The rodeo dogfight of 2020 is over. And what a fight it was. The year started out looking like one of the best that rodeo has ever seen. Rodeos were changing and growing on an individual basis. The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo had moved into the brand-new Dickies Arena that was built with […]
Posted date: December 21, 2020 - 10:20 AM
There is an unmistakable sense of gratitude surrounding this yearās Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. From the contestants, to contract personnel and fans, after the unprecedented uncertainty of 2020 because of the pandemic, everyone is grateful to have any events, let alone one of this size and scale. It started last March in the middle of […]
Posted date: December 11, 2020 - 07:28 PM
Itās inaugural, exciting, new, and yet really not so new. This year has been so different, not just in our rodeo world, but across the board. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announced they were moving the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in early September. Just a few weeks later, they had another big announcement and one […]
Posted date: November 20, 2020 - 11:59 AM
From your NFR Insider Susan Kanodeā Iāve been blessed with the opportunity to share the stories of many of our rodeo stars and am proud to call them my rodeo family. I got involved in rodeos because Iām passionate about livestock. Now, Iām going to use that passion and my imagination to share a Wrangler […]
Posted date: November 13, 2020 - 12:57 PM
This year everyone is a Wrangler National Finals Rookie What the 2020? Itās been a year of ups and downs with more valleys than peaks. I read a Facebook post that encouraged us to use 2020 instead of cussing and believe me Iāve done a lot of that this year. I am a woman of […]
Posted date: November 06, 2020 - 02:04 PM
From your NFR Insider Susan Kanodeā Iāve been blessed with the opportunity to share the stories of many of our rodeo stars and am proud to call them my rodeo family. I got involved in rodeos because Iām passionate about livestock. Now, Iām going to use that passion and my imagination to share a Wrangler […]
Posted date: September 24, 2020 - 04:05 PM
From your NFR Insider Susan Kanodeā Iāve been blessed with the opportunity to share the stories of many of our rodeo stars and am proud to call them my rodeo family. I got involved in rodeos because Iām passionate about livestock. Now, Iām going to use that passion and my imagination to share a Wrangler […]
Posted date: August 28, 2020 - 01:55 PM
When Shane Hanchey won the first round of the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo it was the second buckle that he had been awarded that week. Last yearās Wrangler NFR started December 5th. The night before the competition, Shane was on the stage at the Contract Awards banquet getting a buckle for accomplishments outside of […]
Posted date: July 30, 2020 - 04:19 PM
From your NFR Insider Susan Kanodeā Iāve been blessed with the opportunity to share the stories of many of our rodeo stars and am proud to call them my rodeo family. I got involved in rodeos because Iām passionate about livestock. Now, Iām going to use that passion and my imagination to share a Wrangler […]
Posted date: July 16, 2020 - 04:53 PM
Some of Cole Melanconās family members might consider him a bit of a renegade. When he sets his mind to doing something, he does it. The Texas bull rider is the first of his family to participate in rodeo and that determination has come into play from the beginning. Thrill chasing came naturally so when […]
Posted date: July 03, 2020 - 11:45 AM
By Susan Kanode and Johna Cravens Looking at the standings in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Womenās Professional Rodeo Association it would appear that rodeo has come to a standstill. And in fact, it nearly has as events across the country were cancelled or postponed. Social distancing and shelter in place protocols have […]
Posted date: May 07, 2020 - 09:42 AM
By Susan Kanode and Johna Cravens Looking at the standings in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Womenās Professional Rodeo Association it would appear that rodeo has come to a standstill. And in fact, it nearly has as events across the country were cancelled or postponed. Social distancing and shelter in place protocols have […]
Posted date: April 27, 2020 - 08:40 PM
