Rodeo Recap: January 21 – 28

The Semi-Finals Roster Is Filling Up With NFR Qualifiers & World Champs!

Author

Sydney Butler
January 30, 2024

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It was a busy weekend for rodeo in the South, with multiple rodeos across Mississippi, Florida, and North Carolina. While warm weather rodeos draw-in contestants, the opportunity to earn a big check and a boost in the 2024 World Standings continues to bring cowboys and cowgirls to the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Ft. Worth is the first of winter’s biggest rodeos, and although paychecks at smaller rodeos like those taking place down south help, winning – or even placing – at rodeos like the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo can mean the difference between a trip to the NFR or watching from home.

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Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Fills Semi-finals Roster with NFR Qualifiers and Former World Champs

Five of seven brackets are now complete in Ft. Worth, with the last two to be completed this week. Up next is the Wildcard Round then the Semi-Finals, where the top four money-earning contestants in each event advance to the Championship Finals to compete for just one shot at $1.1 million.

After the last week of rodeo action, nearly every single contestant who advanced to the semi-finals has rodeoed in Las Vegas at the National Finals. Those who have yet to qualify for an NFR are well on the way to their first with an advancement at the FWSS. Of those who advanced, here’s are the highlights:

Highlights From Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Bareback

  • 4x NFR qualifier, Cole Reiner; finished 7th in the 2023 World Standings 2x NFR qualifier, Garrett Shadbolt; currently 3rd in the 2024 World Standings, fresh from his win at the NWSS

  • 2022 World Champion, 3x NFR Average champ and 4x NFR qualifier, Jesse Pope; finished 2nd in the 2023 World Standings

  • Wildcards: Kody Lamb, Bradlee Miller, Bronc Marriot and Tristan Hansen

Steer Wrestling

  • NFR qualifier Dalton Massey; finished 2nd in the 2023 World Standings, 6th in the NFR average

  • 2x NFR qualifier, Stan Branco; finished 4th in the 2023 World Standings, 5th in the NFR average with two NFR go-round wins

  • 10x NFR qualifier, Dakota Eldridge; finished 12th in the 2023 World Standings, 7th in the NFR average

  • 6x NFR qualifier, Will Lummus; finished 10th in 2023 World Standings, currently 2nd in 2024 World Standings

  • 3x NFR qualifier, Dirk Tavenner; finished 8th in the 2023 World Standings

  • Wildcards: Jacob Talley, Stephen Culling, Ty Erickson and Tyler Pearson

Team Roping

  • 12x NFR qualifier and 2017 World Champion, header Erich Rogers with 10x NFR qualifier and 2x World Champion, heeler Paul Eaves; Rogers and Eaves finished 10th in the 2023 World Standings, 8th in the NFR average

  • NFR qualifier, header Marcus Theriot with heeler Cole Curry; Theriot and Curry finished 15 th in the 2023 World Standings

  • Wildcards: Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, Luke Brown/Travis Graves, Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith and Ty Arnold/Tyler McKnight

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Saddle Bronc

  • 4x NFR qualifier, Dawson Hay; finished 11th in the 2023 World Standings

  • NFR qualifier, Ryder Sanford; finished 14th in the 2023 World Standings

  • 3x NFR qualifier, Lefty Holman; finished 6th in the 2023 World Standings, 3rd in the NFR average

  • Wildcards: Ben T Andersen, Parker Fleet, Brody Cress and Allen Boore

Tie Down

  • 2019 World Champion, 2023 NFR Average Champion and 5x NFR qualifier, Haven Meged; finished 2nd in the 2023 World Standings

  • 3x NFR qualifier, John Douch; finished 10 th in 2023 World Standings, 6 th in NFR average

  • Wildcards: Beau Cooper, Trevor Hale, Britt Bedke and Ryan Jarret

Barrel Racing

  • NFR qualifier, Sissy Winn; finished 6th in the 2023 World Standings

  • 4x World Champion, Hailey Kinsel; finished 11th in the 2023 World Standings, currently 7th in the 2024 World Standings

  • NFR qualifier Ilyssa Riley; finished 13th in the 2023 World Standings

  • Wildcards: Sarah Waguespack, Lisa Lockhart, Jimmie Smith and Tracy Nowlin

Bull Riding

  • NFR qualifier Hayes Wight; finished 10th in the 2023 World Standings

  • Wildcards: Creek Young, Coy Robbins, Brody Yeary and T.J. Gray

Breakaway

  • NFBR qualifier, Kelsie Domer; finished 6th in the 2023 World Standings, 5th in the NFBR average

  • NFBR qualifier, Bradi Good; finished 8th in the 2023 World Standings, 6th in the NFBR average

  • Wildcards: Joey Williams, Shaya Biever, Peggy Garman and Addee Carder

Rodeo Rapid City Bucks to a Start with Xtreme Bulls & Broncs

Rodeo Rapid City officially kicks off this weekend, but the action kicked off with two rounds of Xtreme Bulls and Xtreme Broncs last weekend in South Dakota.

4x NFR qualifier Clayton Sellars took home the Xtreme Bulls win with 173 on two-head. Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetic’s, Bugatti and Sellars scored an 86 and first place in the first go-round, then Sellars rode for 87 and second in go-round number two. Sellars now sits 4th in the 2024 Ram World Standings. 2023 World Champion and NFR Average champ, Ky Hamilton placed 3 rd with 164 on two.

In the first round of Xtreme Broncs, Sawyer Erikson, Brody Wells and 2x NFR qualifier, Ben Andersen tied for third, each scoring 84.5. In the final round, it was Wyoming’s Brody Wells with an 89.5 on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo’s, Bugsy who took first, just barely edging out over Andersen’s 89.

Rodeo has a big week ahead as the Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo comes to a thrilling conclusion. Check back next week and each week thereafter for all the highlights on your favorite contestants as they work their way down the 2024 rodeo road!

- Richard S.

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