What Rodeo Job Titles Actually Mean ... And How Many Exist Across the Industry

The Houston LIvestock Show & Rodeo creating a Chief Operating Officer/ General Manager role is a big signal, but it also raises a bigger question: What do these titles actually mean in rodeo, and how common are they across the country?

How Rodeo Leadership Is Structured

Unlike traditional corporations, professional rodeo is not one unified company. It is a mix of:

• Nonprofit rodeo committees

• Fair & livestock show organizations

• City or county-run events

• Private stock contractor businesses

• Sanctioning bodies like the PRCA

Because of that, job titles vary widely depending on the size and structure of the rodeo leadership roles tyupically break down.

Executive director/ceo

This is the most common top leadership role in rodeo.

• Oversees the entire organization

• Reports to a board of directors

• Responsible for long-term strategy, finances, and mission

• Common in nonprofit rodeos and livestock shows

Examples: Houston Rodeo (CEO), San Antonio Rodeo (CEO), Fort Worth Stock Show (President/GM Hybrid)

Estimated across the U.S.: Roughly 150-250 rodeos and livestock shows have a full-time Executive Director or CEO-type role.

General Manager (GM)

This role focuses more on operations and execution.

• Runs day-to-day event logistics

• Oversees staff, vendors, and production

• Often reports to the CEO or board

• Common in mid-size to large rodeos

In some organizations, the GM is the top leader. In others, they are second-in-command.

Estimated across the U.S.: Approximately 75-100 rodeos have a formal General Manager role.

chief operating officer (CO)

This is still relatively rare in rodeo.

• Oversees operations across multiple departments

• Aligns logistics, production, and execution

• Usually exists only in very large, complex organizations

• Often paired with a CEO or President

Houston creating a COO role is notable because it reflects a more corporate-style structure.

Estimated across the U.S.: Likely fewer than 10-20 rodeos have a true COO position.

Combined coo / general manager roles

Some large rodeos combine these responsibilities into one position, like Houston just did.

• Oversees both the strategy execution and daily operations

• Acts as the bridge between leadership vision and event delivery

• Requires experience in sponsorship, ticketing, operations, and production

Estimated across the U.S.: Probably fewer than 10 organizations operate with this combined structure.

Why Most Rodeos Do Not Have These Roles

Tha majority of rodeos in the U.S. are smaller, volunteer-driven events.

• Many rely on committees instead of full-time executives

• Leadership is often part-time or seasonal

• Budgets do not support multiple C-level positions

Out of the 600+ PRCA-sanctioned rodeos and hundreds more independent events:

• Only a small percentage operate like full-scale businesses

• Even fewer have corporate-style leadership structures

What’s Houston’s Recent Move Really Signals

Houston is not the norm - it’s top tier.

Events like Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Denver, and Calgary operate more like major entertainment companies than traditional rodeos. They manage:

• Multi-week events

• Millions of attendees

• Large sponsorship portfolios

• Concert series

• Year-round programming

At that scale, having a COO or GM is not optional - it is necessary.

The Big Picture

Across the entire professional rodeo lanscape in the United States:

• Executive Director / CEO Roles: ~ 150-250

• General Manager roles: ~ 75-150

• COO roles: ~10-20

• Combined COO/GM roles: fewer than 10

That means true corporate-style leadership exists in only a small fraction of rodeo organizations.

The Significance of These Numbers

Rodeo is evolving.

The biggest events are becoming complex business operations that require leadership with experience in:

• Spnosorship and partnerships

• Ticketing and revenue strategy

• Event production

• Guest experience

• Operations management

Houston’s new role is not just about one hire, though. It signifies that the top end of rodeo is moving toward a more structured, professional business model, while the majority of rodeos still operate on tradition, volunteers, and community leadership.

Both models matter.

But understanding the difference is key to understanding where the industry is headed.

Lanita Peirce Just Gave Rodeo the Kind of Story Sports Fans Remember

Lanita Peirce winning the 2026 Cody Stampede barrel racing title at 76 years yooung is the kind of rodeo story that should travel far beyond the arena.

Peirce won Cody on Famous Wahini with a 17.06-second run and earned $11,308. Even more remarkable, BarrelRacing.com reported that it had been 33 years since she last made a run at the Wyoming rodeo.

This isn’t just a good run, this is a full-circle western sports moment.

Rodeo often talks about grit, longevity, toughness, and staying power. Peirce’s win puts all of those words into one clean example. At an age when most athletes in most sports are decades removed from serious competition, she entered one of the most recognizable rodeos in the country and won.

Barrel racing is not a ceremonial event. It is fast, technical, physically demanding, and brutally unforgiving. The ride has to make decisions in fractions of a second. The horse has to stay honest, explosive, balanced, and locked in. One tipped barrel, one wide turn, one bad approach, and the run is gone.

This win also reminds people that the horse industry isn’t built only around youth and novelty. Experience matters. Timing matters. Horse sense matters. The relationship between rider and horse matters. A story like this gives rodeo fans something deeper than a result sheet. It gives them a champion to cheer for.

While on paper this might be a competitive rodeo result, it is also a story about horsemanship, patience, and what it means to keep showing up. It also gives marketing value to the sport. Rodeo needs stories that casual fans can understand quickly. “A 76 year-old barrel racer wins Cody Stampede” is immediately compelling. You don’t need to know the standings, bloodlines, or qualifying systems to recognize that this is special.

Why Prescott Still Matters in Modern Rodeo

Prescott Frontier Days wraps today, and its closing performance deserves attention for more than nostalgia.

Known as the World’s Oldest Rodeo, Prescott sits in a rare position in the western world. It is both a professional rodeo and a heritage institution. Rodeo is a sport that is constantly trying to balance two things at once: honoring where it came from and proving it still belongs in the modern entertainment conversation.

Prescott helps do both.

The 2026 rodeo runs June 29 through July 5, placing it directly inside one of the busiest and most meaningful stretches of the summer season. While many fans are tracking Cowboy Christmas earnings and standings movement, Prescott also gives the industry something deeper to talk about: continuity.

Rodeo did not become a national sport by accident. It grew out of working traditions, local celebrations, stock-handling skills, horsemanship, ranch communities, and people gathering to test themselves in front of their neighbors. Historic rodeos like Prescott keep that origin story visible.

That does not mean the event is stuck in the past. Like every major rodeo, Prescott has to operate in today’s world of ticketing, sponsorships, fan experience, safety, entertainment, media, and tourism. But its value comes from the fact that it can modernize without losing its identity.

That is the real lesson.

The strongest rodeos are not the ones that abandon tradition to chase trends. They are the ones who understand which traditions still mean something and build around them with better production, stronger marketing, and clearer storytelling.

That is where event production and marketing begin to overlap in a meaningful way. It is not just about putting on a clean show or selling tickets. It is about shaping how the audience experiences the story of the rodeo from the moment they see a social post to the moment they leave the grandstands. Every detail, from the opening ceremony to the music cues, announcer tone, sponsor integration, and visual branding, either reinforces the identity of the event or dilutes it.

Katie Schrock of Western Insights Media often frames this as a storytelling problem, not just a marketing one. Rodeos already have powerful stories built into them: heritage, grit, competition, family, and place. The challenge is making sure those stories are communicated clearly and consistently across every touchpoint. When production and marketing teams are aligned, the rodeo becomes more than a series of events. It becomes a narrative that fans can follow, connect with, and return to year after year.

That approach also changes how success is measured. It is not only about attendance numbers or ticket revenue. It is about whether fans understand what makes that rodeo different. It is about whether they remember it, talk about it, and feel connected to it after they leave. Strong storytelling creates loyalty, and loyalty is what sustains historic rodeos like Prescott in a crowded entertainment landscape.

Prescott is a useful reminder that rodeo’s history is not just background information. It is a competitive advantage. Fans want excitement, but they also want a reason to care. Heritage gives them that reason.

As Prescott closes out its 2026 run, the story is not simply that another rodeo week is ending.

The story is that one of rodeo’s oldest stages is still relevant.

Cowboy Christmas 2026 Preview: Riley Webb

Cowboy Christmas Is Where The NFR Race Starts Getting Real

Riley Webb is sitting comfortably at the top of the world standings, reportedly leading by nearly $42,000. But behind him, the race gets much tighter. Ty Harris is holding the No. 15 position by less than $700, and several ropers are close enough to change the picture with one strong weekend.

That is what makes Cowboy Christmas one of the most important stretches in professional rodeo.

For casual fans, it can look like a busy run of rodeos around the Fourth of July. For contestants, it is something very different. It is a high-pressure, high-mileage, high-opportunity sprint where every run can shift the standings. A cowboy sitting outside the Top 15 can suddenly become part of the National Finals Rodeo conversation. A veteran can protect his position. A rookie can make a name for himself. A leader can stretch the gap.

This is also when rodeo storytelling gets sharper.

