PRORODEO Sports News - March 21, 2025

THE COWBOYS’ CHOICE SINCE 1952

SPORTS NEWS

MARCH 2025 21

1936 - 2025

HOW THE WEST IS WORN

RYDER WRIGHT 2024 WORLD CHAMPION SADDLE BRONC RIDER

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PRORODEO Sports News April 2025

CONTENTS 23

RODEO RISING As attendance, sponsorships, media contracts grow and expand, PRORODEO continues to reach new heights and audiences. (PRCA Photo by Mallory Beinborn)

SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEO CHAMPIONS Tuf Cooper led the way, plus hear insights from each champion from San Antonio. (PRCA photo by Click Thompson)

T:10.9125"

S:9.9125"

B:11.25"

INSIDE

Manager ’ s Message

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Short Round

20 32 34 36 41 42 45 48

Snapshot

Social Media Spotlight

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros at The Tucson ( Ariz. ) Rodeo

Rodeo Recaps Meet the PRCA Rodeo Spotlight Cowboy Grille

COVER PHOTO Hall of Fame stock contractor Mike Cervi passes away. (Photo courtesy of Nick Kelley)

Legend of PRORODEO,Mike Cervi, passes

SPORTS NEWS PRORODEO PRCA CEO Tom Glause MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA Tracy Renck PSN EDITOR & DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Zach Alvira MEDIA REPORTER Alex Dodd SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Anna Mills PROJECT MANAGER Brian Hurlburt DESIGNER Christopher Jones

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS (ISSN 0161-5815; USPS 469-620) is published monthly by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 4301. PERIODICALS postage paid at Colorado Springs, Colo. , and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to ProRodeo Sports News , PO Box 1392, Williamsport, PA 17703. Subscription rate: $45 for one year, 12 issues. Disclaimer: The ProRodeo Sports News 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 TO THE PSN OR FOR SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS, CALL: 800.RODEO.4U (800.763.3648) _______________ To advertise in the PSN , call: 719.528.4704 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 101 ProRodeo Drive 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. Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ©2025, PRCA Properties Inc. , a

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by Tracy Renck

Visiting PRORODEO’S past, and remembering when a star is born

it feels weird if I don’t ride in both,” Stetson said. Prior to Rodeo Austin that year, Wright wasn’t in the top 50 in saddle bronc riding. In Austin, Wright won with an 89-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Tequila Sheila. “It means a lot,” Wright said about the win. That victory was a sign of things to come for Wright. He made the 2019 season one to remember. Wright became the first

THE WORLD OF PRORODEO is full of facts and figures that are worth revisiting from time-to-time. Recently, the Tucson Rodeo, also known as La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, wrapped up its historic 100th year with a sold-out crowd and thrilling competitions on Feb. 23. More than 11,000 spectators filled the stands on the city’s south side to witness the final day of events, marking one of the largest turnouts in the rodeo’s history. With a deeper dive, there’s no question that La Fiesta de los Vaqueros has had a storied history, past champions include a laundry list of ProRodeo Hall of Famers – names like Casey Tibbs, Trevor Brazile, Ty Murray, Don Gay; Billy Etbauer; Jake Barnes/Clay O’Brien Cooper, Joe Beaver, Dan Mortensen and Fred Whitfield Then, old-school ProRodeo Hall of Famers like Bill Linderman, Toots Mansfield, Troy Fort, Harry Tompkins, Dale Smith, Gary Leffew, Jack Roddy, Art Arnold, Joe Alexander, Shawn Davis, Ace Berry, Leo Camarillo, Bud Munroe, Brad Gjermundson and Marvin Garrett also were champions at The Tucson Rodeo. And, how about Tucson champs, father Tuffy Cooper and son, Roy Cooper and grandson, Tuf Cooper and father/son Lewis Feild

The scene is set prior to the competition at the Tucson Rodeo, also known as La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. The rodeo wrapped up its historic 100th year with a sold-out crowd and thrilling competitions on Feb. 23. ( PRCA photo by Lara St Jacques )

rookie in PRORODEO history to win an all-around world

and Kaycee Field.

This tradition-rich rodeo – La Fiesta de los Vaqueros – has gone strong for 100 years and here’s to 100 more. Staying in the hot tub time machine, here are some other nuggets to digest. In March of 2019, the PRORODEO world was transforming before our eyes. Stetson Wright, who was 18 years old, was starting to make a name for himself. The Resistol Rookie who is part of the legendary Wright family was turning heads because he was the only member of the famed Utah family competing in saddle bronc riding and bull riding. The Wright family has always been about saddle bronc riding – bull riding not at all. “I’ve done this for so long that

championship, finishing with $297,923. He also was the 2019 PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year in all-around, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. Fast-forward to 2025 and Stetson Wright – minus an injury-marred 2024 season – has been the face of PRORODEO. Rightfully so. Wright has won eight PRCA World Championships – five in all-around 2019 23 – two in bull riding (2020, 2023) and one in saddle bronc riding (2021). He’s obviously regained his footing in a big way following his win in San Antonio as he’s back in his customary position leading the all-around and bull riding world standings. The great thing about PRORODEO is with 800-plus events you never know when the next star is going to be born. Stay tuned.

Tracy Renck is the Manager of Communications and Media. He previously served three years as the editor of the ProRodeo Sports News, and before that he spent seven years as a media coordinator at the PRCA. He has three decades of experience in sports journalism.

