ProRodeo Sports News - January 25, 2019

Seven PRCA cowboys surpass career-earnings milestones Seven PRCA cowboys surpassed career lifetime-earn- ings milestones by the end of the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Rhen Richard, who finished third in the 2018 All-Around race, surpassed $1 million thanks to winning $48,288 as a team roping header and $89,256 as a tie-down roper at the Wrangler NFR. Combined, the events pushed the 29-year-old Utah cowboy’s earnings to $1,030,464 after a decade of ProRodeo competition. “It’s taken me 10 years, so that’s not good,” Richard joked. “There’s not a ton of guys who can say they’ve done it, and hopefully I can do it again in five years instead of 10 years because I’m dang sure not going to rodeo for 10 more years.” Team roping header Luke Brown surpassed the $2 million mark, upping his career earnings to $2,042,131. Of the thousands of cowboys to compete in the PRCA, only 30 had surpassed $2 million in career earnings. Brown was surprised to learn he hit that milestone after winning $71,135 at the 2018 Wrangler NFR. “It’s unbelievable,” the 44-year-old cowboy said. “It takes a lot of luck and a lot of driving.” Brown credited the first of his 11 consecutive Wrangler NFR qualifications as being the most important point in his journey to earning $2 million. “I’ve had a lot of luck at the Finals,” Brown said. “It’s amazing to make a living with my rope much less surpass $2 million. I remember the first time I passed it, my wife (Lacey) had a cake made that said ‘Millionaire’ on it. I’ve spent every dollar of it, but it’s cool to say you’ve done it. Some of the great- est team ropers alive have done it and it’s cool to be part of it.” Also crossing the $1 million threshold were: • Bull rider Joe Frost – $1,194,016 • Team roping heeler Junior Nogueira – $1,121,669 • Tie-down roper Caleb Smidt – $1,100,371 • Steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack – $1,053,169 • Steer wrestler Ty Erickson – $1,001,087 Richard credited the final rodeos of the 2018 regular season as being the most pivotal since they granted him his first Wrangler NFR qualification. “I’d been close so many times and never got it, and to make it is a big deal to me,” Richard said. “They weren’t the biggest wins, but winning when you need to win is pretty important. It’s an honor to do it and I’m pretty blessed.” The seven successful cowboys will soon be joined by more as the 2019 season heats up. The following 2018 Wrangler NFR qualifiers are on the cusp of surpassing a milestone during the 2019 season: • Bull rider Sage Kimzey – $1,829,933 • Steer wrestler Curtis Cassidy – $1,812,547 • Saddle bronc rider CoBurn Bradshaw – $986,297 • Tie-down roper Marty Yates – $978,400 • Bareback rider Richmond Champion – $954,514

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$4,087,146 Directors are appointed for three-year terms by the Round-Up and Happy Canyon Corporations to promote the rich history and heritage of these two community organiza- tions. Hart will serve as a director of facility management for the organization. White- Zollman will serve as the grants and website director. West will direct the annual Hall of Fame banquet which kicks off Round-Up/Happy Canyon week in September with the introduction of the Hall of Fame inductees. McDonald will serve as the publicity director. Wolfe wins twice at Cowboy Downhill Before 2018, steer wrestler Colin Wolfe had never competed in the Cowboy Downhill in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Now, it’s a favorite stop for him – and for good reason. A year after winning the slalom timed-event competition, the Wenatchee, Wash., cowboy doubled his pleasure by winning the slalom event in 27.4 seconds and the stam- pede race Jan. 21. “It was a cool experience to win both,” said Wolfe, 33. “I don’t think that happens very often. After going last year, I learned that I needed to do a couple of things differently this time around. In that (stampede) race when you’re all crowded together you have to find a way to not get tangled up with everybody. It is one big free-for-all and I just tried to keep my distance from people, so they didn’t tangle me up.” There were 97 contestants from Denver’s National Western Stock Show and Rodeo who entered the Downhill, and more than 25 legends and friends who competed, some who have been attending the event for more than 30 years. The winner of the best wreck was Brooke Wallace, Miss Rodeo Kansas 2019. The Cowboy Downhill is held in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver and began in 1975. The Downhill has become a fundraiser for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, which provides financial assistance to injured PRCA cowboys. Saddle bronc rider Tyrell J. Smith retires Saddle bronc rider Tyrell J. Smith is ready to move on to the next chapter of his life. Smith, 32, who joined the PRCA in 2006 as a bull rider and saddle bronc rider and made his lone appearance at the Wrangler NFR in 2012, is at peace with his decision. “In roughstock, all those kids are getting younger, and there a lot of them who ride really good and are coming up,” said Smith, who competed in only saddle bronc riding from 2007. “I put 13 years in just rodeoing hard and I put a lot of stuff on the backburner. I figured it was time to be at home more.” Smith and his wife, Janelle, live in Sand Coulee, Mont., outside Great Falls. In retirement, Tyrell is headed down a new career path. “I’m going into law enforcement,” said Smith, who earned $497,134 in ProRodeo. “I’m headed to the police academy in April.” Pendleton Round-Up HOF appoints directors The Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up Hall of Fame recently appointed directors. The new directors are Steve Hart, Casey White-Zollman, Mary French West and Jordan McDonald.

• Steer wrestler Hunter Cure – $948,926 • Steer wrestler Nick Guy – $937,467 • Team roping header Clay Smith – $919,435

MONEYWON BY PRCA COWBOYS INTHE 2019 SEASON

ProRodeo Sports News 1/25/2019

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