Rodeo Recap: August 26 – September 1

Steer Wrestling: Dakota Eldridge

Of three rounds in the Steer Wrestling in Ellensburg, 10 NFR qualifier Dakota Eldridge won two of them. The first round started fast and Eldridge was just three-tenths of a second out of the money. He came back to win the second round with a 4.0 and the final round with a 4.6, each time just one-tenth of a second faster than second place. In total, Eldridge was 13.3 seconds on three head, earning him the average win and nearly $11,000 in total earnings. Eldridge is currently 2^nd in the 2024 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Standings!

Saddle Bronc: Wyatt Casper

4x NFR Saddle Bronc rider from Miami, Texas, Wyatt Casper is looking for his fifth-consecutive appearance at the NFR in Las Vegas. Casper is also on track to break the million-dollar earnings checkpoint in his total career earnings. The Saddle Bronc at Ellensburg most definitely helped the cowboy toward both of those goals. Casper covered Korkow Rodeos’, Ringworm for 88 points to win the first round, then tied for the win in the finals with an 89-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s, Xena Warrior. In total, Casper was 177 points on two head for the average win and total earnings of roughly $9,500. Casper is currently 3^rd in the 2024 PRCA Saddle Bronc World Standings!

Tie Down:  Hunter Herrin

September is the month in the Professional Rodeo season where the bubble will make or break you. For 13x NFR Tie Down roper, Hunter Herrin, right now every dollar counts and Ellensburg was tough competition for every penny. In the first round, World Champion Haven Meged placed first with a 7.8 while Herrin tied for third with an 8.5-second run. In the second round, Herrin was out of the money but came back to win the finals in a three-way tie after running an 8.8. For his average win with 26.4 seconds on three head, Herrin took home a total of over $9,000, helping secure his place inside the top-15. Herrin is currently 15^th in the 2024 PRCA Tie Down World Standings!

Breakaway: Josie Conner

2x NFBR qualifier, 22-year-old Josie Conner from Louisiana has had a stellar 2023-2024 season and she’s not done yet with her chart-topping summer run. Conner was the winningest cowgirl across all WPRA competitors in both Breakaway and Barrel Racing over the Cowboy Christmas holiday. Conner took Ellensburg by storm, tying for second in the first round with a 2.7, tying for the win in the second round with a 2.5, and again tying for second in the final round with a 2.6. By the end, Conner was 7.8 seconds on three head for the average win and a total earnings check worth over $10,500. Conner is unofficially 2^nd in the WPRA Breakaway World Standings!

Fun Fact

The most money won at an Xtreme Bulls tour stop is $39,386, won by Jordan Spears in 2017 in Ellensburg, Washington.

Steer Wrestling: Jacob Talley

5x NFR qualifier and Louisiana cowboy, Jacob Talley is just $400 outside the top-15. Talley helped make that gap smaller with a win in Walla Walla. In the first round, he tied for third with a 4.4-second run. Talley then won the second round, running a four-flat. That put Talley at 8.4 seconds on two head, good enough for the average win and a total of just under $8,000 in winnings from the rodeo. Talley is currently 16^th in the 2024 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Standings!

Saddle Bronc: Brody Cress

Wyoming Saddle Bronc rider, Brody Cress has qualified for the NFR seven consecutive times, finishing in the top-10 in the world six out of those seven times and winning the NFR Average title three times. With a long list of wins this season, Cress is again looking sound for an eighth consecutive trip to the Thomas & Mack, further solidified by a win in Walla Walla. Cress covered Brookman Rodeo’s, Satisfaction for 89.5 points and a rodeo-winning $5,300 check. Cress is currently 8^th in the 2024 PRCA Saddle Bronc World Standings!

Bull Riding: T.J. Gray

Oregon’s T.J. Gray has been climbing the Bull Riding standings ladder all year. The 23-year-old has yet to qualify for an NFR but has ridden so well this year he’s all but sealed his ticket to Las Vegas. In Walla Walla, Gray went 86 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’, Big Salty for $6,200 in winnings and the 2024 Walla Walla Frontier Days Bull Riding Champion title. Gray is currently 3^rd in the 2024 PRCA Bull Riding World Standings!