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The growth in popularity of rodeo has resulted in larger arenas, more exposure and fans filling seats. ( PRCA Photo by Mallory Beinborn )

As attendance, sponsorships, media contracts grow and expand, PRORODEO continues to reach new heights and audiences BY ALEX RILEY, SPECIAL TO PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

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PRORODEO Sports News April 2025

WHILE IT MIGHT SEEM SIMPLE TO CREDIT TAYLOR SHERIDAN AND HIS YELLOWSTONE UNIVERSE FOR THE INCREASED INTEREST IN WESTERN CULTURE AND RODEO, IT ’ S CERTAINLY A PLACE TO START THE CONVERSATION.

to be on the rise. But why? And more importantly, what’s next?

MONEY TALKS Money may not grow on trees. But for many PRCA rodeos, it’s made on the backs of stock, more frequently in large arenas. RodeoHouston, the top regular season rodeo in the PRCA, concluded March 23 after paying out more than $2.5 million in earnings. Winning contestants walked away with a record $65,000, which all counts in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. The rodeo has become a must compete event for athletes, with winnings that large helping them qualify for the coveted 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in Las Vegas. But Houston has become more than just a rodeo. It’s become a spectacle, and a great one at that. Nightly concerts for more than 70,000 fans all packed into the Houston Texans’ NRG Stadium has further increased the excitement for rodeo – or at the very least putting more money and eyes onto it. But Houston isn’t alone in providing cowboys with huge rodeo pay days. The state of Utah has become a gold mine for potential NFR qualifiers. Every July the State of Utah celebrates Pioneer Week the third week of July with the culmination of the celebration being July 24, marking the day when Brigham Young and a determined company of Mormon pioneers realized their dreams upon entering the Great Salt Valley. Rodeo has long played a part during this celebration with the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo, the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Rodeo and the Ogden Pioneer Days all being contested during this time. In 2023, these three PRCA rodeos joined together to offer nearly $2 million in payouts– all happening within a 5-day span and within a 100

The show premiered in 2018, spawning two currently airing spinoffs and a third that is still in production. Even though it’s a fictional story, the drama has been credited for shining a fairly authentic and accurate light on ranch life and the American West, providing a glimpse into the experience. “There is that Yellowstone effect. People talk about it, and it is real,” said Teton Ridge CEO Deidre Lester. “As someone who comes from the East Coast, everyone was watching that series and it shined a light back on ranch life, the middle of America that you don’t always see highlighted in Hollywood movies and televisions shows. So, that definitely drew a lot of interest from sort of a casual, what we call, ‘the cowboy curious’ audience.” Seeing the action unfold on a screen is one thing. Experiencing it is another. “Sadly, the pandemic was awful, but it also woke people up to wanting to be outside, wanting to be outdoors, experiencing getting back to being out in the world,” Lester continued. “And I think rodeo is a great representation of that. I do think that rodeo also hung in there during the pandemic. There

were some changes that had to happen to accommodate what was going on in Las Vegas, I know, but at the same time rodeo marched on and I think that was important as well. And I think that that drew a lot of people in that maybe were reconnecting with the sport.” John Travolta sparked a craze in the 1980s. In the 1990s, it was almost impossible to go a day without hearing “Friends in Low Places” on the radio. Today’s popularity push is credited to a catalogue of shows about the Dutton family, both now and in the past. Longstanding and loyal fans have always been there when it comes to PRORODEO. Lately, they’re being joined by a plethora of new faces. Attendance records at numerous events, both big and small, have been reset in the last several years. Additionally, viewership of The Cowboy Channel, the rodeo and western specific cable network and streaming service, has seen significant upticks. In 2023, the network saw a 64 percent increase in viewership compared to 2022 during its annual “100 Rodeos in 100 Days” event. It’s a pattern that shows passion for the Western way of life continues

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miles of each other. In addition to these record payouts during Pioneer Week in Utah, there was an additional bonus of $15,000 for the top earning female and male athlete each across these three rodeos. This program continued in 2024 with barrel racer Kassie Mowry leading the way on the female side winning an astonishing $37,172 at the three Utah rodeos during that week and Marty Yates was the top male performing athlete with $29,786. REACHING A WIDER AUDIENCE Whether playing at home or away, on any given weekend, an NFL fan can turn on a channel and find their favorite team. Same for most college programs or major professional sports leagues. But for rodeo fans, keeping track of the cowboys and cowgirls they saw compete in their community could be difficult. In the past, once they left town, the only way to monitor their exploits was through written or online coverage of events across the country. The Cowboy Channel changed that. Established in 2017 on the vision of the late Patrick Gottsch, The Cowboy Channel sought to make Western sports and lifestyle coverage mainstream. In less than a decade, it has transformed the rodeo experience, turning an often-isolated sport into an easy-to-follow year round competition playing 24/7. And that expansion, already at a rapid pace, shows little signs of slowing. “I think rodeo has the potential to grow huge because of media. As we’ve seen, The Cowboy Channel started a wonderful thing and now it’s our time to help expand that past the starting point,” said Leon Vick, Vice President of Rodeo, Horse and Livestock Operations at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. “You know, everybody has a starting point but then it’s your job to take that a little bit further. Media, I don’t want to say it’s the last frontier,

Above : Record crowds are watching rodeo all over America ( PRCA photo by John Pyle ) Below : A fan favorite is Proctor prodigy Haley ( PRCA photo by Jessica Burns )