By the time December arrives in Las Vegas, fans know the names that made the NFR. But the stories that get them there often begin right now. Cowboy Christmas is where momentum becomes measurable. It is where consistency gets rewarded. It is where one missed calf, one barrier, one fast time, or one big check can change the season.

For media, sponsors, and rodeo fans, this is the stretch to watch closely. The standings are not just numbers. They are early indicators of who is heating up, who is hanging on, and who may be about to break through.

Tie-down roping is a strong example because the bubble is so tight. When the difference between No. 15 and the next group is measured in hundreds or a few thousand dollars, every rodeo matters. That creates urgency, tension, and a reason for fans to pay attention before the NFR field is set.

The next two weeks will not decide everything. But they will shape a lot.

Cowboy Christmas has always been one of rodeo’s defining runs. This year, the tie-down roping race is giving fans a clean reason to start watching now.

Houston Rodeo's $300 Million Ag Complex is Bigger Than a Building Project

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is making one of the biggest moves in modern western events: a new $300 million agricultural and livestock complex.

The project is expected to cover more than 1 million square feet and include new barns, a central building, and covered cattle-yard space. It is being described as the largest facilities investment in the organization’s 95-year history, with a target opening ahead of the 2029 rodeo season.

But this story is bigger than square footage.

For the western world, Houston’s investment is a clear signal that rodeo’s future is not only in the arena. It is in livestock education, youth programs, horse shows, auctions, ag events, and year-round community use. The biggest rodeo organizations in the country are no longer treating agriculture as a side piece of the event. They are building infrastructure around it.

That matters because the livestock and agriculture side of rodeo is often what gives the sport its deepest roots. The concerts may bring in casual fans. The rodeo performances may sell the tickets. But livestock shows, FFA and 4-H participation, scholarships, breeding programs, youth exhibitors, and agricultural education are what connect rodeo to the next generation.

This new complex also points to a bigger trend across western events: rodeos are becoming full-scale western lifestyle platforms. The strongest events are not just producing one week of entertainment. They are creating economic engines, educational hubs, tourism drivers, and community gathering places.

For Houston, this investment strengthens its position as one of the most influential western events in the country. For the rest of the industry, it raises the bar.

Not every rodeo can build a $300 million complex. Most cannot. But every rodeo can look at this move and ask the same strategic question: are we only selling tickets, or are we building something that serves agriculture, youth, sponsors, and western culture year-round?

That is the real takeaway.

Houston is not just expanding facilities. It is reinforcing the idea that rodeo’s future depends on keeping agriculture visible, valuable, and central to the story.

Cowboy Christmas Is Where the NFR Race Starts to Get Expensive

That point usually arrives somewhere between late June and the Fourth of July.

In rodeo, they call it Cowboy Christmas. The name sounds charming, almost quaint, like a dusty holiday built around truck stop coffee, fireworks, and a stack of entry confirmations. In reality, it is one of the most economically consequential stretches of the professional rodeo season.

For roughly ten days, contestants can run at a concentration of high-paying rodeos that rarely exists anywhere else on the calendar. Greeley. Ponoka. St. Paul. Cody. Prescott. Livingston. Red Lodge. Oakley City. Molalla. Belle Fourche. Basin City. Benalto. And a long list of smaller but strategically useful rodeos that can turn one good week into a season-altering swing.

This is not just the busy part of the year.

This is the part where the math starts to get serious.

The NFR Cutline is not a feeling. It is a number.

The National Finals Rodeo takes the Top 15 in each event at the end of the regular season. That phrase, “Top 15,” gets used so often t can lose its weight. But the number required to get there is substantial.

Heading into the 2025 National Finals Rodeo, the No. 15 cutoff in major PRCA/WPRA events generally landed between about $100,000 and $145,000 in regular-season earnings. The low end was breakaway roping, where No. 15 Macy Young entered with $100,028. Steer wrestling’s No. 15, Gavin Soileau, entered with $105,899. Team roping headers and heelers were just above that, at $114,736 and $111,672, respectively. Tie-down roping required $126,957. Bareback riding required $129,951. Bull riding required $138,918. Saddle bronc riding was the highest of this group, with No. 15 Lefty Holman entering at $144,872. Barrel racing’s published 2025 field showed Katelyn Scott in the No. 15 position with $130,763.

Put another way: across those nine NFR event categories, the 2025 average No. 15 threshold was roughly $122,644.

That is the number Cowboy Christmas begins to chase.

A contestant who wins $25,000 to $35,000 over the Fourth of July run has not merely had a good week. They may have banked 20% to 30% of what it took, on average, to make the NFR in 2025.

That is why this stretch matters.

Why the Fourth of July pays differently

The rodeo economy is not evenly distributed.

There are rodeos that matter because of prestige. There are rodeos that matter because of history. There are rodeos that matter because of geography - don’t forget, contestants are still battling for year-end circuit finals as well. And then there are rodeos that matter because the checks are large enough to alter a contestant’s season in one trip.

Cowboy Christmas is where all of those things stack.

St. Paul Rodeo in Oregon says contestants compete for nearly $500,000 in prize money, with top competitors taking home individual winnings as large as $10,000. Cody Stampede, according to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, draws 800-900 contestants and has a payout of more than $400,000, while also being a one-header rodeo, which means contestants can compete once and keep moving. Greeley Stampede has recently been reported as paying more than $400,000 as well. Ponoka Stampede’s format can produce large individual outcomes, especially through its finals and showdown structure.

That structure is why Cowboy Christmas is not only about talent. It is about logistics.

A contestant has to draw well, compete well, drive all night, manage horses, manage injuries, hit the right set of rodeos, and make the kind of decisions that do not show up in a results sheet. Do you chase the biggest check? Do you take the rodeo that fits your horse? Do you skip a rodeo to keep one fresh? Do you enter a smaller stop because it is on the route and the odds are better?

The standings reward money. But Cowboy Christmas tests judgment.

The case studies

Halyn Lide

In 2024, barrel racer Halyn Lide became a clean example of what this stretch can do.

Lide was the highest-earning barrel racer over Cowboy Christmas, with reported earnings of roughly $32,550 across the Fourth of July run. Her money came from major stops including Ponoka, Greeley, and Oakley, Utah. She won Greeley and Oakley, and also picked up a go-round win at Ponoka.

The result was not just a good week. It changed the way people talked about her season.

By late November, The Cowboy Channel framed Lide as a first-time NFR qualifier and pointed back to her Cowboy Christmas earnings as a major piece of that climb. That is the function of this run: it turns “watch her” into “she is in the race.”

For fans, that is the moment to pay attention. Not in December, when the back numbers are already assigned. In July, when a contestant starts putting pressure on the bubble.

Emily Beisel

Emily Beisel offers the veteran version of the same story.

In 2024, Beisel finished just behind Lide among Cowboy Christmas barrel racing earners, with $30,211. The breakdown is the important part: $17,460 at Ponoka, $11,086 at St. Paul, and $1,665 at Red Lodge.

That kind of week does two things. First, it moves money into the standings quickly. Second, it confirms a competitor’s summer strategy.

Beisel was not an unknown name. She was already one of the sport’s proven winners. But Cowboy Christmas can serve veterans differently than rookies. For a new name, it creates attention. For a veteran, it creates separation.

In a season where the No. 15 barrel racing cutoff was around $130,000 the following year, a $30,000 Fourth of July run represents nearly a quarter of that benchmark.

That is not momentum as a metaphor. That is momentum as arithmetic.

Riley Webb

Tie-down roper Riley Webb delivered the 2025 version.

Webb reportedly won $32,537 during Cowboy Christmas 2025, with checks at Cody, St. Paul, Killdeer, Basin City, Livingston, and Greeley. The largest piece came from St. Paul, where he won $16,235. He also added $5,090 at Basin City, $4,599 at Greeley, and $4,376 at Cody.

Compare that to the 2025 NFR tie-down roping cutoff: Shane Hanchey entered the NFR at No. 15 with $126,957. Webb’s Fourth of July run alone was equal to roughly 25.6% of that threshold.

That is the scale of the opportunity.

A single week cannot make an NFR season by itself. But a week like that can change the pressure of every rodeo that follows. It can move a contestant from chasing the bubble to defending a position. It can make a sponsor notice. It can make media start writing the name differently. It can make every check in August and September feel like a step toward Las Vegas rather than a rescue mission.

What fans should watch

Cowboy Christmas is not only about who wins the famous rodeos. Sometimes the more interesting story is who places everywhere.

A roughstock rider who wins one major rodeo can make a leap. A timed-event contestant who places at five stops may do even more damage. A barrel racer who gets through Ponoka, Greeley, St. Paul, and a smaller rodeo with clean runs can suddenly become impossible to ignore.

The names to watch are not only the world No. 1s. They are the contestants sitting from roughly No. 12 to No. 25 in the standings before the run begins.

That is the volatile zone.

A contestant already inside the Top 10 can use Cowboy Christmas to build distance. A contestant sitting just outside the Top 15 can use it to break in. A rookie can use it to become a storyline. A veteran can use it to remind everyone that summer rodeo is not won by hype, but by cashing checks in places most fans only see as dots on a map.

