PSN_Dec3 2028

Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

December 3, 2025

®

sports news

The Cowboys Choice Since 1952

Preview Edition

40 years in Vegas

Honoring 1985 Champs

Viva Las Vegas

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

HOW THE WEST IS WORN

RYDER WRIGHT 2024 WORLD CHAMPION SADDLE BRONC RIDER

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PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

CONTRIBUTORS

Tom Glause, PRCA CEO PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 101 ProRodeo Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80919 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, P. O. Box 469025, Escondido, CA 92046. 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 ©2025, PRCA Properties Inc. , a 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. Business Journal: 719-528-4717 IT Helpdesk: 719-528-4711 Member Records: 719-528-4747 Media/Public Relations: 719-528 4840 Photography: 719-528-4738

TRACY RENCK MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA Tracy has been a sports journalist for three decades with the last decade-plus consumed by PRORODEO. Tracy previously served three years as editor of the PSN and now leads the PRCA communications team.

ZACH ALVIRA PSN EDITOR AND DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Zach edits and writes for the PSN. He has over a decade of experience working in sports media and communications, serving as a communications editor and sports editor for many years in Phoenix, Ariz.

ALEX DODD MEDIA REPORTER

Alex writes for the PRORODEO Sports News and the PRCA’s website. He assists in daily content creation and media operations. Alex has worked in sports media for over a decade and most recently served as a sports editor in Rapid City, S.D. Alex is a proud Clemson University alum.

LISA CUSH MANAGER DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS

Lisa holds a BFA from LSU. Geaux Tigers! She's the creative responsible for the visual style, layout, and design of publications for the PRCA, including the PSN. She's not a rodeo queen but she knows a few and leans into her Western roots to ensure the PSN reflects the PRCA’s mission, vision, and values.

PAUL GRAFF GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Paul has a degree in Commercial Art and has been designing magazines for more than 30 years with a couple national design awards. His creative exper tise consists of managing designs to enhance the visual experience of readers.

PROCOM: 719-528-4800 Properties: 719-528-4860

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

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PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

December 3, 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

®

Preview Edition

Ote Berry

Charmayne James

Ted Nuce

Lewis Feild

Brad Gjermundson

Clay O’Brien Cooper and Jake Barnes

Joe Beaver

Manager’s Message �������������������������������������������6 40 years in Vegas �����������������������������������������������7 Viva Las Vegas �������������������������������������������������10 Steer Roper Cole Patterson Wins Again ������12 Battle for the Ages ��������������������������������������������19 Season Leaders �����������������������������������������������22 NFR Historic Moments ������������������������������������36 2025 Awards �����������������������������������������������������43

Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

December 3, 2025

®

sports news

The Cowboys Choice Since 1952

Preview Edition

ON THE 80’S INSPIRED COVER PRCA photo by Sue Rosoff of Lane Frost preparing to enter the arena at the 1985 NFR.

40 years in Vegas

Honoring 1985 Champs

Viva Las Vegas

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

MANAGER'S MESSAGE

HISTORY IN THE MAKING AT 2025 WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

T here’s no question the upcoming Wran gler National Finals Rodeo Dec. 4-13 will be special for many reasons. The obvious is there will be plenty of fanfare because this is the 40th anniversary of the NFR taking place at the Thomas & Mack Center. Making things even more exciting in Las Vegas is the all-around race. Superstar Stetson Wright is going to square off with Wacey Schalla. Wright leads the all-around by $32,685 over Schalla. Wright is competing in bull riding and saddle bronc riding in Vegas and Schalla is entered in bareback riding and bull riding. This is the first time two cowboys have com peted in two roughstock events at the NFR since 2001. That’s when saddle bronc rider/bull rider Jesse Bail and bareback rider/saddle bronc rider Scott Johnston did battle in the arena. That year, ProRodeo Hall of Famer Cody Ohl ($296,419) was crowned the all-around champ, followed by Johnston ($235,702); Trevor Brazile ($235,658) and Bail ($223,973). Wright is considered the favorite to win his fifth all-around gold buckle to go with the ones he captured from 2019-2023. Wright was sidelined the entire 2024 season with a hamstring injury. Schalla comes into the NFR as the bull riding leader – a mere $2,421 ahead of Wright. He qualified for the NFR as a Resistol Rookie last year in bull riding but had a tough time in Vegas placing just twice – second in Round 8 and third in Round 9 – as he finished seventh in the world standings. No matter who shines the brightest between Wright and Schalla it is worth noting how rare it is to have two cowboys competing in two rough stock events. From 1959 to 1962 there were four cowboys competing in at least two roughstock events at the NFR. But since 1977 – 48 years – there have only been four NFRs where two cowboys have com peted in at least two roughstock events. If PRORODEO fans are lucky, the battle for all-around supremacy will continue for years to come and become a rivalry that people will look forward to seeing how it plays out at the NFR in Vegas – just like this year.

AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP: NFRS WITH MORE THAN ONE CONTESTANT IN TWO RIDING EVENTS

1959 Duane Howard, BR & SB Jim Shoulders, BB & BR Benny Reynolds, BB & BR Guy Weeks, BB & SB 1960 Duane Howard, BB & SB Jim Shoulders, BB & BR Buddy Peak, BB & BR Harry Thompkins, BB & BR 1961 Pete Fredricks, BB & SB Harry Tompkins, BB & BR Jim Shoulders, BB & BR Guy Weeks, BB & SB 1962 Leo Brown, BR & SB Bernis Johnson, BB & BR Clyde Frost, BR & SB Benny Reynolds, BB & BR* 1963 Bernis Johnson, BB & BR Ken Stanton, BB & BR V.A. Palmer, BR* and SB 1964 Clyde Frost, BB & SB Ken Stanton, BB (replace ment) & BR 1965 Paul Mayo, BB & BR* Ken Stanton, BB & BR Dennis Reiners, BB & SB Harry Tompkins, BB and BR 1966 Larry Mahan, BB, BR & SB Ken Stanton, BB & BR Dennis Reiners, BB & SB 1967 Tony Habarer, BB & BR Larry Mahan, BB, BR & SB Ken Stanton, BB & BR Dennis Reiners, BB & SB 1968 Doug Brown, BR & SB Larry Mahan, BB, BR & SB

1969 Doug Brown, BR & SB Ken Stanton, BB & BR Larry Mahan, BB, BR & SB 1971 Bobby Berger, BB (replaced Mahan), BR & SB (replaced Mahan) Paul Mayo, BB & BR Doug Brown, BR & SB Bill Nelson, BR & SB 1973 Larry Mahan, BB, BR & SB Bobby Berger, BR & SB Doug Brown, BR & SB Jack Ward, BB & BR 1974 Bobby Berger, BR & SB Sandy Kirby, BB & BR 1975 Bobby Berger, BR & SB Sandy Kirby, BB & BR Larry Mahan, BB & SB 1976 Bobby Berger, BR & SB Sandy Kirby, BB & BR 1977 Bobby Berger, BR & SB Sandy Kirby, BB & BR 1986 Dave Appleton, BB & SB Lewis Field, BB & SB 1991 Cody Lambert, BR & SB Ty Murray, BB, BR & SB 2001 Jesse Bail, BR & SB Scott Johnston, BB & SB *Qualified but did not compete

TRACY RENCK , Manager of Communications and Media

40 YEARS IN VEGAS: NEW ATHLETES TO JOIN PRORODEO LEGENDS IN HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY By Zach Alvira

I n 1959, the top cowboys and cowgirls descended upon the Dallas State Fair Grounds in Texas, the site of the first-ever National Finals Rodeo. It was there that the likes of Jim Shoulder, Casey Tibbs, Duane Howard and Jane Mayo made names for themselves in PRORODEO. Since 1959, the NFR has only grown bigger and better. It’s move to Oklahoma City in 1965 was welcomed by athletes and fans. A 20-year run of success in the Sooner State, however, came to an end after 1984, when

Las Vegas courted the PRCA to move its biggest event to Sin City. The PRCA took a chance and appealed to athletes with bigger payouts. Now 40 years later, payouts have only increased, and more and more cowboys and cowgirls have etched their names in PRORODEO history. “Everybody was pretty much for it because the money was going to double. But we were also worried,” said Brad Gjermundson, the 1985 PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion. “There was skepticism about how

Roper Joe Beaver was one of many trailblazers for PRORODEO when the National Finals Rodeo moved to Las Vegas in 1985. (PRCA File Photo)

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DECEMBER 2025

40 YEARS IN VEGAS IN VEGAS CONTINUED

it was going to go and if it would stay but the money speaks for itself.” Gjermundson was one of the six 1985 world champi ons that returned to Las Vegas in June of 2025. There, he and the other world champions mingled with the 2024 world champions and reflected on the 40-year run the NFR has had in Las Vegas. The move from Oklahoma City was surprising for Gjermundson, personally. He recalled watching the

Gjermundson captured his fifth title in 1985. Nuce won his first. Team ropers Jake Barnes/Clay O’Brien Cooper won their first title together that year. They went on to win seven total. Ote Berry captured his first of four steer wrestling world championships in 1985, and the great Lewis Feild won the PRCA All-Around World Championship and bareback title, his first title at the time. Feild won five overall in his career. The 1985 NFR was the start

final round of the NFR at a neighbor’s house in his hometown of Marshall, N.D., in 1975. Back then, Hesston broadcasted only the final round of PRORODEO’s biggest event. Gjermundson dreamed of rodeoing under the bright lights in Oklahoma City and achieved that goal four times in his career. Then, he rode for the first time under the even brighter lights of Las Vegas. That first NFR at the Thom as & Mack Center changed the course of rodeo forever. “It made rodeo a major sport. It drew audiences from everywhere, not just rural or ranch cowboys,” Gjermund son said. “It’s gotten bigger

of a decade of dominance for barrel racer Charmayne James. She and her horse, Scamper, which she pur chased for just $1,200, won their second of 10 straight world championships. James won 11 overall. She was just 15 in 1985. Tie-down roper Joe Beaver began cementing his legacy in PRORODEO at the NFR’s debut in Las Vegas. He won his first of eight total world championships in 1985. Over the course of his career, he made the Thomas & Mack Center his own with dominant runs, winning five tie-down world titles (1985, 1987, 1988, 1992 and 1993) and three all-around (1995, 1996 and 2000). “The House that Joe Built”

and better every year since 1985. I think 10 years from now they’re talking about $25 million (total payout).” More than changing the trajectory of the sport, the NFR brought Vegas back to life. December proved to be a tough month for Sin City. Tourism decreased drastically. Taxi drivers were laid off for the month – and sometimes longer. Businesses received little to no foot traffic. It was a difficult time with low temperatures in the middle of three major hol idays – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. But the NFR revived the city. “Michael (Gaughan) and Benny (Binion) knew what they were doing when they put it together,” said Ted Nuce, the 1985 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion. “It was going to spark a light in Las Vegas. It sparked a light in us to come here and have a chance at the money. And 17,000 people followed us. It was a perfect union.” The 1985 NFR was special for many reasons, well beyond the change in location. It saw the emergence of some of PRORODEO’s biggest stars and Hall of Fame cowboys and cowgirls, much like it did 36 years prior in Dallas.

