriety of the seemingly countless legendary rodeos in the region lead cowboys from other areas to take their talents to the Pacific Northwest. “We’ve got a lot of really good rodeos and longtime rodeos like the Pendle ton (Roundup), Ellensburg (Rodeo) and St. Paul (Rodeo) that have been going on for years,” said Longfellow, the winner of the 2024 PRCA Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award. “Everybody knows them because they add so much money and are big-time rodeos for the contestants. And we get a lot of Texans and other people to join our circuit.” Longfellow first served as a PRCA secretary in 1967 and has dedicated her life to PRORODEO and the Co lumbia River Circuit. She reminisced on the early days of the circuit system and the excite ment and competition it brought to cowboys in different regions of the country. "I've always tried to make (Columbia River) the best circuit," Longfellow said when she won the award in November. "We have our ups and downs. But I think we're coming out of it again, and we're getting better. I enjoy the contestants and the fami lies. "Now I've been at it so long I'm work ing with the grandkids of the ones who started out, and I'm taking entry fees from them."

ProRodeo Hall of Famer and 1984 PRCA Team Roping World Champion Mike Beers is one of many legendary cowboys who spent time in Longfel low’s office and cut his teeth in the Columbia River Circuit. “I made it a point to go to pretty much every rodeo in my circuit,” Beers said. “I’ve actually rented a car and hauled ass from The Dalles (Ore.) to Salinas (California) so that I could go to Salinas but still make it to The Dalles. Charlie Crawford and I drove all night just to get there. “The circuit meant a lot to me, and we had a good representation of the Columbia River Circuit.” Over more than two decades, Beers won Columbia River Circuit champi onships. He won 12 all-around titles (including five straight from 1991-95), eight team-roping championships, eight steer wrestling buckles and two tie-down roping titles. Beers, born in Rufus, Ore., moved to Canada 12 years ago and doesn’t get down to as many Columbia River Cir cuit rodeos anymore. But he makes it a point to return to the Pendleton Round-Up every September. “The committees (in the circuit) are unbelievable,” Beers said. “If you go to Pendleton or Elleneseburg, the hospitality is second to none. The circuit system was great for our as sociation when they did it. It helped guys who wanted to stay in their circuit and gave guys who couldn’t really go full time a chance to go to a finals.”

The colors are presented prior to a perfor mance of the 2024 Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo in Redmond, Ore. PRCA Photo by Molly Morrow

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 17

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO

TICKETS BUY YOUR P i k e s P e a k o r B u s t . o r g NOW at

from the U.S. and Canadian Circuits, plus National Champions from Mexico are coming to Colorado Springs, Colorado July 8 - 12, 2025. Payouts are over $ 1 million and the competition will be fierce. You’ll see the top talent in professional rodeo with the best backdrop in America, all at the NFR Open at the Pikes ProRodeo Champions

Peak or Bust Rodeo! H Bareback Riding H Breakaway Roping H Steer Wrestling H Team Roping H Saddle Bronc Riding H Tie - down Roping H Barrel Racing H Bull Riding Plus we’ll have fan favorite mutton bustin’!

Evening performances Tuesday through Saturday, matinee performances Friday and Saturday! Fan Zone fun before the Rodeo and the Coors Roadhouse Saloon afterward, with live music and dancing!

The 84th Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo | NFR Open takes place at the Norris Penrose Event Center at 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80905

Copyright © Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. All rights reserved. © Photography by Brian Gauck.

TICKETS

VIDEO

ON FIRE MACON MURPHY EARNS BIG WIN AT DIXIE NATIONAL

By Lexi Gieck W hile he's been pursuing gold buckle dreams since his first appearance at the National Finals Rodeo in 2022, Macon Murphy has been on a hot streak thus far in the 2025 PRORODEO season. Leading into the Dixie National Rodeo, Murphy cashed checks in Fort Worth and San Antonio that got his momentum going – momentum he's been waiting on for quite some time. While his first calf in Jackson, Miss., wasn't an ideal draw, everything came together for the 25-year-old tie-down roper as he progressed through the rounds. Murphy went on to win the average at 16.7 seconds on two head. "My first-round calf wasn't the greatest," Murphy said. “It was a fuller, stronger calf that didn't have a good track record before or after me, but it all worked out." While his opening run at 8.1 seconds (fourth in the round) solidified his spot to keep roping, it meant more to Murphy than most know. "That was my first weekend back on a good horse, Wes, and he leveled the playing field for me with cattle," Murphy said. “He took care of me."

