LAS VEGAS – The tiny town of Altamont, Utah, has plenty of reason to celebrate. Two of its 249 inhabitants came away from the National Finals Rodeo with two major titles and a boatload of money. Bareback rider Dean Thompson won the NFR aggregate title and the world championship, while steer wrestler Cash Robb staked[...]

LAS VEGAS – Most of the time in Las Vegas, the smart money is on the safe bet. Don’t hit when the dealer is showing a bust hand in blackjack. Bet odds or evens, maybe red or black, instead of putting all your chips on a specific number in roulette. Sometimes, though, the rewards are[...]

LAS VEGAS – The National Finals Rodeo is a roller coaster of emotions. There are peaks and valleys, and the climb is sometimes the best part. Bareback rider Richmond Champion is still hoping for a ride to the top. He rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Risky Business for 86 points to finish in a three-way[...]

LAS VEGAS – He’s not wearing camouflage, but J.D. Struxness is definitely a hunter. He’s not trapsing through the woods in search of food; he’s in Las Vegas, and his prey is the steer wrestling world standings. He’s been stalking for nine nights, and he’s closing in on his target with one round remaining at[...]

LAS VEGAS – The truth for bareback rider Bradlee Miller is that he has to play the game he loves in some serious pain. He suffered a neck injury during his fifth-round ride, and it’s cause extreme discomfort. As with anything to do with the spine, there are some side affects that aren’t helping either.[...]

LAS VEGAS – With the right horses under him, 2022 world champion bareback rider Jess Pope shines, especially at the National Finals Rodeo. He’s a three-time winner of the NFR’s average championship and finished second a year ago. The computer-generated drawing system hasn’t been quite as kind to Pope in 2024. He’s had two rounds[...]

LAS VEGAS – The first thing header Coleman Proctor must do after he backs into the timed-event box is get a good start; it’s a vital piece of the puzzle that is team roping. Sometimes, though, it’s more about the finish. “I’ve taken a lot of great tarts here and not finished very well, and[...]

LAS VEGAS – This is exactly what Wyatt Casper has been looking for. He’s a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier whose inaugural run at ProRodeo’s championship event took place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, during COVID. This year marks his fourth trip to Las Vegas for the NFR, and it’s the best finale[...]

LAS VEGAS – Cliffhanger was not in a mood to play, and Weston Timberman might have gotten the worst of the ordeal. During Thursday’s eighth round of the National Finals Rodeo, the Beutler & Son Rodeo bronc slid down and turned in the chute after Timberman had wedged his left hand into the rigging. Already[...]

LAS VEGAS – It’s sometimes hard to figure how J.D. Struxness never won a state wrestling championship while at Lac qui Parle Valley High School in Madison, Minnesota He was a two-time runner up, settling for silver instead of gold, but he’s trying to make up for lost time at the National Finals Rodeo. He[...]