isn’t just a nickname in Beaver’s eyes. It makes him a part of Las Vegas. An honor he says he will always cherish. “I think it was kind of like the rodeo world said, ‘Is that going to work in Vegas?’” Beaver said of the NFR. “I think a lot of people thought the same thing with me. I dressed different, I had long hair … I wasn’t the normal NFR calf roper. “The ‘House that Joe Built,’ it made me want to dig deeper and prove I belonged.” PRORODEO has continued to evolve since arriving in Las Vegas. Payouts are even higher; the lights are even brighter and the notoriety of winning a gold buckle continues to grow year after year. Beaver still recalls the excitement he had in 1985 winning his first title in Vegas. Being a part of that mo ment, as well as the growth of the sport, makes it that much sweeter. “It’s not where it should be, but rodeo is getting there,” Beaver said. “To be a part of that is something special. All of that started in 1985 (with the move to Vegas). I’m lucky to have been a part of that.”

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PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

Pendleton® Blended Canadian Whisky. 40% - 45% Alc./Vol. (80-90 proof). ©2025 Pendleton Distillers, proximospirits.com. Please drink responsibly. LET’ER BUCK and the bucking horse logo are registered trademarks of The Pendleton Round-Up Association. PENDLETON is a registered trademark of Pendleton Woolen Mills.

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VIVA LAS VEGAS: Inside the decision that changed the NFR forever By Alex Dodd T he National Finals Rodeo changed forever on Dec. 12, 1984. After 12 hours of PRCA board deliberation – with during the NFR, served as the PRCA President during those long discussions.

After hours of discussion at the Antlers Hotel in down town Colorado Springs, Colo., the board held a straw vote before breaking for lunch and returning for the final tally. The straw vote swung in favor of Oklahoma City, 6-4. But when the board returned and started the final vote, it was closer. And with a tie in the room, Davis was called into action as the PRCA President to decide whether to head to Las Vegas or stick with the Sooner State. “When it came to the final vote, we went around and took the vote, and it came out tied,” Davis said. “And they said to me, ‘Mr. President, it’s up to you.’ And I said, ‘We’re going to Las Vegas.’” Davis and his vice president, Larry Mahan, broke the

input from the governors of Oklahoma and Nevada, may ors of Oklahoma City and Las Vegas, representatives from each city’s chamber of commerce and words from each state’s U.S. Senators – the board narrowly voted to move the 1985 NFR to Las Vegas. Oklahoma City, Okla., served as the home of PRORO DEO’s culminating event for 20 years from 1965-1984. The move was drastic but turned out to be the right deci sion and this year, from Dec. 4-13, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will return to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas for its 40-year anniversary. Shawn Davis, who will celebrate his 85th birthday

Shawn Davis being introduced at the NFR. (PRCA file photo)

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PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

news to the Oklahoma City delegation and the PRCA hit the ground running to organize the first National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas with help from Las Vegas Events. According to Michael Gaughan, longtime board mem ber of Las Vegas Events, member of the NFR committee and Vegas casino mogul, a lot of people have tried to take credit for moving the event to the Nevada desert over the years. But in his eyes the vision started with Las Vegas icon Benny Binion. “Benny for years had talked about bringing (the NFR) here, and especially in December,” Gaughan said. “De cember was a very, very dead month in Las Vegas. The showrooms would close, they’d furlough the employees, you’d re-lay the carpet and repaint the walls. “Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it was just a

a bid not only to improve the NFR but also prolong the tourist season for a town that shut down during the holi day months. “The local casinos all got behind it, and a few of the big strip casinos got behind it,” Gaughan said. “When they found out the town stayed busy the first couple of weeks of December, it changed things around. Any other time of the year, the rodeo would not be as valuable, but it is in December. At the time, the PRCA was suffering a little bit, and it was kind of a two-way street for everybody.” After the vote, the real challenge began – getting the state of the art Thomas & Mack Center, host committee and PRCA ready to move the NFR to a new location for the first time in two decades. “There was a period when we got kind of stagnant for

dead time. And Benny always thought that bringing the rodeo here in Decem ber would change that around. And he was right.” Davis, a three-time PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc World Cham pion (1965, 1967-68), said there was always discussion of improving the NFR and growing PRORODEO during his time as a contestant. But the idea started to intensify during the end of Oklahoma City’s ten ure because the production of the rodeo had deteriorated and the venue at the OKC Fairgrounds wasn’t up to snuff to host the season’s culminating event. “When I first became president, Lynn Beutler came up to me and said, ‘If you

about 30 days, to the point Oklahoma City was hoping to get it reconsidered,” Davis said. “But in the meantime, we were planning everything. This had only been done a couple of times before, but the interest level in the move and changes weren’t the same.” Davis said Ken Stemler, a 2014 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee, was heavily involved in the logistics and creativity necessary for the move. After months of discussion and planning, the NFR made the move and opened the 1985 edition of the world’s richest rodeo on Dec. 7, 1985, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. As the president, Davis led the grand entry with legendary cowgirl Fern Sawyer.