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“ YOU KNOW , EVERYBODY HAS A STARTING POINT BUT THEN IT ’ S YOUR JOB TO TAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. MEDIA, I DON ’ T WANT TO SAY IT ’ S THE LAST FRONTIER, BUT IT ’ S OUR NEXT FRONTIER. I THINK RODEO HAS A LOT OF GROWTH ROOM. ” – Leon Vick, Vice President of Rodeo, Horse and Livestock Operations at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo championships somewhere and luckily, I had a governor (in South Dakota) who believed in it.” Established in 2023, the regular season-culminating event brings together the top four finishers from the Cinch Playoffs at the Puyallup (Wash.) Rodeo along with the top eight from each event in the PRCA Playoff Series Standings. The addition of the Cinch Playoffs has reshaped the approach to competition and who has the potential to occupy the top spots going into Las Vegas. The Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D., features a $1.3 million purse that has the potential to take a middle-of the-pack competitor and turn them into a bonafide contender overnight. NFR will always be the goal, but a visit to the Cinch Playoffs has become nearly a required steppingstone to get

Bull rider and Utah native Hayes Weight at 2024 Days of ' 47 in Salt Lake, Utah. ( PRCA Photo by Ric Andersen )

but it’s our next frontier. I think rodeo has a lot of growth room.” Weeks prior to the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, it was announced that Teton Ridge, a collection of companies that focus solely on Western lifestyle and entertainment, had acquired The Cowboy Channel and all properties with Rural Media Group. The goal has been simple – bring rodeo to the widest audience possible. That dream continues to become reality. “I think first and foremost, with the acquisition of The Cowboy Channel, my vision is to get The Cowboy Channel in every home in America,” Lester said. “It’s currently distributed in 25 million homes via satellite TV primarily and there’s an opportunity to really take a fresh look at the distribution both linear but also the (over-the-top) and streaming apps and just make it more available to people. And then we’re also looking at investing in the top rodeos

that draw the largest audience and the biggest star power from an athlete’s perspective for money prizes.”

THE FORMAT SHIFT

Creating something that’s easy to understand was always Rorey Lemmel’s goal. As General Manager of the Governor’s Cup, Lemmel drew on his own experience as a rodeo competitor when helping build the format for how the Cinch Playoffs would shape PRORODEO’s regular season finish. “From a former contestant, we always thought rodeo needed to be on a bigger stage and to be set up to be fan friendly,” Lemmel said. “Not everybody understands the cowboy way of multiple performances, and multiple times and town in-and-out. But this is an event where people can understand it. A winner each night and the best guys in the world. Essentially, I wanted to bring the NFC/AFC

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RodeoHouston has become a spectacle as the PRCA ’ s largest regular season rodeo. ( PRCA Photo by Mallory Beinborn )

there. Of the 96 Cinch Playoff qualifiers in 2024, 82 went on to compete at NFR. “Obviously, I don’t know that anybody can duplicate the NFR experience, but I’ve been to that rodeo too. The Governor’s Cup is just a hands down very well run production,” longtime team roper Kollin VonAhn said after he and teammate Andrew Ward won the event last September. “Honestly, I’m at the age now where I’m grateful for the opportunities that I get, and I was just glad to be there and experience it. But it was a first-class event, just unbelievable. If you never got to go to the NFR but you got to go to the Governor’s Cup, you got a pretty damn good taste of what some of the best rodeo in the world is like.” What happens in Sioux Falls during the final week of the regular season is a reflection of how the entire sport has changed in recent years. While there are still plenty of rodeos who follow

the traditional format of a single go or multiple goes with an average championship, many of the bigger events have pivoted to tournament style brackets where competitors must do well enough in initial rounds for the opportunity to keep competing. These changes have made it easier for fans to track who is still alive and who is in the running for a championship. It’s also made things a bit more lucrative. “What’s really important and really helped drive the sponsorships is if you look around at all the rodeos that are growing, one it’s either a new facility and or it is the format change,” Vick said. “I know the contestants don’t like to embrace the format changes that have happened, but they have to stop and look at the correlation between format change and the payout.”

THE NUMBERS GAME To be fair, Vick has lined up behind the barrier. A former steer wrestler who qualified for a pair of NFRs over the course of his two-decade career, the Colorado native knows what it takes to be among the best in PRORODEO. Albeit his run was at a slightly different point in history. Not that long ago, a rodeo competitor had a good shot at securing a qualifying spot at NFR with around $50,000 in earnings over the course of an entire season. Now, there are opportunities to earn that same amount from one rodeo in a span of days. “I come out of the rodeo world. I won Cheyenne. I won Houston. I won under $15,000 at both of those rodeos when I won them. Which, hey, I’m not knocking them. That was a lot of money, and it still is,” Vick said. “But today, you end up winning those rodeos and you’re going

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With over 70,000 fans on a nightly basis, RodeoHouston has become a must-attend for contestants with a purse of over $ 2.5 million. ( PRCA Photo by Mallory Beinborn )

to leave with $50,000. What’s the big change? Format.” Tournament style brackets. The Cinch Playoffs. Increased attention to the sport itself. All of it has added up to make rodeo a more compelling draw for fans and sponsors. Ticket sales continue to rise and brand deals with both traditional and new advertisers have altered the landscape. The result – staggering numbers that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago. In 2024, every NFR qualifier in bareback riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding had cleared more than $100,000 in earnings before the Finals started, while nine of the 15 steer wrestlers had reached the benchmark. In fact, going into NFR last December, 22 total competitors had already eclipsed $200,000 in earnings that season. By comparison, a decade earlier, 10 competitors

needed NFR success to finish 2014 with more than $200,000 in total earnings for the season. “I think I won $50,000 (in 2023), but it was kind of an eye-opener for me of how rodeo had changed,” VonAhn said after returning to the PRCA full time last season. “About 2015, right in there, it would take mid-$60,000 to make the NFR. Fast-forward, now it’s taking over $100,000. Well, that’s a big difference. It dawned on me that you’ve got to have big opportunities on big stages if you think you’re just going to make the Finals.” Bigger payouts. Larger crowds. More media exposure. Increased awareness. PRORODEO’s continued growth is rapid and ongoing. While there are plenty of advancements to navigate, the sport’s foundation remains unchanged. At its core, it is still reliant on a cowboy or cowgirl nodding their head, aiming for that perfect run or ride.

