PRORODEO Sports News - October 3, 2025

Steer wrestler Justin Shaffer had three impressive runs, in cluding an arena record, to win the title in Sioux Falls. (PRCA photo by Click Thompson)

Team ropers Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira proved once again why they are one of the best duos in the world in Sioux Falls. (PRCA photo by Click Thompson)

and the NFR. That means he will enter PRORODEO’s biggest event fresh. And even if his win at Sioux Falls is put on the backburner for the race for No. 1, Hamilton doesn’t mind. “I don’t mind flying under the radar,” Hamilton said. “I kind of like being the dark horse in the back of the pack waiting for the right moment. It was good to get the win here. I’m just ready to get to Vegas. It ain’t over until it’s over.” Rocker Steiner secures No. 1 ranking with bareback win Rocker Steiner’s lead in the world standings increased dramatically in Sioux Falls, as the 21-year-old Weather ford, Texas, cowboy took home the bareback crown at the Governor’s Cup with an 88-point ride on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Cosmic Stardust. Steiner competed in Roggen, Colo., for the final mon ey-earning event of the season. But the wave of momen tum has Steiner prepared to enter the NFR No. 1 in the world for the second straight year. This year, however, winning a gold buckle is a promise he plans to keep. “I went in No. 1 last year and I didn’t really feel any different than the other guys,” Steiner said. “There’s something different about this year. It feels natural, like I’m supposed to be No. 1. It’s going to stay like that for a long time.” Justin Shaffer cashes out with steer wrestling title in Sioux Falls Justin Shaffer was just outside the money after Round 1 of the Governor’s Cup Friday, Sept. 26. He returned for Round 2 with a 3.0-second run that earned him the round win, an $11,000 paycheck and new arena record. The run also matched the arena record at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, the site of the National Finals

Rodeo, set by ProRodeo Hall of Famer Steve Duhon in Round 5 in 1986 and Bryan Fields in Round 6 in 2001. He matched Jesse Brown’s 3.6-second run in the semi finals and won the Governor’s Playoff championship with a 3.7-second run, beating Stetson Jorgensen by a tenth of a second. “Had a little bit of a slow ending to my year so to come into this building and do that is awesome,” Shaffer said. “It adds a ton of confidence. You can prepare all you want but you won’t know you’re good enough until you measure it.” Team ropers Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira to enter NFR No. 1 again Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira did it again. The header and healer tandem have been one of the top duos in PRORODEO all season, and for several years pri or. But proving so at the Governor’s Cup came with some slight adversity. They had a no time in Round 1 but came back with a 3.7-second run in Round 2 to qualify in the average. They swept the field from there with runs of 4.1 and 3.8 seconds, respectively, to claim the team roping titles and secure the No. 1 spot in the world standings heading into the NFR for the fourth time in their careers. “You know it is a struggle all year, it is a marathon, not a sprint,” Driggers said. “I feel like a lot of the greats have said that winning the regular season is harder than winning the world championship. Just the all-night drives and everything you put into it we are definitely blessed to go in No. 1 but we still have a long 10 days in Vegas.” Dawson Hay leads Canadian-filled bronc riding group to NFR Dawson Hay had an opportunity to improve his spot in the standings with the season coming to a close in Sioux Falls. But he had 11 of the best saddle bronc riders by his

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