2018 NFR BLVD

World Bareback Champ Tim O’Connell

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CONTENT 06. The Baddest

34. A Super 60 Years

Bulls and Broncs on the Block The world’s best rodeo athletes go head-to-head with these animals on a nightly basis during Wrangler NFR. Here is how these mammoth specimens are trained for the spotlight.

12. The 10 Most Magnificent Days of the Year

There’s nothing quite like the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Take a look back at the last 60 years and relive the legends and best moments.

The Wrangler NFR is the

headliner, but Bullfighters Only, All-In Barrel Racing and World Series of Team Roping help Vegas turn into a Cowboy Town.

MORE

Here’s how some of the top young stars prepared for the prestigious Junior NFR in Las Vegas held in conjunction with the Wrangler NFR.

The Legend Continues Western lifestyle overload

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Center Excitement

40. Q & A with George Taylor 42. Champion Insights 44. Rodeo By the Numbers 30. Cowboy Christmas: 46. Meet Miss Rodeo

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50. Action Everywhere

26. Thomas & Mack

20. Summer Sizzle Top photo: Beutler/Hubbell; Middle photo: Steve Spatafore; Bottom photo: Todd Brewer Photography; Cover photo: Tom Donoghue.

takes place at Cowboy Christmas along with the RMEF Hunter and Outdoor Expo, live music and entertainment, and the Junior NFR.

America 2018

48. Fans Love the

Wrangler NFR

56. The Impact of Shawn Davis 62. Superstitions or Routines?

64. Meet the 2018

Wrangler NFR Rookies

PUBLISHER Las Vegas Events

COVER DESIGN Eric Berner

EDITOR Brian Hurlburt

CONTRIBUTORS

DESIGN Christopher Jones

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Patrick C. Everson Matt Jacob Reid Thompson

LAS VEGAS EVENTS 770 E. Warm Springs Rd., Suite 140 Las Vegas, NV 89119

Copyright 2018 Las Vegas

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of Las Vegas Events.

Events. All rights reserved. No re-production of any items without the express written consent

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Bodacious the Bull

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Photo: Dan Hubbell, PRCA.

GO BEHIND THE CHUTES AND LEARN HOW THE NFR’S ROUGH STOCK IS BRED TO BATTLE THE WORLD’S BEST COWBOYS

BY PATRICK EVERSON

Future bareback horses are being bred on Wes Stevenson’s ranch in Texas

(STOCKS, BULLS & BRONCOS)

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ontestants in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo garner a lot of attention, and rightly so. Each year, they have to travel all over the place, hitting rodeos large and small—perhaps as many as 100—to earn enough money to qualify for one of those coveted 15 spots in each event.

Photo: Wes Stevenson.

But what about the stock that those NFR cowboys are asked to tame?

These are all-star animals, and much like the cowboys who ride them, they too have taken years to develop in order to gain the opportunity to perform under rodeo’s brightest spotlight.

The bucking horses and bulls don’t just randomly roll out of a trailer outside the Thomas & Mack Center each December, then raise a bunch of hell inside for 10 consecutive nights. Rather, there’s a lengthy breeding-raising-competing process, often spanning several years, before these animals are ready for the biggest show.

A couple of rodeo’s most wellknown stock contractors, along with a former Wrangler NFR contestant now working his way up on the stock side, recently chatted with us about that process.

BODACIOUS AND BO’S EXCUSE Late in 1991, the Andrews Rodeo Company paid $7,500 to purchase Bodacious, who would go on to become one of the most renowned bulls to ever work the pro rodeo circuit. But at the time Andrews Rodeo Company acquired him, old Bo was just getting started.

“They’d been bucking him when we bought him,” Sammy Andrews says of Bodacious’ previous owner, who had the bull compete in some smaller and amateur rodeos to that point. “He was 3 years old, turned 4 in the spring of 1992. You could tell he had a lot of athletic ability. We worked to put some weight on him.

There’s not much else you can do.

The bull either has it or he doesn’t.

Because if bulls don’t want to buck, you’re not gonna make them buck.”

Bodacious, though, definitely liked to buck (and spin and jump). He also liked to eat, growing from 1,200 pounds to a 1,900-pound beast in short order.

“We had a mature set of bulls in those days,” Andrews says, specifically pointing to Outlaw Willie.

“Bodacious just always managed to show out more than the rest. If the TV cameras were there, he always had a great trip. He kind of created his own legend.”

In 1992, Andrews released Bodacious on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit, and the results were impressive. At the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo—among the nation’s biggest rodeos—Bodacious knocked Hall of Fame rider Cody Lambert unconscious. As the season went on, a couple of bull riders managed to post scores on Bodacious, but his reputation grew in a hurry, and he ended up among the stock at the 1992 Wrangler NFR.