But with more eyes watching and money invested, the reach of the Western lifestyle is only getting bigger. And that’s a situation everyone is excited about. “The thing I saw was that there really is a very large and very loyal fan base here, and that the athletes are truly some of the best remarkable athletes in the world or sports. And it’s just not necessarily been given the mainstream sports media attention that it deserves,” Lester said. “To me, there’s just a big opportunity here to put rodeo on a bigger stage with a national broadcast, to showcase the stars of the sport. And it’s also a space that really has been overlooked by major marketing and brand advertisers with a community of fans that are as loyal as almost anything I’ve seen anywhere else. “So, I just think there’s a lot of room for growth here and so we’re looking forward to pushing it forward.”

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All-around 1

Team Roping (header) 1 Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla.

Tie-down Roping 1 Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M. Kyle Lucas, Carstairs, Alberta John Douch, Huntsville, Texas Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. Riley Mason Webb, Denton, Texas Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, Calif. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M. 10 Dylan Hancock, San Angelo, Texas 11 Trevor Hale, Perryton, Texas 12 Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo. 13 Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 14 Cash Hooper, Pampa, Texas 15 Blane Cox, Stephenville, Texas 16 Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 17 Macon Murphy, Keatchie, La. 18 Pecos Tatum, La Plata, N.M. 19 Michael Otero, Perrin, Texas 20 Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb. Cole Patterson, Pawnee, Okla. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas Tanner Stec, Bassett, Neb. Ryan Rochlitz, Pine Bluffs, Wyo. Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. Ora Taton, Rapid City, S.D. 10 Slade Wood, New Ulm, Texas 11 Billy Good, Wynnewood, Okla. 12 Blake Deckard, Eufaula, Okla. 13 Jake Cooper Clay, Sapulpa, Okla. 14 Riley O ' Rourke, Skiatook, Okla. 15 Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas 16 Dalton Walker, Clyde, Texas 17 J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas 18 Kelton McMillen, Weatherford, Okla. 19 Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas 20 Seth Schafer, Comanche, Texas 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Reo Lohse, Kaycee, Wyo. Steer Roping 1

$ 47,817 $ 34,029 $ 32,341 $ 30,936 $ 16,513 $ 13,852 $ 13,669 $ 13,422 $ 12,405 $ 11,225

$ 44,540 $ 44,263 $ 35,315

$ 58,788 $ 46,429 $ 36,713 $ 36,354 $ 32,077 $ 31,642 $ 30,824 $ 29,871 $ 27,393 $ 27,313 $ 25,398 $ 24,676 $ 23,880 $ 23,170 $ 22,451 $ 22,445 $ 22,278 $ 20,959 $ 20,803 $ 19,893 $ 29,622 $ 23,377 $ 20,484 $ 18,653 $ 15,831 $ 15,070 $ 14,853 $ 14,598 $ 13,770 $ 13,589 $ 13,170 $ 13,036 $ 12,223 $ 11,514 $ 10,683 $ 10,330 $ 9,953 $ 9,876 $ 8,970 $ 8,385 $ 57,180 $ 54,324 $ 49,451 $ 46,285 $ 45,944 $ 43,462 $ 40,067 $ 38,552 $ 36,135 $ 35,642 $ 34,870 $ 31,366 $ 29,766 $ 29,210 $ 27,868 $ 27,518 $ 26,941 $ 26,102 $ 25,526 $ 25,092

Stetson Dell Wright, Beaver, Utah Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla. Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M.

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Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla. Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala.

4 Tanner Tomlinson, Mineral Wells, Texas $ 33,949 5 Lightning Aguilera, Athens, Texas $ 27,973 6 Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn. $ 22,527 7 Jake Smith, Broken Bow, Okla. $ 22,070 8 J.C. Yeahquo, Mandaree, N.D. $ 20,730 9 Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss. $ 20,549 10 Luke Brown, Rock hill, S.C. $ 20,472 11 Brenten Hall, Jay, Okla. $ 20,194 12 Cody Carter, Stephenville, Texas $ 19,452 13 Cyle Denison, Iowa, La. $ 19,242 14 Kreece Thompson, Munday, Texas $ 18,859 15 Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga. $ 18,784 16 Dawson Graham, Wainwright, Alberta $ 18,511 17 Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont. $ 17,574 18 Braxton Culpepper, Sylvester, Ga. $ 17,512 19 Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz. $ 17,433 20 Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho $ 17,429 6 Kaden Michael Profili, Jacksonville, Texas $ 24,856 7 Douglas Rich, Herrick, Ill. $ 22,070 8 Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo. $ 20,472 9 Lane Mitchell, Bolivar, Tenn. $ 20,271 10 Denim Ross, Botha, Alberta $ 19,692 11 Blake Bentley, Stephenville, Texas $ 19,452 12 Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Brazil $ 18,784 13 Dillon Graham, Wainwright, Alberta $ 18,511 14 Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas $ 18,393 15 Calgary Smith, Adams, Ore. $ 17,574 16 Brad Culpepper, Sylvester, Ga. $ 17,512 17 Colter Todd, Willcox, Ariz. $ 17,433 18 Parker Carbajal, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. $ 16,964 19 Reno Gonzales, Whigham, Ga. $ 16,722 20 Zack Mabry, Piedmont, Ala. $ 16,607 Team Roping (heeler) 1 Coleby Payne, Stephenville, Texas $ 44,540 $ 44,263 $ 39,054 $ 27,039 $ 26,964 2 3 4 5 Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D. Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla. Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. Dustin Davis, Terrell, Texas

Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss.

Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas Bodie Mattson, Sturgis, S.D.

Cole Walker, Sparta, Tenn. J.R. Myers, Felton, Pa.

10 Tyler Waters, Stephenville, Texas 11 Jake Cooper Clay, Sapulpa, Okla. $ 11,193 12 Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla. $ 11,120 13 Jobe Johns, Zolfo Springs, Fla. $ 9,025 14 Delon Parker, Worden, Mont. $ 8,854 15 Cody Stewart, Janesville, Calif. $ 7,620 16 Bode Spring, Bozeman, Mont. $ 7,351

Bareback Riding 1 Bradlee Miller, Huntsville, Texas

$ 71,767 $ 51,086 $ 43,174 $ 42,637 $ 37,832 $ 36,360 $ 35,896 $ 35,862 $ 31,916 $ 30,390 $ 28,545 $ 27,250 $ 24,935 $ 23,710 $ 23,001 $ 20,665 $ 20,333 $ 19,452 $ 19,416 $ 19,053 $ 33,548 $ 30,386 $ 28,300 $ 28,098 $ 27,257 $ 25,417 $ 24,365 $ 22,870 $ 22,858 $ 22,468 $ 21,623 $ 21,552 $ 21,103 $ 20,455 $ 19,445 $ 18,801

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Nick Pelke, Mondovi, Wis.

Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb. Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla. Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas Mason Clements, Spanish Fork, Utah Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La. 10 Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La. 11 Clay Jorgenson, Watford City, N.D. 12 Jacob Lees, Caldwell, Idaho 13 Sage Allen, Blackfoot, Idaho 14 Jacek Frost, Browns Valley, Calif. 15 Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. 16 R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif. 17 Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La. 18 Luke Barlow Thrash, Bastrop, La. 19 Andy Gingerich, Aberdeen, S.D. Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan. Will Lummus, Byhalia, Miss. Cody Devers, Perryton, Texas Brandon Harrison, Cheek, Texas Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas Chance Howard, Sallisaw, Okla. Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla. 10 Tucker Allen, Ventura, Calif. 11 J.D. Struxness, Milan, Minn. 12 Kyle Irwin, Westville, Fla. 13 Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho 14 Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La. 15 Ty Bauerle, Jourdanton, Texas Levi Rudd, Chelsea, Okla. 20 Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manito Steer Wrestling 1 Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Saddle Bronc Riding 1 Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho

Bull Riding 1

$ 73,057 $ 66,603 $ 59,151 $ 52,621 $ 52,313 $ 38,925 $ 37,611 $ 37,565 $ 37,280 $ 27,580 $ 26,131 $ 25,772 $ 25,489 $ 24,463 $ 23,439 $ 23,364 $ 23,323 $ 23,087 $ 21,360 $ 20,185

Stetson Dell Wright, Beaver, Utah Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah Statler Ray Wright, Beaver, Utah Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont. Ryder Sanford, Sulphur, La. Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo. Zac Dallas, Las Cruces, N.M. 10 Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas 11 Gus Gaillard, Morse, Texas 12 Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta 13 Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D. 14 Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo. 15 Bailey Small, McArthur Calif. 16 Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas 17 Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo. 18 Jesse Kruse, Bridger, Mont. 19 Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont.

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T. Parker, Winnie, Texas

Trey Benton III, Richards, Texas

T.J. Gray, Dairy, Ore.

Scott Wells, Goondiwindi, Australia Rawley Johnson, Swan Valley, Idaho

Jesse Petri, Dublin, Texas

Maverick Potter, Waxahachie, Texas 10 Tristan Mize, Bryan, Texas 11 Wade Tuni, Rock Point, Ariz. 12 Mason Moody, Letcher, S.D. 13 Tyler Bingham, Howell, Utah 14 Jake Lockwood, Volborg, Mont. 15 Luke Mast, Hutchinson, Kan. 16 Luke Mackey, Ignacio, Colo. 17 Jax Roy Mills, Magnolia, Texas 18 Jestyn Jax Woodward, Custer, S.D. 19 Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Fla. 20 Hayes Thayne Weight, Goshen, Utah

16 Gavin Soileau, Bunkie, La. 17 Don Payne, Stephenville, Texas $ 18,700 18 Landon Beardsworth, Red Deer County, Alberta $ 17,882 19 Trisyn Kalawaia, Hilo, Hawaii $ 17,212 20 Marc Joiner, Loranger, La. $ 17,030

20 Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah

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WEEKEND WARRIORS

Clovis Crane is no stranger to weekly rodeos in the First Frontier Circuit. ( PRCA Photo by Andre Silva )

First Frontier Circuit showcases cowboy culture in Northeastern U.S.

BY ALEX DODD

THE CROWDS AT rodeos in the First Frontier Circuit may have a different feel, but the cowboy spirit is alive and well in the region. The circuit consists of 13 states in the Northeastern United States, including Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. It is one of 12 in the

PRCA Circuit System, celebrating its 50th anniversary during the 2025 season. Rodeos West of the Mississippi may draw bigger crowds or more competitors in search of bids to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. But the First Frontier Circuit allows folks from big cities, backroads and suburban areas to witness a piece of Americana as circuit cowboys

strive to compete in the circuit finals and the NFR Open. “Our guys don’t travel west that much, and I’d say it’s more like a family unit,” former First Frontier Circuit president and Cowtown Rodeo owner Betsy Harris said. “We pretty much know way too much about each other. “I’m extremely partial, but we’ve been doing this with my husband’s family (Grant Harris) since 1955 with the PRCA.”