Why this matters for rodeo media

For That Western Life, Cowboy Christmas is exactly the kind of stretch that deserves more attention.

Rodeo coverage often gets loudest when champions are crowned. But the more interesting story often starts earlier, when the standings are still unsettled and the sport has not yet agreed on who matters.

This is where the NFR race begins to sharpen.

This is where unknown names become dangerous.

This is where good horses become famous.

This is where a contestant can go from “having a decent year” to “we need to talk about them.”

And this is where fans can learn to watch rodeo differently.

The Fourth of July run is not just a holiday tradition. It is a market correction. It rewards the contestants who can win, travel, manage risk, and keep performing when the sport asks the most from them in the shortest window.

By the time December arrives, the NFR field can feel inevitable.

In July, it is still being built.

10 Rodeos For Your Summer 2023 Bucket List

These rodeos offer a great summer experience and a chance to see some of the top cowboys and cowgirls compete. Many of these events also offer additional activities such as concerts, parades, and other festivities that add to the overall experience. Again, it's always a good idea to research the event before attending to ensure that it meets your preferences and interests.

Pendleton Round Up

pendleton, oregon

The Pendleton Round-Up is an annual rodeo event held in Pendleton, Oregon, USA. The event takes place over four days in mid-September and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.

Founded in 1910, the Pendleton Round-Up is one of the oldest rodeos in the United States and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Pendleton Round-Up also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.

Pendleton, Oregon is located in the heart of the Columbia River Plateau and is known for its western heritage and outdoor recreation opportunities. The Pendleton Round-Up is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Pendleton and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

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Cheyenne Frontier Days

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo is an annual rodeo event held in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It is one of the largest and most well-known rodeos in the world, attracting top rodeo athletes and thousands of visitors each year. The event typically takes place over ten days in July and features a variety of rodeo events, including bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, and barrel racing.

In addition to the rodeo events, the Cheyenne Frontier Days also offers a wide range of other activities and entertainment, including concerts, carnival rides, parades, western-themed exhibitions, and food and drink vendors. The event has a rich history dating back to 1897, and it has become a beloved tradition for many rodeo fans and Western enthusiasts.

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Calgary Stampede

Calgary, Alberta, canada

The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The event takes place for ten days in July and features a wide range of activities and attractions, including professional rodeo competitions, live music and entertainment, carnival rides and games, agricultural exhibitions, and a variety of food and drink vendors.

The Stampede is considered one of the largest rodeos in the world, attracting top rodeo athletes from around the globe who compete for a share of a significant prize money purse. The rodeo events include bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, and barrel racing, among others.

Beyond the rodeo events, the Calgary Stampede is also known for its unique western-style experiences, including the daily parade of floats, marching bands, and various performers dressed in cowboy attire. The event is a significant cultural and tourism attraction in Calgary and has become a beloved tradition for many Canadians and visitors from around the world.

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Sisters Rodeo

Sisters, oregon

The Sisters Rodeo is an annual rodeo event held in Sisters, Oregon, USA. The event takes place over four days in June and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, barrel racing, steer roping, and team roping, among others.

Founded in 1940, the Sisters Rodeo has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Sisters Rodeo also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, a kids rodeo, and food and drink vendors.

The Sisters Rodeo prides itself on being a family-friendly event that celebrates the unique heritage and culture of the American West. It is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

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Greeley Stampede

Greeley, Colorado

Greeley, Colorado is a city located in Weld County in northern Colorado, USA. It is known for its rich agricultural history, as well as its vibrant arts and culture scene.

One of Greeley's biggest events is the annual Greeley Stampede, a ten-day festival that takes place in late June and early July. The Greeley Stampede features a range of activities and entertainment, including professional rodeo competitions, live music, carnival rides and games, food and drink vendors, and western-themed exhibitions.

In addition to the Greeley Stampede, the city of Greeley offers a range of other attractions and amenities, including several parks and nature areas, a thriving downtown district, and a variety of museums and cultural institutions. Greeley is also home to the University of Northern Colorado, a public research university that offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

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Cody Stampede Rodeo

Cody, Wyoming

The Cody Stampede is an annual rodeo event held in Cody, Wyoming, USA. The event takes place over four days in early July and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.

Founded in 1919, the Cody Stampede has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Cody Stampede also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.

Cody, Wyoming is known as the "Rodeo Capital of the World," and the Cody Stampede is one of the city's biggest events. It is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. In addition to the rodeo, Cody offers a range of other attractions and amenities, including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West museum, the Yellowstone Regional Airport, and access to nearby outdoor recreation areas such as Yellowstone National Park and the Shoshone National Forest.

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Snake River Stampede

Nampa, Idaho

The Snake River Stampede is an annual rodeo event held in Nampa, Idaho, USA. The event takes place over five days in mid-July and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.

Founded in 1913, the Snake River Stampede is one of the oldest rodeos in the United States and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Snake River Stampede also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.

Nampa, Idaho is located in the heart of the Treasure Valley and is known for its rich agricultural history and outdoor recreation opportunities. The Snake River Stampede is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Nampa and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

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California Rodeo Salinas

Salinas, california

The California Rodeo Salinas is an annual rodeo event held in Salinas, California, USA. The event takes place over four days in mid-July and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, and barrel racing, among others.

Founded in 1911, the California Rodeo Salinas is one of the largest rodeos in California and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the California Rodeo Salinas also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.

Salinas, California is located in the heart of the fertile Salinas Valley and is known for its agricultural heritage and scenic beauty. The California Rodeo Salinas is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Salinas and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

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Sheridan WYO Rodeo

Sheridan, wyoming

The Sheridan WYO Rodeo is an annual rodeo event held in Sheridan, Wyoming, USA. The event takes place over four days in mid-July and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.

Founded in 1931, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo is one of the largest rodeos in Wyoming and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.

Sheridan, Wyoming is located in the heart of the scenic Bighorn Mountains and is known for its western heritage and outdoor recreation opportunities. The Sheridan WYO Rodeo is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Sheridan and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

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Ellensburg Rodeo

Ellensburg, washington

The Ellensburg Rodeo is an annual rodeo event held in Ellensburg, Washington, USA. The event takes place over four days in early September and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.

Founded in 1923, the Ellensburg Rodeo is one of the oldest and most historic rodeos in the United States and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Ellensburg Rodeo also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.

Ellensburg, Washington is located in the heart of the Kittitas Valley and is known for its western heritage and scenic beauty. The Ellensburg Rodeo is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Ellensburg and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

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Calgary Stampede is ON for 2021!

Ivy Conrado-Saebens makes a barrel racing run on her mare, JLo, at the 2019 Calgary Stampede. In Alberta, one of the early, major blows of the COVID-19 pandemic was the cancellation of the Calgary Stampede in 2020. PHOTO BY AZIN GHAFFARI/POSTMEDIA/FILE

April 5, 2021 (Alberta, Canada) - The National Post announced last week that not only is the Calgary Stampede back on for 2021, but that a private member’s bill passed unanimously in the Canadian legislature to make rodeo the province’s official sport. With large agricultural routes, rodeo is thought to have arrived in Calgary via a spillover of the American West.

The Calgary Stampede is one of the five largest rodeos in the world and the province of Alberta was hit hard when they had to cancel in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As they move towards the 2021 event, perhaps modified as many other rodeos are forcing to do, it’s a relief to see rodeo return to the rural communities who rely on them economically.

PRCA Cowboys Bring American Bucking Stock to Australia

(March 17, 2021) - St. Patrick’s day may be one of four-leaf clovers and luck, but the birth of a beautiful bucking horse colt in Australia wasn’t a story of luck, it was the story of hard work, passion and dedication to the sport of rodeo. Astro Bells, a bucking horse from Pickett Pro Rodeo, flew to Australia after being bred to a son of 2020 World Champion Top Flight. Astro Bells is also a sister to Top Flight and Uncapped, and is out of a 2020 National Finals Rodeo daughter sired by Night Jacket.

Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association bronc rider Anthony Thomas long held dreams with good friend Jack Morris to bring the legendary bucking stock of America to their homeland of Australia. Thomas has long been a force in the bronc riding arena.

The birth of a colt is even more exciting for the opportunity to watch as this colt sires offspring to be used in Australian pro rodeo. Thank you to Anthony for sharing on his social media about this great event and an exciting future for rodeo overseas!

First Ever Rodeo Related Club on Clubhouse - That Rodeo Life

Saturday, March 6, 2021 - The That Western Life team is so excited to announce that we officially have the FIRST rodeo related club on Clubhouse - That Rodeo Life! While we love our That Western Life name, our blog operated under a variety of different names depending on whether the topics are related to agricultural, ranching, fashion, advocacy, etc. This Club will play host to some amazing rooms dedicated to networking, growing your brand name, marketing your rodeo, and event-specific room breakdowns!

