ProRodeo Sports News - June 21, 2024

SISTERS, ORE.

SISTERS RODEO

Rejuvenated

Stan Branco’s quest for third NFR receives major boost BY BRADY RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News S teer wrestler Stan Branco enjoyed life on the circuit. He was doing well, balancing competing with working and spending time with his family. Then he got too good for his own good. He punched his ticket for the National Circuit Finals Rodeo. “I was kind of done, you know? I was planning on being a circuit guy, and then I went to Circuit Finals, and it put me on a different track,” Branco said. Ten years after his lone qualification for the National Finals Rodeo in 2013, Branco returned to the sport’s biggest stage a season ago. He finished fourth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, fifth in the NFR Average, while earning $254,393 for the season. “The year prior I wasn’t even rodeoing at all. To make it was great. I made it so long ago, and I tried to go hard for a few years after that. But I got hurt, the cattle changed, bulldogging changed. And I didn’t change very well,” Branco said. “To be competing at that level again was great.” Branco is aiming for a repeat as his 2024 season is starting to gain traction after a slow start. The 37-year-old won the Sisters (Ore.), clocking 10.9 seconds on two head, edging Talon Roseland (11.0) and Sam Goings (11.8) “I wasn’t sure if it was enough. There were four or five guys who I thought could get me after I went,” said Branco, whose time of 4.3 seconds in the second round sealed the win. “I was really just trying to make the best run I could and see what happened.” Branco has strung together some solid outings, including netting prize money at the Eagle Rodeo in Idaho and Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo. It has given him reason to keep charging toward the NFR, though it will be a challenge. He sits in 25th place in the standings, 10 spots and roughly $8,000 shy of the Top 15. It helps that he and rig partner Dirk Tavenner (44th place) are facing similar odds. “I love rodeo, I love rodeoing and steer wrestling. But where I am today my priorities are different. It’s my family and making money, and if I can’t make money I need to go back to work,” Branco said. “Dirk and I are in the same spot. But I had a slow winter, spring was slow, and I hurt my tailbone. So, you have cut off points where you have to evaluate if you will continue on.” As it stands, good horses are providing hope. They have a proven commodity in Oscar, who shines on the best tracks. Branco won recently on Brutus, a horse who was steady on the circuit. And there is always Dr Pepper, old reliable, available as well. “If it’s an NFR-type setup, Oscar is the horse. He is big and strong and has shown he can win rounds at the NFR,” Branco said. “How your horse is working is a big deal if you are winning. And if you are not winning and the horse is not working then I need to be home. But we have had some good horses, and in some cases, I was breaking barriers, and that was on me. But if you get a good horse, you are okay.” For Branco, his late career renaissance has provided a unique perspective. It reinvigorated his goals, and also brought affirmation of his talent. “I never thought I couldn’t compete at the highest level,” Branco said. “For it to happen was special. Now, the plan is to get back to the NFR again.”

TOP MONEY EARNER TOP SCORES

Trevor Hale ($6,578, tie down roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Hale

1. Dean Thompson ................... 88 pts. 2. Mason Clements .......................... 86 3. Jacob Lees ............................... 85.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Stan Branco ............... 10.9 sec. on 2 2. Talon Roseland ......................... 11.0 3. Sam Goings .............................. 11.8 TEAM ROPING 1. H. Peterson/C. Tryan ............ 4.8 sec. 2. C. Masters/W. Cox ...................... 5.5 (Tie) T. Tryan/D. Dunning ............ 5.5 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Sage Newman .................... 86.5 pts. (Tie) Brody Wells ...................... 86.5 3. Lefty Holman ............................ 83.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Trevor Hale ................ 18.3 sec. on 2 2. Cooper Martin ........................... 18.6 3. Zack Jongbloed ........................ 19.4 BARREL RACING 1. Abby Phillips .................... 17.35 sec. 2. Megan McLeod-Sprague ......... 17.36 3. Ann McGilchrist ...................... 17.40 BULL RIDING 1. Chase Dougherty ............... 89.5 pts. 2. TJ Gray ..................................... 84.5 3. Mason Moody .............................. 77

Complete results/Page 65

Bill Lawless photo

ProRodeo veteran Stan Branco found himself back in the win column at the Sisters Rodeo with 10.9 seconds on two head.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/21/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 6/21/2024

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