PRORODEO Sports News - July 11, 2025

THE COWBOYS’ CHOICE SINCE 1952

JULY 2025 11 SPORTS NEWS

RIP-ROARIN’, BOOT-STOMPIN’, JAW-DROPPIN’ PRCA ACTION AT THE RENO RODEO

GREELEY STAMPEDE

ST. PAUL RODEO

COWBOY CHRISTMAS

HOW THE WEST IS WORN

RYDER WRIGHT 2024 WORLD CHAMPION SADDLE BRONC RIDER

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 1

CONTRIBUTORS

Tracy has three decades of expe rience in sports journalism with the last decade-plus consumed by PRORODEO. He previously served three years as editor of PRORODEO Sports News. TRACY RENCK MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

ZACH ALVIRA PSN EDITOR AND DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

ALEX DODD MEDIA REPORTER

Zach has over a decade of expe rience working in sports media and communications, serving as a communications editor and sports editor for many years in Phoenix, Arizona.

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.

TAYLOR BROWN VIDEO PRODUCER

JARON LUNSFORD VIDEOGRAPHER

LISA CUSH MANAGER OF DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS

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 and values.

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

Jaron is a professional videog rapher specializing in rodeo and Western culture. He enjoys cap turing the heart of the sport with PRORODEO films. He is a New Mexico State University alum.

Darla oversees advertising for the PRORODEO Sports News, Contract Personnel Directory, PRORODEO Programs and other PRCA publications. DARLA LINDT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER 719.528.4708

ANDREW ROSARIO GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND CONTENT CREATOR

ANNA MILLS SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Inspired by his Texas upbringing, Andrew creates dynamic designs and curates content for all PRCA social media platforms. He is a proud University of Texas at San Antonio alum.

Anna has spent the last three years working in professional sports as a social media manager and digital content creator. She oversees all social media man agement for PRORODEO.

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.

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PRORODEO Sports News

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE

JULY 11, 2025

Rodeo Fans enjoy the fireworks at the 106th annual Reno Rodeo. PRCA photo by Hailey Rae

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THE COWBOYS’ CHOICE SINCE 1952

JULY 2025 11 SPORTS NEWS

MANAGER’S MESSAGE The PRCA sanctioned 828 events in 2024, paying out more than $76M.

STORY WINS AT GREELEY Mitchell Story, a 21-year-old permit cowboy, earned the biggest win of his young career to kick start Cowboy Christmas.

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RIP-ROARIN’, BOOT-STOMPIN’, JAW-DROPPIN’ PRCA ACTION AT THE RENO RODEO

GREELEY STAMPEDE

ST. PAUL RODEO

COWBOY CHRISTMAS

ON THE COVER PRCA photograph by Hailey Rae of the Reno Rodeo fireworks show. See more of Rae's rodeo photos at haileyraephoto.com.

POPE WINS IN RENO Pope was the model of consistency on his way to securing the Reno bareback average championship.

TIME CAPSULE Jimmy Schumacher, one of the funniest men ever to enter an arena.

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AIRDRIE RAYMOND BENALTO PONOKA

MANDAN KILLDEER

SEDRO WOOLLEY



BASIN CITY TOPPENISH

HARDING PARK RAPIDS

LAKE LUZERNE

EUGENE

MANAWA PHILLIPS

 

DRUMMOND BIGFORK BROWNING ROUNDUP RED LODGE LIVINGSTON

GARY MOBRIDGE BELLE FOURCHE

 

LA PORTE

OAKLEY CITY TOPPENISH



FOLSOM

BRUSH GREELEY STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

COWBOY CHRISTMAS With the high concentration of rodeos, cowboys enjoy numerous opportunities to compete and win prize money.

COWBOY GRILLE Bull rider Mason Spain, 22, is building serious momentum for his 2025 PRORODEO season recently winning at Elizabeth.

PRESCOTT

MESQUITE BELTON

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PRORODEO Sports News

MANAGER'S MESSAGE

Hall of Fame bull Bodacious at the National Finals Rodeo. PRCA file photo

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PRORODEO Sports News

MANAGER'S MESSAGE

SUMMER RUN HEATING UP; REVISITING 2000 HAPPENINGS IN PRORODEO

T he sport of PRORODEO is better than ever. The PRCA, a member ship-based organization, sanctioned 828 events in 2024, and paid out more than $76 million. As the 2025 season kicks into the full gear with lucrative rodeos conclud ing like the NFR Open (July 12) and the Calgary Stampede (July 13) – it should be another fantastic summer for cowboys as they go up and down the rodeo trail trying to cash checks and qualify for the coveted Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, Dec. 4-13, in Las Vegas. It is crazy to think there is just over three months left in the PRCA regular season. It comes to an end on Sept. 30. To understand how good things are now in PRORODEO it always good to revisit the PRCA’s past to understand what cast of characters are part of the sanctioning body’s storied history that helped them get to this point. What better time to give the Hot Tub Time machine a whirl back to 2000. The year was full of memories - the world champs from 20 years ago were all-around cowboy Joe Beaver; bare back rider and recent PRORODEO Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Collins; steer wrestler Frank Thompson; team roping header Speed Williams; team roping heeler Rich Skelton; saddle bronc rider Billy Etbauer; tie-down roper Fred Whitfield; steer roper Guy Allen; barrel racer Kappy Allen; and bull rider Cody Hancock.