For rodeo fans, the first two weeks of December mean one thing. Itās time for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. But thatās not the only thing that starts in December. Itās also the start of ācold and flu season.ā According to the Centers for Disease Control, flu season picks up in December and runs the […]
Posted date: December 07, 2019 - 11:44 PM
The NFR is HERE!!! This yearās Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is stacking up to be one of the most exciting ever! The 120 qualifiers have accumulated $12,824,579 in earnings. The PRCA reported $43,191,565 in rodeo payout during the regular season. Ā Doing the math, the NFR qualifiers have won nearly 30 percent of that. Iāve watched […]
Posted date: December 03, 2019 - 09:34 AM
Richmond āRichieā Champion owes a lot to his older brother Doug. If it wasnāt for following in Dougās footsteps he might never have gotten on a bareback horse, or at the very least his path to becoming one of the worldās best would certainly have taken different turns. Richie gained a lot of fans when […]
Posted date: October 31, 2019 - 11:01 AM
When Ty Portenier autographed a picture and gave it to his son Brady, he had no idea of the lasting impression that would make. Ty was a bull rider in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His young son Brady would tag along with him and along with other […]
Posted date: August 29, 2019 - 12:51 PM
Jacobs Crawley was a senior at Texas A&M University when he first reached his goal of qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. While preparing for that rodeo, he was also thinking about a tattoo that would commemorate the occasion and provide lifelong inspiration. In June of 2011, he won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association […]
Posted date: July 18, 2019 - 01:54 PM
In 2018, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned 644 rodeos. The majority of those are in rural communities and while the towns that they are hosted in might boast some great restaurants, places to stay and things to do, getting medical care for a traumatic injury can be a challenge. Such is the case in […]
Posted date: June 03, 2019 - 04:40 PM
Unexpected ā perhaps. Surprising ā maybe. Intriguing ā absolutely. Beneath the long sleeve shirts, cowboy hats and jeans of rodeo contestants, there just might be some surprises. There are many stereotypes associated with tattoos. As society has changed, what once was a mentality of ādonāt look,ā has turned to ācool, check that out.āĀ In fact, […]
Posted date: April 01, 2019 - 12:12 PM
There are some notable veterans in this yearās Wrangler National Finals Rodeo field. Kory Koontz has ridden into the Thomas and Mack Center to compete in the team roping 22 times. The next contestant in line in a single event is Trevor Brazile with 18 qualifications in tie-down roping. It would be easy to think […]
Posted date: December 15, 2018 - 03:35 PM
Thirty-one years ago, a group of rodeo wives got together at the National Finals Rodeo and had a luncheon. What started as an opportunity for communion has now turned into a community and is one of the most highly anticipated events held during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The Pro Rodeo League of Women started […]
Posted date: December 13, 2018 - 05:51 PM
Thank you to Jr. NFR blogger Jack Nowlin for contributing to this story. Monday at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is a day that contestants, fans and a special group of local kids anticipates. For the past several years, Monday has been the day that the Exceptional Rodeo presented by Nevada Energy pairs local special […]
Posted date: December 11, 2018 - 04:04 PM
For most of the 60 years that the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has been the championship event of the sport, there has been a reporter on the sidelines waiting ā not always patiently ā to interview the contestants. Heās missed the NFR the last couple of years, but this year we are sure he is […]
Posted date: December 09, 2018 - 08:00 PM
Most of our Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers got their start in rodeo in associations other than the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Womenās Professional Rodeo Association. With the addition of the Junior National Finals Rodeo to the events in Las Vegas, opportunities are expanding for future rodeo contestants. The dreams of riding in […]