don’t do something about the production of this rodeo, it’s not going to exist,’” Davis recalled. “I was aware of that, but there was always a conversation of where to go and how to do it. “As contestants, we were always trying to figure that out but it just happened to fall into line like it was meant to be (to move to Vegas).” Davis served as PRCA President from 1982-85 and later served as the general manager of the NFR from 1986 until his retirement in 2019. The first person he remembered formally broaching the subject of leaving OKC for Las Vegas was longtime Cae sars president Harry Wald. Davis was told by his secretary during an afternoon at the horse track that Wald wanted to talk about the NFR. Wald asked if the PRCA would be interested in making a move, but Davis was far from certain. “We were sold out in Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City had done a wonderful job of supporting and promot ing the rodeo,” Davis said. “So the thing that I’d be more interested in was to make sure that there was a lot more prize money or we wouldn’t be interested.” Davis followed up with Binion and relied on his con nections to serve as a go-between for Las Vegas and the PRCA. Las Vegas pooled all of its resources together and made

For the first two years, the NFR didn’t sell out, but in its fourth year in Las Vegas the event was packed. It’s been sold out for every performance since. “The first couple of years it didn’t sell out, and we were talking about a three-year extension,” said Gaughan, who joined the NFRC and LVE board in 1987. “Benny (Binion) said he’d underwrite the extension for three years, and we kept the rodeo.” From Dec. 4-13, Las Vegas will host the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the 40th time, a streak that was only broken in 2020 when the event commenced at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In 2024, the PRCA and Las Vegas Events signed a contract extension to keep the NFR in Las Vegas through 2035 and payout of $264,323,472 to contestants and stock contractors over the life of the contract. “When you’re making those decisions, you don’t know what the future is,” Davis said. “But there were a lot of things that were set up correctly, and we both needed each other. Las Vegas may have need us more than we needed them at the time, but we couldn’t have had it happen any better or had it be more successful.” If the last 40 years of the NFR in Las Vegas have proved anything, the PRCA made the right decision at the Antlers Hotel.

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

HAT TRICK Cole Patterson wins his third PRCA Steer Roping World Championship in a row, fourth overall By Tracy Renck S teer roper Cole Patterson stared down pressure and delivered again. Clinging to a mere $546 lead in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Stand ings over 2025 Resistol Rookie of the Year Riley O’Rourke, Patterson clocked an 8.5-second time to win Round 10 and capture his third world championship in a row and fourth overall. “I knew I held off (Scott) Snede cor’s charge, and it all came down to me and Riley in Round 10,” said Patterson, 30, whose time was the quickest of his career at the NFSR and the first time he broke the eight-second barrier. A couple of guys slipped up in the average and I had a chance to move up to sixth. I didn’t necessarily have to beat Riley (in Round 10), but I had to be right on his tail. “He went out there with ice in his veins and clocks (9.1 seconds) to tie for the lead in the round (with Slade Wood). I had no option but to just go for it. This feeling that I have right now is the reason that I do this and the reason that I work so hard to get here and be in moments like this because this feeling is worth more than any buckle and any amount of money. It feels like you conquered the world.” Patterson finished atop the world standings with $159,940 to edge O’Rourke ($150,670) and Snedecor ($136,141).

Cole Patterson celebrates with the crowd after his run in Round 10 of the 2025 NFSR. PRCA photo by Robby Freeman

The phenom O’Rourke tried to etch his name in the PRORODEO history books by becoming the first cow boy in the event’s history to win the world championship in his Resistol Rookie year. He applied the heat by clocking his 9.1-second run right in front of Patterson - but Patterson didn’t flinch. “You got to sell tickets,” Patterson said. Patterson earned $34,860 at the NFSR, including $5,808 for finishing sixth in the average with a 112.8-sec ond time on eight head. O’Rourke finished eighth in the average and just out of the money – it paid six spots – with an 81.0-second time on seven head. Veteran Jess Tierney won the NFSR average for the first time in his career with a 148.3-second time on 10 head. Chet Herren was second with a 129.9-second time on nine head. Tierney and Herren collected $33,684 and $27,876 average checks, respectively. Snedecor ($61,037); O’Rourke ($54,134) and Jake Clay ($50,394) were the top money win ners at the NFSR.

Patterson became only the third cowboy to win three steer roping world championships in a row, joining ProRodeo Hall of Famers Guy Allen (1991-2001, 11 in a row) and Trevor Brazile (2013, 2014 and 2015). “No matter whether it is playing checkers or dice or whatever, any time you’re mentioned in the same category as Trevor Brazile and Guy Allen that’s elite company,” Patter son said. “Steer roping has a long, coveted history and to join a class of only two other guys to do that is a pretty special feeling.” Patterson’s fantastic finish is note worthy since he only placed in three rounds at the 2025 NFSR - third in Round 4 (10.3 seconds) and Round 9 (10.6 seconds) and then he won Round 10. It also was the second year in a row that Patterson parlayed a clutch Round 10 run to win a gold buckle. In 2024, with a championship hanging in the balance in Round 10, Patterson came through with a 10.6-second run, which split second in the round, and catapulted him to his third world title. He needed to

