ProRodeo Sports News - November 17, 2023

Sky’s the Limit Stetson Wright Eyes More Gold Buckles

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LONG LIVE COWBOYS.

STETSON WRIGHT 7X WORLD CHAMPION

Proud sponsor of NFR Playo Series, National Finals Rodeo, and Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale

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and working cowboys everywhere OFFICIAL HAT OF THE PRCA

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CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 17, 2023 VOLUME 71, NO. 23

Award-winning bullfighter Cody Webster takes time during the RAM Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo to speak with young fans. Amanda Dilworth photo

Wilderness Wildness more than $200,000 purse at the RAM Wilderness Cir cuit Finals Rodeo, Nov. 3-4 in Heber City, Utah. They were also vying for bids to the NFR Open presented by RAM next July in Colorado Springs, Colo. 72 Contestants competed for their share of the

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INSIDE

10 Editor’s Letter 18 Short Round RODEOS

70 Camp Verde, Ariz. Turquoise Circuit Finals 72 Heber City, Utah Wilderness Circuit Finals 74 Davie, Fla.

Southeastern Circuit Finals 76 Louisville, Ky. Great Lakes Circuit Finals 78 San Angelo, Texas 80 Red Deer, Alberta Canadian Finals Rodeo

Robert Rosales photo Steer wrestler Rooster Yazzie had a strong performance at the RAM Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo, winning the aver age in 15.9 seconds on three head. He earned $3,055 for winning the average. Turquoise Talent on Display Veteran National Finals Rodeo competitor Erich Rogers grabbed the all around cowboy honors at the RAM Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo, earning $8,394. The rodeo took place Nov. 3-4 in Camp Verde, Ariz. 70

COVER

ProRodeo Sports News

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS (ISSN 0161-5815; USPS 469-620) is published semimonthly by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919-4301. PERIODICALS postage paid at Colorado Springs, Colo. , and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to ProRodeo Sports News , P. O. Box 469025, Escondido, CA 92046. Subscription rate: $45 for one year, 12 issues. Disclaimer: The ProRodeo Sports News carries advertising as a service to PRCA members and PSN readers. However, publication of advertisements in the PSN does not in any way, whether expressed or implied, commit the PSN to guarantee or warrant any of the merchandise or livestock advertised.

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PSN OR FOR SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS, CALL: 800.RODEO.4U (800.763.3648) _______________ To advertise in the PSN , call: 719.528.4704 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 101 ProRodeo Drive

Sky’s the Limit Stetson Wright Eyes More Gold Buckles

RODEOS

PRCA CEO Tom Glause PSN EDITOR Tracy Renck PRCA ART DIRECTOR Stephen Olver STAFF WRITER Tanner Barth SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Jessica Butterly

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PRCA superstar Stetson Wright will try and run his world championship total to 10 at the upcoming Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec 7-16 in Las Vegas. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ©2023, PRCA Properties Inc. , a

marketing service and subsidiary of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information retrieval system, without permission in writing from PRCA Properties Inc.

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EDITOR’S LETTER TRACY RENCK

Tracy Renck is the editor of the ProRodeo

Sports News. He previously served more than seven years as a media coordinator at the PRCA. He has three decades of experience in sports journalism with the last several consumed by ProRodeo.

Fernando Sam-Sin photo Bareback rider Rocker Steiner took part in a day at the races Nov. 4 at Phoenix Raceway. He was a guest of Jordan Anderson Racing.

NASCAR race in Phoenix was well worth the trip C overing NASCAR races live is a great experience and not new to me. From 1997-2005, I was fortunate to cover the NASCAR Busch Series at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, the hood of the Retzlaff’s Chevy Camaro, and they treated all of us like VIPs. Members of Retzlaff’s pit crew even gladly wore Wrangler National Finals Rodeo hats during the race. It was great exposure for the PRCA.

Colo., just down the road from the PRCA headquarters in Colorado Springs. I got to interview stars like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth, just to name a few. Yet that vibe wasn’t as cool as making the trip to the Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship race, Nov. 4. Why? Because of the rodeo ties. Bareback rider Rocker Steiner, a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier (2022-23), ventured to the track with his father, Sid, the 2002 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Champion and his grandfather Bobby Steiner, the 1973 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion. The Steiners were special guests of the Jordan Anderson Racing team and driver Parker Retzlaff. Retzlaff pilots the No. 31 FunkAway Chevy. The NASCAR crowd and rodeo crowd are quite similar. The Steiners were right at home – cowboy hats and all. Fans came and got photos with Rocker and his autograph. Some fans recognized him from his TV appearance on the mega-hit series Yellowstone and others for his rodeo ability. It was great to see motorsports fans know rodeo and one of the PRCA’s biggest stars. What was even cooler is the way Jordan Anderson Racing and Scott J. Wood, the EVP, Chief Operating Officer for FunkAway, Inc., welcomed the Steiners and the PRCA. The PRCA branding was right on

