PRORODEO Sports News - March 21, 2025

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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