Ten of the
best days of the year ended Saturday night with the completion of the
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s National Finals Rodeo. Rodeo fans know
that cowboys from across America and Canada, with a few thrown in from Australia
and Brazil, compete all year long to win enough prize money to rank among the
top 15 cowboys in their events and qualify for the National Finals.
It’s a grueling test—ten straight days of matching yourself against the best bucking horses and bulls, and select calves and steers in the timed events.
Utah
cowboys cleaned house this year, sweeping up all the honors in the roughstock
events.
Josh Frost
of Randlett won the bull riding, winning two go-rounds and placing in five
others, sewing up his place as the World Champion Bull Rider. Hayes Weight,
from my hometown of Goshen, finished up second in the world standings, winning
two go-rounds. Just behind him in third place in the world is Cooper James of
Erda, with two go-round wins and placing in three other rounds. Tyler Bingham of
Howell won a go-round and placed in two others, and finished in the world rankings
at number eight.
Dean Thompson
of Altamont won two go-rounds in the bareback riding and placed in six more and
came home the World Champion Bareback Bronc Rider.
In the
saddle bronc riding, Ryder Wright of Beaver won four go-rounds and placed in
five more to become the World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider—for the third time.
His younger brother Statler won a go-round and placed in four more, and finished
the year in eighth place in the standings.
A Utah
cowboy made some noise in the timed events as well. Cash Robb of Altamont won
the steer wrestling at the Finals, winning money in six go-rounds and placing
third in the world standings.
The State
of Utah should be pleased with this unprecedented performance by our cowboys. I
know I am.