Posted date: December 08, 2018 - 04:15 PM
When Caleb Smidt married Brenna Byler six years ago, he couldnāt have imagined the journey that their lives would take or the impact that his wifeās family would have on his life. Of course, there were the typical plans for their future. Those plans included family members from both sides of the union. The plans […]
Posted date: December 07, 2018 - 04:38 PM
This yearās Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will have 26 contestants making their debut in the Thomas and Mack Center. Itās not the biggest class of NFR rookies that weāve seen, nor is it the smallest. I believe that everyone has a story and love being able to share those with you. I donāt ever remember […]
Posted date: December 06, 2018 - 01:32 PM
With just a few days left in the regular season, two members of the Wright clan are assured a spot in the saddle bronc riding at this yearās Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Those two members happen to be Codyās sons, Rusty and Ryder. Itās no surprise that they are ranked in the top five of […]
Posted date: September 26, 2018 - 05:20 PM
From eight to six — as the saddle bronc riding Wright family continues the summer rodeo run, each of their two rigs is without a traveling member For most of the season, Cody has been traveling with his oldest sons, Rusty and Ryder. Codyās brother Spencer has rounded out the crew. The other rig has […]
Posted date: July 18, 2018 - 02:54 PM
On April Foolsā in 1977 Bill and Evelyn Wright welcomed their first son into the family. The joke might have been on them as the couple had no idea what a legacy in rodeo had just begun. Cody was born at the coupleās home in Toquerville, Utah, with a family doctor on hand to assist […]
Posted date: May 01, 2018 - 03:11 PM
World championships in this sport donāt come easy. Along with physical demands, there are hours spent traveling, time spent away from loved ones and financial risks that can take their toll. And, along the way, a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualification is required. Since the NFR purse increased in 2015, each of the 120 […]
Posted date: March 09, 2018 - 09:35 AM
Sage Kimzey has made bull riding on the PRCA tour his own personal playground. At just 25 years old, heās qualified for six Wrangler National Finals Rodeo ā each of the last six years. And each time, heās walked out of the Thomas & Mack Center with the gold buckle as the world champion. On […]
Posted date: December 15, 2019 - 08:41 AM
Stetson Wright set very high goals for his rookie year on the PRCA tour. He didnāt want just one gold buckle, he wanted three ā the all-around, bull riding and saddle bronc riding. But if he could only have one piece of hardware, well, it would be the one he marched out with Saturday night […]
Posted date: December 15, 2019 - 08:38 AM
Dilton Emerson has probably forgotten more about the rich history of rodeo than most of us could ever know in the first place. But the 83-year-old still remembers a heckuva lot about it, too. Emerson is among the oldest members of the Gold Card club, reserved for trailblazers in the rodeo world age 50 and […]
Posted date: December 15, 2019 - 08:36 AM
For 35 years, those fortunate enough to have tickets to any night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo know that itās a great scene from the seats at the Thomas & Mack Center. But rodeo veterans also know you donāt have to wait until 6:45 p.m. each night to get the party started. The Cowboy […]
Posted date: December 13, 2019 - 11:56 PM
When it comes to rodeo, roughstock riders understand they put their health and well being on the line every time they nod their heads in the chute. But theyāre not alone in facing some of the inherent dangers of the sport. In fact, some of the more overlooked personnel are in equal or greater danger […]
Posted date: December 13, 2019 - 12:45 AM
Itās been said that blood is thicker than water. The Brothers Kimzey can certainly attest to that. Both Sage and Trey qualified for the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the first time bull riding brothers have made it to Vegas together since 1990, when Philip and David Fournier finished 11th and 12th, respectively, in the […]
Posted date: December 13, 2019 - 12:38 AM
