ProRodeo Sports News - Sept.15, 2023

Campaign ramping up for 2023 Wrangler NFR

BY THE NUMBERS $18K The amount of money ($18,863) earned by tie-down roper Riley Webb on his way to winning the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash., on Sept. 10. $29K The amount of money ($29,093) earned by Stetson Wright during his title-winning performance at the Pendleton Whisky Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale, Sept. 12 in Pendleton, Ore. $112K The payout ($112,800) for the Pendleton Whisky Xtreme Bulls Finale Sept. 11-12 at Happy Canyon Arena in Pendleton. $648K The payout ($648,000) at the Cinch Playoffs Sept. 7-10 in Puyallup, Wash.

On Sept. 14, Las Vegas Events launched a new campaign to celebrate the preparation for the return of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® in December. Entitled ‘You Never Know Who You’ll Meet in December,’ the multi-platform campaign features all the 2022 PRCA World Champions, Miss Rodeo America and a collection of Las Vegas personalities and icons.

Kennadee Riggs, are the following individuals and groups: John

Katsilometes, Chippendales, Blue Man Group, UNLV Athletics, Steve Goedert, KA, Vegas Golden Knights,

and a year later could only do two tricks. Mitzi did two others and between them they were able to fulfill Tad’s contractual obligations. When Mitzi wasn’t in school, she and her mom traveled far and wide to rodeos including Chicago, Boston, Houston, Calgary, Cheyenne, Madison Square Garden in New York City, and her favorite the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Mitzi and Tad performed as a specialty act for 20 years. Mitzi graduated from Arlington Heights High School in 1946 and attended John Tarleton Agricultural College in Stephenville, Texas, and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. She is an honoree of the National Cowgirl Museum’s Hall of Fame in Fort Worth and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum’s Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. She served on the board of directors of the Rodeo Historical Society, a subsidiary of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Andy Seiler, Penn & Teller, Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Wayne Newton, and Terry Fator. The campaign was shot on site at the Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort as part of the annual content shoot for the Wrangler NFR. “There is not another annual event that transforms the look and feel of our city like the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo,” said LVE President Tim Keener. “From our research and direct correspondence with our fans, we know that they are amazed every year by the ability to meet their favorite rodeo athletes, Vegas personality or entertainer in person. In December, during those 10 days, anything is possible.” More information can also be found at NFRexperience.com/YouNeverKnow.

Two rodeo figures passed away recently. • Skee Cameron Burkes of Henrietta, Texas, passed Sept. 9, while competing in the ranch bronc riding event at the PRCA’s West Texas Fair & Rodeo, Abilene, Texas. He was 26. Burkes entered the rodeo through the United Professional Rodeo Association. • Mitzi Lucas Riley , a world famous trick rider and daughter of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Tad Lucas, passed peacefully, Aug. 29 in Fort Worth, Texas. She was 95. Born Jan. 19, 1928, in Fort Worth, Texas, at Harris Hospital to champion cowboy Buck Lucas and ProRodeo Hall of Fame mother, Tad. Raised on the back of a horse watching her famous mother perform in rodeo arenas all over the United States, Mitzi’s debut as a rodeo performer was made at the 1934 Colorado State Fair rodeo at the age of 6. Tad had shattered her arm in a trick riding accident in 1933 at the Chicago World’s Fair The initiative will include a comprehensive digital and social campaign, inclusion on NFRexperience.com, as well as a :30 television spot to run on The Cowboy Channel leading up to the start of the Wrangler NFR. The event kicks off on Thursday, Dec. 7 and runs for 10 consecutive days at the Thomas & Mack Center, welcoming hundreds of thousands of fans to Las Vegas. During that time, there will be more than 75 individual acts playing in arenas and showrooms up and down the Las Vegas Strip and downtown. Appearing in the campaign, along with the 2022 PRCA World Champions and Miss Rodeo America

Rodeo passings announced

For more ProRodeo coverage, go to www.prorodeo.com

ProRodeo Sports News 9/15/2023

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