Murphy strung together an 8.6-second run to place fifth in the second round and ultimately earn the average title, besting Zack Jongbloed’s time of 17.3 seconds on two head. "It was a good feeling for me. It counted for a lot of things and allowed me to check a few boxes in one rodeo," Murphy said. "This win counted towards the world standings. I earned points and it was in my circuit." As the winter run continues to heat up, Murphy feels confident. And now he has both of his favorite hors es in the trailer. "My go-to is my bay, Julian, he gets about 15 or 20 rodeos a year," Murphy said. "But Wes takes the heat of Julian. He's a huge part of my career and my success." As a calf roper, having horses you can trust to do their job plays a vital role in your success. "The last thing you want to do is get in the box and worry about if your horse is going to work," Murphy said. "It's a huge weight off my shoulders knowing that my horses are going to work every time. It's nice not having to worry."

20 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

TOP SCORES BAREBACK RIDING 1. Owen Brouillette, 88 pts. 2. Nick Pelke, 87

T3. Taylor Broussard, 85.5 T3. Dean Thompson, 85.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Riley Duvall, 7.6 sec. on 2 2. Stetson Jorgensen, 8.2

3. Kent Jordan, 8.4 TEAM ROPING

1. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 4.0 sec. 2. Cash Duty/Cashton Weidenbener, 4.5 (Tie) Clint Keller/Morgan Jones, 4.5 (Tie) Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight, 4.5 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Ben Andersen, 87.5 pts

2. Dawson Dahm, 87 3. Jacobs Crawley, 86 (Tie) Brady Hill, 86 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Macon Murphy, 16.7 sec. on 2 2. Zack Jongbloed, 17.3 3. Tyson Durfey, 17.4 BARREL RACING 1. Tayla Moeykens, 14.31 sec.

2. Tricia Aldridge, 14.33 3. Randee Prindle, 14.34 BULL RIDING 1. Jesse Petri, 90.5 pts. 2. Zack Heimann, 85 3. Colten Fritzlan, 84.5 (Tie) T Parker, 84.5 (Tie) Hayes Weight, 84.5

Scenes from the Dixie National Rodeo from Feb. 7-17 in Jackson, Miss.

PRCA photos by Darlena Roberts

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 21

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

A few days before traveling to Okeechobee, Fla., bull rider Trey Benton III competed at the Los Fresnos (Texas) Rodeo and bucked off before the eight-second horn. During that ride, he drew a bull with the tendency to come out of the chute and go left. It's a move that has been difficult for the veteran compet itor to navigate at times. So, when he saw his draw for the Brighton Field Days Festival Xtreme Bulls event in Okeechobee, Fla., Ben ton had concerns. "I was telling my buddy Cody Teel that I got one drawn that comes out of the gate to the left, so we'll see how this goes – but it went good," Benton said with a laugh. "I fixed my mistake and didn't think too long or too hard about it." The Richards, Texas, cowboy had watched a few videos of his opposi tion -- JC Kitaif Pro Rodeos' Rockstar -- ahead of the ride, giving him an idea of what to expect. With a little recent experience on his side, Benton was able to hang on for eight and produce an 88-point ride to hold off Cody Jesus at 87.5 points and pick up the win. It's the latest significant winter result for the seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier as he aims for his first trip to Las Vegas since 2021. Benton already has more than $30,000 in earnings this season, putting him near the top of the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. BENTON USES PRIOR LESSONS TO PICK UP XTREME BULLS WIN IN FLORIDA By Alex Riley, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

Trey Benton III grits his teeth during an 88-point ride on JC Kitaif Pro Rodeos' Rockstar to win the Brighton Field Days Festival Xtreme Bulls on Feb. 16 in Okeechobee, Fla. PRCA Photo by Darlena Roberts

big checks in Dayton, Texas, at the River Ranch Stampede and the River Ranch Extreme Bulls event. It's all adding up to put him in posi tion for a big year. Since last making the NFR in 2021, Benton has finished among the top 20 just once, earning a 17th place finish in 2023. With a slew of upcoming stops throughout Florida and Georgia over the next week, the longtime pro isn't letting past setbacks keep him from being among the PRCA's best. "I've just had a few things in the last few years that have just kind of just been bumps in the road and stuff," Benton said. "I don't know, man, I've been doing this a long time, so I don't ever get worked up about it. I just take it in stride."