You never need an excuse to go to the South Point Hotel & Casino. But the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo certainly provides plenty of good ones. The viewing parties, the nightly go-round buckle presentation and live concert in the South Point Showroom, the World Series of Team Roping going on in the Equestrian Center. And […]
Posted date: December 11, 2019 - 06:15 PM
John Harrison makes his living as a rodeo clown, so fun ā and a little passion for danger, warding off bulls and such ā is pretty much hard-wired into his DNA. But if you want to see Harrison have a really good time, just match him up with the special needs children who come out […]
Posted date: December 11, 2019 - 06:11 PM
No one should have to go through cancer, least of all children. More so, no child should have to go through it twice, in less than two years. In other words, no one should have to endure what Seth Permenter has endured. The 13-year-old from San Antonio was first diagnosed with bone cancer in November […]
Posted date: December 10, 2019 - 07:04 PM
Over the past 35 years here in Las Vegas, one of the greatest developments with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is the evolving viewing party scene around town. Fans can fully absorb all the action from the Thomas & Mack Center at dozens of such events, at hotels up and down the Strip and well […]
Posted date: December 08, 2019 - 09:48 PM
Cassidy Evansā first trip to Las Vegas was a memorable one. Thursday, the 13-year-old cowgirl from Yuma, Colorado, went to New York New York to ride the rollercoaster. Saturday, Evans won the inaugural Kelly Kaminski Run for Vegas pole bending at the Junior World Finals. Evans won the short go-round with a 19.953-second run and […]
Posted date: December 15, 2019 - 08:29 AM
Jack Kahla woke up Friday with a good feeling. āMy brother (Jake) and I were talking this morning that we wanted to come out here and win some money and at least one of us make the short go,ā Kahla said. āWe drew two good steers and we came out and did the best we […]
Posted date: December 14, 2019 - 12:28 AM
In a field of nearly 60 competitors in the Kelly Kaminski Run for Vegas junior barrel racing at the Junior World Finals, 9-year-old Quincy Ballard stands out. Itās understandable given that Ballard is one of just two boys ā Jakub Bender of Burelson, Texas, is the other ā who qualified for this yearās event. āItās […]
Posted date: December 14, 2019 - 12:20 AM
Prior to Tuesday, Jett Stewart and Jake Orris had never roped together. Two days and five runs later the two were posing for pictures with the saddles they won for being the Total Team Roping 17 and Under #10.5 world champs at the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas. Stewart, a 15-year-old from Heppner, Oregon, […]
Posted date: December 13, 2019 - 12:23 AM
Saige Smith knows what it takes to win in the Wrangler Rodeo Arena. The high school sophomore from Touchet, Washington, won the short go-round of senior barrel racing at last yearās Junior World Finals in Las Vegas. But Smith surprised even herself Tuesday. Competing in the inaugural Kelly Kaminski Run for Vegas pole bending event, […]
Posted date: December 12, 2019 - 04:34 PM
Aspen Autry was back to her winning ways Wednesday. The 12-year-old barrel racer from Kim, Colorado, won the first round of the Kelly Kaminski Run for Vegas junior division with a 13.911-second run. Autry is the defending world champ in the event. āI like this because itās an average and me and my horse are […]
Posted date: December 11, 2019 - 06:32 PM
Caden Tinsley is a man of few words. Instead, the 16-year-old team roper from Midland, Texas, lets his work in the arena speak for him. Wednesday in the 17 & Under #10.5 division of the Junior World Finals, Tinsley and roping partner Newt Lemond of Andrews, Texas, didnāt have their best day ā they had […]
Posted date: December 11, 2019 - 06:23 PM
When people think of New Jersey, rodeo is probably one of the last things that comes to mind. But the Garden State isnāt just home to the Jets and Giants of the NFL (yes, it says New York on the schedule, but both teams play their home games in Jersey) and Tony Soprano. New Jersey […]
Posted date: December 10, 2019 - 06:59 PM
There were some familiar faces from the Longhorn state in the winnerās circle as the 2019 Junior World Finals roughstock competition came to a close Monday at the Wrangler Rodeo Arena. Two Texas cowboys — Bradlee Miller from Huntsville and Kash Loyd from Cleburne ā both won world championships for the fourth year in a […]