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PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

finish fourth or better in the round to clinch the world championship and by finishing second he defeated the hard-charging Snedecor by $4,141. Cole has only placed twice in Round 10 in his career at the NFSR and both times led to world titles. “That’s exactly how he planned it, he likes the dramatic,” said Rocky Patterson, Cole’s father. Cole now has the same number of PRCA Steer Roping World Champi onships as his father. Rocky won his gold buckles in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016. Back in 2021, when Cole won his first world title, he and his father Rocky became the third father and son to win steer roping world championships. They joined John McEntire (1934) and Clark McEntire (1956-57); Charles Good (1975) and Gary Good (1979). The Pattersons are the winningest father/son duo in PRORODEO steer roping history as they have combined to collect eight world championships. Cole arrived at the NFSR with a single-season steer roping earnings record of $125,080, breaking the mark of $118,515 that he set in 2023. Patterson came into the NFSR with a $28,543 lead over O’Rourke and saw it sliced to just $10,388 after

Day 1, thanks to O’Rourke col lecting a $21,665 check. And the 21-year

old O’Rourke kept his foot on the gas Saturday. The Skiatook, Okla., cowboy clocked

a slick 8.9-second run to win Round 7 and earn a $11,277 check. Patterson had no time, which moved O’Rourke to the No. 1 spot in the world standings with $137,838, while Patterson sat at $135,468. In Round 8, the drama intensified when O’Rourke received no time when his steer got up. Patterson was out of the money with his 14.9-sec ond run, and both were out of the money in the average at ninth and 11th-place. Snedecor put his name in the championship mix with a 9.9-second run to win Round 9 and he moved into third place in the average. Moments later O’Rourke respond ed in Round 9 with a 10.8-second run - to place fifth - and move into eighth in the average. Cole recorded a 10.6-second run - third in the round - to set the stage for his fantastic finish.

“Man, I don’t even know what to say, I’m speechless right now,” Cole said. “That Riley O’Rourke is danger ous. He has a bright future and if he gets better in year two and three like I did, no one will ever beat him.” Just like in 2024, Cole was riding Max, owned by Travis Sheets. He rode Max at the Cinch Playoffs Gov ernor’s Cup presented by Texas Pre cious Metals, Sept. 27 in Sioux Falls, S.D., and earned $5,250 and then he collected a $6,317 aboard Max at the Cowboy Capital Signature Shootout Steer Roping in Stephenville, Texas, Sept. 30. “I can’t say enough about that horse,” Cole said.

Cole Patterson after winning wins his third PRCA Steer Roping World Championship in a row. PRCA photo by Robby Freeman

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

JESS TIERNEY 2025 NFSR Average Champion

By Tracy Renck

Jess Tierney is all smiles with his family after being crowned the 2025 National Finals

Steer Roping average champion. PRCA photo by Robby Freeman

V eteran steer roper Jess Tier ney has had a stellar career that includes 13 qualifications for the National Finals Steer Roping. Now, he can check another box off on his resume - 2025 NFSR average champion. Tierney clocked a 148.3-second time on 10 head at the Kansas Star Arena Nov. 14-15. Chet Herren was second with a 129.9-second time on nine head. “I have watched a lot of greats win the average and everybody who goes to the National Finals Rodeo or the National Finals Steer Roping you want to win the average,” said Tier ney, 43. “It is just one of those things you just want. I have come close a few times, but I was never able to finish it up and this year I was to get by the 10th one and it worked out. It felt outstanding. “I have been fortunate and blessed to have some cool wins in my career, winning San Antonio and the Timed Event Championship (2017) and this average championship is right up there at the top. My goals have always been to be able to win the av erage, win the Timed Event and win the world. I got two of the top three.”

For winning the average, Tierney collected a $33,684 check and he left Mulvane after earning $51,849. Thanks to his effort, Tierney moved up from No. 15 in the PRCA | Bill Fick World Standings to eighth with $99,354. “In steer roping, it is hard to have a set of steers that are just the same across the board,” Tierney said. “You can get drawn out in a sense. Chet Herren roped so sharp (in Mulvane). He kept me on my toes, and I had to keep grinding back at him the whole time and he never dropped the ball. He roped well and had some things just go the other way for him in (Round 10). It was fun and it was very intense roping. “I appreciate the team of people who went with me, my wife, and kids and Coleman Proctor. He’s a huge champion and a blessing in my life and I’m thankful for him to be there. I am also thankful for all the people who have helped me out over the years that let me do this. I have had a great support system. I would also like to thank Don Ed Eddleman (PRCA’s Steer Roping Director). He has worked his butt off for us steer ropers and Tom Glause (PRCA CEO)

has also been in our corner as well.” Tierney’s best run came in Round 9 when he placed second with a 10.1-second run. He also was sixth in Round 2 (12.7 seconds), Round 3 (11.9 seconds) and Round 4 (12.0 seconds). Tierney’s performance in Mulvane was even more beneficial because he proved to the cowboys he coaches at Western Oklahoma State University in Altus, that he can still get it done on one of the biggest stages. One of Tierney’s team members is 2025 Resistol All-Around and Steer Roping Rookie of the Year, Riley O’Rourke. O’Rourke, 21, finished second in the world standings. “I had a lot of calls from the kids (Nov. 16), they are happy for me and I’m glad to be able to build those relationships,” Tierney said. “Riley came to my team extremely talented already and it has been fun having him there because he has actually kept driving me a little bit. He’s an extremely talented kid and does some amazing things that I can’t help but scratch my head sometimes and wonder how I could do them.”

