ProRodeo Sports News - March 18, 2022

SHORT ROUND

Inaugural NFR Playoff taking place in Puyallup in September $1 Million Payout

T he inaugural NFR Playoff will play a bigger role than ever when it pays out $1 million the second weekend of September. The NFR Playoff will take place at the Puyallup Rodeo at the Washington State Fair, Sept. 8-11, and will crown the champions of the season-long NFR Playoff Series presented by Pendleton Whisky.

Island Grove Events Center. “This process gets harder and harder each year as there were so many great nomination forms to review. The Stampede is what it is today because of the countless hours that all of these nominees put in to make our community better,” said Justin Watada, General Manager and Hall of Fame Chairman, in a release. “The Selection committee felt these two individuals and the Hill Family made the biggest impact and deserve to be recognized for their contributions.” To recognize the Hall of Fame inductees, the Greeley Stampede will be hosting an induction ceremony dinner April 8 at Zoe’s Café starting at 6 pm. (MT). Individual tickets will be $30 or a table of eight for $180. Tickets for the banquet for the special event will go on sale on March 8 at 10 a.m. Additional recognition will take place during the 100th Annual Greeley Stampede in June 23 through July 4. community and for the Washington State Fair.” The Washington State Fair is one of the largest state fairs in the United States with more than one million people attending annually. In addition to bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding, breakaway roping will be held at the NFR Playoff. “All eyes will be on this event at the end of the year with NFR berths on the line,” said Jimmie Munroe, WPRA President. “We are excited to have breakaway roping included with equal money and can’t wait to see all the action play out in this unique environment alongside the Washington State Fair.” The NFR Playoff will air on The Cowboy Channel and stream on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App. For more information, visit cowboychannelplus.com. The ProRodeo season concludes Sept. 30. The Top 15 athletes in the PRCA | RAM World Standings in each event will qualify for the 2022 Wrangler NFR presented by Teton Ridge.

Through a community nomination process, the Greeley Stampede has selected two outstanding individuals and a family to be inducted into the 2022 Greeley Stampede Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include: • Ron Jackson, who was instrumental in major capital improvement projects including the west arena enclosure project, the Stampede office expansion, and the construction of the portable music stage. • Lynn Settje, who was the first CEO of the Greeley Stampede and helped lead the event to gain international recognition. • The Hill Family, whose involvement started in the 1970s when the Stampede transition into a stand-alone organization, have made an impact by being on the Committee or as a Wrangler Trail boss in three decades and were major leaders in the rebuilding of the grandstands and the construction of the The $1 million payout just before the PRCA regular season ends on Sept. 30 will play a key role in catapulting athletes into the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. “We are proud to have the NFR Playoff as a part of the storied Puyallup Rodeo and it will offer a great payout for our athletes and crown NFR Playoff Series champions,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “It will also play a huge factor in helping them secure berths for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.” The Top 23 competitors in each event from the NFR Playoff Series Standings – plus each winner from the NFR Open powered by RAM, July 13-16, in Colorado Springs, Colo. – will compete for their share of $1 million in Puyallup. “We’re really excited about partnering with the PRCA to be the NFR Playoff,” said Jeff Hogan, chairman of the Puyallup Rodeo Committee and 2022 president of the Washington State Fair. “We’re excited to host this $1 million finale. After coming out of the pandemic, we see this as something very exciting for our

Greeley Stampede unveils 2022 Hall class

ProRodeo Sports News 3/18/2022

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