In the driver’s lounge of the JAR hauler for Retzlaff, Rocker and Retzlaff were guests on The Chute Bosses podcast with my co-worker Tanner Barth and me. View or listen to the podcast at this link: https:// prorodeo.com/news/2023/11/8/rocker-steiner-the-chute-bosses Both Rocker, 19, and Retzlaff, 20, are driven by competition and the desire to succeed – just one is on a bareback horse and the other is behind the wheel of a 200-mph machine. Despite learning about Rocker’s career, Retzlaff wasn’t ready to climb aboard a bareback horse. The same can’t be said for Rocker getting in the cockpit of a race car. “Sign me up,” Rocker said. Retzlaff told Rocker that he needed to plan a trip to Charlotte, N.C., to try his hand at some racing, which Rocker wants to do. At this event, Rocker and Retzlaff became fast friends, and Retzlaff is planning to come to the NFR in December at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The goal for rodeo is to become mainstream – whether it is one fan at a time like Retzlaff or fans coming to watch the sport in droves – the PRCA welcomes them all. With more fans comes more sponsors and more sponsors means more money for cowboys, which is a win-win for everybody just like this cross promotion with NASCAR and the PRCA.

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IT’S ALL HERE!

in partnership with

DECEMBER 7-16, 2023 LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER SOUTH HALL - LEVELS 1 & 2 and CENTRAL HALL 9AM - 4PM DAILY NFRexperience.com

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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

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2023 PRCA RAM WORLD STANDINGS

Official as of Sept. 30, 2023. For the 2023 season (Oct. 1, 2022-Sept. 30, 2023), official rodeo limits are as follows: all-around, 70; bareback riding, 100; steer wrestling, 75; team roping, 75; saddle bronc riding, 100; tie-down roping, 75; barrel racing, 100; and bull riding, no limit. Bull riders can count Xtreme Bulls events toward the PRCA World Standings, but not toward the all-around standings.

ALL-AROUND 1. Stetson Dell Wright, Beaver, Utah .................. $459,621 2. Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala. ............................. 144,134 3. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas ............................ 133,424 4. Brush Minton, Witter Springs, Calif. ................ 132,688 5. Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla. ......... 118,342 6. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla. ......................... 113,610 7. Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas ...................... 112,947 8. Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss. .................. 104,875 9. Jake Cooper Clay, Sapulpa, Okla. .................... 101,149 10. Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif. .......................... 91,017 11. Trevor Hale, Perryton, Texas ............................ 88,550 12. Chet Weitz, London, Texas .............................. 66,438 13. Slade Wood, New Ulm, Texas .......................... 63,090 14. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D. ..................................... 52,168 15. Clay Clayman, Highlandville, Mo. .................... 50,228 16. Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif. .............. 50,088 17. Tanner Green, Cotulla, Texas ........................... 49,500 18. Logan Perrin Spady, Alliance, Alberta .............. 47,828 19. Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas ................... 46,231 20. Chance Oftedahl, Pemberton, Minn. ................ 44,865 BAREBACK RIDING 1. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo. ........................ $265,896 2. Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif. ...................... 162,738 3. Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La. ............................ 160,469 4. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa .......................... 159,326 5. Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas ................ 157,955 6. Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba .......................... 147,237 7. Rocker Shane Steiner, Weatherford, Texas ...... 143,123 8. Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah ..................... 131,452 9. Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla. .............................. 127,968 10. Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan. .............................. 127,048 11. Mason Clements, Spanish Fork, Utah ............ 126,166 12. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. .................... 119,897 13. Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo. ............................. 118,220 14. Jacob Lees, Caldwell, Idaho .......................... 117,808 15. Richmond Champion, Stevensville, Mont. ..... 111,688 16. Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah ............................ 110,010 17. Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas ....................... 109,580 18. Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La. ................ 103,982 19. Sam Petersen, Helena, Mont. ......................... 97,448 20. Kody Lamb, Sherwood Park, Alberta ............... 89,466 STEER WRESTLING 1. Dalton Massey, Hermiston, Ore. ................... $193,430 2. Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore. ......................... 161,613 3. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La. .................... 146,647 4. Will Lummus, Byhalia, Miss. ........................... 143,988 5. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. .............................. 124,275 6. J.D. Struxness, Milan, Minn. ........................... 122,397 7. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. .............................. 116,048 8. Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho ............................. 107,839 9. Cody Devers, Balko, Okla. ............................... 104,132 10. Stephen Culling, Fort St. John, B.C. .............. 104,026 11. Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La. ............................. 101,453 12. Stan Branco, Chowchilla, Calif. ....................... 98,290 13. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. ..................................... 96,317 14. Bridger Anderson, Carrington, N.D. ................. 85,511 15. Don Payne, Stephenville, Texas ....................... 84,612 16. Tristan Martin, Sulphur, La. ............................. 79,956 17. Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D. ................. 76,790 18. Travis Munro, Townsville, Australia ................. 76,666 19. Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho ............................. 72,426 20. Tucker Allen, Oak View, Calif. .......................... 71,124 TEAM ROPING (HEADER) 1. Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga. ....................... $160,145 2. Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas ................................ 154,926 3. Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala. ............................. 145,083 4. Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla. .................... 138,348 5. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz. ..................... 138,115 6. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla. ......................... 133,487 7. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah ....................... 123,484 8. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. ..................... 119,654 9. Tanner Tomlinson, Angleton, Texas ................. 118,706 10. Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla. ........................ 114,765 11. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla. ...................... 103,154 12. Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss. ................ 102,164 13. Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla. ....................... 100,522 14. Jake Cooper Clay, Sapulpa, Okla. ................... 100,127

15. Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C. ............................ 97,752 16. Brenten Hall, Jay, Okla. .................................... 96,685 17. Coy Rahlmann, Ellsinore, Mo. ......................... 91,102 18. Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif. .......................... 89,753 19. Dawson Graham, Wainwright, Alberta ............. 87,694 20. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz. ...................... 78,084 TEAM ROPING (HEELER) 1. Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas ............. $172,153 2. Junior Nogueira, Pres. Prudente, Brazil .......... 160,145 3. Colter Todd, Willcox, Ariz. ............................... 153,283 4. Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D. ................................... 138,348 5. Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M. ............................. 133,487 6. Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood, Alberta ................ 123,484 7. Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo. ............................... 120,005 8. Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas ............................. 118,706 9. Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas ............ 114,765 10. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. .......................... 114,024 11. Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas ...................... 98,556 12. Hunter Koch, Vernon, Texas ............................ 97,752 13. Cole Curry, Liberty, Miss. ................................ 94,987 14. Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla. ............................ 94,909 15. Tyler Worley, Berryville, Ark. ........................... 93,983 16. Dillon Graham, Wainwright, Alberta ................ 87,694 17. Coleby Payne, Stephenville, Texas ................... 85,663 18. Billie Jack Saebens, Nowata, Okla. .................. 80,630 19. Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo. ................................ 79,982 20. Justin Davis, Cottonwood, Calif. ..................... 79,322 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Stetson Dell Wright, Beaver, Utah ................. $251,626 2. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont. ..................... 247,264 3. Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho .............................. 225,259 4. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta ................... 221,919 5. Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta ...................... 155,974 6. Ben T. Andersen, Eckville, Alberta .................... 150,940 7. Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah ............................. 150,402 8. Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas ............................. 142,421 9. Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont. ................... 139,221 10. Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta ................... 136,829 11. Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyo. .......................... 135,289 12. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo. ......................... 132,743 13. Damian Brennan, Injune, Australia ................ 129,744 14. Lefty Marvel Holman, Visalia, Calif. ............... 128,955 15. Ryder Sanford, Sulphur, La. .......................... 125,388 16. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas ...................... 123,362 17. Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta ...... 116,754 18. Quinten Taylor, Nanton, Alberta ..................... 116,069 19. Statler Wright, Beaver, Utah .......................... 113,433 20. Leon Fountain, Corona, N.M. ......................... 113,247 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Riley Mason Webb, Denton, Texas ............... $280,405 2. Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M. ............................ 206,604 3. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. ...................... 195,068 4. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. ........................... 156,660 5. Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas ........................... 139,682 6. Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas ..................... 136,447 7. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas ............................ 133,128 8. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas .................. 129,106 9. Kincade Henry, Mount Pleasant, Texas ............ 127,481 10. Blane Cox, Cameron, Texas ........................... 119,608 11. Beau Cooper, Stettler, Alberta ........................ 117,417 12. Brush Minton, Witter Springs, Calif. .............. 116,551 13. John Douch, Huntsville, Texas ...................... 115,054 14. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. ......................... 114,552 15. Tuf Case Cooper, Decatur, Texas .................... 114,326 16. Lucas Potter, Maple City, Kan. ....................... 103,932 17. Zack Jongbloed, Iowa, La. ............................. 100,165 18. Michael Otero, Collinsville, Texas .................... 96,571 19. Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash. .......................... 94,837 20. Marcos Costa, Iretama, Brazil .......................... 93,676 STEER ROPING 1. Cole Patterson, Pawnee, Okla. ...................... $118,515 2. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas ............................... 93,735 3. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas .............. 90,037 4. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. ............................. 75,578 5. Slade Wood, New Ulm, Texas ........................... 69,727 6. Reo Lohse, Kaycee, Wyo. .................................. 68,698