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PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

BURINGA WINS NFSR PERMIT SECTION; EDDLEMAN IS LEGACY CHAMP

In the Legacy competition at the NFSR, Don Ed Ed dleman, the PRCA’s Steer Roping Director, won the title with a 37.4-second time on three head. He clinched the championship with his 12.0-second winning time in the finals. Eddleman earned an event-best $3,424, followed by Roger Branch ($3,114).

Clint Buringa competing in Sheridan, Wyoming. PRCA photo by Eva Scofield

A ll season, Clint Buringa has proved to be one of the top steer ropers on his PRCA permit - and NOV. 15 was no different at the Kansas Star Arena. The Colorado cowboy won the NFSR Permit Section average with a 26.3-second time on two head. Dawson Tulls was second with a 11.8-second time on one head. For his victory, Buringa earned a $2,333 payday. It was a double celebration for Buringa as he also won the steer roping permit section year-end title with his $13,648 total. He just edged Dustin Bassett who finished the year with $12,378.

Don Ed Eddleman receives his Gold Legacy Buckle for the NFSR Legacy competition from Tom Glause, CEO of the PRCA. PRCA photo by Robby Freeman

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

INAUGURAL ROY COOPER AWARD

T his year at the NFSR the inaugural Roy Cooper Award was given out to the winner of Round 6. Thomas Smith claimed the honor with his winning run of 8.6 seconds, which also set the Round 6 record. The record was previously shared by Scott Snedecor (8.8 seconds in 2006) and Trevor Brazile (8.8 seconds, 2015).

Cooper, a ProRodeo Hall of Famer, and eight-time PRCA World Champi

on, passed away at the age of 69

in a house fire at his home in Decatur, Texas, on April 29. Cooper won the PRCA Steer Roping World Cham pionship in 1983 in Lara mie, Wyo. He won his first career round at the NFSR - Round 6 in 13.2 seconds - at the 1980 NFSR, also, in Laramie.

The “Super Looper” Roy Cooper PRCA file photo

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PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

R iley O ’Rourke, who finished second in the world standings with $150,670, won the Dixon McGowan Award, given to the highest-ranked first-time qualifier to the NFSR. The award memorializes McGowan, who died in an automobile accident on May 10, 1997. O’Rourke Top Newcomer

DIXON McGOWAN 1973-1997

Resistol Rookie Riley O’Rourke PRCA photo by Robby Freeman

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

Here’s to hard earned buckles, high stakes and rolling the dice.

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PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

NO. 1 STETSON WRIGHT, NO. 2 WACEY SCHALLA SET FOR EPIC ALL-AROUND BATTLE AT NFR By Zach Alvira and Alex Dodd

S tetson Wright’s 2025 season has been dominated by his race in the all-around with Wacey Schalla. The 26-year-old Beaver, Utah, cowboy took an early lead over the 19-year-old phenom, but the gap closed in the last few weeks of the season, most notably because of Wright’s injury in Puyallup, Wash., in early September. He sustained three broken ribs, a collapsed lung and

in his second trip to Las Vegas. “I love (competing) on the same day in both events,” Schalla said. “So just to be there to get on my bareback horse and kind of knock the edge off and then go at them in the bull riding is actually what I like. I prefer to get on in two events, so I had to make that happen this year.” “Winning the all-around years before, it was kind of decided before we got to the Finals,” Wright said. “Now,

other injuries to his midsection after he was stepped on by a saddle bronc horse after he was bucked off at the Puyallup Ro deo. The injuries kept Wright out the remain der of the season. Still, Wright stayed atop the all-around standings with

I think it’s so good to be able to win a gold buckle going in with an actual race, that’s going to make a statement for the type of cowboys one of us are. It’s super exciting going in with Wacey.” Making history is something Wright has become accustomed to in his career. A PRCA member since 2018, he’s already claimed eight gold buckles (five in the all-around, two in

$391,670 in earnings in both saddle bronc riding and the bull rid ing. In a way, his 2025 performance proved to himself he was still one of the best cowboys in the world after missing the entire 2024 season due to injury. “It means I showed back up and I’ve done exactly what I said I was going to do after I got hurt,” Wright said. “I said I wouldn’t come back until I was winning. It wasn’t the best year I’ve ever had, but I feel like I adapted back into rodeo really well after taking 14 months off.” Wright enters the NFR in the Top 15 in both of his events. Schalla, too. It’s the first time since 2001 that two roughstock cowboys entered the National Finals Rodeo chasing the PRCA All-Around World Championship in the same year. “My whole goal every year is to outdo what I did last year,” Schalla said. “And just to be able to do that in not one but two events, was everything that I wanted to do. And now it’s time to bring that over into Las Vegas in December.” Last season, Schalla qualified for the NFR in bull rid ing and made a run in the all-around race but fell short under the bright lights of the Thomas & Mack Center. He enters the Finals this year atop the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings in bull riding and 13th in the bareback riding standings. Schalla said competing in two events at almost every stop this season has helped him lock in behind the chutes, a trend he hopes to continue

bull riding and one in saddle bronc riding) in nine trips to the NFR. In 2022 he won the average in bull riding. This season has been a career year for Wright. Before his injury, he was well on his way to breaking the regu lar season single-event earnings record he set in 2023. That year, he had $368,630 in earnings. His 2025 season came to an early end with $350,174 in earnings. Now healthy, Wright’s focus shifts to Las Vegas. The Thomas & Mack Center has been friendly to him throughout his career. He hopes the time away from rodeo to heal will allow him to enter Las Vegas fresh and ready to chase down more gold buckles. “One thing I learned with the last injury is take your time to heal,” Wright said. “I’m chasing a bull riding and bronc riding gold buckle. If do that everything else will fall into place.” Schalla is narrowing his focus entering this year’s NFR and trying not to make the culminating event in the sport of rodeo any bigger in his mind. “At the end of the day, it’s another rodeo that adds a lot of money,” Schalla said. “So you get 20 chances to do the best you can and hopefully come out with the gold buckles. I’m not planning on changing anything other than keeping my head on straight and being there in two events, I think will actually help out a lot.”