Some other happenings from that year were: • PRORODEO Hall of Fame bull Bodacious passing away on May 16. Bodacious passed away at his owner’s (Sammy Andrews) ranch in Addielou, Texas. Bodacious was considered by some to be the best bucking bull in the history of PRCA competition. He bucked off 127 of the 135 cow boys who got on his back. Bo, as he was known, was named the top bucking bull of the NFR in 1992, ’94 and ’95. During the final round of the 1995 NFR Andrews decided to retire Bodacious in the interest of safety. In the 2000 year-end edition of the PRORODEO Sports News it was also reported that Bodacious was the only PRCA bull to have his own line of merchandise - and an agent. The top Cowboy Christmas earners in 2000 were: • Australian Scott Johnston, a saddle bronc and bareback rider, earned $31,252 at seven rodeos during the week. • Tie-down roper Blair Burk was the top timed-event cowboy, earning $30,105 over the Fourth of July run.

• The 2000 PRODEO Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., was head lined by Ty Murray. At age 30, Murray, the most suc cessful all-around cowboy in the history of PRORODEO at the time, joined the sports elite enshrined in the PRORODEO Hall of Fame. Murray, winner of seven world all-around championships and two world bull riding titles, was one of six cowboys and a bucking horse inducted Aug. 12, 2000, into the PRORODEO Hall of Fame. • On Sept. 2, 2000, future PRODEO Hall of Famer all-around cowboy Cody Ohl surpassed the $1 million mark in career earnings at the Colora do State Fair Rodeo in Pueblo. Fast-forward to the present. Memories have already been banked for 2025 and countless more will be made before world champions are crowned Dec. 13 at the Thomas & Mack Center. It should be one heck of a ride.

TRACY RENCK Manager of Communications and Media

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PRORODEO Sports News

Jess Pope followed a steady approach to win the Reno Rodeo title. PRCA photo by Kathryn Coleman

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PRORODEO Sports News

ess Pope didn't need a big ride to secure the big prize, opting instead to be the model of consistency on his way to the bareback average championship at the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo. JESS POPE WINS AVERAGE TITLE IN RENO J calendar flipped to June, the veteran PRORODEO competitor has picked up checks at every event he's attend ed, with Reno putting $12,991 in his ledger. 84.5-point ride on Diamond G Ro deo's Pendleton's Reve to take sev enth. Round two resulted in the same score, but this time he was fourth thanks to the matchup with Big Bend Rodeo's Minnie. By Alex Riley Special to PRORODEO Sports News

It gave Pope another building block as he eyes a new bareback gold buckle for his trophy case. And given his recent run of success, there's certainly plenty of reasons to have that men tality. "My body feels better than it ever has. I've just been trying to have fun," Pope said. "I've been drawing well, and that's half of everything. And when you're riding good and drawing good, you're going to have confidence and that's what I've got going on right now for me." Other winners from Reno include all-around cowboy Stetson Wright ($22,654, saddle bronc riding and bull riding); steer wrestler Will Lum mus (13.5 seconds on three head); team ropers Aaron Tsinigine/Jeremy Buhler (16.2 seconds on three head); saddle bronc rider Damian Brennan (263.5 on three head); tie-down roper Riley Webb (26.5 seconds on three head); barrel racer Hailey Kinsel (50.97 seconds on three runs); bull rider Stetson Wright (182 points on two head).

In the short go, Pope got a rematch with Bridwell Pro Rodeos' Scarlett Cat. Last season, Pope saw the ani mal twice during a nine-day span in mid-August, resulting in crucial mon ey-earning rides at the Horse Heav en Roundup Rodeo in Kennewick, Wash., and the Canby (Ore.) Rodeo. The latest installment in their ongo ing rivalry turned out to be his best showing in Reno, as Pope went for 86.5-point trip on his way to third in the round. "I got on her twice last year late in the year and won a check both times. So I was excited to have her," Pope said. The end result was Pope's best show ing ever in Reno. Despite a career that includes a 2022 PRCA World Cham pionship and five consecutive appear ances at the National Finals Rodeo, Pope had previously only made the Reno short round once. It continues a string of big showings for Pope as he looks to secure his spot in Las Vegas this December. Since the

The Waverly, Kan., cowboy placed in all three rounds, never taking higher than third, en route to 255.5 points on three head. That total helped him finish one point ahead of runner-up Tanner Aus and two points better than the trio of Kade Sonnier, Jacek Frost and Garrett Shadbolt in the aggregate race. "(Reno) went really

well. I drew well. I didn't have a round

win in any of them, but I dang sure had a chance to place and it worked out," Pope said.

Pope's steady pace

started in the open ing go

with an

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PRORODEO Sports News

By Alex Dodd CALIFORNIA CRUISING RODEO COMMITTEES SHOWCASE STRENGTH OF PRORODEO T he Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanc tioned over 800 events during the 2024 season, and the sport's recent surge in growth shows no signs of slowing down. Four committees in California perfectly exemplified the dedication, sacrifice and generosity required to make the show go on in April. The Lakeside Rodeo, Desert Rodeo, Springville Sierra Rodeo and Clovis Rodeo gave the PRO RODEO Sports News behind-the-scenes access as they hosted the 2025 editions of their respective rodeos.

Increased interest in rodeo and the Western lifestyle isn’t a regional phenomenon either; it’s sweeping the nation. The bulk of the work to meet the

COMMUNITY DRIVEN

demand of diehard fans and folks looking to experience the sport isn’t done at the PRORODEO headquarters

Rodeo committees are often made up of individuals with deep roots in their respective communities. Committee members spend hundreds of hours each year

in Colorado Springs, Colo. It’s done by rodeo committees consisting of volun teers looking to give families an authen tic experience and give back to their local communities. PRCA rodeo committees are the boots on the ground taking tickets, getting the word out, ensuring the grounds are in top shape and creating memories that last a lifetime for the millions of families that pour through the turnstiles each year.