Join us on the app today and shoot us a message either on here or at That Western Life on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to start a conversation about a room collaboration today!

Dona Kay Rule Test Positive for COVID-19 and is OUT of the 2020 NFR

(December 3, 2020) - Rumors broke early Thursday morning of Round 1 of the National Finals Rodeo. Barrel Racer Dona Kay Rule, who enters the NFR sitting in third place, roughly $19,000 behind leader Britany Pozzi Tonozzi, tested positive for COVID-19 and, per the supposed PRCA restrictions, will not be allowed to compete.

Posted at 10:45 am PST on Dona Kay Rules official instagram. Click to see more comments.

In a post on Instagram, Dona thanks fans for their support and to let us know that she feels healthy with zero symptoms. Called up is Jessie Telford of Idaho who was sitting #16 in the world standings. Here’s a post she made around 8:49 PST on Instagram. Click the link below to see more of the commentary.

Here’s the rumors we know:

• All the contestants were required to take a test.

• It’s known that if they test positive, they are out for the remainder of the NFR.

• Random athletes will be tested each day of the NFR.

This poses a number of questions in regards to what is happening in the WPRA and PRCA for the NFR. An inconsistency across the board and lack of transparency to fans could prove detrimental during an event so many hoped to see happen.

That Western Life Podcast

Riled Up With Ryle Smith

Texas (June 19, 2019) - Join us for episode 12 of the That Western Life podcast where hosts Lisa, Rachel & Katie chat with National Finals Rodeo steer wrestler and tie-down roper Ryle Smith. Originally from California, Ryle and his beautiful wife & daughter now live in Texas where they are chasing the rodeo dream! Balancing rodeo and family life isn’t easy though and Ryle takes us through some great stories about living the western lifestyle with his beautiful family!

If you enjoyed Ryle’s episode of the That Western Life podcast, we recommend that you listen to:

• Ep. 9 - Steer Wrestler Jesse Brown

• Ep. 11 - Live With Lucia’s Anthony Lucia

• Ep. 3 - JJ Harrison

Live With Lucia's Anthony Lucia [Podcast]

Live With Lucia is one of the premier shows to watch during Cowboy Christmas of the National Finals Rodeo and we have none other than Anthony Lucia himself on the show! From his career in entertainment as a child, following his father and Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey to some of the biggest international venues, to announcing rodeos, hosting his own talk show, and being a team roper - Anthony Lucia is a God-Fearing and Texas loving cowboy! Oh, did we mention he just married the former Miss Rodeo America and That Western Life podcast co-host Lisa (Lageschaar) Lucia?

Do you love team roping? We recommend Episode 5 with X-Factor’s Pace Freed!

Interested in the world of rodeo entertainment? We recommend Episode 3 with JJ Harrison!

X Factor Roping & Pace Freed

That Western Life Podcast Season 1: Episode 5
X Factor Roping & Pace Freed

“Before I do anything, I ask myself ‘Would an idiot do that?’ and, if the answer is yes, I do not do that thing.” - Pace Freed … sort of?

Growing up on cattle ranches in Idaho, Nevada, and Utah, Pace Freed quickly developed a passion for roping and, specifically, team roping. This led to his creation of X Factor Roping; an all inclusive media program that helps to educate and instruct the future and current generation of team ropers, while also providing analysis, tips, and professional insight from the best in the business. Not only that, but they also livestream some of the biggest team roping events in the country!

Join our That Western Life podcast team as we get the opportunity to interview Pace about his current journey in the world of rodeo and team roping, changes he wants to see in professional rodeo, all things X Factor Roping and the future of his amazing business!

Current ProRodeo Cowboy

X Factor Roping is in its fourth year and has been full time for Pace for the past two and a half years. Balancing a full time business while also finding the time to be able to professionally rope has been a challenge. A successful circuit finals has allowed Pace the opportunity to head to the Ram National Circuit Finals in Kissimmee, Florida, soon which has him rightfully excited about his 2019 season. After not spending much of 2018 rodeoing, Pace has found himself unable to enter the limited-entry Texas winter rodeos, meaning that the RNCFR provides a great opportunity for him to get a head start in the standings.

Podcast Bonus Story: Learn more about Pace and his team roping partner and how they stay mentally strong throughout the season.

What Changes Could Help the PRCA Benefit?

There are many different working pieces when it comes to rodeo; from the added money, stock, and the set-up. It is a very fine balance to get correct for producers and contestants. While rodeo is getting better all the time, Pace believes that we need to continue focusing on the relationships that contestants have with producers, stock contractors and sponsors. This year alone could require the largest amount of money ever needed to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Having those smaller rodeos count, those circuit final monies, and the All American ProRodeo Series Finals counting towards the world standings is very important. it helps those that can’t get out every single week to compete, allowing them to also work a full time job, and having a good rodeo at one of those rodeos can give you the funds and confidence to take the next step in a more rigorous rodeo schedule.

“You hope for the best opportunities and then you do the best that you can when you get them.”

Rodeo Series Highlight; The All American ProRodeo Series

By removing the All American ProRodeo series and the subsequent finals that counted towards the World Standings for the next year, it lessens the focus on attending smaller rodeos. In episode three, we talked with JJ Harrison about the importance of those small rodeos and the communities that are the backbone of professional rodeo.

On the flip side, the counting of those monies meant that some of the larger names in rodeo were found at those rodeos competing to make those finals. It can make it challenging for those up and coming contestants to have to knock out those big names to make those finals.

Podcast Bonus Story: “Can you explain the All American, not to be confused with the American Rodeo, in the PRCA?”

Pace Freed’s Backstory

Texas by way of Idaho

“I grew up in Idaho and spent a lot of time in Arizona and Nevada… which were great opportunities for me. My family is from Utah and Idaho, but I felt that if I wanted to get to a high level of roping… I had to be closer to where I could knock heads with the best guys in the world,’ says Pace about his move to Texas.

X Factor Roping came about when Pace realized that he needed something outside of roping, but was still very passionate about the industry. Take care of business as much as possible and roping every day as well has created the ultimate dream setup for Pace. By staying consistent, he finds that it’ll all work out.

“I can’t waste time, I feel guilty if I don’t wake up really early in the morning,” Pace says about his work ethic and how he stays mentally committed to his multitude of goals. A typical day for him includes the gym, working until he can get outside to work horses, and then working some more.

Podcast Bonus Story: Family ranch history with the ropings they produce and the hoses that they raise.

Horse Power

Futurities, training, barrel horses, and rope horses; these are just a few of the specialities that Pace’s family focuses’ on. A seven-year old horse that he’s riding now, he was also able to ride both the sire and dam in competition. These horses that they have raised has provided a unique opportunity for Pace to continue the equine breeding legacy of his family.

Podcast Bonus Story: Family ranch history with the ropings they produce and the horses that they raise.

“I have another horse that is starting to get in the mix a little bit…he is my sisters horse, she rode him in the World Series Finale when he was four,” says Pace about his current horsepower.

Pace breaks down the difference of his various horses that he uses and where they are the most competitive (i.e. jackpot vs. rodeo, etc.). Switching over to Honey Badger for the 2019 rodeo season has resulted in a big move for him in success.

Podcast Bonus Story: If you got to ride and compete on a fellow contestants horse, whose would it be?

Biggest Win to Date

“That’s an interesting question… to me money doesn’t matter … the best wins are easily the ones where I am dead broke and you’re on your last dollars … riding a horse you bred … [those are] the favorite ones.”

Despite the thrill of winning large amounts of money or the time he won a truck when he was 15 years-old, Pace finds his biggest wins are backing a horse you bred, raised and/or trained yourself into a box for big money or big opportunities.

Podcast Bonus Story: Pace talks about barrel horse stud Frenchmens Guy bloodlines and how those horses work in the rodeo arena and the roping box.

Podcast Bonus Story: Most embarrassing story as a team roper.

Podcast Bonus Story: If you had to do one other every, which would you pick?

If You Could Change or Create One PRCA Rule, What Would It Be?

“I don’t like how the vote is set up and rules are passed right now,” says Pace about one of our favorite That Western Life podcast questions.

While he wants it to tilt more in the cowboys favor, Pace recognizes that it has to have a business background. Conversations and talks about growing the sport and that we are all on the same team are very important. In order to make more money, it is a give and take process that we need to continue to work for.

X Factor Roping

What is X Factor Roping?

Instructional videos for team ropers and ropers is how X Factor Roping first started. It has since branched out to create video content and instruction from some of the best competitors in the industry; showcasing the practice skills and mental fortitude needed to compete on the highest level. For the next level, they have started to do high speed camera filming for different jackpots and ropings, such as the Lonestar Shootout. An amazing opportunity, they have up to four different camera angles which gives both entertainment and educational analysis opportunities for the biggest name and the biggest atmospheres in the world of roping.

X Factor Roping Memberships

At $150.00 each for an annual membership, X Factor Roping provides hundreds of videos for aspiring and competing team ropers. An amazing price, it puts so much into roping and practices, you are able to gain quality information whenever you want. It is a great introduction and supplement to roping lessons that you are already taking.