7. Garrett Hale, Snyder, Texas ............................... 63,014 8. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas .......................... 56,115 9. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. ............................. 52,040 10. Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif. .......................... 50,300 11. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas ........................ 46,703 12. Tanner Stec, Bassett, Neb. ............................... 46,633 13. Billy Good, Wynnewood, Okla. ........................ 45,788 14. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla. .......................... 45,406 15. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. ......................... 40,758 16. Clay Long, Stephenville, Texas ........................ 39,759 17. Dalton Walker, Clyde, Texas ............................. 37,646 18. Trenton L. Johnson, Blue Mound, Kan. ........... 33,696 19. John Clark, Pecos, Texas ................................. 27,897 20. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla. ......................... 26,243 BULL RIDING 1. Stetson Dell Wright, Beaver, Utah ................. $368,630 2. Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Australia ...................... 254,165 3. Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah .............................. 232,034 4. Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho .............. 181,192 5. Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kan. ......................... 178,544 6. Creek Walker Young, Rogersville, Mo. ............ 156,286 7. Hayes Weight, Goshen, Utah .......................... 154,695 8. T. Parker, Winnie, Texas .................................. 152,792 9. Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. ........................ 150,715 10. Sage Steele Kimzey, Salado, Texas ............... 145,021 11. Jordan Hansen, Amisk, Alberta ..................... 144,223 12. Jared Parsonage, Maple Creek, Sask. ........... 139,552 13. Cody Teel, Bryan, Texas ................................ 135,671 14. Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas .............................. 135,244 15. Cullen R Telfer, Plant City, Fla. ....................... 128,245 16. Jestyn Woodward, Custer, S.D. ..................... 117,416 17. Trey Benton III, Richards, Texas .................... 107,479 18. Trevor Reiste, Linden, Iowa ........................... 106,096 19. Dustin Donovan Boquet, Bourg, La. .............. 105,896 20. JB Mauney, Stephenville, Texas ...................... 95,764 BARREL RACING 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas ...... $249,563 2. Jordon Briggs, Tolar, Texas ............................ 160,824 3. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. .......................... 134,594 4. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas .......................... 133,802 5. Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Ark. ........................ 122,661 6. Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D. ......................... 116,438 7. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla. ..................... 115,005 8. Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla. .................. 111,700 9. Ilyssa Riley, Hico, Texas ................................. 110,619 10. Stevi Hillman, Granbury, Texas ..................... 109,032 11. Sissy Winn, Chapman Ranch, Texas ............. 109,022 12. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas ......................... 105,776 13. Summer Kosel, Glenham, S.D. ..................... 101,182 14. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho ......................... 100,644 15. Paige Jones, Wayne, Okla. ........................... 100,413 16. Sara Winkelman, Big Lake, Minn. ................... 91,276 17. Kelly Allen, Stephenville, Texas ....................... 86,102 18. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, Texas ......... 85,285 19. Carlee Otero, Launsboro, Ala. ......................... 79,056 20. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla. .......................... 78,860 BREAKAWAY ROPING 1. Hali Williams, Comanche, Texas ...................$146,743 2. Shelby Boisjoli, Stephanville, Texas ................ 139,549 3. Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas ............ 115,865 4. Sarah Angelone, Lipan, Texas ......................... 114,284 5. Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla. ............................... 98,402 6. Joey Williams, Volborg, Mont. ......................... 96,799 7. Kelsie Domer, Dublin, Texas ............................. 94,726 8. Cheyanne Guillory, Kingston, Okla. ................... 85,703 9. Danielle Lowman, Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D. ............ 82,816 10. Jackie Crawford, Stephenville, Texas .............. 82,740 11. Rickie Engesser, Spearfish, S.D. ..................... 79,482 12. Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas ............................. 46,277 13. Josie Conner, Iowa, La. .................................. 74,763 14. Kendal Pierson, Wardlow, Alberta ................... 71,531 15. Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo. ............................ 66,029 16. Samantha Fulton, Miller, S.D. ......................... 63,846 17. Madison Outhier, Fulshear, Texas ................... 59,609 18. Jordi Edens, Gatesville, Texas ........................ 54,606 19. Beau Peterson, Council Grove Kan. ................ 52,392 20. Nicole Baggarley, Las Cruces, N.M. ................ 51,516

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SHORT ROUND Walton chosen as Donita Barnes Award winner Prestigious Honor

F or his nearly 50 years of involvement in rodeo, Scott Walton was selected as the recipient of the 2023 Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award. “This is unbelievable,” said Walton, 61. “To even be nominated to be in this category is very special to me and humbling. Just to be nominated with those four other people, I worked with them all and know them all. I have known them for years and they are great people and all deserving, and I guess it was my turn. I’m very honored.” Other nominees for the 2023 Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award were Edie Longfellow, Kay Bleakly, Jim Fain and James Harper. The Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Walton at the PRCA Awards Banquet on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. (PT) at the South Point in Las Vegas. “My dad (Allen) started the NILE Rodeo (in Billings, Mont.), and I think he started that sometime in the 1970s,” Walton said. “He started the rodeo there and hired Harry Vold to be the stock contractor and then I helped them when they came to town. I went to college at Montana State and Harry Vold was doing the College Finals at that time (in Bozeman, Mont.) and I was helping.” In 1982, Vold, a ProRodeo Hall of Fame stock contractor, asked Walton to come work for him. Walton

“I went to work with Harry then and I learned a lot from that man over the years,” Walton said. Walton worked for Vold until 1996 when he went to work for ProRodeo Hall of Famer Walt Garrison at Copenhagen & Skoal Tobacco as rodeo supervisor for 13 years. “We ran the scoreboard and did everything,” Walton said. “In 2010, I started putting scoreboards up and doing jobs on my own with Rick (Sallee).” Since 2010, Walton has served as the president

of Walton Scoreboards Inc. “In 2013, I moved back to Montana where I’m originally from, I was living in Texas,” Walton said. “Since 2013, I just kept growing my scoreboard video screen business and it has been very, very good to me and my family. Rick and I do rodeos all over the country.” Walton has had a job in one capacity or another at every National Finals Rodeo since 1982. Other winners of the Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award are Donita Barnes (2011); Art and Linda Alsbaugh (2012); Fred and Norma Dorenkamp (2013); Quail Dobbs (2014); Cotton Rosser (2015); Karen Vold (2016), Jim and Julie Sutton (2017), Hadley Barrett (2018); Roy and Virginia Honeycutt (2019); Cindy Rosser (2020); Kay Gay (2021); and Bronc Rumford (2022).