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PRORODEO Sports News

“I was probably 6 years old at my first Lakeside Rodeo,” Armstrong said. “I grew up right here in Lakeside and rodeo has always been part of our family.” Armstrong stressed that the Lakeside Rodeo solely exists for Lakeside, the town of just over 20,000 in the East County region of San Diego County. The dozens of vol unteers who manned the parking lots, concession stands, production room and bleachers shared his mindset. “Not too many people know what rodeo is about,” Arm strong said. “They think there might be somebody up on the hill who is taking proceeds or profits. But what we make literally goes back to the community. It’s a heritage sport. It’s been around for years and years. And we’re able to give back to our community directly off the sport of rodeo.” Community cooperation is palpable at the Springville Sierra Rodeo, from the club concession booths to the pa rade downtown to the passion of every individual pitching in to make the show go on. “Everybody looks forward to it and it’s the highlight of the spring in Springville,” Springville committee President Dennis Corzine said. “Everybody wants to go to the rodeo. We don’t draw from a large area. We’re in the last week end of the month and we’re probably in one of the poorest counties in the state. But (the stands) fill up.” Rain showers were present before the second perfor mance of the Springville Sierra Rodeo on April 26. But when the clouds cleared, a crowd of close to 3,500 packed the beautiful arena nestled amongst sprawling hills. Corzine has served as the president of the Springville Ro deo Association for the last three decades. But his roots in the town of less than 1,000 people in California’s Central Valley date back to the 1800s. Dianne Shew, the Springville Vice President, was born and raised on the other side of the country in Tennessee. But when she moved to the West Coast, she quickly found a home on the Springville rodeo committee. “We came out to run the pack station and this rodeo was here,” Shew said. “When I first came, before I was in volved, I saw that it’s such a community event and there are so many kids and it’s a wonderful thing. It makes you see the other side of California. Rodeo brings families together. That’s what we saw, and we wanted to be a part of it.” Mark Thompson first got involved with the Clovis Ro deo when he was 18 years old. Now, he’s a fixture on the rodeo’s board of directors. His first job at the Clovis Rodeo was driving in the parade. Thompson slowly picked up more responsibility at the

ensuring that their event goes off without a hitch. They handle all the marketing, financial details and logistics on the ground, while making sure contestants receive ade quate hospitality.

Tim Armstrong began serving as the president of the El Capitan Stadi um Association, which runs the Lakeside Rodeo, four years ago. He’s fully invested in the Lakeside Rodeo, and so is his fam ily. It’s an event he cares deeply for, and one that helped shape him from a young age.

The Springville Sierra Rodeo celebrated its 75th anniversary this year in front of of packed grandstands. PRCA photo by Brett Schneider

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PRORODEO Sports News

Rodeo royalty run flags in front of the new announcers stand and club area at the Lakeside Rodeo. PRCA photo by Andrea Kaus

“I was probably 6 years old at my first Lakeside Rodeo. I grew up right here in Lakeside and rodeo has always been part of our family.” ~ TIM ARMSTRONG, PRESIDENT El Capitan Stadium Association

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event, working the parade, helping at the roughstock gate and eventually moving to the announcer's stand. “I’ve had three grand marshal relatives here and it means a lot to me,” Thompson said. “Clovis was a railhead for the cattle ranches around here that shipped cattle in the spring. And one of the ranchers had a horse that couldn’t be rode. Another ranch had a cowboy who couldn’t be thrown. And I think somebody put up five bucks and the Clovis Rodeo was born.” The Desert Rodeo in Thermal is a new addition to the PRORODEO arsenal. But the event’s orga nizers are doing everything possible to make it a must-attend fixture in the Coachella Valley. Cassie DiLaura, one of the dreamers who found ed the event and a correspondent for Entertain ment Tonight, has come to love the Coachella Valley through her experiences at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival. By all indicators, the first-year event in the heart of the desert was a roaring success. But DiLaura and her partners aren’t satisfied and want the event to become a community staple in Thermal. “We are going to be here for many years to come, and we are going to grow this rodeo into some thing massive for the Coachella Valley,” DiLaura said. “We’re offering people a space where they can immerse themselves in cowboy culture and highlight the sport and introduce the sport to a lot of people for whom this is their first rodeo.” At the heart of every PRORODEO event is the desire to give back to the community. The Lakeside Rodeo was founded in the 1960s to meet a need in the community. A group of par ents wanted lights for the football stadium at El Capitan High School and parents, teachers and educators decided a rodeo could raise the funds to achieve that goal. The first Lakeside Rodeo was held in 1964 with temporary seating and chutes. The funds were raised to build the stadium, but the event continued and to this day gives money to youth initiatives. “This is a huge event for this community, be cause what we do here at the El Cap 10 stadium Association, or Lakeside rodeo, is we take 100% of our proceeds and we give back to the kids right here in the community,” Armstrong said. “So everything that we do, GIVING BACK

we literally take all of our funds right back and disperse them right back into the community for the kids.” The Springville Sierra Rodeo committee consists of mem bers of four different clubs: the Veterans of Foreign Wars,

The Clovis (Calif.) Rodeo has been a staple in the Golden State for 111 years and is a pivotal PRORODEO Playoff Series stop. PRCA photo by Roseanna Sales

Kids participate in a stick horse race at the Lakeside (Calif.) Rodeo. PRCA photo by Andrea Kaus

The running of the flags signaled the start of another performance at the 75th edition of the Springville Sierra Rodeo. PRCA photo by Brett Schneider the Women’s Club, the Backcountry Horsemen and the Lions Club. Each group uses proceeds from the event to support their