Future of X Factor Roping

Scaling to the size of X Factor Roping as it grows and develops has been one of the more challenging aspects to balance meeting patron needs and ensuring that the business does not plateau. As technology becomes more prevalent, it provides opportunities to host events online and livestream different industry events besides just roping - such as horsemanship.

“I have no idea where exactly it’s going to be but I do know we have the gas pedal down and we are trying to be where we are kicking out the most and best content that we can to promote everybody in the industry that is doing a good job,” says Pace.

Conclusion

Make sure to follow X Factor Roping on all their online channels listed below, as well as Pace himself. You can get your membership to X Factor on their website here!

X Factor Channels

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Pace Freed

INSTAGRAM

PRCA Futures; New Year's Resolutions for Professional Rodeo

During the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo held in Las Vegas, Nevada, every December, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) takes the time to meet, present and educate rodeo committees and employees throughout the country at the PRCA’s Annual Convention. Join the That Western Life Podcasting team as they dig deeper into new hires and unofficial resolutions of the PRCA in 2019!

PRCA Convention

The PRCA Convention starts with the Chief Executive Office, George Taylor, giving his first ever address. His vision is very big, bringing in new people to help grow the PRCA, members and fans.

• Numbers were down last year.
  This concerning with the PRCA’s membership, the PRCA rodeos, even.

• Money was up from PRCA’s sponsors.
  This is exciting as this is what adds purse monies into our finals and into individual rodeos which, in turn, increases contestants.

• There were more fans here and there.
  New areas where we can watch rodeo such as the ProRodeo TV streaming app.

• Returning permits are going up.
  We aren’t losing out on contestants that are getting injured and moving forward.

Prediction: Membership will increase with the semi-retirement of Trevor Brazile, the King of the Cowboys.

George Taylor definitely comes across as more CEO, whereas his predecessor, Karl Stressman, came across as more cowboy. Both gentleman have worked very hard in their positions to promote the professional sport of rodeo. TWL Host Rachel was our on the ground correspondent at the convention thanks to the Lakeside Rodeo of San Diego.

George Taylor; the CEO’s Address at the PRCA Convention

For his first time addressing the entire membership that he’s been at the helm of, George Taylor is taking PRCA and his job as CEO by storm. He appears and looks to be fearless, one foot in front of the other to get things done. While there may have been a lot of conversation and uncertainty on social media as Taylor doesn’t come to the CEO position as a former rodeo athlete.

Just like the NFL or NBA, whose commissioners didn’t compete at the professional level for the sports that they have, Taylor can walk the walk and talk the talk. He’s coming in with an outside perspective it is giving him the ability to think outside of the box to the future of the PRCA.

Karl Stressman; Career in Review

Karl Stressman’s initiatives were to support contestants being able to stay local or regional and making it less of a financial burden to be a PRCA cardholder and have success. He promoted the 12 regional Circuit Finals and the National Circuit Finals.

A champion of the All American ProRodeo series, which was an association in the rodeo heavy states of Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, Stressman was able to get larger purses for those finals. For a rodeo to count, it must be $30,000 or less added money to any rodeo in the country. Contestants got 50 points for competing in an All American ProRodeo and then a point for every dollar won at those. Their finals, held in Waco, Texas, the second week in October but 2018 was the last year of those finals.

Finals dollars from the 12 Ram Circuit Finals, the Ram National Circuit Finals, and the All American ProRodeo Series counted in the world standings as of the 2017 seasons, but will no longer count in 2019. The 2018 season was the last of the two seasons that the finals money counts toward the world standings making it a very small “wink in time.”

These smaller finals allowed contestants to win more money to gain access to the limited-access rodeos like Rodeo Houston.

Mexican Rodeo Federation Addition

Stressman assisted creating the Mexican Rodeo Federation into the Ram National Circuit Finals as if they are their own circuit. When Stressman left office last year, he had Rodeos sanctioned in Brazil, Mexico and Canada that counted towards the world standings. Two contestants from each event came to Kissimmee, Florida, to compete for those finals.

Marcus Costa was the first Brazilian to win the tie-down roping in the 2017 world title. He also won the Top Gun award that year, joining Junior Noguiera (team roping heeler) to push for Brazilian success in timed events. It’s great to see rodeo expand and to watch people find success in professional rodeo.

What’s next for Karl Stressman?

Currently working with USTRC, we are interested to see what he will do with that association. They have over 30,000 members and over 100 qualifying events. It’ll be fun to watch to see how that grows and changes in the future. They have already joined forces with the WSTR, proving that being united in the sport of rodeo is the way to grow exponentially, which you can see through their discount in getting the memberships together.

New Hires to the PRCA: Anthony Bartkowski

Anthony Bartkowski has announced a focus on recruiting the grass roots organizations into the professional ranks and athlete development. Being an educator, host Lisa Lageschaar is a former teacher and firmly believes in the youth as the future of the PRCA. This will go hand-in-hand with the PRCA’s youth camps.

Director of Athlete Development and Animal Welfare

Bartkowski comes from all the rough and tumble sports like boxing and wrestling, he’s an outside force to be reckoned with when it comes to professional athlete events. A unique thing for him, is that he’ll be overseeing the operations of the livestock welfare - it should be interesting to see how he handles protestors before Houston or the NFR. Protestors have been seen at a variety of rodeos, even smaller Texas circuit rodeos not just in large, typically liberal cities.

We know the great care our animals receive and having someone like Anthony to be taking care of it. As the new CEO, Taylor needs to stay on top of the avalanche as Ringling Brothers ended their over 100 year run. How do we make sure that this fate doesn’t fall to rodeo? Is rodeo facing the same fate?

Director of Athlete Development

What can professional rodeo do for their contestants?

Rodeo really wants to go into mainstream sports but, unlike mainstream sports, rodeo doesn’t have teams with individual public relations teams to help them. Will there be an online platform to help educate those contestants remotely to help them carry themselves into the new era of rodeo?

At the PRCA convention they talked about the new website with in-depth information on contestants, the bucking stock, and the analysis of what a match up could look like. These stats can help you have prediction and game analysis going into an event which allows fans to have more investment into each match-up or a loyalty to a competitor. A lot of work, but it’ll be well worth it.

PRCA Rodeo Additions

The American Goes PRCA

Thanks to George Taylor, the famous 2-day one million dollar rodeo is now sanctioned with the PRCA as of 2019. Slated for March 2nd and 3rd, it’s going to pay out a lot of money to now count for the world standings.

How will it count:

• Contestants can still qualify in through the qualifying events in all events.

• As a qualifications based rodeo, money won won’t count for the current Ram Texas Circuit Finals.

• If a cowboy has purchased a PRCA card before the American, they are now eligible to count their winnings at the American towards the world standings.

• Only $50,000 for first place will count for the world standings.

• Any place below that, all of their money earned will count towards the world standings.

• February 25 through March 1 is the qualifier; that isn’t a PRCA rodeo. AT&T Stadium winnings will count.

How does this factor in? Look at the event of steer wrestling, one of the most evenly distributed standings, the number 16 cowboy for 2018 was around $80,000 won for the year. Can you imagine what $50,000 is going to do right there? It’s almost going to solidify them a spot in the WNFR.

Prediction: It’ll take more money to qualify for the 2019 National Finals Rodeo.

Rodeo Houston (Texas) and Pike’s Peak or Bust (Colorado) rodeos have both come back to the PRCA.

New Permit Cardholders

JB Mauney and Jess Lockwood, two very successful Professional Bull Riders, got their permits for the 2019 season. Unfortunately, they can’t get in to these limited entry rodeos with big money. This will be the a heated Resistol Rookie of the Year battle. Once they have won the $1,000 on their permit to get their Rookie card, the money will count towards the world standings. Will they stick it out?

The follow the track of Shane Proctor who came back to PRCA full time with saddle bronc and bull riding after riding in the PBR. Increasing entries, he’ll be competing for the All Around title which is unique on the roughstock end. The last one to do so was Ty Murray, who won 7 all around titles and 2 bull riding championships, the last one in 1993.

PRCA’s New Safe Sport Initiative

Seventeen pages front and back, this is something that the PRCA is taking very seriously. A code of conduct of how you should be acting when you are representing the professional sport of rodeo and the PRCA, with the actions if you break those rules. Outlining all the types of misconduct, it allows the PRCA to take further action from there.

It’s not just PRCA members, it’s also contractors, volunteers, internal committee members, PRCA rodeo committee members, sponsors, event attendees, and more. The first case example may be the Cody Nite Rodeo Association with a story that broke right after the 2018 WNFR.

Wrangler Steps Down from Exclusive Clothing Sponsorship

In 2018, Wrangler was still the title sponsor of the PRCA and the NFR but they stepped down from the exclusivity clause. Competition is healthy and keeps us striving and working for the next level. This now gives us some room for growth, and gaining the partnership with Cinch and more, it opens up healthy competition shows that we are going to grow money and, in turn, grow the sport. It takes money to grow in every aspect.

