ProRodeo Sports News July 9, 2021

GREELEY STAMPEDE GREELEY, COLO.

record with a time of 3.9 seconds. The win was worth $6,479 for the Northwest cowboys who live in Baker City, Ore., and Caldwell, Idaho, respectively. “It’s a cool rodeo,” said Minor, 28. The pair had won a reserve title in Greeley previously, when the format was one long go and a finals. “I was happy to win that one; it’s probably one of the bigger wins of our careers.” The duo won Meridian, Idaho, and a go-round in Reno in the days leading up to Greeley, finishing the month with $15,551 in earnings to make a major move in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. “We were last in the slack on Monday ( June 28) and there was already a 4.1, several of them, 4.2s, 4.3s,” said Rogers, 29. “We were going to have to go at it no matter what because it was already a short 4 to place.” “We got to watch a lot of good runs,” Minor agreed. “It’s all gotten so tough; it takes a short 4 to place just about everywhere. There are so many guys who rope good, and they’re all trying to go as fast as they can.” Though Rogers felt that he got into the wall and didn’t get faced as sharp as he’d like, he was happy to get the win in the big one header. “My partner pulled off a good shot,” he said. “Garrett did a really good job and I was happy to get him caught,” Minor said. “But I was pretty surprised when they said 3.9. I didn’t know it was going to be that fast.” As for the one-head setup, Rogers was honest. “Since we went 3.9 and won it, yeah, I guess I like it a lot,” he laughed. Rogers andMinor first roped together in ProRodeo in 2015, qualifying for back-to-back National Finals Rodeos together in 2016-17. After a year apart, they reunited in 2019. “It’s nice to rope with your buddy. It’s easy for us to travel together,” Minor said. “We’ve roped together a long time,” Rogers said. “Jake’s laid back and easy to rope for – if I do my job, he’ll do his. We don’t break it down too much, which is good for me.” Both cowboys are married now that Minor tied the knot with his wife, Brianne, in April. Rogers has been married to Chancey since 2016, and the couple have a daughter, Remmy, who is already into junior rodeo. The past two seasons have presented challenges including the loss of Rogers’ good horse and the cancelation of nearly every rodeo in the Northwest that was close to home. Despite the trials, the pair finished inside the top 25 in 2019 and were 39th and 38th, respectively, in 2020. The team is chasing a third trip to the Wrangler NFR and are in good position after the torrid June run. Rogers hit the Fourth of July in 10th while Minor moved up to ninth. “We’re going to try real hard to make it; it’s our No. 1 goal,” Rogers said. “It would sure be nice to go back (to Vegas),” Minor agreed.

Rod Connor photo Jake Minor, front, and Garrett Rogers run their steer at the Greeley Stampede in a record 4.1 seconds to win the rodeo.

PORTENIER CLIMBS TO 15TH Bull rider Brady Portenier made a jump toward a second consecutive Wrangler NFR on the final weekend of June. Portenier won Greeley and Meridian (Idaho) to bank $7,525 and move to 15th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. PAIR OF HAT TRICKS Saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz and barrel racer Shelley Morgan notched their third Greeley championships in 2021. Diaz also won in 2007 and 2015, while Morgan won in 2009 and 2014.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Isaac Diaz ................ 87 pts. 2. Tegan Smith ................ 85.5 3. Wyatt Hageman ........... 84.5

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield ......... 7.2 sec. 2. Kyle Lucas ..................... 7.6 3. Hunter Herrin ................. 7.8

BARREL RACING 1. S. Morgan .......... 17.14 sec. 2. Kassie Mowry ............ 17.18 3. Jill Wilson .................. 17.26

BULL RIDING 1. Brady Portenier ..... 87.5 pts. 2. Jake Gardner ............... 86.5 3. Creek Young.................... 84

Complete results/Page 76

ProRodeo Sports News 7/9/2021

ProRodeo.com

47