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PRORODEO Sports News

own charitable initiatives and partners with the Golden Circle of Champions. Elizabeth Carranza, who runs the Springville Sierra Rodeo social media channels, helped host a family that was dealing with the effects of child hood cancer during the second performance of the rodeo. “The family had actually never been to a rodeo before, so they were very excited,” Carranza said. “I was just up there with them and Lefty Holman and some of his friends went up to great them. They were really taking their time, following each other on Instagram and being gracious with their time to give them a full rodeo experi ence. “It’s really nice to be able to give back in that way and I’m very glad to work with that organization.” The Desert Rodeo also joined in with the Golden Circle of Champions to raise funds and awareness for families battling childhood cancer. The Clovis Rodeo, meanwhile, is a revenue generator for the San Joaquin Valley. Ron Dunbar, a member of the event’s board of directors for the last 25 years, said he’s proud to see the impact the Clovis Rodeo has had and continues to have on his hometown. “All of our vendors our nonprofits,” Dunbar said. “The city estimates that we generate $30 million worth of funds throughout the valley during the rodeo and that’s pretty cool. That’s a lot of money and we’re glad we can help out the city and the county.” Without a focus on the future, the Springville Sierra Rodeo wouldn’t have celebrated its 75th anniversary this year, the Lakeside Rodeo wouldn’t be in its 27th year with the PRCA, the 111-year-old Clovis Rodeo wouldn’t be a key stop of the PRORODEO Playoff Series, and the Desert Rodeo would only be a one-time event. But each committee makes vision a priority despite the countless bumps in the road that reveal themselves each year. DiLaura and her five partners on the Desert Rodeo com mittee secured their arena space at the Desert Interna tional Horse Park for the next five years, thanks in large part to board member Traci Brooks. “This is a great opportunity, and I look around at this are na and look at the partners we have and so many people took a chance on us,” DiLaura said. “My mind is blown to think that if this is Year 1, what is Year 2 going to look like?” MOVING FORWARD

The Lakeside Rodeo unveiled the addition of a new an nouncer’s stand and VIP club space this year. And the El Capitan Stadium Association is always looking for ways to move the event forward, while maintaining the rodeo’s strong tradition. “This is still a small town,” Armstrong said. “As we all grow and develop with digital devices and streamline our lives, Lakeside is still Lakeside. It was started on rodeo, and it’s still rodeo today.” The Young Guns Organization at the Springville Sier ra Rodeo is solely focused on the future. The group of next-generation leaders is intimately involved with the board of directors, learning from their decades of expe rience and working out how to keep the event moving forward. “We formed the Young Guns to learn from our board members,” Carranza, the group’s president, said. “We shadow them and see where our skill sets are most valu able. And hopefully one day we take over. We have very big shoes to fill…but this is the board’s mindset that we need to start planning for the future.” The Clovis Rodeo board sees itself as a bastion of the Western lifestyle, and it plans to continue carrying the tradition that began over a century ago on a railroad stop to the next generation. “We want to keep that tradition going,” Dunbar said. “That’s how we keep our Western heritage going by con tinuing to do things the way that we do. “We try to make things better for the fans and keep every body happy … That’s how we’ll keep growing.”

A parachuter brings the American Flag into Desert International Horse Park during the opening ceremony at the Desert Rodeo. PRCA photo by Lexi Christopher

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proudly made in the usa

PRORODEO Sports News 13

GRASSROOTS PRORODEO WHEN RODEO AND PIE COLLIDE: ABBYVILLE A HIDDEN GEM IN PRORODEO

By Zach Alvira

N estled in central Kansas and home to just 75 residents, Abbyville, Kan., becomes a hot bed for PRORODEO every May. Abbyville Frontier Days, founded more than 60 years ago, is the center for Midwest hospitality and where pie and rodeo collide. From current residents to natives, all hands are on deck to put on the annual rodeo that draws in 3,000-plus fans.

abbeyville video here

PRCA photo by Kent Kerschner

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Don’t just wear any brand. Wear the one made for you. Built for cowboys. Worn by the best.

PRORODEO Sports News 15

  CowboyCh 39 RODEOS

AIRDRIE RAYMOND BENALTO PONOKA

SEDRO WOOLLEY



BASIN CITY TOPPENISH

EUGENE

 

DRUMMOND BIGFORK BROWNING ROUNDUP RED LODGE LIVINGSTON

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PRCA TOP 10 1. Hayes Weight $52,133 2. Rocker Steiner $39,738 3. Stetson Wright $37,265 4. Damian Brennan$36,065 5. Zeke Thurston $33,142 6. Riley Webb $32,537 7. Kade Sonnier $30,800 8. Jordan Spears $30,179 9. Jade Corkill $29,876 10. Clint Summers $29,876

OAKLEY CITY TOPPENISH



FOLSOM

BRUSH GREELEY STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

PRESCOTT

MESQUITE BELTON

1. 6/25/25 - 7/1/25 Ponoka Stampede 2. 6/26/25 - 7/2/25 Greeley Stampede 3. 6/29/25 - 7/1/25 Airdrie Pro Rodeo 4. 6/30/25 - 7/6/25 World's Oldest Rodeo (Prescott, Ariz.) 5. 6/30/25 - 7/1/25 Raymond Stampede 6. 7/1/25 - 7/4/25 Cody Stampede Rodeo 7. 7/1/25 - 7/4/25 Livingston Roundup Rodeo 8. 7/1/25 - 7/5/25 St. Paul Rodeo 9. 7/1/25 - 7/4/25 Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo 10. 7/2/25 - 7/4/25 Sitting Bull Stampede ( Mobridge, S.D.) 11. 7/2/25 - 7/4/25 Home Of Champions Rodeo (Red Lodge, Mont.) 12. 7/2/25 - 7/5/25 Black Hills Roundupv (Belle Fourche, S.D.) 13. 7/2/25 - 7/4/25 Killdeer Mountain Roundup PRCA Rodeo 14. 7/2/25 - 7/5/25 Oakley Independence Day Rodeo

15. 7/2/25 - 7/4/25 Mandan Rodeo Days 16. 7/2/25 - 7/3/25 47th Annual Headwaters ProRodeo (Park Rapids, Minn.) 17. 7/2/25 - 7/4/25 Brush Rodeo 18. 7/3/25 - 7/5/25 Belton CoC 4th Of July Celebration & PRCA Rodeo

19. 7/3/25 - 7/5/25 Western Stampede (West Jordan, Utah) 20. 7/3/25 - 7/4/25 Old West Trail Rodeo (Crawford, Neb.) 21. 7/3/25 - 7/5/25 Mid-Western Rodeo (Manawa, Wis.)

