From 1985 to Today: Saddle Bronc Legends Share NFR Memories

Through the Gold Buckle Buzz series, writer Brian Hurlburt dives into the hearts and minds of PRCA World Champions who clinched titles during the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo®. As part of the 40th anniversary of the Las Vegas NFR, several 1985 PRCA and WPRA World Champions are also featured in this special 2025 series.

When you carry the name Wright and you’re a saddle bronc rider in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, a built-in appreciation for rodeo history comes with the territory.

Such is the case for Ryder Wright, the 2024 PRCA World Champion, who was in Las Vegas in June 2025 to gather with his fellow 2024 champions and the living world champions from the 1985 NFR. The promotional event helped lay the foundation for an epic 40th anniversary celebration that will take place Dec. 4–13 at the Thomas & Mack Center and across Las Vegas. The NFR first arrived in Las Vegas in that historic year of 1985.

Joining Wright in Las Vegas was 1985 Saddle Bronc World Champion Brad Gjermundson, who also won titles in 1981, 1983, and 1984. For Wright, his 2024 gold buckle was the third of his career.

But when asked for his most indelible NFR memory, Wright didn’t point to his own success. 

“Watching my dad, Cody, win his first gold buckle in 2008 was pretty special for me and my whole family, so that is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about the NFR in Las Vegas,” Wright said.

Cody Wright is a ProRodeo Hall of Famer, and Ryder was equally thrilled to spend time with Gjermundson, also enshrined in the Hall.

“There have been a lot of awesome bronc riders who set the pace for our generation—guys like Brad, Dan Mortensen, and others, especially here in Vegas,” Wright said. “Looking at the NFR, it hasn’t been here for 40 years because it was a failure. It’s pretty cool to watch such an awesome thing, and each of these champions from 1985 has been a key part of what the NFR has become.”

For Gjermundson, the memories of that first Las Vegas NFR still stand out—particularly the uncertainty.

“It was a big step coming to Vegas, moving out of Oklahoma City,” Gjermundson said. “It wasn’t like it is now. It was relatively quiet, but it was still a big change. We were all wondering if it was going to last and how long it would stay in Las Vegas. I also remember that I was fortunate to win the world title because there were four guys going into the last day who could have won it. My most vivid memory was when they came and told me that I had won the world title and needed to do an interview. I wasn’t sure until that moment.”

In 2024, Ryder Wright was also in a tough battle for the buckle. After missing his mark out in Round 1, things looked bleak. But he placed in the next nine rounds—tying for the top spot in Rounds 5 and 10, while winning Rounds 4 and 8. Wright finished seventh in the NFR average with 786.5 points on nine head and amassed $228,695 in Las Vegas. He defeated Damian Brennan by about $37,000. In all, Wright earned $479,957 for the year.

“The Thomas & Mack Center is an iconic building for the NFR, and everybody wants to ride in there and in that atmosphere,” Wright said. “I have dreamed about it ever since I was a little kid. Sitting in the stands is one thing, but being down there behind those yellow bucking chutes is unreal. You can’t beat it.”

Gjermundson enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones during the May Las Vegas NFR event. Now, he looks forward to December’s celebration.

“It’s great to be involved in it again and to see how it has progressed over the last 40 years,” Gjermundson said. “It has obviously gotten better every year, and in recent years it has taken some pretty good leaps—money-wise and production-wise. Having Las Vegas Events involved and the whole city behind it is very special.”

As of Sept. 2, 2025, Ryder Wright stood first in the world standings with $273,263. He was one of several Wright brothers in the mix to qualify for Las Vegas: Stetson ranked ninth, Statler 11th, and Rusty 26th.

Ryder is eager to get back to Vegas.

“It is going to be awesome,” he said. “Las Vegas always steps it up each year, and with it being the 40th anniversary, it will be extra special.”