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First Frontier Circuit Finals and how difficult it was to find a permanent home for the circuit’s culminating event. But said everything changed for the better when the event moved to Harrisburg over two decades ago. “We really thought the bottom was going to drop out and that somebody was pulling the wool over our eyes because it was way too good to be true,” Harris said. “The facility is great. They have a high school rodeo to start things off, and the culmination of the week is the PRCA rodeo.” Cowboys who win the year-end and average titles at the First Frontier Circuit Finals qualify for the NFR Open in July at Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. For Crane, the circuit system allows him to pursue his rodeo dreams without sacrificing time with his family and running his business for large chunks of the year. “Without the circuit system, I would never have been able to rodeo with any longevity,” Crane said. “I run a business and break 200-300 horses a year… I would have rodeoed for a living, but I didn’t make as much money as I did at my other job. This gives me an opportunity. I love to compete. I love to ride. This was the way for me to partake in the sport that I like.” much about each other.” – Betsy Harris, former First Frontier Circuit president and Cowtown Rodeo owner “Our guys don’t travel West that much, and I’d say it’s more like a family unit. We pretty much know way too

Cowtown Rodeo has become a weekly event in the summer months and is slated to host 19 rodeos and two nights of Xtreme Bulls action from May 24 to Sept. 27. ( PRCA Photo by Andre Silva )

Grant and Betsy Harris took over the Cowtown Rodeo in Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J., right after they married in 1978 when his father decided to sell the event. Since then, Cowtown has become a weekly event in the summer months and is slated to host 19 rodeos and two nights of Xtreme Bulls action from May 24 to Sept. 27. The 2024 PRCA Small Rodeo of the Year is a staple in the First Frontier Circuit, attracting contestants and fans from across the region. The Painted Pony Championship Rodeo in Lake Luzerne, N.Y., also hosts weekly events in the First Frontier Circuit. “We have a lot of rodeos now with Painted Pony and Cowtown, way more than we did when I was starting,” Harris said. “There’s accessibility for contestants and that’s why we see the same people pretty much all of the time.” Clovis Crane is no stranger to the weekly rodeos in Lake Luzerne and Woodstown Pilesgrove. The all-around cowboy from Lebanon, Penn., purchased his PRCA Card in 2005 and doesn’t plan on slowing down. “Consistency is what separates success from not having success,” he said. “You have to show up every week whether you like it or not. You

have Cowtown every Saturday and the Painted Pony for ten weeks with multiple rodeos per week. “In the First Frontier, consistency is key because there aren’t any big rodeos. There are a lot of $1,000- $2,000 rodeos, and you have to kill them with consistency.” Showing up every week and stringing together checks ultimately earns Northeastern cowboys a shot at bigger paydays and a championship at the First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo, held each January at New Holland Arena in Harrisburg, Penn. Crane is a staple in Harrisburg, winning 12 First Frontier year-end titles. He first qualified for the event in 2007 in three events: bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding. He’s one of seven cowboys to win year-end circuit titles in four events (all-around, bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding) and one of two cowboys to win four year-end titles in the same years (2008). “The interesting thing for me about my continued success is that the gap from October to January gives me time to heal up,” Crane said. “It gives me time to focus, get healthy and get strong. It’s a really good thing because I can come in fresh and ride well without being banged up.” Harris recalled the early years of the

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SHORT ROUND

ProRodeo Hall of Fame steer wrestler Jack Roddy passed away on March 2. ( PRCA Archive )

ProRodeo Hall of Fame steer wrestler Jack Roddy passes away

JACK RODDY, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame for his career as a steer wrestler in 1979, passed away on March 2. He was 87 years old. Roddy grew up on his family’s ranch in Colma, Calif., and competed in his first rodeo at 14 years old. He won $90 in the wild horse race. His love for the sport flourished from there. In 1956, he joined the Rodeo

Cowboys Association, which became the PRCA, and began competing at rodeos across the country. At 6-feet, 5 inches tall, he was bigger than most cowboys. But he used his height to his advantage in 1959 when he became college rodeo’s all-around and steer wrestling champion while competing for Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo. Roddy transitioned to steer wrestling in the early 1960s. He qualified for the National Finals

Rodeo in 1962, 1965, 1966-68 and 1971. He also competed in team roping at the NFR in 1962 and 1965. In 1966, he won his first world title, setting a record for the most earnings in steer wrestling in the process at the time with $22,405. He also won the average with a 74.6-second time on eight head in the eight head average. Roddy’s second world championship came two years later in 1968. | CONTINUE ON 18>

BY THE NUMBERS

The payout for RodeoHouston – $ 2,533,500, to be exact – makes it a critical stop for contestants on the PRORODEO Playoff Series. The event ran from March 4-24 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

The total money earned by Stetson Wright at the San Antonio ( Texas ) Stock Show & Rodeo. Wright won the bull riding and advanced to the semifinals in saddle bronc.

The amount of money earned by tie-down roper Ty Harris at RodeoHouston in 2024. He finished the event as the top money earner.