Posted date: December 10, 2019 - 06:53 PM
The first four rounds of the National Finals Rodeo didnāt go as planned for steer wrestler Kyle Irwin. He placed sixth in the second round but failed to finish in the money in any of the other three rounds. None of that mattered to the Robertsdale, Alabama, cowboy on Monday, however. Irwin was one of […]
Posted date: December 09, 2019 - 09:25 PM
Blake Knowles will be competing at his fifth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. His success in the arena has been important …
Posted date: November 27, 2020 - 12:13 PM
By Susan Kanode There are few rodeo contestants who have a family history in the rodeo world like Shorty Garrett, …
Posted date: October 26, 2020 - 01:15 PM
By Johna Cravens Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi is one of the Womenās Professional Rodeo Associationās most accomplished barrel racers. She has qualified …
Posted date: August 14, 2020 - 12:57 PM
Like many team ropers, Jade Corkill canāt remember a time when a rope wasnāt a natural extension of his arm. …
Posted date: September 12, 2019 - 05:48 PM
There probably arenāt any rodeo contestants that love their job anymore than Caleb Bennett. The bareback rider who grew up …
Posted date: April 27, 2019 - 09:51 AM
Jeff Askeyās passion for all things western didnāt start in the Western part of the United States. It started in …
Posted date: October 18, 2018 - 05:06 PM
By Madelaine Mills Tyson Durfey, the 2016 World Champion tie-down roper, exemplifies a story of rags to riches in pursuit …
Posted date: June 27, 2018 - 11:37 AM
By Madelaine Mills Not having been raised around rodeo, bareback rider Mason Clements doesnāt have the traditional background story of …
Posted date: May 11, 2018 - 03:11 PM
By Madelaine Mills Billie Jack Saebens admits heās not the most talkative team roper going down the road. But the …
Posted date: April 09, 2018 - 05:58 PM
Hailey Kinsel seemingly came out of nowhere to take the rodeo world by storm in 2017. The truth is, the …
Posted date: March 15, 2018 - 02:19 PM
By Pat Christenson, President, Las Vegas Events You can feel the excitement, tension, passion and anticipation in the air as the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo begins this week, Thursday, Dec. 5 to be exact. As always, fans can expect a wide range of fan enhancements to make 2019 the best yet. Itās been the thrill […]
Posted date: December 04, 2019 - 10:25 AM
Just like the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is legendary, so is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. But donāt let the rock ānā roll moniker throw you when it comes to rodeo week in Vegas because the hotel embraces the country & Western vibe from Dec. 5-14. Those dates coincides with the […]
Posted date: December 03, 2019 - 01:48 PM
Country singing sensation and superstar Shania Twain sums up the call to action for Wrangler NFR competitors and fans perfectly, even if she didnāt really have that in mind when naming her 2019-2020 Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood, which opens Dec. 6. āLetās Go!ā Yes, indeed, Letās Go! ā¦ ā¦ To the Wrangler NFR […]
Posted date: November 26, 2019 - 02:27 PM
āOn the Road Againā is one of the most well-known phrases in all of country & Western music and lifestyle. And that is exactly where Hurlyās NFR Hotspots takes us this time, on the road (again) to the Treasure Island (TI), home of arguably country & Westernās most notable honkytonk, Gilleyās Saloon, Dance Hall and […]
Posted date: November 12, 2019 - 03:42 PM
When a Boyd Gaming executive responds to an inquire about what there will be to do at their hotels, casinos, saloons and gambling halls during the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with page upon pages of information, itās a pretty safe bet that NFR fans should spend a time or two around them parts. Boyd […]
Posted date: October 28, 2019 - 04:59 PM
This edition of Hurlyās Hotspots reveals the NFR off-the-dirt action at three top Vegas resorts, and if you do nothing more than check out these happenings, your 2019 Wrangler NFR experience will feel like a 90 ride … And if you pay close attention to these words, youāll find out where to hang with the […]
Posted date: October 15, 2019 - 03:45 PM