Cinch jumped in to be a sponsor immediately, which has been fun to watch how that develops and changes the marketing schematic for prorodeo. Not just that, Cinch had six endorsees that became world champions in 2018.

If you could make one rule for the PRCA?

Lisa Lageschaar: Jerk down rule clarification.

Did Tuf Cooper really jerk the calf down between ten and two? It was hard to tell, the announcers didn’t explain that on the television, and it needs to be analyzed and looked over to make sure it doesn’t put limitations on our sport. This look would be great for both our contestants and our animals.

1. Tuf did a great job explaining what happened for everyone at home on his Facebook.

2. Eliminating gray area is very important for the preservation of our sport.

Katie Schrock: Ground money should count in the NFR only for all events.

Bull riding is the only event at the WNFR where ground money counts. What this means, is that if not all six payout slots are filled after the round with only 1 to 5 covered rides, than the additional money is spread out throughout the contestants that got a qualified time. This added money doesn’t count towards the All Around standings, just that event.

In the team roping at the NFR in round six, there was only five legal catches in one run, and if ground money had counted it potentially could have shook up the standings. (Further investigation says that it wouldn’t have in this particular rare case, but, theoretically, it could in the future!)

If you could make up a rule for the PRCA and WPRA, what would it be?

Drop it in the comments below or send us a message on any social media platform or email us at thatwesternlifeusa@gmail.com! Give us five stars in a review, tell your friends, and help us get bigger and better for you the fans!

Theme Song: Doin’ Me by Trevor Tagle

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The First Ever That Western Life Podcast

What you need to know about the hosts, plus recapping the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!

What is the That Western Life Podcast?

This podcast is going to take someones naive interest in a culture and help them explore the trials and tribulations of the western lifestyle. We are here to share the amazing, funny, educational and unique people and animals that are in rodeo and the western lifestyle. We can’t wait to see what we can do to help those in the sport of professional rodeo into more mainstream ways.

Make sure to subscribe today, tell your friends and leave a review!

Meet the Hosts

Rachel Owens-Sarno - San Diego County, California

I’m excited to jump into the world of podcasting and to continue promoting a lifestyle and sport I love with lots of fun, humor, knowledge and facts!

Read more about Rachel here.

Lisa Lageschaar - Weatherford, Texas

“I am still that horse-crazed kid at heart, but over time, have developed my love of horses into a love for every person involved with and every industry linked to horses. I have been presented with numerous opportunities through the western industry, and it is my goal to give back in any way I can to continue to grow and develop knowledge and passion for horses, rodeo, agriculture, and the western way of life as a whole.”

Read more about Lisa here.

Katie Schrock - Pacific Northwest

“I have always maintained to be an approachable and knowledgeable source of information for the western lifestyle whether it be ranching, farming or rodeo. I want to help keep those interested informed on the western lifestyle and not only the importance of these industries but to preserve the culture.”

Read more about Katie here.

2018 National Finals Rodeo Recap

The National Finals Rodeo starts significantly earlier than most people anticipate the 10-day Super Bowl of rodeos starting. With award shows, the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) convention, and the kick-off party of the Back Number Ceremony. The theme for 2018’s finals was that there could have been any number of stories that could have competed for screen time for Hollywood with the amazing stories that developed and came forward!

J.R. Vezain, a PRCA bronc rider who found himself in a horrific accident that resulted in him being in a wheelchair, he had qualified a spot for the WNFR in the top 15. Unable to compete, Will Lowe took that vacant spot as the 16th place in the world standings. Not only was Vezain included each night in the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund injury update but he was also recognized by the legendary King of the Cowboys, Trevor Brazile, recognizing the inspiration that he has been with his positivity. When he rolled up on to stage at the back number ceremony the crowd went wild! A great light for Christ, he and his wife, Shelby, have continued to be an inspiration!

The western industry is striving and one can see that in the payout of the Number 10 in the World Series Team Roping, happening throughout the NFR in Las Vegas, paid out $376,000 to first place. It was around $2.3 million in that round alone! That’s where we got to see NFR Team Roper Trey Yates watch his grandpa Dick Yates win that money in the Number 10 Round Win. Trey is at his first ever NFR which adds to the added royalty legacy of his grandfather, dad and aunt who are the first family trifecta to qualify for the NFR in one year.

Ten rounds of fast-paced action with a lot of money up for grab! Round payout is $84,615.38 total, paid out to six places over the ten rounds in each event. The average pays out $253,846.15 to the top eight per event. First place winning a round is over $26,000 which can bring a person from 14th to 1st in the world; albeit they would have to be close top to bottom. Noteworthy is that the bull riding has ground money if not all rides are completed in the round.

RAM Top Gun & Bull Riding

Chase Dougherty came on hot in the last 7 rounds of the NFR. He won almost $30,000 more in the RAM Top Gun Award. An award given by RAM Trucks for winning the most money in one event. It was a horse race up until the last few rounds between the barrel racers and Chase Dougherty. Over ten days, Chase cashed $318,266.13 (unofficially) at the NFR including the average. When it came down to Round 10 if only 3 or less riders stayed on their bull, as long as one of those was Chase and one wasn’t Sage, Chase would have won the world. Sage stayed on, won the round and won the world!

2019 Predictions; Sage Kimzey wasn’t 100% at the finals and the 2019 season started last year. Could Chase Dougherty or Sage’s kid brother, Trey, take the 2019 title?

Trey Kimzey set a new record in 2018 as a Permit Holder Earnings. Sage is out to catch Don Gay’s 8 World Championships in the NFR. Sage knows how to stay on and ride - one of the most talented in professional bull riding in the country.

Clayton Bigelow & Virgil

An astounding moment at the 2018 NFR was Clayton Bigelow's Round 5 ride on Virgil! An impressive, big gray bucking horse, left the crowds and the judges speechless! If you want to  talk about athletes showing up at the NFR, C5 Rodeo’s Virgil tied the arena record in 2017 with Tim O’Connell, then came back in 2018 to set the arena record at 93. There are only 10 rides in the PRCA period that are 93 or 94; this ride is now one of those.

Wade Sundell - Bareback World Champion

In the round where Clayton Bigelow set the arena record, Wade Sundell on Medicine Woman had a 92 point ride. Keeping pace with that record setting ride kept him in the world title chase. He split round 7 with Chase Brooks. He came to perform and rode at the top of his game, placing in eight of the rounds. One of those bucking horses came from Get Smart who was named the bareback horse of the NFR. He’s been eight times to the NFR and won the American!

This was on top of the rough year that Wade had where he lost his home to a fire. This was a huge explanation point on the end of the year on the road!

If you have never heard of Wade Sundell or are new to rodeo, check out this song by Chance Danison (WARNING: explicit!) that kind of gives you a sample of how Wade got the name “Wild Wade.”

Will Lummus & Grinder with KC Jones

KC Jones is a 9 time qualifier in the steer wrestling but wasn’t competing in the same capacity as he has done in the past; he was the hazer for first-time qualifier Will Lummus. A Mississippi cowboy, he did his darndest to make the steer wrestling exciting this year! Will’s horse Grinder was at its first NFR, and can be a challenging venue for a horse new to the NFR but he handled it with poise. However, he would let out some of his personality with a few bucks every time that Will dismounted to wrestle a steer.

Tie Down Roping; Caleb Smidt & Tyson Durfey

Prior to the 2018 finals, the 2016 World Champion Tyson Durfey had the unfortunate loss of his number one horse Nikko, after a complication in a displaced colon colic surgery on November 23rd. Anyone who knows rodeo or horses, knows how important those horses are not just as a partner in a working environment but also to family. He rode his back up horse, Mitch, and ended up winning some good money! Durfey and Mitch even got the win at the Tuf Cooper’s Tying the Knot Invitational Roping over Trevor Brazile.

Caleb Smidt won the first round and the world title after what may have been the roughest family months. He lost his brother and sister-in-law on the night of their wedding when their helicopter crashed, killing all three involved, which made national news. Throughout the rodeo, Caleb’s family held up signs every single night that said, “God is still good.” To add more emotion to this story, he gave that round one buckle win to his father-in-law to thank him for what he has done for him in his life in the past year as he had also lost his father shortly after the 2017 NFR.

Barrel Racing; Hailey Kinsel’s Sister

A horse that never weakened, Hailey Kinsel and her palomino mare Sister, fired hard every single run, clinching the world title in Round 9. Hailey was saying that Sister had nothing left to prove and so she pulled out TJ, the big gelding she ran college rodeo on and even filled her WPRA permit. It was a great nod to the horse that helped build her professional career!

Kelly Bruner, a veterinarian, qualified on her main mount Susie, who is a gelding, but he wasn’t feeling the Thomas & Mack arena. Susie didn’t want to turn the first barrel so she ran a couple of young horses, and she won rounds on a horse named French Zone. People who don’t give up who are also working a full time job while managing rodeoing and winning enough money to make the NFR.