22. 7/3/25 - 7/5/25 Folsom Pro Rodeo 23. 7/3/25 - 7/6/25 Eugene Pro Rodeo 24. 7/3/25 - 7/4/25 Rodeo Roundup

25. 7/3/25 - 7/4/25 Sedro-Woolley PRCA Rodeo 26. 7/3/25 - 7/5/25 Basin City Freedom Rodeo 27. 7/3/25 - 7/5/25 Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series 28. 7/4/25 - 7/6/25 Benalto Stampede

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Christmas S IN 15 DAYS

The Fourth of July run, also known as Cowboy Christmas, celebrated 39 rodeos in 15 days. During the lucrative run, contestants competed in 16 states and Canada.

MANDAN KILLDEER

HARDING PARK RAPIDS

LAKE LUZERNE

MANAWA PHILLIPS

GARY MOBRIDGE BELLE FOURCHE

LA PORTE

Cowboy Christmas Top Money Earners

29. 7/4/25 - 7/5/25 Toppenish Rodeo 30. 7/4/25 - 7/5/25 Price County PRCA Rodeo (Phillips, Wis.) 31. 7/4/25 - 7/5/25 Gary Rodeo 32 . 7/5/25 - 7/8/25 BigFork Summer ProRodeo 33. 7/5/25 - 7/6/25 Pikuni Pro Rodeo (Browning, Mont.) 34. 7/5/25 - 7/6/25 Harding Days Rodeo 35. 7/5/25 - 7/5/25 Mesquite Championship Rodeo 36. 7/5/25 - 7/5/25 Cowtown Rodeo (Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J.) 37. 7/6/25 7/6/25 Drummond PRCA Rodeo 38. 7/8/25 7/8/25 Laporte County Fair & Rodeo 39. 7/4/25 - 7/5/25 Painted Pony Championship Rodeo (Lake Luzerne, N.Y.)

RILEY WEBB TIE-DOWN ROPING

HAYES WEIGHT BULL RIDING

Cowboy Christmas shakes up the PRCA World Standings. Season leaders change, cowboys leapfrog up the standings, and fan favorites make strong comebacks. In the end Webb and Weight came out on top.

PRORODEO Sports News 17

Christmas cowboy ROUGHSTOCK HAYES WEIGHT SETS NEW COWBOY CHRISTMAS EARNINGS RECORD

By Alex Dodd

F or the last couple of years, Hayes Weight has stepped up in big mo ments when he's needed a boost. Weight rode Cowtown Rodeo's unrid den bull Kingdom for 91.5 points at the 2024 NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. At the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Weight was the only com petitor to stick on for eight seconds in Round 10 with an 87.5-point trip on Frontier Rodeo's Frontier Ro deo Coffee Misunderstood to pocket $108,668. Weight needed to go on another heater during the hottest point of the summer run, and he turned his sea son around with an unofficial Cowboy Christmas record of $52,133 from July 1-8. "All I can say is I'm super thankful," Weight told the PRORODEO Sports News. "I didn't have the best spring coming into (Cowboy Christmas), so to be able to have that kind of a Fourth of July run really helped out."

Weight's total surpassed the $49,550 collected by tie-down roper Ty Harris this time last season. The 26-year-old from Goshen, Utah, competed in just three rodeos on the Cowboy Christmas schedule from July 1-8 but made the most of his oppor tunities, particularly at the first event

on the list, the Ponoka Stampede in Alberta, Canada. In Ponoka, Weight unofficially racked up a whopping $41,106. The lion's share of the money came in the show down round as he amassed $33,750 with an 89-point ride on Calgary Stampede's Tactical Error to win the

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TOP 10 ROUGHSTOCK COWBOY CHRISTMAS 1. Hayes Weight $52,133 2. Rocker Steiner $39,738 3. Stetson Wright $37,265 4. Damian Brennan $36,065 5. Zeke Thurston $33,142 6. Kade Sonnier $30,800 7. Jordan Spears $30,179 8. Nicolas Patterson $23,208 9. Jess Pope $20,054 10. Cash Wilson $19,906

"It's very crucial, but I've just got to thank God," Weight said. "I definitely wouldn't be here without Him and wouldn't have been able to do it without His help."

Hayes Weight’s ride at Panoka helped him set a new record for earnings during Cowboy Christmas. PRCA photo by Billie-Jean Duff

event as the only rider to hold on in the go-round. "It honestly turned everything around for me," Weight said. "I went from feeling like maybe I wasn't even going to make the (National Finals Rodeo) this year, to giving me a real chance that I could have a fighting chance at

a world title." A trip to the St. Paul Rodeo in Oregon also paid off in a big way for Weight. He finished second with an 87-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Off Radar to take home $10,767.

Weight's big week gave him a much-needed boost in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings just when he needed it. "If you're going to ride bulls, you'll have your back against the wall and that's when you've got to be able to perform," Weight said.