Through all of 2024, he managed to earn just shy of $51,000, placing him 44th in the final standings. The 33-year-old’s win in Okeechobee was worth $12,972 alone. "I actually didn't realize I think I won right at $50,000 all year last year, but everything is just going good," Benton said. "I'm drawing good, and I guess I'm just going to ride it out. When it's good, it's good and when it's bad, you just get through it." Because of his finish last season, Benton didn't qualify for some of the bigger winter rodeos, including San Antonio. While he might be missing out on a few noteworthy events, it hasn't slowed him down. Benton picked up some round money in Fort Worth, along with two

22 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 23

2025 NHSFR | JULY 13-19 | ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING $200,000 ADDED TO THE CASH RODEO PAYOUT! JOIN THE NHSRA TODAY! WWW.NHSRA.COM #NHSRALIMITLESS Must enter the optional jackpot to be eligible for the added cash rodeo payout.

Proud sponsor of NFR Playo Series, National Finals Rodeo, and Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale

26 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENT

Welcome cowboy, your entry fees are paid! The Hamel Rodeo in Corcoran, Minn., is paying the entry fees for all bareback riders, bronc riders and bull riders who enter AND COMPETE at Hamel this year. Two individuals came to the committee wanting to help the roughstock riders make it down the road and give them basically a free $ 15,000 added money per event. The rodeo is slated for July 10-13, but cowboys are reminded that entries for Hamel are in early June. HAMEL RODEO & BULL RIDIN' BONANZA

PRCA Specialty Act of the Year winner Bobby Keer rides around the dirt with his crew during the Hamel Rodeo & Bull Ridin' Bonanza in Corcoran, Minn. PRCA Photo by Pete Knutson

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 27

JAX MILLS GETS DREAM MATCHUP IN SAN ANTONIO XTREME BULLS WIN Amped Up

“I finally took what time I needed off to heal up, so my body is feeling good and it's just giving me the confidence now that I'm fully healthy.” ~ Jax Mills

By Alex Riley, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

It's a moment Jax Mills has been waiting on for quite some time. During a visit to watch the action at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, the Magnolia, Texas, native got to see Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's Bruised Kitty. The animal looked like a bull rider's ideal matchup, leaving Mills hoping the two would cross paths. That day finally arrived Feb. 16, at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Xtreme Bulls event. Although, it wasn't apparent at first. Because Mills had tied Hector Cardona in the first round to place fourth, it was unclear who would be riding what in the finals. It wasn't until one of the event organizers clarified what was going on that Mills got really excited. "Fred (Boettcher) walked up to me and said you've got Bruised Kitty. In my mind, I told myself, 'If you ride him, you're going to win the whole deal,'" Mills said. That prediction proved to be spot on as he had an 89-point ride to hold off Luke Mackey's 87-point trip and secure the championship. Mills and Mack ey were the only two bull riders to hold on for all eight seconds in the final round. The win was the biggest result in Mills' comeback journey to start 2025. Last year, he suffered a tear in his MCL that forced him to the sidelines just after RodeoHouston in March. After two months of rest, Mills tried to return to competition but opted to step away for the final two months of the regular season because he wasn't recovered enough to compete comfortably. Mills restarted in November, finally earning some money at the San Antonio Rodeo Qualifier in Uvalde, Texas, just before Thanksgiving. He then picked up round checks in Fort Worth and San Antonio before securing $13,875 in earnings at the Xtreme Bulls at Frost Bank Center. The 20-year-old currently has a little over $17,000 in earnings in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. It's the turnaround Mills was hoping he'd be able to mount after taking some time off to let his body heal. Now, his only focus is to keep building momen tum. "Battling an injury that kept happening all year long and having struggles with it, I finally took what time I needed off to heal up, so my body is feeling good and it's just giving me the confidence now that I'm fully healthy," Mills

Jax Mills makes his winning 89-point ride atop Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's Brusied Kitty Feb. 16 at the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo Xtreme Bulls.

PRCA Photo by Click Thompson

28 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 29

FIRST-TIMER SADDLE BRONC RIDER KADE BRUNO CAPTURES INAUGURAL FORT WORTH CROWN By Tracy Renck

K ade Bruno has established The Idaho cowboy has made three career appearances – 2022-2024 – at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge and he knew his latest outing was pretty forgettable. Bruno finished ninth in the world standings after placing in just three rounds and earning $40,246. “It was dang sure frustrating,” said Bruno, 24. “I didn’t draw the best horses out in Vegas but I dang sure didn’t ride very good. That’s some thing that is on me. This season, I’m just trying not to waste any opportu nities because sometimes they don’t come around very often. “There are a lot of great bronc riders out there right now and if you can take advantage of the opportunities you’re given, it makes a world of difference. And this feels great.” himself as one of the top saddle bronc riders in PRORODEO.

Saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno spurs for an 87-point ride on J Bar J’s Stacked Deck in the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo semifinals.

decent winters, but I have always played catch-up in the summer and had good summers. So, having some money won right now and riding good and feeling good, I couldn’t be happier.” Bruno is no stranger to J Bar J’s Straight Moonshine. Back on Oct. 5, Bruno won the finals of the Brad Gjermundson Extreme Broncs with a 92.5-point trip on the horse in New Town, N.D. “(Straight Moonshine) feels so good and you know she is going to buck right out of there and has some moves,” Bruno said. “She’s a handful but she gives you every chance to win.”

Bruno seized the moment at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo captur ing the coveted title with a 92-point ride on J Bar J's Straight Moonshine

in the finals on Feb. 8 at Dick ies Arena at the PRORODDEO Playoff Series rodeo. “This feels so good,” Bruno said. “I almost can’t even put it into words. I have never started a winter this good ever. I’ve had some

Saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno acknowledges the crowd after winning the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo.

32 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

TOP SCORES TOP MONEY EARNER Maverick Potter ($30,333, bull riding)

JESSE BROWN TOPS STEER WRESTLING FIELD

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Nick Pelke 2. Mason Clements 3. Cole Franks STEER WRESTLING 1. Jesse Brown 2. Don Payne 3. Seth Peterson

91.5 pts 90.5 89.5

3.6 sec. 4.5 10.5

TEAM ROPING 1. T. Tomlinson/T. Graves 2. C. Carter/B. Bentley 3. D. Graham/Di. Graham SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Kade Bruno

4.9 sec. 5.0 9.1

Jesse Brown wrangles his steer during a 4.6-second run in the matinee performance on Jan. 31 at the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo.

92 pts. 91.5 90.5

2. Statler Wright 3. Gus Gaillard

The ultra-talented Jesse Brown added another line to his impressive resume. The Baker City, Ore., steer wrestler snared his first Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo crown with a 3.6-second run in the finals and claimed $20,000. “I was just trying to get out of the barrier and make a good run, that was my mindset,” said Brown, 32. “I knew that steer was going to fade into me, and it felt good. This is such a prestigious rodeo, and that buckle means a lot. This was the 128th edition of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo so this is a good one to check off the bucket list. This is an awesome rodeo and I’m pretty happy to win it.” Brown has qualified for five consecutive Wrangler NFRs from 2020-2024. Last year he placed sixth in the world standings with $258,553. He placed in a total of five rounds and won three.

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield

7.6 sec. 7.7 7.9

2. Kyle Lucas 3. Riley Webb

BARREL RACING 1. Andrea Busby 2. Megan McLeod-Sprague 3. Kassie Mowry BULL RIDING 1. Maverick Potter 2. T. Parker No other qualified rides

16.16 sec. 16.21 16.27

89.5 pts. 84

“This is already a complete opposite of last year because I didn’t win anything in the winter,” Brown said. “To win over $20,000 feels awesome.” Brown was riding Swamper to the win. The horse is owned by Jarrett McGraw's Broom Tree Ranch in Greeley, Colo. Jarrett's son, Winsten McGraw, who is a steer wrestler, and was hazing for Brown during his victorious run. “Winsten did a great job and I’m just happy the McGraw family let me ride their horse,” Brown said.

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 33

BAREBACK RIDER PELKE SNARES CAREER-BEST WIN

N ick Pelke knows if he wants to realize his dream of qualifying for the Wrangler NFR he needs to win some lucrative rodeos. Well, he did just that on Feb. 8 taking home the crown at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Pelke had a 91.5-point ride on J Bar J's Straight Stick to claim the title and the $20,000 top prize. “I’m speechless,” said Pelke, 24. “To win Fort Worth, that’s a milestone career win and I did it my third time here. Then, to have my first career 90-point ride in the win is pretty awesome. I had never been on that horse before. It was the horse Rocker Steiner had a 92.5-point ride on in 2024 to win Fort Worth. Sparky Dre esen (J Bar J’s owner) told me I had the horse to win it, and he was sure right.” Pelke said his eight-second ride was a

Bareback rider Nick Pelke stretches out during an 87.5-point ride on Sanky Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Shoutin Shoes on Feb. 7 during the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo semifinals.

magical blur. “I saw her trips at the NFR and I dang sure made sure I had a good mark out of there and from there on out I was shake, rattle and roll ing and it worked,” said Pelke, who

finished a career best 19th in the 2024 world standings. “This win will let me rodeo freely all year. Having money in your pocket early allows a guy to rodeo and this Texas swing is just getting started and this is a good time to get hot.”