Garrett tabbed Justin Committeeman of the Year

Wade Garrett, the Vice-President of the Ute Stampede Rodeo Committee, has been selected as the PRCA’s 2023 John Justin Standard of the West Committeeman of the Year. Garrett, a lobbyist, won the John Justin Standard of the West Committeeman of the Year award for his work with the Ute Stampede. “It means a lot to receive an honor like this, I’m very taken back,” said Garrett, who has been part of the Ute Stampede Rodeo Committee for nearly a decade. “I’m very honored and flattered.

In 2023, the Ute Stampede took place July 13 15. Nephi has a population around 7,000 people. “For all seven of us as a committee, I’m the face of it of this year, but this award brings respect to our rodeo,” Garrett said. Garrett is the second member of the Ute Stampede to win the Justin Committeeman of the Year award as Jerry Shepherd took home the honor in 2018. Each year, Justin Boots recognizes 125 outstanding volunteers from PRCA rodeos around

Garrett

I do a mix of everything. We are small committee by rodeo standards with seven members that put on the three-day show. We seat about 12,000 people at our (rodeo), so we bring quite a few people in, and we have been selling out the Friday and Saturday night performances and our goal is to sell out Thursday as well.”

the country through its John Justin Standard of the West program. PRCA rodeos vote on the individual to receive the PRCA’s John Justin Committeeman of the Year Award, whose dedication represents the deeds of those volunteers. Garrett will be recognized at the PRCA Awards Banquet, Dec. 6 at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas.

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ONLINE: For more ProRodeo events and full results, go to www.prorodeo.com

Keynote Speaker

BY THE NUMBERS 3 The number of cowboys who have won more than $3 million in career earnings who are competing at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, Dec. 7-16 in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center. The list consists of tie down roper Tuf Cooper ($3,318,979); bull rider Sage Kimzey ($3,192,614); and saddle bronc rider/ bull rider Stetson Wright ($3,013,206). The trio has combined to win 18 PRCA World Championships – Cooper (4, Tie-down, 2011-12, 2014 and all-around, 2017); Kimzey (7, 2014-19, 2021) and Wright (7, All Around, 2019-22) (Bull riding, 2020, 2022); and (Saddle bronc riding 2021). 4 The number of team roping heelers competing at the 2023 Wrangler NFR who have $2 million-plus in career earnings. The list consists of Patrick Smith ($2,473,078); Jake Long ($2,320,351); Junior Nogueira ($2,281,917); and Paul Eaves ($2,002,891).

Country music star Cody Johnson to address attendees at PRCA Convention

Superstar country singer

Cody Johnson will be the keynote speaker at the 2023 PRCA Convention in Las Vegas. Johnson will address convention attendees at the Grand Ballroom at the South Point Hotel and Casino, Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. (PT). The gathering of PRCA members precedes the biggest event on ProRodeo’s annual calendar, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center in Vegas, Dec. 7-16. The theme for this year’s convention is From Ordinary to Legendary, and Johnson will address attendees on his career journey from humble beginnings to platinum-selling artist.

Johnson

Clay Guardipee photo

were meant to do it. When I had to give it up, it really made me jaded. It made me bitter because I hated failure. I didn’t realize that failure is really what made me draw and drive toward music. “I thought about (team roping header, the 2020 PRCA World Champion) Colby Lovell’s story and realized if I hadn’t gone through the failure of bull riding and turned to music and demanded to be a cowboy and kept roping and riding then it wouldn’t have made it into my music and I wouldn’t have written that song and it wouldn’t have impacted Colby that way. That’s a bigger picture of ‘Dear Rodeo’ than my failure of bull riding.” In April, Johnson won Performance of The Year at the 2022 CMT Music Award for his performance of “’Til You Can’t.” As in prior years, the convention will feature the State of the PRCA address from CEO Tom Glause, which will be 8:30 a.m. (PT), Dec. 5, at the South Point, as well as the PRCA Member Tradeshow. The PRCA National Convention will run from Dec. 4-7.

Johnson is no stranger to the NFR. Before Round 10 at the 2020 Wrangler NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Johnson played before the start of Round 10. Playing that song at the Finals also meant something to Johnson. “It was a pretty special moment,” Johnson said in the March 2021 article in the ProRodeo Sports News . “It was a full-circle moment for me.” Johnson gave fans a deeper look into his life and career with the documentary “Dear Rodeo,” which includes his duet partner, country superstar Reba McEntire. In the trailer, Johnson reminisces about dreaming of being a cowboy. “My younger years, I wanted to ride bulls,” Johnson told ProRodeo Sports News. “I was very set on having those gold buckle dreams. I poured my heart into it, but at the end of the day it was not what I was meant to do. I got a little bit done here and there, but I wasn’t like my friends who

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2nd annual TRIBUTE luncheon

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2023 VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS PRIMROSE BALLROOM Tickets start at $100 (individual and table tickets available) Check in at 12:30 pm Luncheon begins at 1 pm Join us for an intimate luncheon hosted by The Cowboy Channel’s Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles as they honor these great champions and relive the timeless memories that have made them true icons in Las Vegas and the sport of rodeo.

BILLY ETBAUER

CODY OHL

Featuring a special performance by Glen Templeton.