PRORODEO Sports News 19

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cowboy Christmas TIMED EVENTS

Riley Webb continues to succeed as he was the highest earning timed-event cowboy for Cowboy Christmas. PRCA photo by Roseanna Sales

did my job. If it wasn't for St. Paul and Basin City the last 24 hours of the Fourth wouldn't have been very good at all." The 21-year-old Denton, Texas, cowboy is well in position to make his fourth appearance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December. Winning a third consecutive world title, however, is something he knows is never guaranteed. But his confidence remains at a high level thanks to his horse, Rudy. Webb purchased Rudy two years ago before his first world title. The two meshed right away, and it has shown in the arena. "Lane Livingston owned him and everybody has ridden him, really," Webb said. "I've had a lot of success on him. I bought him in August 2023 and been riding him ever since." TOP 10 TIMED EVENTS COWBOY CHRISTMAS 1. Riley Webb $32,537 2. Jade Corkill $29,876 3. Clint Summers $29,876 4. Shad Mayfield $28,491 5. Andrew Ward $26,388 6. Jake Long $26,388 7. Brady Minor $24,344 8. Riley Minor $24,344 9. James Arviso $22,095 10. Logan Moore $22,095

WEBB TAKES TIMED EVENT CROWN DURING COWBOY CHRISTMAS By Zach Alvira

R

Riley Webb couldn't ask for a better two-year stretch in PRORODEO.

"It's just been a dream come true," Webb told the PRORODEO Sports News. "Just going out there and try ing the best I can every time, it's been working out." Webb's aggregate time of 15.4 seconds on two head in St. Paul was the differ ence in his Cowboy Christmas crown. He was chasing Shad Mayfield, who finished with just over 16 seconds on two head and held the lead most of the rodeo. Webb, however, as one of the last cowboys to finish the second round, secured a 7.8-second run to place second in the round and claim the average title. He walked away from St. Paul with over $16,000 in earnings. Simply earning a check at other rodeos helped boost his money total. "It's a heck of a week with a lot of good rodeos," Webb said. "I just ran the right calves at the right time and

He won his first PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Championship in 2023 and repeated in 2024 after unofficially banking over $475,000 in earnings. Now nearing the end of the 2025 season, Webb has added another $174,333 to his ledger, claiming the No. 1 spot in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings as he chases his third gold buckle. A portion of those winnings, $32,537, came during one of the most pivotal and exciting stretches of the PRORO DEO season: Cowboy Christmas. Wins at the Basin City (Wash.) Free dom Rodeo and the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo put Webb at the top of the leaderboard for the eight-day stretch, a position he held to claim the crown for top earner in timed events during the 2025 Cowboy Christmas run.

PRORODEO Sports News 21

22 PRORODEO Sports News

Nicholas Patterson aboard C5 Rodeo’s Virgil, a famous multi-time National Finals Rodeo bucking horse, during his ride at the

Ponoka Stampede in Alberta. PRCA photo by Billie-Jean Duff

PRORODEO Sports News 23

Rocker Steiner’s second 89-point ride at Greeley Stampede helped him secure the bareback title. PRCA photo by Tanya Hamner

STARTED COWBOY CHRISTMAS STRONG WITH WINS AT PONOKA, GREELEY ROCKER STEINER

By Zach Alvira

GREELEY, Colo. — Rocker Steiner knew what was ahead of him on July 2 at the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede. He held the average lead after an 89-point ride in the long round and was the final cowboy to exit the bucking chutes. Just like he did Sunday in the long round at Greeley, Steiner showed why he was the No. 2 bareback rider in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings with an 89-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo's Unleashed to finish with 178 points on two head and the win. "I got on a horse named Unleashed that I've won a few rodeos on in the past," Steiner said. "It's a great horse and super hard to ride. It's a little hard for me to show off on it but I did the best I could. When I saw the draw, I knew it was going to happen." The win was the second in two nights for Steiner. In between the long and short rounds at Greeley, Steiner competed at the Ponoka (Alberta) Stampede July 1. Steiner rode Calgary Stampede's Disco Party to 92.25 points and a win in Ponoka to start Cowboy Christmas - a

pivotal eight-day summer stretch that coincides with the Fourth of July run - on a high note. "I've been hurt in July ... now we're going to be winning in July," Steiner said. "It's a good year to be a bareback rider." The two wins added to what has been a strong stretch of rodeos for Steiner since RodeoHouston back in March. He placed second in Houston and followed it up in April with a win at Battle Born Broncs in Fallon, Nev. He carried that momentum into the summer run and Stein er has already picked up six wins, three of which came at PRORODEO Playoff Series rodeos (Woodward Elks, Snake River Stampede and Greeley). Now in the heart of Cowboy Christmas, Steiner doesn't plan on slowing down. "I've won a lot of money on horses I probably shouldn't have," Steiner said. "We're climbing the ladder and chas ing my buddy, Bradlee (Miller), down. It's good to be in a race with one of your friends."

24 PRORODEO Sports News

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MITCHELL STORY TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF PRCA PERMIT AT GREELEY STAMPEDE By Alex Dodd

GREELEY, Colo. — The saddle bronc daysheet for the short round of the Greeley Stampede looked like a PRO RODEO Playoff Series final should. The list featured four cowboys in the Top 15 of the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings, last year's Resistol Rookie of the Year, Zac Dallas, and three-time PRCA World Champion - and defending champ - Ryder Wright. But it wasn't a big name that finished atop the heap when the dust settled. It was Mitchell Story, a 21-year-old per mit cowboy from six hours down the road in Bayfield, Colo., who earned the biggest win of his young career to kickstart Cowboy Christmas. "Man, it's awesome. I just have to give all the glory and the praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," Story said.

