It’s officially June which means it’s officially summer run rodeo season! Nearly 45 PRCA events took place over the past week. From Arizona’s Home of the Navajo Rodeo to Texas’ Mt. Pleasant Rodeo, California’s Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, Montana’s Xtreme Bareback competition and everywhere in between, professional rodeo’s top contestants hit the rodeo road in pursuit of large payouts, rank stock, fast times and high scores.
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.
Home of the Navajo PRCA Rodeo Awards Young Roughstock Riders 2024 Winners
Bareback: Keenan Hayes | 87 points on The Cervi Brothers’, Moon Dancer
Last year, Colorado’s Keenan Hayes qualified for his very first NFR, then won the world in the Bareback riding.
The World Champion is well positioned for another trip to the Thomas & Mack going into the summer run. Hayes covered The Cervi Brothers’, Moon Dancer for 87 points this weekend in Arizona, adding to his list of 2024 rodeo wins and a check for $3,700.
Hayes is currently 1st in the 2024 Bareback World Standings!
Saddle Bronc: Statler Wright | 90 points on The Cervi Brothers’, R. Watsaon’s Ed B
Utah’s Statler Wright is just 20 years-old. He’s in his second year of PRCA membership and heading into the summer run, it’s looking well for the youngster to qualify for his first NFR.
So far in the 2024 pro rodeo season, Wright has won rodeos from California to Alabama. The Home of the Navajo PRCA Rodeo is Wright’s second win in Arizona; he won the La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros rodeo earlier this season. Wright’s stunning 90-point ride on The Cervi Brothers’, R. Watsaon’s Ed Bwon him the Home of the Navajo Rodeo Saddle Bronc Title and a $3,800 check.
Wright is currently 3rd in the 2024 Saddle Bronc World Standings!
California Cowboys Shine at California’s Santa Maria Elks Rodeo
All-Around: Brushton Minton | Tie Down and Team Roping
California cowboy Brushton Minton is in the hunt for the 2024 All-Around world title. This weekend in front of a California crowd in Santa Maria, Minton added another All-Around win to his resume, earning over $3,000 to help his place in the current standings. Minton competed in both the Tie Down and the Team Roping, roping well in both to secure his All-Around win.
Minton is currently 1st in the 2024 All-Around World Standings!
Bareback: R.C. Landingham | 86 points on Rosser Rodeo’s, Right On Q
4x NFR qualifier, California’s R.C. Landingham finished 2023 ranked 30th in the world, missing the NFR for the first time after two back-to-back appearances in 2021 and 2022.
Heading into the summer run, he’s positioned well to return to Vegas this year. Not far from his California hometown, Landingham rodeo Rosser Rodeo’s, Right On Qfor 86 points this weekend in Santa Maria, earning himself a $2,400 check.
Landingham is currently 9th in the 2024 Bareback World Standings!
Darby, Montana’s Xtreme Bareback Event Sees Worlds Best Bareback Riders Face Off
Nearly $54,000 in total prize money is enough to draw the best Bareback riders in the world, and that’s exactly what Darby, Montana’s Xtreme Bareback competition did this weekend.
NFR qualifier Dean Thompson, currently 6th in the world, took the win in the first round with an 87.5 point ride onPickett Pro Rodeo Company’s, Questionable Nightlocks. NFR qualifier Jacob Lees, currently 13th took second with an 86.5.
Waylon Bourgeois is currently rounding out the top 15 in the Bareback riding. He had the top score of the second round, riding for 88.5 onJ Bar J’s, Hell on Hooves.
Kade Berry is nowhere near the top 15 and is only in his second year of PRCA membership. Regardless, he proved he’ll be one to keep an eye on, winning round three with an 88.5 onCalgary Stampede’s, Bucking Knight.
With three rounds in the books, on finals night it was 4x NFR qualifier Cole Reiner who took home a $12,000 check and the Darby Xtreme Bareback title. Reiner scored the highest score of the event with a 92.5 point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo Co’s, Nightcrawler. Reiner is currently 12th in the 2024 Bareback World Standings.
Mt. Pleasant Rodeo Sees Triple Wins and Triple Ties
All-Around:Wacey Schalla – Bareback and Bull Riding
Oklahoma’s Wacey Schalla is just 18 years old and in his second year of PRCA membership. Yet, he’s just $10,000 away from leading the All-Around World Standings. With 4x All Around World Champion, Stetson Wright out on injury, the door is open for youngsters like Schalla to have a chance at the title of a lifetime.
Schalla is tough, he competes in rodeo’s most physically demanding events, Bareback and Bull Riding. This weekend in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, Schalla won both events. He rode Big Rafter Rodeo’s, Dark Horse for 79.5 points to win the Bareback, then covered Generations Pro Rodeo’s, Maximus for 84.5 points to win the Bull Riding. All in all, Schalla won $6,500 total between his two event and All-Around wins.
Schalla is currently 4th in the All-Around World Standings!
Steer Wrestling: Tanner Brunner, Tyler Waguespack & Jay Williamson – 4.0 seconds
While Wacey Schalla was busy wining three events at the Mt. Pleasant Rodeo, three competitors tied for the win in another.
4x NFR qualifier, Kansas’ Tanner Brunner is currently 7th in the Steer Wrestling World Standings. 5x World Champion and 9x NFR qualifier, Louisiana’s Tyler Waguespack is currently just outside the top 15 bubble, sitting 16th.
Texas’ Jay Williamson is currently unranked. Regardless of their varying status, each ran a solid 4.0 second flat run in Mt. Pleasant, tying for first place and each taking home a $2,300 check.
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. | Bits n’ Spurs Weekly Newsletter P.S. Check out our community on Reddit and join the conversation |