Another contestant, making it to the NFR in a limited number of rounds, is Nellie Miller and her mare Sister. Utilizing “professional planning” and winning when it counts; when she won the 2017 World Title it was on one of the lowest rodeo number counts.

Trevor Brazile, The King of the Cowboys, Kind of Rides Away

“The Cowboy Rides Away,” will Trevor Brazile really be “done?” Will we see him back, qualifying on a limited number of regional to Texas rodeos or maybe with his son or daughter? If he can make it on a limited number of rodeos and it doesn’t affect his family and involvement with his kids’ sport; he’s going to do it. Knowing that he had to do as well as he did in the 10th round in order to win the average title making the count 24 world titles. In an emotional statement to the camera, his legacy will continue to grow and build. It was a great moment for him, his family and all of his fans. He’s made a big impact in the lives of so many rodeo people!

What an amazing National Finals Rodeo and what a great 2019 rodeo season we have coming up! Make sure you subscribe on iTunes, leave a rating, tell your friends, and check out more of our articles! We want to hear from you! Send us a message on any social media platform or at thatwesternlifeUSA@gmail.com.

Theme Song: Doin’ Me by Trevor Tagle

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National Finals Rodeo Update - Round 6

Las Vegas, Nevada (December 11, 2018) - Round 6 kicks off the start of the second half of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association’s Super Bowl of Rodeos. Unlike in main sports, there was no break for the cowboys and cowgirls buttoning down their Resistol cowboy hat every night - firing on day 6 of 10 in front of a sold out crowd at the Thomas & Mack Arena.

Steer Wrestling

The fastest sport in rodeo, there’s been major shake up!

• Curtis Cassidy may have entered the 60th NFR sitting in first place in the steer wrestling standings but the event with the smallest spread entering the NFR has proven to have the most shake ups. It’s still anyone’s game! Our projections have Cassidy finishing 3rd in the World after the average is handed out.

• Mr. Consistent, Mississippi cowboy Will Lummus is the fastest in the average, joining six others who have recorded a time in all six rounds so far (Tyler Waguespack, Blake Knowles, Bridger Chambers, Tanner Brunner, Nick Guy & Riley Duvall). With $59,512.81 earned at the NFR and placing first in the average, he’s projected to finish the season with over $233,000 and (unofficial projection) winning the World title.

• Not far behind in the projected 2018 World Championship race, 2016 World Champion Tyler Waguespack.

Team Roping

Round 6 is the achilles heel for many of the teams, it should be interesting to see how they recover for Round 7.

• Only 5 teams recorded times in Round 6.

• There was a 15.6 second spread between the first place team and the fifth place team.

• The battle between top 2 teams Driggers/Nogueira and Smith/Eaves is TIGHT - you won’t want to miss this!

Saddle Bronc

• If Ryder Wright slips over the next few rounds, keep an eye on Cort Sheer and Wade Sundell.

Tie-Down Roping

• Nine cowboys have recorded a time in all six rounds so far.

• The Average is projected with Ryle Smith, Caleb Smidt, and Rhen Richard (pay attention to Rhen in the all-around).

• If the NFR ended today, Ryle Smith would be your projected World Champion, reserve as Caleb Smidt with less than $8,000 between the two. The tie-down roping is going to be tight as we finish up!

RAM Top Gun Award

Awarded to the contestant who wins the most money one one event (sorry all-around cowboys!) at the end of the NFR. If you didn’t think that the barrel racing was tough, how about Amberleigh Moore and Hailey Kinsel sitting one and two respectively in the standings for the Top Gun award. They’re setting blistering fast barrel patterns as Moore has moved from 13th to a projected 4th with Kinsel still holding onto that first place position. Kinsel is less than $25,000 away from breaking the $300,000 year-end mark.

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All of the information in this article is unofficial results and are not the product nor any relation to the official Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. All information belongs to That Western Life and Western Insights Media, LLC.

National Finals Rodeo Update - Round 5

Las Vegas, Nevada (December 11, 2018) - The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is in full swing in the bright light city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Every year, the rodeo community convenes on the city to showcase western heritage in a variety of ways; youth rodeo competitions, team roping competitions, permit challenges, rookie recognition, leather working, fashion, and the latest in equine and bovine technology. Halfway through the 10 heated rounds of the Super Bowl of Professional Rodeo, there have been numerous big stories to share!

Barrel Racing Heats Up

Heading into the NFR, two-time qualifier Hailey Kinsel and her dynamite six year-old palomino mare “Sister,” named the 2018 American Quarter Horse Association Barrel Horse of the Year, were on track to coast to a gold buckle. Nothing comes easy at the National Finals Rodeo, however, and the random draw order of go on the ground has proven an equalizer for the contestants.

Winning Round 1, Kinsel started the way every racing fan expected; first. She blasted onto the ProRodeo season in 2017 when she won RFD-TV’s The American and a chunk of the million-dollar qualifier incentive. That run was the most money ever won in a single barrel race at the time. She then beat the Thomas & Mack barrel racing record at the 2017 National Finals at a blistering 13.11 seconds; a whopping 2 tenths of a second faster than the previous record set that finals.

Bottom of the ground proved costly for Kinsel and Sister, placing her out of the money in Round 2 and 3, and then a knocked barrel in the 4th Round meant she was dropped in the average. With a field of amazing horses knocking on the door for the world title, it seemed that she may not be able to recover for a large enough chunk of the NFR average money.

Chasing her most notably is Nellie Miller who is riding another horse named Sister, a blue roan quarter horse from the state of California. Miller was the 2017 World Champion and her Sister was the 2017 AQHA Horse of the Year. Consistency is key and she qualified for a the NFR on a limited number of rodeos. Sister’s consistency shows her as one of the biggest threats in the NFR race as she should garner a large chunk of the average money.

In March of 2018, Oregon’s Amberleigh Moore’s mare “Paige,” who set the NFR arena on fire at her NFR debut in 2016 almost knocking off Mary Burger for the World Title, was pulled out injured after Houston Rodeo. The off time almost proved costly as Moore entered the NFR in the 13th (out of 15 potential spots) position. The Thomas & Mack is nicknamed “Paige’s Play Pen” for a reason though as the Darkelly mare came in rested and hungry to compete.

Placing second, second, first and third in the first four rounds of the NFR, she had earned $83,346.15 and was leading the average, which pays out $67,269.23 for first place. This moved her to second in the world, just over $5,000 behind Kinsel. Round 5 proved to be the Achilles Heel and with a knock of the first world, she dropped herself in the average and moving Moore to a projected 4th place including average payout.

What do you think will happen in the barrel racing? Do you think Kinsel and Sister will start firing on all cylinders and gain top of the ground advantage in the draw? What about Miller and her Sister? Will consistency be key for the returning World Champion?

All Around Title - Richard Not So Undercover Anymore

Dark horse Rhen Richard from Utah is proving to not be so sneaky in the race for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s All Around cowboy. The only competitor entered in two events, team roping and tie-down roping, Richard has yet to win a round but has consistently placed in four of a potential 10 rounds (two runs a night for two events in five rounds). He’s earned a total of $35,467.94 in NFR payout already, second only to Trevor Brazile who, thanks to a second and first place win in two rounds, has earned $47,102.56. Brazile, a 23-time World Champion, kicked off the NFR by announcing his retirement from competitive rodeo to send more time at home with his family, is now leading the All Around race over brother-in-law Tuf Cooper, the 2017 World Champion and 2x Tie-Down World Champion.

If Richard continues to be consistent with times, he may be receiving a large check at the pay window for the NFR average.

Eliminator Pen Bucking Horses the Star of the Show

Thanks to diligent efforts by stock contractors and non profits like Bronc Riding Nation, the bucking horse may be the star of the 2018 National Finals Rodeo. In Round 3, every rodeo fan across the country new for a fact that Powder River would be at the Gold Buckle zone at the South Point Saturday night as long as Tim O’Connell, the reigning bareback World Champion and current number one in the world, stayed atop the 2017 Bareback Horse of the Year Craig at Midnight.

The large gray bucking horse, a product of Feek Tooke’s “Born to Buck” program, put on a show. Tim O’Connell laughed afterwards saying he only got a few jumps at the end of the ride where he got to earn points; Craig [At Midnight] was garnering all the points for the round! In rough stock, there are two judges with each judge awarding points out of a possible 25 for each the rider and the horse for a total of 100 points.

In Round 5, it was C5 Rodeo’s Virgil, another big gray bucking horse, that stole the show with Clayton Bigelow who went BIG for a 93 point, arena-record setting ride! The magnificence of these animals are just beginning to be showcased and we can’t wait to see the eliminator pen in the finals for another go!

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All of the information in this article is unofficial results and are not the product nor any relation to the official Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. All information belongs to That Western Life and Western Insights Media, LLC.