For tickets and information: NFRexperience.com/VegasNFRIcons

las vegas

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10 STRAIGHT DAYS OF YOUTH COMPETITION IN 9 EVENTS

BAREBACK RIDING • SADDLE BRONC RIDING • BARREL RACING • BREAKAWAY BULL RIDING • STEER WRESTLING• TEAM ROPING • TIE-DOWN ROPING • POLE BENDING December 7 - 16, 2023 Las Vegas Convention Center - Central Hall

For more information, please visit NFRexperience.com/JuniorWorldFinals

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ROLL OUT THE RED BALER. Meet the new machine that’s already famous for its winning combination of toughness and ease of use. Bank on the Hesston by Massey Ferguson ® 1 Series round baler for dependable, long-lasting service, thanks to a heavy-duty design capable of maintaining your desired bale density, even at higher speeds. Plus, features like innovative net loading and an optional hydraulic drop floor ease your workload during long days of baling.

Visit www.masseyferguson.us and discover how the Hesston ® 1 Series round baler can turn your baling into a premier event.

ProRodeo Sports News 11/17/2023 ©2023 AGCO Corporation. Massey Ferguson is a worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation. Hesston is a brand of AGCO. AGCO, Massey Ferguson and Hesston are trademarks of AGCO. All rights reserved.

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OFFICIAL NFR ® VIEWING PARTY LOCATIONS Don’t miss a minute of the action at any of these locations in and around Las Vegas

Carnival Court

The Grand Event Center

The Red Zone Sports Bar

Downtown Las Vegas Events Center

Freedom Beat & Furnace Bar

Downtown Las Vegas Events Center

Montecristo Cigar Bar

Indigo Lounge

Race & Sports Book

William Hill Sportsbook

Bet MGM Sportsbook

Bourbon Street Lounge & Showroom*

Level Up

Extra Lounge

Sportsbook & Lounge

Wrangler Dawg House & Redtail

The Showroom

Grand Ballroom & Showroom

Roxy’s Lounge & Sam’s Town Live*

Veil Pavilion

Cabaret Theater & IBar

Gilley’s Saloon

Trago Lounge, Havana Room & Robert Irvine’s Public House

PUB 365

Skybox

PT’s Wings & Sports

* Family Friendly viewing

OTHER SATELLITE FEED LOCATIONS: Aliante Binion’s **CasaBlanca

DEC. 7 - 16, 2023 THOMAS & MACK CENTER LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

**Eureka Excalibur Four Queens New York-New York

**Mesquite, NV locations

/LasVegasNFR

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ROUTE 8 Circa – Garage Mahal Golden Nugget – Carson Tower entrance Plaza – Welcome Sign (Main St. & Carson Ave.)

ROUTE 1 – ONE-WAY EXPRESS SHUTTLE The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls (West Entrance) ROUTE 2 MGM Grand – Northwest corner of Guest Parking garage Tropicana – North entrance

ROUTE 9 The D – Valet entrance on Carson Ave. Downtown Grand – Valet entrance

ROUTE 10 Caesars Palace – Augustus Tower entrance The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Bus area at main entrance ROUTE 11 The Mirage – North valet entrance Treasure Island (TI) – Bus loading zone (near South Valet) ROUTE 12 Resorts World – Rideshare Lot adjacent to main entrance Virgin Hotels Las Vegas – Main entrance (after porte cochere)

ROUTE 3 Sam’s Town – Rear entrance (behind the food court)

ROUTE 4 Mandalay Bay – Shark Reef entrance New York-New York – Main entrance ROUTE 5 STRAT – West entrance Westgate – East Tower entrance

ROUTE 13 Flamingo – Tour Bus area Horseshoe – North entrance ROUTE 14 Silverton – Main entrance South Point – Main entrance

ROUTE 6 The Orleans – Valet entrance

ROUTE 7 Gold Coast – Valet entrance Palms – Front entrance Rio – Convention Center Circle Drive

Pre-Event: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Post-Event: 8:15 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.

DECEMBER 7 - 16, 2023 Visit NFRexperience.com for the most up-to-date list of routes and times. *All Wrangler NFR performances start at 5:45 p.m

/LasVegasNFR

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The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo ® will return to the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World for the 38th year. During this historic run, Las Vegas has provided the backdrop for the best cowboys and barrel racers to chase the most coveted prize in rodeo – the PRCA Gold Buckle. We also acknowledge – with a special tip of the Resistol – all of our sponsors below that continue to support the world’s richest and most prestigious rodeo. WE TIP OUR HATS TO YOU

WRANGLER NFR SPONSOR HOTELS

SAM’S TOWN SILVERTON CASINO LODGE SOUTH POINT STRATOSPHERE LAS VEGAS TREASURE ISLAND TROPICANA TUSCANY SUITES VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS WESTGATE RESORT

MANDALAY BAY MGM GRAND THE MIRAGE NEW YORK - NEW YORK THE ORLEANS PALMS CASINO RESORT PLANET HOLLYWOOD PLAZA RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS RIO