TOMLINSON / GRAVES GRAB FORT WORTH CHAMPIONSHIP T eam ropers Tanner Tomlinson/ Travis Graves just teamed up for the first time this season and the moved proved beneficial in Fort Worth. Fort Worth championship. “This is third time I have won Fort Worth as I also did it in 2007 (with header Keven Daniel) and 2009 (with header Turtle Powell),” said Graves, 40, a 14-time NFR qualifier including last year. “This is awesome to win Fort Worth again. It was so long ago that I last won it. It pays a lot more now and it is a lot bigger deal nowa days. Winning this sets your season up. The duo stopped the clock in 4.9 sec onds in the finals to grab the coveted

“We had a big advantage going last (in the finals) because we were able to see what we needed to do. We had a pretty good steer and just made our run, and it was good enough. I have roped with Tanner in jackpots but never in the (PRCA). This is a huge win.” Tomlinson, 24, was thrilled to win Fort Worth for the first time. “I have never had a good winter before and one of my goals was to win one of the big winter rodeos this year,” said Tomlinson, a two time NFR qualifier in 2022 and 2023. “That is a major blessing, and it has been a good start with my new part ner Travis. He has done an outstand ing job, and I just hope we can keep the momentum rolling.”

Team roping header Tanner Tomlinson and heeler Travis Graves string together a 5.7-second run in the first semifinal of the Forth Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo on Feb. 6 at Dickies Arena. All Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo photos by PRCA photographer James Phifer

34 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

BULL RIDER MAVERICK POTTER SHINES IN FORT WORTH B ull rider Maverick Potter made his Wrangler NFR debut in 2022 and seemed on the verge of some good things when he placed 12th in the world standings.

year I made the (NFR). I have been in the gym with a personal trainer, and she has me dialed in and I’m just having fun. I think it was the mental aspect before when I was struggling. I was changing bull ropes, and I was doing everything I could to get myself out of that spot and I felt like I was just digging a bigger hole. I had sur gery on my hand about a month ago and I just got dialed in after that and I had a great bull (in the finals).” Winning in Fort Worth was even sweeter for Potter because it is essen tially a hometown rodeo for him as he hails from Waxahachie, Texas. “This is 40 minutes from my house, this couldn’t be even better,” he said.

However, he was unable to ride any of his 10 bulls in Las Vegas and it seemed like that string of bad luck continued for the next two seasons. Potter, 24, is trying to get back in the right frame of mind and start win ning again. He did exactly that at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Potter had an 89.5-point trip on Sut ton Rodeo's Mr. Demon in the finals to win the prestigious rodeo. “This is truly a blessing to get this win,” Potter said. “I have been fight ing my brain and my body since the

Maverick Potter hangs on for an 83.5-point trip on Sutton Rodeo’s Heatin’ Up Jan. 25 at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

MONEY MAYFIELD CASHES IN SECOND-CONSECUTIVE WIN IN FORT WORTH S had Mayfield went for dos – and converted in grand fashion. Lollipop won the 2024 Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by AQHA award in tie-down roping. were a lot of tough guys," Mayfield said. "I knew the round was going to be fast, and I knew I just needed to go out there and make the best run I possibly could."

"Money" Mayfield, as he is known, clocked a 7.6-second run to win the storied Fort Worth Stock Show & Ro deo for the second year in a row. "This is awesome," said Mayfield, 24. "I love Fort Worth. It is one of the most prestigious rodeos in the world and to win it two years in a row is even better, especially on my good horse, Lollipop."

This year in Fort Worth Mayfield unofficially earned $28,433, includ ing $20,000 for winning the finals. In 2024, Mayfield claimed the Fort Worth title with a 7.8-second time in the finals and left town with $26,500 in winnings. "It was a tough set (Feb. 8), there

Mayfield is fresh off capturing his inaugural PRCA All-Around World Championship at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in Las Vegas on Dec. 14. He won that coveted title with $335,474. Mayfield continues to rope – and win – despite battling hip injuries for two-plus years. "The wintertime is nice because it is easier on my body," Mayfield said. "We are just taking it day-by-day right now. It is hard to stop when you're as hot as I have been. For the past year, things have been really clicking. And I feel like when I rope through pain, I try a little harder and rope a little better and I like to persevere through the pain.”

Tie-down roper Shad Mayfield gets off his horse during a 7.6-second run in the finals of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo on Feb. 8 at Dickies Arena.

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 35