Downtown lowdown ā 33rd Annual Hoedown Kicks Off Wrangler NFR Action Here we go with guideblog number two, and this time my Hurly hot spots are located throughout the fast-evolving, unique and exciting Downtown Las Vegas, where resorts and tourist attractions roll out the VIP dirt carpet for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo each December. […]
Posted date: October 01, 2019 - 01:24 PM
Here we go with the first go-round of Hurlyās NFR Hot Spots, your guide blog to the off-the-dirt action. Iām Hurly and youāre not, and I request of you to let me help plan your 2019 Wrangler NFR experience. And I make that request with the gentlemanly swagger and respect with which a cowboy asks […]
Posted date: September 17, 2019 - 03:45 PM
By Brian Hurlburt Charlie Daniels and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo fit together like horse and saddle. Or cowboy and hat. Or a barrel racer and a fast, talented horse. And, most appropriately, they fit together like Charlie Daniels and his world-famous fiddle ā¦ The legendary country musician and icon passed away at 83 on […]
Posted date: July 06, 2020 - 05:04 PM
Roper Kyle Lockett loves his family and rodeo, in that order By Brian Hurlburt, Las Vegas Events Unexpected surprises are usually the most enjoyed. Thereās no doubt that is the case for the Lockett family when it comes to the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Team Roper Kyle Lockett (heeler) was a regular at the […]
Posted date: June 19, 2020 - 08:58 AM
By Brian Hurlburt, Las Vegas Events. During these unparalleled times during the coronavirus pandemic, people and companies across the United Statesāand the worldāare coming together to help and support those in need. The sport of rodeo has always had a giving reputation–we annually spotlight this generosity in a āHeart of the NFRā feature–and now one […]
Posted date: April 30, 2020 - 08:27 AM
Event info: Annual Wrangler NFR ticket raffle Each night of the Wrangler NFR, the UNLV rodeo team is set up at Thomas & Mack Center selling raffle tickets for nightly seats. UNLVRodeo.com UNLV Rodeo is alive and well at the university, headed by Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductee Ric Griffin. In all, the […]
Posted date: December 08, 2018 - 05:59 PM
Event info: tickets $85 or tables of 10, $850 contact Larry Jordan at 406-223-6503 The Orleans The World of Rodeo Reunion is the āreunion of all reunionsā and brings together the legends of rodeo for an annual celebration of the sport. The group will honor rodeo families, 25 legends of rodeo that are 80 years […]
Posted date: December 08, 2018 - 05:58 PM
Event info: Thursday, December 13 | 11:00 a.m., South Point Hotel Casino and Spa Benefits the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund (of interest, the event has raised nearly $1.8 million for JCCF) $50 Table sponsorships available Buy tickets online:Ā https://www.prorodeoleagueofwomen.com This is a be and be seen type event that is a lot of fun and that […]
Posted date: December 08, 2018 - 05:57 PM
Event info: Takes place during the nightās competition at Thomas & Mack Center. Fans and athletes urged to wear pink To donate: ToughEnoughtoWearPink.com Each Monday of the Wrangler NFR, the baddest rodeo cowboys and cowgirls in the world wear pink in honor of the fight against cancer. is Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night at […]
Posted date: December 08, 2018 - 05:57 PM
Exceptional Rodeo is a special interactive program that allowsĀ dozens of Las Vegas-area special needs children to experience the world of rodeo. Now in its 36thĀ year, Exceptional Rodeo is one of the highlights of the ten days of the Wrangler NFR. Special needs children are brought to Cowboy Christmas by their parents and teachers to spend […]
Posted date: December 08, 2018 - 05:56 PM
Event info: Private Events To donate or additional info contact Tina Tonascia at 805-925-4125 or tina@elksrec.com This event will bring together children suffering from cancer and their families (one child representing each of 10 rodeo committees in the Western US) at the Wrangler NFR. There will be special banquet at the South Point on […]
Posted date: December 08, 2018 - 05:55 PM
Miss Rodeo Alaska, Ariel Hunt:Ā Bring home this great hand sewn and tooled leather purse made by your 2018 Miss Rodeo Alaska Ariel Hunt full of Alaskan necessities such as a handmade Alaskan dream catcher, Alaskan smoked Salmon, a beautiful and valuable piece of real Whale Baleen, an Ulu factory Alaskan Ulu cutter, and some […]
Posted date: December 08, 2018 - 05:54 PM