CAESARS PALACE CIRCA RESORT & CASINO THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS THE D LAS VEGAS DOWNTOWN GRAND GOLD COAST GOLDEN NUGGET HARRAH’S LAS VEGAS HORSESHOE LAS VEGAS ABI ATTACHMENTS BLOOMER TRAILERS BOOT BARN BOYD GAMING BROWNING B&W TRAILER HITCHES BUCKED UP BUCKLE VODKA CACTUS SADDLES CALGARY STAMPEDE CITY LIGHTS SHINE COMMUNITY COFFEE COORS DIVA DIAMONDS DURANGO BOOTS EQUINE HEMP SOLUTIONS FORT WORTH WINE GOLD BUCKLE BEER HARRIS RANCH BEEF COMPANY

WRANGLER NFR SPONSORS

RANCH HAND RESISTOL RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION RODEOHOUSTON ROUGHY SASKATCHEWAN MINING AND MINERALS SOUTH POINT

HAYDEN OUTDOORS REAL ESTATE HESSTON BY MASSEY FERGUSON KENDRA SCOTT

KING RANCH LIP CHIP LLC LONE RIVER RANCH WATER LAS VEGAS CONVENTION AND VISITORS AUTHORITY MONTANA SILVERSMITHS NEVADA STATE BANK ORIGINAL WINDMILL CEILING FAN COMPANY OUTLAW CONVERSIONS PENDLETON WHISKY PIVOT BIO PLATINUM PERFORMANCE POLARIS PRIEFERT PURINA RAM

STUBHUB SUCCEED TACTACAM THE COWBOY CHANNEL TETON RIDGE TRAEGER GRILLS WESTERN SPECIALTY INSURORS WRANGLER YETI ZESTERRA ZOETIS

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THE OFFICIAL CASINO OF THE

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE NFR BULLFIGHTERS AND THE PRCA

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

2023 Wrangler NFR presented by Teton Ridge set to unfold Ready, Set, Rodeo! PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee Rodeo fans will take over the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas for the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, Dec. 7-16. In 2022, the event had a total attendance of 173,350 over the 10 days of competition and has sold out more than 350 consecutive performances.

WRANGLER NFR COVERAGE

38 NFR Rookies 40 Canadian invasion 44 NFR 2003 Rewind

46 Event previews 63 Top Gun race 63 Contestant roster

64 Linderman winner 66 Event schedule 68 Stock roster

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Debut Cowboys Five rookies set to appear in their first Wrangler NFRs RESISTOL ROOKIES

BY TRACY RENCK C hasing the gold buckle dream took one large step to becoming a reality for Resistol rookie bareback riders Keenan Hayes, Kade Sonnier, Dean Thompson, saddle bronc rider Ryder Sanford and bull rider T Parker. That group of cowboys will make their debut at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, Dec. 7-16 in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center. Hayes followed up his record-setting Permit season in 2022, by setting the single-season earnings mark in bareback riding at $265,896. The NFR qualification is extra special for Sonnier. The Carencro, La., cowboy joins his father Joey, who qualified for the 2018 NFR in bareback riding. “Since I was a kid, 4 or 5 years old, that’s all I ever wanted to do (was go to the NFR),” Sonnier said. “Then, my life changed, and I took the baseball path, so rodeo was on the backburner. I never really thought about making the NFR until 2018 when my dad qualified, and I got to go. That lit a fire in me and re-sparked the love of the sport for me. God dealt me some injuries and different challenges and it changed the course of my path of what I thought my career was. “When we left after Round 10 (in 2018), we met up with my dad and I told my stepmom, you give me five years, and I will be back at the NFR (competing),” Kade said. “That’s a true story and little did I know it would be exactly five years that I would be at the NFR (competing). It has been cool to have my dad in my corner and help me enter and figure out my runs and what the best times were to go to rodeos, that really helped.” Like Hayes, Sonnier has had a stellar season, highlighted by winning $50,000 at the Calgary

T Parker made the most of his Resistol rookie season, qualifying for the Wrangler NFR by finishing eighth in the regular season PRCA | RAM World Standings. Mallory Beinborn photo

biggest highlights was winning the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. “After the season is really when it set in (that I qualified for the NFR),” Thompson said. “I didn’t really have the time when I was on the road to sit down and appreciate what this year has meant to me. I feel blessed about the goals I have been able to achieve so far. “I was in the Top 15 all year and then in the first of August I was 22nd or somewhere in the standings. Now, it has set in, and my life is based on being prepared when I get to the Thomas & Mack. I get my sweat on every day and train my body for what I know is coming. I’m excited to go and see what I can do.” Saddle bronc rider Ryder Sanford had quite the memorable season, which included big wins at the Cheyenne Frontier Days and at the first leg

Stampede and splitting the title at Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo. “I have a feeling all the emotions are going to come back to the first time I went to the NFR and it brought tears to my eyes,” Sonnier said. “I stood for a lot of cool national anthems in a lot of cool places, but nothing compared to the NFR. When I get there and hear them play Viva Las Vegas in the Thomas & Mack, that song goes from a song Elvis wrote to a staple of the pinnacle of rodeo. When I hear the national anthem and Viva Las Vegas it is going to be emotional, but I just have to trust my stuff.” Thompson echoed the excitement of Sonnier. The Altamont, Utah, cowboy comes in eighth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings and one of his