"I wouldn't be where I am without Him today. And as long as you believe in him, you can conquer just about anything. I just have to give it all to Him." Story won the average at 176 points on two head, besting Dallas by four points. He opened the event with an 84-point ride on Beutler & Son's Holy Water to share the lead with Dallas and Waitley Sharon entering the final go. In the short round, Story made the most of his opportunity. He paired with Beutler & Son Rodeo's Green Bar for a 92-point trip to secure the victory. "It's surreal and it hasn't really sunk in yet, but I kind of blacked out there for a second," Story said. "I remember setting my feet a couple of time. I'm just very thankful." The Colorado native currently attends Weatherford College and is a key member of the school's rodeo team. Story said his win was a big moment for his fellow Coyotes. "I'm sure they're stoked for me," Story said. "I have an awesome support sys

tem be hind me from my coach, my fam ily and all of my room mates. I'm traveling with one

of my room mates right now,

and the cama raderie around (Weath erford) is just awe some."

Story got his permit at the start of this season in 2024, and he picked up a pair of wins at small rodeos with top finishes at the Bell County (Texas) PRCA Rodeo and Central Ark PRCA Rodeo. After his win in Greeley, Story said

26 PRORODEO Sports News

Mitchell Story, a 21-year-old Colorado cowboy on his permit, stole the show at the Greeley Stampede with a 92-point ride to win the saddle bronc title. PRCA photo by Tanya Hamner

he's considering filling his permit and launching his Resistol Rookie cam paign. "I've thought about it. But now, this definitely helps," Story said. Story had a message for other college rodeo athletes considering getting on

their PRCA Permit. "Have faith, trust in the Lord and work hard," Story said. "There is nothing you can't accomplish, espe cially when the Lord's behind you. So just work hard and believe in the Lord."

PRORODEO Sports News 27

RILEY WEBB CRUISES TO ST. PAUL TIE-DOWN ROPING WIN By Kensie Darst-Todd

T he two-time defending PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Champion, Riley Webb, has proved once again why he sits atop the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. Webb dominated the tie-down roping at the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo aboard his trusted sorrel gelding, Rudy. Webb walked away with both the aggregate title and the first round win at one of the most prestigious rodeos of the Cowboy Christmas run during a critical time in the summer when momentum and horsepower are everything. With a time of 15.4 seconds on two head, the 21-year-old Denton, Texas, cowboy captured one of the summer's mar quee wins. His performance not only added to his season earnings but reinforced his status as the top-ranked tie down roper as the season intensifies. "Well, my first calf was really good," Webb said. "He had a good track record from St. Paul, so I just knew if I stayed behind the barrier and did my job, I was gonna be good. I tried to execute every step and made a good run, and it worked out to win the first round." The first-round run clocked in at 7.6 seconds to earn him the top check and give him a strong edge into the second. As the last roper out in the second round, he knew exactly what it would take to leave Oregon with the average title. "My second calf was a good one too," he said. "I knew I needed to be eight-something, around 8.5, to win the average. Same deal where I just tried to make the best run I could, and it worked out." Webb's performance was centered on consistency and poise, and with his St. Paul Rodeo victory, he continues to position himself for a return to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to chase his third world title in a row. "It was great," Webb said. "That's a historical rodeo and be ing able to win it, place in both rounds and win the average, that's just awesome. It's huge. I feel very blessed."

While his success looks effortless in the arena, Webb keeps his mindset simple: stay focused, stay humble and let the roping speak for itself.

"I just love to compete and

love to rope," he said. "I just try to do my job every time I nod. Do the best with the calf I'm given and try to win as much as possi ble." With the Cal gary Stampede, Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days and California Rodeo Salinas summer run looming, Webb's schedule shows no signs of slow ing down, but neither does his

momentum. "It's a pretty

busy schedule," he said. "But I'm just thankful I get to do what I love."

28 PRORODEO Sports News

OTHER ST. PAUL WINNERS BAREBACK RIDING KADE SONNIER 89 points on Korkow Rodeo's Tater Tot STEER WRESTLING TY ERICKSON 7.9 seconds on two head TEAM ROPING JASON DUBY/HAYES SMITH 9.7 seconds on two head SADDLE BRONC RIDING CASH WILSON 91 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' The Black Tie BARREL RACING SHERRY CERVI 17.24 seconds BULL RIDING TRISTEN HUTCHINGS 90 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Magic Touch

Riley Webb cruised to the St. Paul win. PRCA photo by Lara St. Jacques

PRORODEO Sports News 29

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30 PRORODEO Sports News

TIME CAPSULE

INNOVATOR SCHUMACHER CHANGED LIVES FOR BARRELMEN

B arrelman Jimmy Schumacher was known as “one of the funniest men ever to enter a rodeo arena,” but he was also a great innovator. In 1953, at Fort Worth’s Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, he became the first rodeo barrelman to use the barrel open at both ends. That allowed him to move the barrel, walk toward a bull and become a much bigger part of the action. He patented the Walking Barrel in 1954. Schumacher was selected as the barrelman nine times in the first 11 years for the National Finals Rodeo (1960, 1962-69). He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame with the inaugural class in 1979. Born in 1920 in Prescott, Ariz., he was the son of a bakery owner but became fascinated with rodeo and began riding bulls and bareback horses at age 15. He was an excellent

contestant for more than a decade and won the Calgary Stampede twice in bareback riding and once in bull riding. In 1949, his good friend, fellow ProRodeo Hall of Famer George Mills, a bullfighter and clown, convinced Schum acher to join him in the arena as a barrelman. It wasn’t long before he was clowning on a regular basis and spe cializing as a barrelman, although he rode bulls until 1953. Schumacher worked rodeo’s biggest stages - including Madison Square Garden, Denver, Fort Worth, Houston and Phoenix – and partnered with Mills for many years. He retired from rodeo in 1972, and worked at several Las Vegas casinos, notably Binion’s Horseshoe Casino. He and wife Alice were married 56 years, before he died in 2010 at the age of 89 in Las Vegas.