Bareback: Taylor Broussard

2x NFR Bareback rider, Taylor Broussard is looking good for this first trip back to the NFR since 2021. The Louisiana cowboy rode Western Rodeos’, Sumthin Sue for 85.5 points and the win in Lakeview, a ride worth nearly $3,500 in winnings. Broussard is currently 9^th in the 2024 PRCA Bareback World Standings!

Team Roping: Erich Rogers & Paul Eaves

World Champion Team Roping Header and 12x NFR qualifier, Erich Rogers alongside 2x World Champion Heeler and 10x NFR qualifier, Paul Eaves won the Lake County Round-Up last week in Lakeview, Oregon with a 4.1-second run worth over $3,500 in winnings. Rogers is currently 11^th in the 2024 PRCA Team Roping Header World Standings, Eaves is currently 13^th in the Heeler standings!

Barrel Racer: Shelley Morgan

A $2,768 winning check from Lakeview’s, Lake County Round-Up is crucial for 4x NFR Barrel Racer, Shelley Morgan. The 2022 NFR Average champ is on the top-15 bubble, but came out on top for a much needed win in Oregon with a 17.07-second run. Morgan is unofficially 15^th in the 2024 WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings!

Bull Rider: Luke Mast

Kansas bull rider, Luke Mast has never qualified for an NFR and this season, is delicately balancing on the top-15 bubble toward his first qualification. Mast was 79 points on Four Star Rodeo’s, Tiger Bomb in Lakeview, enough for the rodeo win and a crucial $3,600 check. Mast is currently 14^th in the 2024 PRCA Bull Riding World Standings!

Bareback: Rocker Steiner

Rocker Steiner’s dominating 2023-2024 season is not over yet. The 2x NFR Bareback rider from Weatherford, Texas is looking solid for his third-consecutive trip to Las Vegas and added yet another win to his roster last week in Parowan, Utah. Steiner covered Legacy Pro Rodeo’s, Mr. Crabs for 85 points, winning the Iron County Rodeo for over $3,800 in earnings. Steiner is currently 2^nd in the 2024 PRCA Bareback World Standings!

Tie Down: Riley Webb 

World Champion Tie Down roper and 2x NFR qualifier, Riley Webb won in Iron County last week, roping for a 8.0 seconds flat and a $3,200 check. The Texas cowboy smashed the total season earnings record for a Tie Down roper, earning over $450,000 is currently sitting just under $200,000 so far this year. Webb is currently 4^th in the 2024 PRCA Tie Down World Standings!

Team Roping: Dustin Egusquiza & Levi Lord

The long list of rodeo wins for Team Roping duo, 6x NFR header, Dustin Egusquiza alongside 3x NFR heeler, Levi Lord grows even longer after last week’s Magic Valley Stampede. The pair has dominated the World Standings all season long and continues their winning streak after a lightning-fast 3.7-second run in Filer good for a winning check of nearly $4,900 each. Egusquiza is currently leading the 2024 PRCA Team Roping Header World Standings, Lord is leading the Heeler standings!

Saddle Bronc: Dawson Hay

Alberta’s 4x NFR Saddle Bronc rider, Dawson Hay is looking good for a fourth-consecutive NFR appearance, his fifth overall. Hay covered Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’, Pt Barnum for 87.5 points, just a half-point ahead of second place and a winning ride worth over $4,400. Hay is currently 10^th in the 2024 PRCA Saddle Bronc World Standings!

Breakaway: Kelsie Domer

2x NFBR qualifier and Texas cowgirl, Kelsie Domer won her second-straight Magic Valley Stampede. This year, she tied for the win with a 2.2-second run, cashing in on a near $4,800 check. Domer is unofficially 12^th in the 2024 WPRA Breakaway World Standings!