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RODEO SPOTLIGHT

also qualified for the 2023 National Finals Breakaway Roping. “The last few years he enjoyed watching Bradi compete,” Shay said. Billy Good ranched in Lovington, N.M., for several decades, which is where his funeral took place on March 17. Billy Frank was born on Jan. 24, 1943, in Clovis, N.M., to Stanley and Margie (Moore) Good. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Margie Good, his wife, Tamara Good, and his brother, Charles Good. He is survived by his brother, Ike Good, and sister, Carolyn Hestand. He also leaves behind his daughter, Shauna Cobb, and son-in law Bobby Cobb, granddaughters Sawyer Greer and Crosby Cobb, son Shay Good and daughter-in-law Amie Good, grandchildren Sage Good, Bradi Good, and son, Clay Good, daughter in-law Lesley Good, grandchildren Brycen Good and Graisyn Good. Additionally, he is survived by three great-grandchildren. He married Tamara Fort and together they raised their family on their ranch in Caprock, N.M., before later moving to Texas. Donations may be made to the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame (1 Thunderbird Circle, Hobbs, N.M., 88240). Serving as pallbearers were Danny Berry, Gerald Cryer, Carl Lane Johnson, Jarrod Johnson, Justin Johnson, Charley Price, Sid Price, and Sterling Price. Honorary pallbearers included Guy Allen, Jim Barr, Jeff Bilberry, Brent Caviness, Paul Fine, Wimp Fine, Terry Kitchens, Brent Lewis, Terry Lewis, Mark Milner, Philip Munden, Mike Winters, and all his dear friends.

Billy Frank Good, a two-time qualifier for the National Finals Steer Roping in 1970 and 1973,passed away on March 11. ( PRCA photo by PRCA Archive )

Roddy’s career also involved wins at several prestigious rodeos across the country, including the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (1968), San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo (1966) and Cheyenne Frontier Days (1971). He was also a three time champion in Reno (1966, 1971 and 1976) and California Rodeo Salinas (1962, 1964, and 1966). Roddy is survived by his wife, Donna. BILLY FRANK GOOD, TWO-TIME NATIONAL FINALS STEER ROPING QUALIFIER, PASSES AWAY Billy Frank Good, a two-time qualifier for the National Finals Steer Roping in 1970 and 1973, passed away on March 11 in Abilene, Texas. He was 82. “My dad was a real honest guy who loved ranching and roping,” Shay Good said. “He also liked good horses and steer roping.” Good, who was nicknamed Big’ n, finished second in the 1970 steer roping world standings behind ProRodeo Hall of Famer Don McLaughlin. “He wasn’t very big compared to the rest of the Goods, he was kind of the runt, so they nicknamed him Big ‘n,” Shay Good said. Good won Round 1 (16.6 seconds) and took third in Round 4 (20.6 seconds) at the 1970 NFSR in Pecos,

Texas, which only had six rounds of competition. Good was second in the average with a 227.5-second time on six head. In 1973, he placed third in Round 2 (19.0 seconds) of the NFSR. “(ProRodeo Hall of Famers) Troy Fort and Sonny Davis are the guys who taught him how to rope,” Shay Good said. “They helped him get into steer roping. Steer roping was more of a family event, and you didn’t have to stay gone all the time. There was a good bunch of guys who did it. It took a really good horse to steer rope, and the horsemanship is what he liked most about it. He always took pride in having a good steer roping horse.” Billy Frank Good, a Kenna, N.M., native, was the younger brother of Charles Good, 1976 PRCA Steer Roping World Champion, and uncle to Gary Good, who won the 1979 PRCA Steer Roping World Championship. Billy’s son, Shay Good, is a four time NFSR qualifier in 2015-17 and 2021. Bradi Good, Shay’s daughter,

SAN ANGELO RODEO TICKETS ON SALE

TICKETS TO THE 2025 SAN ANGELO RODEO WENT ON SALE MARCH 3. Tickets can be purchased for each of the upcoming San Angelo Rodeo ’ s performances, which will occur from April 4-6 ; April 10-12 ; April 13 Xtreme Bulls ; April 16-18 ; April 19 , Cinch Chute-Out , April 19 . Prices range from $ 15 to $ 50, depending on the performance date. TO PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE SAN ANGELO RODEO, VISIT WWW.SANANGELORODEO.COM.

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Saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Logan, by winning the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo. PRCA Photo by Click Thompson

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> TURN PAGE > FOR INSIDE

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Tuf Cooper won the tie-down roping finals at San Antonio in honor of his late grandmother. ( PRCA photo by Click Thompson )

Tuf Cooper honors late grandmother in San Antonio win BY ZACH ALVIRA

Judy Smith, the night before. She was 91 years old. It was an emotional time, and one that for a moment took his attention away from San Antonio as he made the 6-hour drive to and from Childress to be with family the night of her passing. But a simple request from his

grandfather helped him regain focus. “My grandpa Friday night, while we were bedside, he said, ‘Hey, you go get that buckle,’” Cooper said. “When he put me on that mission it made my job a lot easier. It was the best mission I’ve ever been on.” Cooper completed the mission,

THERE WAS PLENTY weighing on the mind of Tuf Cooper Saturday, Feb. 22, when he was preparing to compete in the tie-down roping finals at the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo. The 35-year-old Decatur, Texas, native had just lost his grandmother,

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grandmother loved. Perhaps just short of her love for Jesus was Meme’s love for watching her family compete in rodeo. And she had plenty of opportunities to do so. The Coopers have accumulated countless rodeo titles in their history in the sport. They’ve also qualified numerous times for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Presented by Teton Ridge. Cooper’s father is ProRodeo Hall of Famer Roy “Super Looper” Cooper. His uncle, Stran Smith, is a World Champion Tie-Down Roper. In 2010, he and his brothers, Clif and Clint, made history as the only set of three brothers to compete at the NFR in the same year. His sister, Shada, has also competed at NFR. Her husband, Trevor Brazile, is the winningest rodeo cowboy of all time. Even with all the accolades for Cooper and his family throughout the course of their time in PRORODEO, San Antonio now holds a special place in his heart. It was the first buckle he’s won there since 2022. But most importantly, he was able to honor his grandmother on one of the grandest stages. “For me and my family, that night, to win San Antonio was like winning the gold buckle,” Cooper said. “There were a lot of guys who were fast, but my grandma … sorry, guys. They never had a chance. It was mine to win that night.”