PRORODEO Sports News 31

ON THE TRAIL

PRCA photo by WT Bruce

PRCA photo by Jon Pyle

PRCA photo by Jae Rae

32 PRORODEO Sports News

ON THE TRAIL

PRCA photo by Andrea Kaus

PRCA photo by Lea Lindsay

PRORODEO Sports News 33

SHORT ROUND

T.J. Gray at the 2024 Ellensburg Rodeo Xtreme Bulls PRCA photo by Lara St. Jacques

T.J. GRAY TAKING POSITIVE APPROACH TO ANKLE INJURY

By Zach Alvira

T.J. Gray doesn’t have time to harp on every bump and bruise he sustains as a PRORODEO bull rider. He knows his chance of sustaining an injury is high, even if it comes in a rare situation that has plenty of precautions in place to avoid. That was the case at the Sisters (Ore.) Rodeo Xtreme Bull Riding on June 11. Gray matched up with Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Tiny Tornado. He was bucked off before the whistle, land ing beneath the 2,000-plus pound bull. Gray’s ankle caught the brunt of the impact. He knew right away it had potential to be serious. But as pain wore off in the hours following Sisters, he thought he had escaped without a major injury. “I kinda got hung up and (the bull) stepped on me,” Gray said. “At first I thought it wasn’t that bad, and I was going to continue to ride. It hurt pretty good that night then afterward it stopped hurting. So I thought I would maybe be out a total of 10 days. “Then we got a better look.” Tests revealed a crack in Gray’s fibula in his ankle. Doctors said had the bone fully broke, he would imme

diately be looking at six months or more of recov ery time. But the fracture gave Gray some hope, and the treatment plan from doctors gave him confidence. He began working with Sports & Performance Physical Therapy in Reno, Nev., just days after the injury. Two weeks after it occurred, he had surgery. A metal plate and screws were inserted into his ankle to stabilize the fracture. Now two weeks later he cannot put weight on the ankle, but a five-week recovery time has taken away any sense of self-doubt or pity - even though there was little of that to begin with. “I can’t really complain about it,” Gray said. “It is defi nitely the worst possible outcome I had in my head, but I got a good amount of time to recover.” The recovery window will allow Gray to compete at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days at the end of July. He admits he won’t be 100% by then, but close enough. He’ll still be in a walking boot but off crutches. When he prepares to ride, he’ll swap the medical boot for a cowboy boot.

34 PRORODEO Sports News

SHORT ROUND

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December. Even if he does have a little bit of ground to make up when he returns from injury. “I’m grateful that I only have to take a month off,” Gray said. “I’m pretty blessed to have had the winter I had, so I don’t have to stress too much.”

Missing one of the most pivotal times of the year - Cowboy Christmas - doesn’t have Gray worried. A strong winter run helped the Dairy, Ore., cowboy jump to the top five of the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford Bull Riding World Standings with $128,258 in earnings. He is still in position to qualify for his second straight

PRORODEO Sports News 35

SHORT ROUND

SHAD MAYFIELD PLEDGING PORTION OF COWBOY CHRISTMAS EARNINGS TO SUPPORT TEXAS FLOOD VICTIMS By Zach Alvira

N

ews of the devastating floods in central Texas became per sonal for 2024 PRCA All-Around World Champion Shad Mayfield. The Texas native learned over the last few days of personal con nections to his family who were impacted by the deadly floods. In total, more than 90 people have passed away as a result. Several remain missing. Mayfield took to social media Monday to announce he would be donating 10% of his Cowboy Christmas earnings to those affect ed by the floods. In total, he has donated almost $4,000. Now he hopes others will get on board, too. “I figured anything would be good to help, whether it’s $5 or $5,000,” Mayfield said. “It all goes to a great cause. I thought it would be nice to donate some of my earnings from Cowboy Christ mas but also get everybody else in the rodeo industry started and be able to donate something here and there.”

The flooding began early Friday morning with little to no warning for residents in towns near the Guadalupe River. Within two hours, the water surged to higher than 30-feet. Hunt, Texas, and Kerrville, Texas, two communities Northwest of San Antonio, were impacted the most. In Hunt, Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ summer camp, was devastated by the flood water. Twenty-seven campers were re ported missing when the water hit. On Monday, the camp declared all 27 girls had passed. Mayfield’s mom was a counselor in college at the Heart of Hills girls’ camp, another summer camp near Mystic. A counselor his mother learned from was one of the vic tims. “I know a lot of people that have had friends and family that have had tragedies happen (in the floods),” Mayfield said. “It’s hard seeing all of that happen. I just hear my family say they know someone that drowned. It’s just such a tragedy what’s happening.

I’m doing whatever I can to try and help.” Mayfield’s passion for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, as well as his love for his home state, made him want to act quickly. As one of the most popular cow boys in PRORODEO, he knew his status had potential to help raise awareness for just how dire the sit uation is in Texas. Within minutes his post on Instagram announcing his pledge received well over 1,000 likes and many comments. Mayfield also included links to trusted relief organizations. He has yet to speak with other PRORO DEO athletes about how they can get involved. But he’s confident he won’t be the only one stepping up to help support central Texans in a time of extreme need. “A lot of us rodeo people are from Texas, so we are familiar with that area,” Mayfield said “Maybe me getting this started will create a chain of every other rodeo person wanting to donate. That can make a big impact.”

36 PRORODEO Sports News