PRORODEO Sports News March 2026 Digital Edition

BULLDOGGER GARRETT OATES CLINCHES DIXIE NATIONAL RODEO AVERAGE TITLE WITH IDENTICAL RUNS By Kensie Darst-Todd, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

C ompeting in the performance rounds at the Dixie National Rodeo for the first time, steer wrestler Garrett Oates made the most of the opportunity that came his way in Jackson, Miss., Feb. 21-22. The 26-year-old bulldogger delivered back-to-back 3.8-second runs to finish with 7.6 seconds on two head to claim the average title and a significant boost in the ear ly-season standings, now placing him No. 5 in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford world standings. “It’s been a

first round aboard Casper. Twelve months later, the pair returned more seasoned. The first steer he faced was part of a fresh set, requiring quick adjustments from Oates in the box. By the second round, he simply needed to execute. “This set was pretty fresh, so we kind of had to run at the steers and see what they were going to be, but it worked out,” Oates said. “Casper has definitely been a game changer

in my career. Without him, we couldn’t do anything.” As a PRORO DEO Playoff Series rodeo, the Dixie National Ro deo carries significant ings and points have a great im pact, espe cially when contenders are building a founda tion for the long season ahead. For Oates, the win put him at the highest point in the standings he weight in February. The earn

pretty good win ter so far,” Oates said. “We’ve had pretty good luck at Fort Worth and have been getting to practice around the house. This year was the first year I was in performances at Dixie. I’ve been a couple of times to compete in the Dixie National, but I’ve always gone into slack.” The stage may have been bigger, but the approach remained steady. The consisten cy, however, was no coincidence. Oates credited preparation and horsepower, particularly his

Steer wrestler Garrett Oates clinched the title at the Dixie National Rodeo with identical 3.8-second runs in rounds 1 and 2. (PRCA photo by Darlena Roberts)

palomino gelding, “Guys Best Effort,” commonly known as Casper. The veteran steer wrestling horse has carried mul tiple gold buckle winners in his career, including five-time PRCA World Champion Tyler Waguespack, and Casper has quickly become a cornerstone in Oates’s rodeo career. “I bought him from Jacob Talley (a five-time NFR qual ifier) last year,” Oates said. “Actually, Dixie was the first rodeo I took him to last year. It’s kind of a full circle deal to come back and have success again on the same horse.” Last season in Jackson, Oates finished second in the

has ever been in this early in the year. “It’s pretty cool,” he said. “I’ve never had the opportu nity to be that high in the standings this far. It’s still early in the year, so we just have to keep the ball rolling. It’s a blessing from the Lord, truly.” That perspective continues to guide him each time he backs into the box. “The Lord blesses us with opportunities every day,” he said. “Nothing’s given, and we can’t take anything for granted.”

MARCH 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 7