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Underrated Wrangler NFR athletes are the animals, who go on display during the Grand Entry prior to each perf

“He was always matched against the best bull riders,” Andrews says.

“Bodacious got tried quite a bit.

That’s what made him so special: He was always up against good competition.”

In the 10th and final round of the 1995 NFR, Andrews announced that 7-year-old Bodacious’ days of tormenting bull riders was over— well, kind of. The notorious bull was retired from competition for the purposes of breeding. Considering Bodacious was ridden successfully just seven times in 138 outings, it wasn’t unreasonable to expect he’d produce similarly successful stock.

Sure enough, one such offspring named Bo’s Excuse proved to be eve-

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rything his daddy was—and perhaps more. Andrews oversaw the entire breeding-raising-competing process, with Bo’s Excuse born in the spring of 2000—the same year Bodacious died.

“To me, he was ranker than his dad,” Andrews says while describing the process of raising rodeo-worthy bulls. “We’ll back them in with a dummy rider when they’re yearlings. Then at 2 years old, we’ll buck them several times. It gives the bull a chance to set his pattern, how he’s gonna react, whether he likes going to the left or the right.

“Then at 3 years old, we [put] cowboys on him and take him wherever you can get practice rides – colleges or high schools, turn him out a few times. It didn’t take long with Bo’s Excuse. He didn’t have more than two or three rides. We scooted him up the ladder pretty quick. He had all the athletic ability of Bodacious,

and he was a little bit meaner than his dad.”

Andrews says Bo’s Excuse made 80 trips and was never successfully ridden, including in two rounds at the 2007 NFR, after which he was retired.

BUCKER UP The Beutler family has been synonymous with top rodeo stock since the operation began in 1929 as Beutler Brothers Rodeo Company. Now it’s Beutler & Son Rodeo Company, with Bennie Beutler at the helm, and he’s turned out more superstar stock than he can keep track of.

But when it comes to the family’s most memorable saddle bronc horses, few stand out more than the one named Wound Up. “We raised Wound Up. Her sire was Commotion, a three-time Bucking

Unlike bulls who might head to competition at 3 years old, bucking horses require significantly more time and effort.

Photo: Tom Donoghue.

Jim Sharp, a two-time world champion, drew Bodacious in that NFR and was fiercely thrown off. There were plenty of similar results—and worse—over the next three years, often with the very best bull riders on Bodacious’ back. He shattered the great Tuff Hedeman’s face in a 1995 event, and in the ninth round of the NFR that same year, Scott Breding got similar treatment and was knocked unconscious.

SPURS ON THE STRIP DECEMBER 6 - 15 For a complete schedule of events and list of activations visit CaesarsPalace.com

The Beutler family has been synonymous with top rodeo stock since the operation began in 1929

Unlike bulls who might head to competition at 3 years old, bucking horses require significantly more time and effort. But exercising such patience certainly paid off with Wound Up. “We don’t really touch our horses until at least 4 years old. It costs a lot of money,” Beutler says. “You keep feed in front of them the whole time—keep them healthy and feed them all they want. Then we work them through the chutes. Then we ease them along with smaller rodeos, [such as] college rodeos.

They really don’t hit the big time until we’ve had them in smaller rodeos for a couple of years. It takes you three years of competition to find out what you’ve really got.

“That’s why Wound Up didn’t go to the Finals until she was 6.”

That was in 2013, and Wound Up has been in every NFR since then, capping 2017 by being named the

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Bucking Horse of the Year.

FROM RIDING TO RAISING Wes Stevenson was a nine-time NFR qualifier in bareback riding, first reaching the 10-day rodeo as a 23-year-old in 2002, his fifth year on the PRCA tour. In those leaner early years, however, Stevenson took a keen interest in the horses on whose backs he was trying to carve out a living, talking with rodeo contractors such as Jim and Maggie Zinser.

“After a rodeo, when all the other guys would go out for a beer, I’d hang out and ask the Zinsers questions about the bucking horses,” Stevenson says. “At all the different rodeos, I’d talk to them about the bloodlines of breeding stock. It was very educational. I gained a lot of respect for the time it takes to make a great bucking horse. Raising bucking horses is a patient man’s game.”

Today, it’s Stevenson’s full-time game, five years after his last NFR ride. In fact, the game actually began during an injury-curtailed 2003 season, when he and his dad bought four mares and a stud from the Zinsers.

“I was thinking, ‘Gimme five years, and I’ll have horses at the

National Finals Rodeo,’” Stevenson says. “Now it’s 2018, and I’m like, ‘Gimme about 15 more years, and I’ll get this figured out!’”

While he hasn’t directly sent any of his horses to the NFR, he has contributed to the development of several successful bucking broncs, most notably Full Baggage—a three-time Bucking Horse of the Year—and Deuces Night, whom Stevenson actually owned.

