Rodeo Recap: June 10 – June 16

Leaderboard Favorites Earn Big Checks to Secure Their Places in the Standings

Author

Sydney Butler
June 18, 2024

This week in rodeo was full of aptly named, high-paying performances. Vernal, Utah’s Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo is named after the prehistoric creatures that once roamed the area, many of whose fossilized bones have now been uncovered in dirt not far from the rodeo arena. In total, the rodeo paid out nearly $174,000.

Then there’s the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Nebraska, named for the western icon’s homestead located right in the heart of North Platte. Buffalo Bill’s namesake rodeo paid contestants a total purse of over $125,000.

If contestants were lucky enough to have their names written on a check at one of the many rodeos that took place over the last seven days, the prize money was as memorable as the rodeo titles themselves.

As the summer run kicks off, we’ll bring you the highlights of the previous week’s events, keeping you updated on the shuffle in standings and who brings the heat to summer’s biggest rodeos.

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Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo | Vernal, Utah

Bareback: Keenan Hayes

90 points on Powder River Rodeo’s, Misdemeanor

Colorado’s Keenan Hayes is hot on the trail of his second appearance in Las Vegas at this year’s NFR. The 21-year-old qualified for his first NFR just last year, won nearly $170,000 over ten days of competition, won the NFR Average title and the 2023 Bareback World Championship. This weekend at the Dinosaur Roundup in Vernal, Utah, the world champ roared his way to another win with a t-rex-sized 90-point ride.

Hayes is currently leading the 2024 Bareback World Standings with just over $100,000 in season earnings!

Saddle Bronc: Ryder Sanford and Ryder Wright

87 points for Sanford on Powder River Rodeo’s, Toss Across & 87 points for Wright on Powder River Rodeo’s, Party Planner

It paid to be a Saddle Bronc “Ryder” at this year’s Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo: both Ryder Sanford and Ryder Wright walked away with a $4,200 check after tying for the win in the Saddle Bronc riding. NFR qualifier and Louisiana cowboy, Ryder Sanford covered Powder River Rodeo’s, Toss Across for 87 points while 2x World Champion and 8x NFR qualifier, Utah’s very own Ryder Wright did the same on Powder River’s, Party Planner.

Wright is currently 4th in the 2024 Saddle Bronc World Standings with $86,500 in season earnings; Sanford is 7th with $72,400!

Barrel Racing: Leslie Smalygo

17.05 seconds with her horse “Gus”

Oklahoma cowgirl Leslie Smalygo qualified for her first NFR in 2022. After missing the top 15 cutoff by just a few places in 2023, Smalygo is well-positioned for a second trip to the Thomas & Mack this year. Of her 32 rodeo appearances so far this season, Smalygo has a few big wins under her belt including a Super Series at RODEOHOUSTON. Now, the NFR qualifier and her horse “Gus” add the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo to their win list after a 17.05 second run. 

Smalygo is unofficially leading the 2024 Barrel Racing World Standings with over $78,000 in season earnings!

Fun Fact

The Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo has been nominated 8 times as one of the best PRCA Large Outdoor Rodeos of the Year!

Buffalo Bill Rodeo | North Platte, Nebraska

Bareback: Rocker Steiner

88 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s, Happy Hour

2x NFR qualifier and Texas cowboy, Rocker Steiner is on fire. Before last weekend, Steiner hadn’t won a rodeo since February. This week, fresh off a win at the Woodward Elks Rodeo in Oklahoma, Steiner won again at the Adrian Newtown Rodeo Days in North Dakota before heading south to North Platte Nebraska’s Buffalo Bill Rodeo. Steiner covered Beutler & Son Rodeo’s, Happy Hour in North Platte for an 88-point ride and yet another win. Between the two wins this weekend, Steiner earned $5,500 to hold onto his place in the standings.

Steiner is currently 4th in the 2024 Bareback World Standings with $77,000 in season earnings!

Steer Wrestling: Travis Munro

8.7 Seconds on Two Head

Australia’s Travis Munro is working hard for his first NFR qualification. His 2024 season started strong with a win at the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals. He hasn’t won a rodeo since, but has been consistent enough to earn a spot in the top 15. Munro’s claimed his second win of the season this weekend in Nebraska, winning the first round in the Steer Wrestling with a 4.0 second run and placing just outside the money in the second round after a 4.7 second run. Altogether, Munro was 8.7 seconds on two head, good enough for a check worth about $3,800.

Munro is currently 14th in the 2024 Steer Wrestling World Standings with $34,000 in season earnings!

Team Roping: Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord

4.5 Seconds and $3500 Each

Florida’s 6x NFR qualifier, header Dustin Egusquiza and South Dakota’s 3x NFR qualifier, heeler Levi Lord have been in and out of Team Roping’s top spot for the majority of the season. The two have won major rodeos such as the National Western in Denver, Colorado, Rodeo Austin in Texas and the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo in Oklahoma. After roping for 4.5 seconds this weekend at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Nebraska, the pair earned another win and a check for $3,100 each.

Egusquiza/Lord are currently leading the 2024 Team Roping Header/Heeler Standings with $82,000 in season earnings!

Bull Riding: JR Stratford

86.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s, Mayhem

Kansas bull rider and NFR qualifier, JR Stratford sat most of the 2023 season out after a major elbow reconstruction surgery. This season, he’s after his second NFR qualification with a few big wins under his bull rope including Arizona’s Cave Creek Rodeo Days, Oklahoma’s Guymon Pioneer Days and now, Nebraska’s Buffalo Bills Rodeo. Stratford covered Beutler & Son Rodeo’s, Mahem for 86.5 points and a winning check worth over $3,600.

Stratford is currently 7th in the 2024 Bull Riding World Standings with $77,600 in season earnings!

Wildwood Bronc Bustin’ | Wildwood, Alberta, Canada

NFR qualifier Logan Hay hails from Wildwood, Alberta. Covering a bronc in front of a hometown crowd is bound to make fans go wild, but riding two for 90 in one weekend? Hay did just that at this weekend’s Wildwood Bronc Bustin’.

In the first round, scores were high as Alberta’s best Saddle Bronc riders came to play. 4x World Champion Saddle Bronc rider, Zeke Thurston and 4x NFR qualifier Layton Green rode for 88 points and a four-way tie for third with Lucas Macza and Brody Wells. Alberta cowboy Dawson Dahm took second with an 89-point ride. Hay won the round with a leaderboard-topping 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s, Frosted Brownie.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, in the final round in Wildwood, Hay did it again, riding for 92.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s, Exotic Warrior. This time, the next closest score was an 89.5.

Of the event’s total payout, just $500 shy of $30,000, Hay won nearly $10,000 of the purse, earning nearly $9,300 between his two rides.

Hay is currently 8th in the 2024 Saddle Bronc World Standings with $68,700 in season earnings!

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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