Everyone in rodeo knows Cody Whitney as a fun-loving cowboy. He smiles. A lot. And he likes to play pranks and tricks and keep everybody else smiling, too.

The two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier is having a much better 2010 championship. Last year he earned just $17,416, less than a go-round winner earns this year. Through three rounds, Whitney has ridden all his bulls and had two second-place finishes. So far, he’s earned $27,680.

Not too shabby.