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

QUARTER-POINT SYSTEM TO BE USED AT NFR FOR FIRST TIME By PRCA Staff

For the first time, a quarter-point system will be used at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas Dec. 4-13. (PRCA file photo)

T he 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will make history. For the first time since the inception of the National Finals Rodeo in 1959, quarter-point scoring will be implemented by PRCA Pro Offi cials when judging roughstock events – bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. “The ¼-point scoring system will be imple mented at the NFR this year,” said Ron Howard, PRCA’s Supervisor of Pro Officials. “This system was used on a trial basis at Sioux Falls (S.D.) this fall and appeared to go over quite well. The use of the ¼-point system will allow each of the four riding event judges at the NFR to use ½ points for scoring for both the rider and the animal if needed. This may potentially help to alleviate some ties. The ¼-point system will also help to determine the awarding of the high marked stock scores each performance.” The Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls presented by Texas Precious Metals took place Sept. 26–28 at the Denny Sanford PRE MIER Center. The 2025 Wrangler NFR is Dec. 4-13 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

READY TO ROCK ROCKER STEINER ENTERS NFR WITH SIZABLE LEAD By Alex Dodd BAREBACK

F or the sec

ond-straight year, Rocker Steiner

shored up his spot as the season leader in bareback riding atop the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings at the conclu sion of the PRORODEO regular season. But this year, he set out with another goal – to make history. “I don’t know if the season earnings record was something I looked at too much until last year,” Steiner said. “I was riding in the car with Jacob Lees and he mentioned to me that he thought I could set the season earnings record if I really wanted to. And after that, I was like, you know what? Next year, let’s go win the sea son earnings record.” Steiner finished the season with $303,547 in regular-season earnings to

qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as the season leader with an $81,646 lead over sec ond-place bareback rider Sam Petersen. The total surpassed Keenan Hayes’ regular-season earnings record of $265,896 set in 2023. “At the start of the year, it seemed kind of far-fetched, but then I won RodeoHouston and I won over $200,000 in July,” Steiner said of besting the record. “So then I wanted to get to $300,000. So every time I nodded my head it was just a dollar more to the season earnings record.” The 21-year-old cowboy from Weatherford, Texas, bolstered his season with a signature win at RodeoHous ton this winter. As the season wore on, he pulled away in the standings with a red-hot summer run that included victories at the Snake River Stampede, Ponoka Stampede and Greeley Stampede. “Whoever wins Houston, there’s always talk that, ‘if you didn’t win you Houston you wouldn’t have made the Finals or gone in No. 1,’” Steiner said. “The whole time I

was thinking that if that happened to me, that’d be some thing people were saying. So I made it known that even if I didn’t win Houston, I’d still be number one.” Even without Steiner’s $71,000 pocketed at Rodeo Houston, he’d still lead the world by $10,646. Last season, Steiner arrived in Las Vegas with a $14,236 lead in the standings. But his advantage dwin dled when he was bucked off in Round 2. This season, he plans to enter his fourth NFR with the same aggressive mindset, but to stay on all 10 head in hopes of winning his first PRCA World Championship. His father, Sid Steiner, won the PRCA Steer Wrestling World Championship in 2002, and his grandfather, Bobby Steiner, won the 1973 RCA Bull Riding World Championship. “It’s great (to have a lead) but you’re never safe,” Stein er said. “These guys are so good and there’s so much money in Vegas that you’re never safe. The game plan is the same every year, just this time we’re going to stay on all ten of them.”

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

STEER WRESTLING

GETTING OVER THE HUMP WILL LUMMUS SEARCHING FOR HIS FIRST GOLD BUCKLE By Alex Dodd W ill Lummus finished as the reserve world champion in steer

wrestling for the sec ond-straight year and third time in his career last season. This December, the Byhalia, Miss., cowboy is arriving at his eighth Wrangler National Fi nals Rodeo with a leg up on the competition. Lummus finished the regular season atop the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings with a $32,959 lead over the No. 2 steer wrestler, Jesse Brown. “It’s another check mark on my resume,” Lummus said of finish ing as the season leader. “Being the season leader is always something that

PRCA photo by Kathryn Coleman

and dry, big and short,” Lummus said. “To end up No. 1 at the end (of the regular season) really does mean a lot to me.” Lummus said he’s not changing his strategy entering the NFR as the season leader. With almost $37,000 on the line each night and $94,000 up for grabs for the NFR average winner, the PRCA World Championship is any thing but settled. “I’m going to go in there, do my job, do the best I can and see what steers they draw for me,” Lummus said. “All of the steers should be pretty good so you have to hit the barrier and do your job. It’s as simple as that.” While Lummus is in good shape to make a push for his first PRCA World Championship, he’s trying not to lose sight of how special it is to compete against the best in the world every night at the Thomas & Mack Center. “The main thing is to have fun,” Lummus said. “I’ve gotten caught up in trying to win the gold buckle every year. Last year, I went in there like the first year when I made it, just blessed to be there. There are a ton of guys who either just missed making the Finals or would love to be at the Finals. It truly is a blessing to be there, and I feel like we lose sight of that sometimes.”