The family gathered to honor Judy Smith the day after her passing. From left : Shali Lord ( great niece ), Trevor Brazile ( grandson ), Shada Brazile ( granddaughter ), Clifton Smith ( husband ), Stran Smith ( son ), Stetson Vest ( grandson ), Tuf Cooper ( grandson ), Clif Cooper ( grandson ). ( Courtesy Cooper Family )

winning the tie-down roping title in San Antonio with a run of 7.2 seconds. He earned $15,252 as a result. But the buckle and honoring his grandmother – known to his family as “Meme” – just 24 hours after her passing was the ultimate prize. “Luckily for me on Saturday, I had my ‘Meme’ there helping me get through the run,” Cooper said. “The proudest moment was on Sunday when I got to bring that buckle back to my grandpa. We had it right there on Meme’s casket the entire service. Grandpa got to take the buckle home with him.”

Cooper’s nerves and grief over the loss of his grandmother had to quickly be put to the side. He led off the final round, setting the bar for other ropers. He said it was difficult to focus but was able to do so for a few seconds before the run began. Instincts took over, as well as what he described as the presence of God. Cooper’s grandmother’s love for Jesus was widely known among her friends and loved ones. It extended to her grandchildren and other family members, Cooper included. He wore Jesus on his collar during competition, something he says his

BARREL RACING Megan Mcleod-Sprague – $ 41,512 Kassie Mowry - $ 30,987 Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi - $ 30,464

TOP MONEY EARNER Stetson Wright, $ 37,662 ( bull riding and saddle bronc ) BAREBACK RIDING 1. Bradlee Miller, $ 22,584 2. Sage Allen, $ 21,817 3. Garret Shadholt, $ 11,817.50 STEER WRESTLING 1. Brandon Harrison, $ 19,979 2. Will Lummus, $ 17,857 3. Tyler Waguespack, $ 11,555

TOP SCORES

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Tuf Cooper, $ 22,080 2. Seth Hall, $ 19,958 3. Ty Harris, $ 11,554

BULL RIDING 1. Stetson Wright, $ 28,207 2. Tyler Bingham, $ 24,509.50 3. Wacey Schalla, $ 13,393

TEAM ROPING 1. Dustin Egusquiza / Levi Lord, $ 42,260 2. Clay Smith / Coleby Payne, $ 39,915 3. Nelson Wyatt / Jonathan Torres, $ 29,937

Stetson Wright. ( PRCA photo by PRCA. )

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Dawson Hay captured his first saddle bronc riding title at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo with a 90-point ride on Calgary Stampede ’ s Yippee Kibitz on Feb. 22. ( PRCA photo by Click Thompson )

Calgary Stampede’s Yippee Kibitz in the Saddle Bronc Riding finals on Feb. 22 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Though, it didn’t come easy. It was his first experience with Yippee Kibitz, which Hay described as a strong horse who hits the ground hard. “It was a lot of fun,” Hay said of Yippee Kibitz. “There was a couple of times in there I was jumping back into my saddle.” His score in the finals came after four consecutive rounds where he hung around the high 80s. Hay admits some doubt crept into his mind during his final ride. But the No. 2 ranked Saddle Bronc rider in the world stuck it out and it paid off. “I wasn’t sure I was going to make it all the way through, but it worked out,” Hay said.

Dawson Hay follows in family footsteps, captures

BY ZACH ALVIRA

THE SAN ANTONIO (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo holds a special place in Dawson Hay’s heart. It’s where the Wildwood, Alberta cowboy’s brother, Logan Hay, won last year in 2024. It’s also where his father, 20-time NFR Qualifier Rod Hay, had some of his most impressive rides. Now the 26-year-old Canadian cowboy further added to his family’s

legacy in PRORODEO, capturing his first San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo title, earning $12,878. Hay said. “I got to watch my brother win this rodeo last year,” Hay said. “It’s kind of cool (my family has had success in San Antonio).” Hay’s goal entering San Antonio was simple: “90 or nothing.” It came to fruition, as he secured the title with a 90 overall score on

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Brandon Harrison ’ s 4.3-second run in the steer wrestling finals helped him earn a title at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Feb. 22. ( PRCA photo by Click Thompson )

“[This is] one of the biggest rodeos of the year,” Harrison said. “It’s amazing to compete against these guys and to do my best and come out and prevail.” Harrison approached the final round like any other. The start is his main priority. He aimed to time it perfectly to avoid penalty but put him in position to succeed. Once he knew he had hit the start, he resorted to having fun. It’s a coy sentiment from a competitor with world championship aspirations. But for Harrison, it works. “My job is to hit the start and after I hit the start, I’m having fun,” Harrison said, adding that the final round felt like a blur. “I just let my body do the job and not think too much. I never want to overthink. “It’s going to help me accomplish my goal of being a world champ.”

Brandon Harrison takes step toward world title

BY ZACH ALVIRA

going to wait until the NFR to win a world championship. I want to win it now.” Harrison took a big step toward accomplishing that goal on Feb. 22 at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo held at Frost Bank Center. Harrison made a statement capturing the steer wrestling title with a time of 4.3 seconds in the finals. He earned $19,979 during his trip to San Antonio.

BRANDON HARRISON IS the first to admit his patience for winning a world championship is thin. The 35-year-old steer wrestler out of Cheek, Texas, doesn’t want to wait until the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge to accomplish the feat either. Harrison wants to set himself up for a gold buckle early in the season. “I’m rodeoing right now to be a world champ,” Harrison said. “I’m not

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