ProRodeo Sports News February 16, 2024

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Rocker Steiner shines in Fort Worth Back-to-Back BY TANNER BARTH T he Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is like a second home to bareback rider Rocker Steiner. His hometown of Weatherford, Texas, is just a half hour FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER Rocker Steiner ($28,000, bareback riding) BAREBACK RIDING

west of Dickies Arena. They say home is where the heart is, but for Steiner it’s where the money is. The 20-year-old made it back-to-back wins at the FWSSR on Feb. 3 in front of sold-out crowd in the finals. It was anything but a normal short round for Steiner. His first out on Calgary Stampede’s Blasting Sand resulted in a re-ride after the flank strap came off before the horses third jump. After a 10-minute break to get reorganized, he climbed aboard J Bar J’s Straight Stick. The duo combined for a rodeo best 92.5 points and the win. “I got on the first horse, and I knew something was off,” said Steiner, a two-time Wrangler NFR qualifier (2022-23). “I felt like I was riding good, and my feet were strong, but something felt a little different. I finished the ride and saw the orange flag and thought what the heck. “Then they said you have Straight Stick. I had obviously heard of the horse before, but I couldn’t put a horse to the name when I found out that was the re-ride horse. But you know if I have to work twice as hard to win this rodeo, I’m all good for it. I’ll get on another one if they give me my money.” The win capped off a $28,000 payday for Steiner, as he won both rounds in his bracket and the semifinals. The early season success has bumped him up to fifth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings as of Feb. 12. He believes 2024 is going to be his best year yet. “I’m just a little more experienced and a little bit older. I wouldn’t say wiser, but more than I was last year,” Steiner said. “I feel the momentum picking up in my career. You know my first year was good and last year was really good. I can feel this year that this is going to be it.” Steiner knows the rodeo road can be a long and tiring trek even when you notch a win under your belt. Success often comes down to looking out the windshield instead of the rearview mirror. That’s exactly what Steiner plans to do. “I’m going to forget about this one pretty quick,” he said. “I’m going to enjoy it tonight, then tomorrow it starts all over again. I’m going to act like this rodeo never happened and it’s on to the next one.”

Steiner

1. Rocker Steiner .................... 92.5 pts. 2. Dean Thompson ........................ 91.5 3. Keenan Hayes ............................... 89 STEER WRESTLING 1. Tanner Brunner...................... 3.7 sec. (Tie) Dalton Massey ..................... 3.7 3. Will Lummus ............................... 4.1 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Smith/C. Payne ................. 4.5 sec. 2. B. Hall/K. Profili ........................... 4.6 3. C. Summers/J. Long .................... 5.0 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Damian Brennan ................. 91.5 pts. 2. Zeke Thurston ............................ 90.5 3. Wyatt Casper ............................. 88.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield ....................... 7.8 sec. 2. Tyler Milligan ............................... 8.1 3. Chance Oftedahl .......................... 8.6 BARREL RACING 1. Sara Winkelman ................ 16.40 sec. 2. Sissy Winn .............................. 16.46 3. Hailey Kinsel ............................ 16.51 BULL RIDING 1. Cody Teel ............................... 87 pts. 2. T Parker ........................................ 84 3. Brody Yeary ................................. NS

Complete results/Page 42

James Phifer photo

Rocker Steiner captured his second straight win in Fort Worth with a 92.5-point ride on J Bar J’s Straight Stick in the finals.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/16/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 2/16/2024

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