you want to do. Realistically, when you think about it, being a world champion is an amazing thing, but with as much as the NFR pays now, anybody can go in and be the world champion, no matter if you go in first or fifteenth.” Lummus relied on horsepower from Swamper owned by Broom Tree Ranch LLC. The horse finished second in the Nutrena Horse of the Year awards presented by AQHA this year. The 33-year-old jumpstarted his season, finishing as the co-champion at the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo (Abeline, Kan.) and Livingston (Mont.) Roundup Rodeo. He also racked up wins in the Southeastern Circuit at the Homestead (Fla.) Championship Rodeo, 154th Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., the Bill Hoy Kiwanis Rodeo in Clarksville, Tenn., and the Crowley’s Ridge Saddle Club Charity Rodeo in Forrest City, Ark. Lummus’ biggest win of the year came at the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo at the start of the summer run. But he con sistently picked up checks throughout the entire season to finish atop the pack when Sept. 30 rolled around. “I really take a lot of pride in being the season leader because I’ve done it in all different kinds of arenas, wet

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25 41

DECEMBER 3, 2025 NOVEMBER 2025

TEAM ROPING

KALEB DRIGGERS ENTERING NFR AS NO. 1 HEADER ONCE AGAIN By Zach Alvira K aleb Driggers takes pride in seeing his name atop the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford Team Roping Headers Standings. Governor’s Cup presented by Texas Precious Metals that Driggers and Nogueira were able to separate themselves. The duo came away with a Governor’s Cup champion ship, as well as nearly $50,000 each in total earnings after runs of 3.7 seconds in the semifinals and 3.8 in the finals to win the team roping title.

It’s a position he has become accustomed to throughout his career. It’s what has helped him win two PRCA World Championships (2021-22). Now, for the fourth time in his career, he will enter the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on top yet again as he chases his third gold buckle. “I feel like a lot of the greats have said winning the season is harder than winning the world championship,” Driggers said. “The all night drives and everything you put into it, we’re definitely blessed to go in No. 1 but we’ve still got a long 10 days in Vegas.” Driggers and his team roping partner Junior Nogueira were in a battle all season for the top spot. Headers Tanner Tomlinson, Derrick Begay, Clint Sum mers and Dustin Egusquiza – who are all chasing their first world championship – have held strong among the top five in the standings. It wasn’t until Sioux Falls, S.D., at the Cinch Playoffs

But all of their success in the regular season came with some adversity, and arguably almost didn’t happen. During a practice session, Nogueira broke his fibular in his right leg and injured his knee. He took some time off, but not enough for the injury to fully heal. He wanted to continue riding. Driggers encouraged him to take more time off but Nogueira declined. Despite the injury, the two still managed to prove yet again why they’re one of the best teams in the world and are now in position to win another world championship. “I told him to take another month and to come back at Reno,” Driggers said. “He said ‘No’ and that he was ready to go. As soon as he bounced back, we won two or three rodeos right off the bat. I knew he was ready.”

PRCA file photo by Kristen Schurr

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PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

TEAM ROPING HEELER

HEELER JUNIOR NOGUEIRA BATTLED ADVERSITY TO ENTER NFR NO. 1 By Zach Alvira J unior Nogueira’s 2025 PRORODEO season has been one of the most impressive of his career. But there was a point in time where it could have come to a halt. Just before the summer run, he and header Kaleb matter what. That’s what Nogueira did. He didn’t complain about the pain radiating through his broken bone and torn up knee. He embraced it as another challenge in his career. And he answered that challenge by putting together an incredible stretch of rodeos alongside Driggers.

Driggers were practicing. That’s when the horse Noguei ra was riding fell, pinning his leg and knee in an awk ward position. The result was a broken fibula for the three-time world champion, as well as some damage to his knee. He weighed his options and only took a short time off before getting back on a horse with the help of a knee brace. He walked gingerly on the right leg at every event. Luckily, the fibula is only 10% weight bearing. That allowed Nogueira to continue roping, albeit in pain and with horses he wasn’t familiar with. “I had some young horses I was going to train but then I broke my leg,” Nogueira said. “I got some horses from Kaleb and they’re really fast, so I had to sit down and couldn’t use my leg. We had to change our strategy but it worked out perfectly.” The “cowboy way” means overcoming injuries by any means necessary. Some are reluctant to have surgery. Others battle through it and continue to compete no

The two won the Eagle (Idaho) Rodeo, the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo in Vernal, Utah, and were second at the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede following Nogueira’s injury. They progressively got better as his leg healed, picking up wins in Deadwood, S.D., and Abilene, Kan. A few more wins at key rodeos led to their performance in Sioux Falls, S.D., at the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup. That’s where the duo came away with nearly $50,000 each in earnings, securing the No. 1 header/heeler rank ings in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings for the fourth time at the end of the regular season. “I was worried about not making it to the NFR,” Noguei ra admitted. “I didn’t rope the best but we worked with what we had, trained some horses and Kaleb roped great like usual. Getting to (Sioux Falls) made a big difference. “Being the season leader is important and special. But our main thing now is trying to stay ahead and we have work to do at the NFR.”

PRCA file photo by Hailey Rae

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DECEMBER 3, 2025

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