PSN_Dec3 2028

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