PRORODEO Sports News | Roy Cooper 1955-2025 | May 2, 2025

BRODY WELLS GETS IDEAL MATCHUP IN LONG-AWAITED RIDE AT RED BLUFF

By Alex Riley

N ot many saddle bronc riders had been able to stay on Four Star Rodeo's Franks Fits in recent outings. That was a fact that sat very well with Brody Wells. When the Powell, Wyo., cowboy was notified that he had drawn the horse at the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up on April 20, his eyes lit up. His travel partner, Damien Brennan, had faced the animal in 2023 at the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo, earning a no-score after being bucked off. "I've seen a lot of guys get slapped on that horse, good guys, your top guys," Wells said. "That thing comes with fire out of there. He's a little tricky horse. He's a real gentle horse. He's halfway halter broke, and you can pick his feet up in the pasture, but you

finally come back out there this year and have a bucker. When it all works out like that, it's pretty fun." The win was a big shot

get him in the chute, and he gets ready to buck and he just loses it." Wells, however, proved to be up for the challenge. Thanks to an 88-point effort during the final performance, Wells was able to fend off Lefty Holman (87) and sev eral other challengers to post the high score in Red Bluff and capture the championship. The moment was a long time coming for Wells as he has missed competing at the event for the last several years. Ever since a permit saddle bronc ride back in 2021, the up-and-coming sad dle bronc competitor has been forced to turn out at Red Bluff, largely due to unforeseen travel issues. The wait proved to be long, but definitely worth while.

in the arm for Wells as the spring schedule gets rolling ahead of the summer run. Since picking up some significant earnings in March, Wells has been dealt some tough rides, in cluding four rodeos in April where he failed to pick up a check. Aside from a win at the Osage Xtreme Bronc Days in Pawhuska, Okla., at the beginning of the month, the winnings have been slim, putting Wells at 12th in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. Wells' win at Red Bluff put $7,840 in his ledger, giving him more than $45,500 earned so far this year. More than that, seeing his name in the win column was exactly what he needed. "This time of year, we're not going to a bunch, but I've had a few too many rodeos where I didn't win a check at and that adds up a little bit in your mind, whether you want to admit it or not," Wells said. "A guy likes to get used to checking results and seeing your name in there, so to get the win here on a good one-header like that, at a (playoff series) rodeo, that means a lot."

"That was my first time ever getting on in the actual rodeo. The last few times I've tried to get out there, I've had plane problems and missed the ro deo or whatever else," Wells said. "It was good to

Brody Wells overcame Four Star Rodeo’s Franks Fits to win at Red Bluff Roundup. PRCA photo by Click Thompson

30 PRORODEO Sports News