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of the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash. He finished the season with $125,388 to land in the coveted No. 15 spot. Sanford, who is from Sulphur, La., competed on the McNeese State University rodeo team in Lake Charles, La., with Sonnier. T Parker, 19, made a late-season surge to qualify for the Wrangler NFR and finished eighth in the regular season standings and received a boost by winning the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo. “This is going to be life-changing,” said Parker about getting to compete in Vegas. “It is a dream come true.” But Parker, who is from Winnie, Texas, acknowledged it wasn’t a smooth ride to get to the yellow bucking chutes in Vegas. “Toward the end of the season, there were a lot of long night drives and a lot of phone calls made and I was worried I wouldn’t make the NFR,” Parker said. “I had a lot of long talks with a lot of good people and that brought my spirits back up and I finished out the season strong and everything happened right. “I know the very first day at the NFR, I’m going to have nerves, but I think it will flow smooth after that. The best part of this year for me was meeting all the new people and going to all the states and just having fun riding bulls.”

Saddle bronc rider Ryder Sanford kept grinding away in the 2023 season, and thanks to big wins in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Puyallup, Wash., he made the 2023 NFR in the No. 15 spot. Kristen Schurr photo

Bareback rider Keenan Hayes proved his 2022

record setting PRCA

permit season was no fluke as he set the single season earnings mark in his event – before the Wrangler NFR – with a $265,896 total.

Hailey Rae photo

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SADDLE BRONC RIDING

History Lesson PRCA ProRodeo file photo Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston had an 87.5-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Cinch Jeans Hit Man during Round 1 of the 2022 Wrangler NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Thurston went on to win his third PRCA World Championship.

headline-making bronc riders. You could go all the way back to the early 1900s, with Calgary Stampede world titlist Tom Three Persons, and four-time world champion Pete Knight. There have been various waves of Canadian saddle bronc success, but the current crop has captured a lot of attention, led by three-time world champion Thurston (2016, 2019 and 2022). In 2022, the field of six Canadian bronc riders qualified at the NFR tied a record set back in 1968. This season, there were eight Canadians who finished in the top 30 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. “It’s amazing,” said Mel Hyland, a two-time PRCA Saddle Bronc World Champion (1972 and 1976), and ProRodeo Hall of Famer, as he muses about the depth of the bronc riders in Canada currently. Hyland can look back from the perspective of his own decorated career, which included 11 CFR and NFR qualifications between 1967 and 1984. Understanding the prowess of Canadian saddle bronc riders

BY DIANNE FINSTAD Special to ProRodeo Sports News W hen he nods his head at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Zeke Thurston will be gunning to be the first Canadian to repeat as a PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion since ProRodeo Hall of Famer Pete Knight did it in 1935-36. Joining Thurston in Las Vegas will be another strong contingent of Canadian bronc riders with Dawson Hay, Ben Andersen, and Layton Green. So, what is it about Canada that consistently produces such talent in rodeo’s classic event? Tim Horton’s coffee, ketchup chips, or maple syrup? Just what is the ‘secret sauce’? “Well, I don’t think we really want them to know, put all our cards on the table, do we?” quips Rod Hay, an eight-time Canadian Champion, who qualified for 20 National Finals Rodeos. “When we get 10 guys there, then maybe we’ll spill it,” chuckles the father of current contenders Dawson and Logan Hay. Joking aside, the land north of the 49th parallel has a long history of

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“Here’s what I think, in a nutshell,” says Hyland, who is still riding and training horses at 75. “Marty Wood, Winston Bruce, Kenny Maclean – those three names were huge in my world, in my time, and we wanted to be them as kids. You could even go back to Jerry Ambler. So, there’s a lot of history in the background that would have influenced a lot of us. And then, I guess, hopefully we were part of the influence for the ones today.” Just ask Kolby Wanchuk about that. He regularly checks in with Hyland, relying on his experience and expertise as a career guide. Both Hyland, and another Canadian cowboy who blazed an NFR trail in the event, Duane Daines, point to the development opportunities open to young Canadian cowboys – like the novice bronc riding program at the Calgary Stampede and CPRA rodeos. In the days prior to high school rodeos coming to Canada, there were ‘Little Britches’ events, and regional amateur associations also served the sport well in helping young athletes step up their progress. “It starts at the grass roots,” said Daines, who had nine NFR qualifications (1983-85, 1987, 1989-93) on his resume plus 13 CFRs, a Canadian saddle bronc title, and three All Around championships and a Calgary Stampede title. “Having a good novice bronc riding connected with ProRodeos, so they’re around the pros. Their idols are right there in the dressing room and behind the chutes. It’s huge. Guys are willing to help, and they can help you maybe set your saddle up, take your rein measurements. You’re getting the pros telling you.” Daines had an added advantage of growing up in a rodeo-centric family with his father Jack, a legendary rodeo promoter and bronc rider himself, as well as his uncle Ivan Daines, who went to the NFR five times, and won the average in 1970.

PRCA ProRodeo file photos Rod Hay, above, competes in one of his 20 National Finals Rodeo appearances. Hay’s son, Dawson, won Round 9 at the 2022 Wrangler NFR with a 92-point trip on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s BDM Killer Bee.

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