SALT LAKE CITY – Cash Wilson’s dreams of competing at the National Finals Rodeo may have to wait, but he understands that’s just part of the game he plays.
He looked like a contender for the world title after posting an 88-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool during Friday’s first performance of Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo to take the saddle bronc riding lead.
“I’m still quite a long shot to make the NFR this year, but I just had a rough winter and tore my (medial collateral ligament) and didn’t ride very good this (past) winter,” said Wilson, 23, of Wall, South Dakota. “Things are finally rolling again. I’m back in my old saddle and ready for the new year.”
Wilson has accumulated more than $62,000 and sits 27th in the world standings, but only the top 15 on the money list in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to Pro Rodeo’s grand finale. To put it into perspective, Ryder Sanford has earned more than $107,000 and sits 16th this week, on the outside looking in.
Still, this is how Wilson makes a living, so every dime he can muster over the final three weeks of the regular season will be good.
“I knew that horse I had was a really good draw and really bucked,” said Wilson, who was part of the 2021 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association men’s championship team while competing at Clarendon (Texas) College and finished second individually the next season while at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.
Cowboys are matched with their animals via a random draw. In the early days of the sport, cowboys would draw their horse out of the hat. With modern technology, those draws are computer generated.
“That was a really outstanding horse,” he said. “I’m really thankful to have a good draw. It felt really good, but I never felt like I was ever safe. It felt like I was almost bucked off every jump.
“I could have rode it a touch better, but it was still good. It was a lot of fun.”
He credited the owners of Summit, a Wyoming-based livestock contractor that is producing this rodeo, which is part of the Utah State Fair. The company also provides stock for nearly two dozen other rodeos throughout the year, and cowboys have learned to trust Summit’s bucking animals for a chance to win.
“They had a great set of horses tonight,” Wilson said. “When you get broncs like that, it makes it really fun.”
While his plans to play for the biggest pay in rodeo at the NFR have been dashed, he still has some zealous goals for the 2024 campaign.
“I want to make $100,000 this year toward the standings,” he said. “It’s just a small goal after I figured that I was kind of an outside shot to make the NFR. That would be a good short-term goal for right now, so I just need to keep riding and keep getting better every ride.”
Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo
Sept. 6. 7 and 9
Salt Lake City
Bareback riding: 1. Bradlee Miller, 87 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Hillbilly; 2. Tilden Hooper, 84; 3. Darien Johnson, 83; 4. Richmond Champion, 82.5; 5. Mason Stuller, 79; no other qualified rides.
Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 3.6 seconds; 2. Jake Stocking, 4.5; 3. (tie) Chet Boren and Hazen Smith, 5.0 each; 5. Talon Roseland, 5.4; no other qualified runs.
Team roping: 1. Howard Hutchings/Scott Lauaki, 10.8 seconds; 2. Rhett Anderson/Jared Fillmore, 11.0; 3. Bryan Rasmussen/Jay Johnson, 24.0; no other qualified runs.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cash Wilson, 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool; 2. Ira Dickinson, 84.5; 3. Riggin Smith, 83.5; 4. Stran Nielson, 77; 5. Luke Logan, 70; no other qualified rides.
Tie-down roping: 1. Jase Staudt, 8.9 seconds; 2. Colton Kofoed, 9.5; 3. Seth Hall, 13.3; 4. Kolbey Hughes, 16.0; 5. Tom Simpson, 18.5; 6. Zane Brackett, 19.6.
Breakaway roping: 1. Peggy Garman, 2.3 seconds; 2. Harley Meged, 2.4; 3. Makayla Boisjoli, 2.5; 4. Jessica Johnson, 3.1; 5. Codi Anne Judkins, 12.0; no other qualified runs.
Barrel racing: 1. Sandy Bywater, 17.58 seconds; 2. Jordan Argyle, 17.68; 3. Lexie Goss, 17.77; 4. Kelsey Larsen, 18.04; 5. Katelyn Udy, 18.13; 6. Stephanie Kunz, 18.41.
Bull riding: 1. Miles Johnson, 82 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Mighty Merle; 2. Braden Richardson, 80.5; no other qualified rides.