Trippy Dip - Who is the Thoroughbred inducted into the 2018 AQHA Hall of Fame?

May 31st, 2018 - The American Quarter Horse Association is the largest nationally recognized breed registry in the world and one of the greatest honors that a member or an animal can receive is induction into their Hall of Fame. In the announcement of the 2018 class of inductees, one name stands out: Trippy Dip.

A 1976 Thoroughbred, how did this lone wolf get into the QUARTER HORSE Hall of Fame? 

Born in 1976, Trippy Dip was bred by S.F. Henderson of Odessa, Texas and earned $78,169 on the track. Labeled as the "definition of a broodmare," she went on to produce sixteen foals. These foals have had an impact that has trickled down the ranks of not only the racetrack, but also the barrel horse world. Fifteen of Trippy Dip's foals went on to earn a total of $1.757 million dollars on the track. Of those fifteen, seven of them earned "black type," a racing term that means a horse has won or placed in a select race of importance meaning that on their race form or sale catalog, they would be printed in bold black ink in capital letters. 

Noteworthy Foals

Calyx

Calyx

The first foal of Trippy Dip's was a stallion named Calyx who was the world champion 1987 distance horse where he set the track record at Los Alamitos for 870 yards at 44.420 seconds. An outlaw through and through, he was dominant on the track and sired foals who grossed over $7 million on the track. 

In a story from one of his jockey's, "Diamond Jim" Brooks, he explains how you couldn't touch his mouth, he was his own operator and he knew exactly what to do to win. With a speed index of 117, winning is what Calyx did and he passed that trait down to his offspring. Winning was also something that his sire, Dash for Cash did as well. 

AnyOldTimeX - a beautiful, athletic stallion owned by Lazy 3 Quarter Horses who is by Calyx. 

Florentine

The 1984 daughter of Trippy Dip was another iconic cross with the legendary stallion Dash for Cash. In her three year stint as a racehorse, Florentine won $1,123,102, and was named the Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in 1987, the Champion Aged Horse and Champion Aged Mare in 1988. 

Her contributions to the world of fast sprinting horses didn't stop with her wins, Florentine went on to be named the 1996 Broodmare of the Year and earned a recognition as a dam of distinction. 

Owned by Rainbow Glass Ranch, this mare's foals went on to do big things in the arena.

King Aire, a great grandson of Florentine's that stands at stud at the Rainbow Glass Ranch in Utah. 

There are numerous other colts and fillies that were produced by this legendary racehorse in her broodmare career, more than we can fill into one short article. Please read more about the other inductees into the 2018 American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame here. As well as check out the Rainbow Glass Ranch in Utah who stands numerous offspring at stud still.

Do you ride an offspring of Trippy Dip? If so, comment below and share with us a picture of your running bred horse! 

 

ProRodeo Strategy (4/6/18): RNCFR Semi's & Finals Prep

Kissimmee, Florida (April 6, 2018) - The Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida, April 3rd through the 6th, promises to change the PRCA's World Standings. Here's some quick notes from the strategy room as we look at what the first two rounds alone potentially did to the World Standings. Please note that these standings are not official nor guaranteed 100% accuracy; they are simply observations. 

More money stands to be won as the Top 8 contestants advance Sunday to a clean slate semi-finals round, which is then followed with the Top 4 advancing to the Finals round.

Confused on the RNCFR? Read more here.

Bareback:

1. Clayton Biglow has won $6,245 with a round win at the RNCFR this weekend. This moves him from 21st in the world standings to 12th.

2. Reigning World Champion Tim O’Connell has won $10,992 with placings in 2 rounds of the RNCFR. This moves him from 13th to approximately 6th.

3. Some people didn’t move, and they are probably okay with that! Those people won money at the RNCFR in either one round or two, but are still locked into their world standing position.
   Caleb Bennett - 1st
   Mason Clements - 2nd
   Jake Brown - 4th
   Shane O’Connell - 5th

4. Steven Dent won $1,801 and moved from 18th to approximately 16th in the world.

5. Columbia River Circuit Qualifier Steven Peebles has won $3,412 and has moved from 36th to approximately 25th.

Advancing to the Semi-Finals: Tim O'Connell, Clayton Bigelow, Shane O'Connell, Mason Clements, Jake Brown, Wyatt Denny, Steven Dent, and J.R. Vezain.

Steer Wrestling:

1. Louisiana Cowboy Jacob Talley has placed in two rounds and is sitting third in the aggregate heading to the semi-finals with $4,459 won. This moves him from 5th to approximately 2nd in the world standings.

2. Chason Floyd has won the most of any contestant at the Circuit Finals this weekend with $12,508 total, moving him from 18th in the world to approximately 7th.

3. With $6,254 in a round win, Kyle Irwin moves from 17th in the world to approximately 9th.

4. Jacob Shofner has moved one marker from 12th to approximately 11th in the world standings.

5. Billy Bugenig makes the biggest jump for the steer wrestling event in the world standings, moving from 31st to approximately 18th with $7,012 won through two rounds of the RNCFR

Advancing to the Semi-Finals: Billy Bugenig, Kyle Irwin, Jacob Talley, Beau Clark, Chason Floyd, Bridger Chambers, Blake Mindemann, Sean Santucci, and Jacob Shofner.

Team Roping:

1. Trey Yates moves from 12th to approximately 10th in the heeling world standings with $1,327 won.

2. Through the assistance of a round win and $6,254 won, Kyle Lockett moved from 26th to approximately 11th in the world standings.

3. Keven Daniel makes the second biggest move in the world standings of all team ropers, moving from 21st to approximately 12th in the heading, thanks to $4,738 won.

4. Brad Culpepper moved from 20th in the world standings to approximately 13th via $4,738 won.

5. The biggest move by all team ropers so far in the world standings due to the monies won at the RNCFR is header Blake Teixeira who won a round ($6,254) to move from 21st to approximately 15th.

Top 8 Advancing to the Semi-Finals: Thad Ward/Olin Pulham, Logan Olson/Matt Kasner, Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, Ty Blasingame/Trey Yates, Jesse Stipes/Jake Smith, Marcus Theriot/Clint Summers, and Dustin Bird/Chase Tryan. 

Saddle Bronc:

1. Jacobs Crawley and Brody Cress both won money, keeping them at one and two in the world respectively. Although their positions didn’t change, Cress was able to chip away at the substantial lead seen by Crawley.

2. Wade Sundell moved from seventh to approximately third in the world standings by placing in both rounds of the RNCFR ($6,728).

3. Joey Sonnier won $6,918 between two rounds to move from 15th to approximately 10th in the world standings.

4. Both Ryder Wright and Taos Muncy moved approximately one placing to 13th and 12th respectively.

5. JJ Elshere moved from 17th to approximately 14th in the world standings.

Top 8 Advancing to Semi-Finals: Joey Sonnier III, Jacobs Crawley, Wade Sundell, Taos Muncy, Isaac Diaz, J.J. Elsewhere, Brody Cress, and Ray Hostetler.

Tie Down Roping:

1. Jake Pratt of Washington has moved one placing from 4th to approximately 3rd in teh world standings.

2. Three cowboys stayed in the same world standing spot despite winning money. Those were Tuf Cooper, Tyson Durfey, and Matt Shiozawa placing 5th, 6th and 13th respectively.

3. Sterling Smith moved from 9th to approximately 7th in the world standing.

4. Ryan Jarrett’s round win moved him from 15th to approximately 12th in the world standings.

5. Reno Gonzales of New Mexico’s winnings of $3,412 moved him from 30th to 22nd.

Top 8 Advancing to Semi-Finals: Seth Hall, Tyson Durfey, Tuf Cooper, Sterling Smith, Trey Young, Matt Shiozawa, Ryle Smith, and Riley Pruitt

Bull Riding:

1. Sage Kimzey continues to dominate in his bull riding career, winning money in both rounds of the RNCFR totaling $9,097. This brought him over the $100,000 mark which is the fastest he’s ever reached it in a season he mentioned in an interiview with the PRCA.

2. Parker Breding of Montana won a round of the RNCFR to move from 5th to approximately 2nd in the world standings.

3. Chase Dougherty of Oregon may have been a rookie a year ago, but he’s no rookie in 2018; he’s won $3,601 to move from 16th to 12th in the world.

4. Brady Portenier has won $2,843 to move from 23rd to approximately 20th.

5. Jeff Bertus makes the biggest jump of the bull riders, winning $2,464 to move from 50th in the world standings to 39th.

Top 8 Advancing to Semi-Finals: Sage Kimzey, Aaron Williams, Parker Breding, Brady Portenier, Chase Dougherty, Lon Danley, Dayton Swearingen, and Jeff Bertus.

Barrel Racing:

Top 8 Advancing to Semi-Finals: Shelly Anzick, Teri Bangart, Taci Bettis, Jessica Routier, Alexis Baratka, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Nikki Hansen, and Kathy Petska. 

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These are just observations noted by the information provided on ProRodeo.com; these numbers are not official nor considered accurate.