RODEO SCENE

Barrel racers steal show at NFR

With so much money on the line, the National Finals Rodeo can make or break a season. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, which sanctions the Newport Rodeo, awards world titles based on money. The NFR concluded its 10-day run in Las Vegas Dec. 14. 

This year, the most exciting event was the barrel racing, where Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas, won the world title, five go rounds and the most money of any competitor at the NFR. She took home $295,526, despite hitting a couple barrels which dropped her to fourth place in the average. 

She and Hailey Kinsel of Kutula, Texas, battled it out. Kinsel won four go rounds, but she, too hit barrels, dropping her to fifth place in the average. There was only one competitor who made 10 clean runs, another Texan, Andrea Busby, who won the average, which paid $86,391. The only other go-round winner was Oklahoman Emily Beisel, who won the 10^th go. 

The coveted All Around title went to roper Shad Mayfield, of Clovis, N.M., who won the title by $675, edging Oklahoma team roper Coleman Proctor in the final go-round. He needed to win at least fourth in the round and fourth in the average to win the All Around, which he did. He finished the season with $335,474. 

Mayfield qualified for the NFR in tie down roping but won money in the season in tie down, team roping and steer roping. Proctor, a team roping header, took a no time in the 10^th round. He won money in steer roping and team roping during the season. 

There were two cowboys from the northwest that led their events going into the finals, but had dismal performances in Las Vegas. 

Oregon bull rider T.J. Gray didn’t make a qualified ride until the fifth go round, when he won second in the round. He rode three of 10 bulls. 

Another Oregon cowboy, Dalton Massey, of Hermiston fell to sixth place in the steer wrestling world standings after starting the NFR in the No. 1 position. He missed his first steer, putting him out of the average money. Massey didn’t place in any of the 10 go-rounds and finished last in the average. 

Utah cowboys swept the riding event titles, with Dean Thompson of Altamont winning his first bareback riding title, Ryder Wright of Beaver won his third saddle bronc riding championship and Josh Frost of Randlett winning his first the bull riding world title after finishing runner up the last three years. 

2024 PRCA World Champions

Bareback Riding – Dean Thompson, $412,120

Saddle Bronc Riding – Ryder Wright, $479,957

Bull Riding – Josh Forst, $476,886

Steer Wrestling – J.D. Struxness, $309,220

Team Roping (Headers) – Tyler Wade, $361,480

Team Roping (Heelers) – Wesley Thorp, $361,480

Tie Down Roping – Riley Webb, $475,214

Barrel Racing – Kassie Mowry, $475,808

Breakaway Roping – Kelsie Domer, $168,758

Steer Roping – Cole Patterson, $152,928