“She was too good. She needed to be in the NFR,” he says of Deuces Night. “So I sold her to [PRCA stock contractor] Pete Carr, and she won Bucking Horse of the Year in 2012.

In hindsight, I wish I’d kept her, but you can’t be mad about seeing a horse you had go out and be successful.”

So does Stevenson think he has a future NFR horse currently inside his barn?

“You’re dang right I do. I think I’ve got some Bucking Horses of the Year in the future,” he says, while again recalling his comment about raising pro rodeo stock being a patient man’s game. “But I wouldn’t tell anybody a name publicly, because a horse will make a liar of you faster than anything in the world!”

Photos: Bennie Beutler.

Horse of the Year whom we took to the [NFR] 10 years in a row,” Beutler says. “When we retired Commotion, he would’ve been 16.

We put him out to breeding and bred him to a mare called Round Up. She’d been to the Finals three times. She was a rank horse.”

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REBA MCENTIRE, RODNEY CARRINGTON AND RODEO FANS CAN’T WAIT. HERE’S A GUIDE FOR THE 2018 WRANGLER NFR BEYOND THE DIRT ACTION.

BY BRIAN HURLBURT

Magnificent is defined as “impressive to the mind or spirit.” No question, your mind and spirit will be lifted when you experience the 10 days of the Wrangler NFR

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his is the third annual Wrangler NFR BLVD. preview publication, and it’s become a tradition to use a superlative to label the 10 days when Vegas goes Western each December.

Year One: Best.

Year Two: Awesome-est.

This year: Most Magnificent.

Next year? We’ll keep that a surprise, but feel free to offer your suggestions by visiting our social media.

Photo: Brenton Ho.

The 10 days are so special because it’s a citywide celebration of the Western lifestyle and culture. There’s just something about thousands upon thousands of cowgirls and cowboys getting together and enjoying their way of life—and doing so in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Everyday fans love it. Wrangler NFR

competitors embrace it. And a host of celebrities and other notables visit Las Vegas to view the action and take in the surrounding events. Among those are legendary singer Reba McEntire and comedian Rodney Carrington, as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charlie Daniels and Wayne Newton—and that’s just a short list.

McEntire, who appears with fellow country music entertainers Brooks and Dunn in an ongoing engagement at Caesars Palace, and Carrington, who has been performing in Las Vegas during the 10 days of the NFR for two decades and appears at MGM Grand in 2018, both shared some thoughts about the Wrangler NFR and the Western lifestyle for this “most magnificent” article. Check out the sidebars for their thoughts.

Let’s Go Downtown The Fremont Street Experience Downtown Hoedown is an entrenched tradition and kicks off Las Vegas’ 10-day

rodeo celebration. This is the 29th year for the Hoedown, which is held the night prior to the NFR’s opening (this year, that’s December 5). Several country music headliners will perform a free concert on the First, Third and Main Street stages in the revitalized Downtown Las Vegas and under the shadows of The D Las Vegas, Golden Nugget and Plaza.

While the Hoedown is a one-night affair, the party continues downtown during the entirety of the NFR, with viewing parties, after parties and continuous Western action throughout the Fremont Street Experience corridor. A favorite spot is the Downtown Events Center where thousands of fans gather in the outdoor setting to watch the live in-arena NFR feed and then party once the final bull bucks each night.

“It’s been great to see the fan support for the National Finals Rodeo at our watch party events at the Downtown

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WITH ONE PERFORMANCE AT THE 1974 NATIONAL FINALS RODEO, A COUNTRY SUPERSTAR WAS BORN.

BY BRIAN HURLBURT

Trevor Brazile has won 23 world titles. That’s by far the most in PRCA history, but he will need to keep rodeoing for decades if wants to come close Rodeo roots run deep in the McEntire clan. Her to the trophy total of longtime Country and West- father, Clark, and grandfather, John, were world champion steer ropers and Reba was a competiern superstar Reba McEntire. tive barrel racer.

By best count, the one-name-only-needed song“Since my grandfather was a world champion stress who performs a Vegas residency with steer roper in 1934 and my dad was a world Brooks & Dunn at the Coliseum at Caesars Palchampion steer roper in ‘57, ‘58, and ‘61, steer ace, has won 91 major awards during her career including 17 Academy of Country Music accolades roping is always my favorite event,” Reba says.

“Second would be barrel racing because I comand three Grammy awards. peted in it for 10 years.”

Her epic run can be traced back to 1974 when she performed the National Anthem at the NFR Las Vegas is now a home away from home for Reba. She and Brooks & Dunn have toured in Oklahoma City. In 2017, she came full circle when she performed the Anthem again, this time together since 1993 and now fill the 4,298-seat Coliseum dozens of nights annually. The Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center in a city she has show features 30 of their biggest hits including grown to love.

“Fancy,” “My Maria” and “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” “I was scared to death!” Reba says about her NFR performance more than four decades ago. “I was “I’m thrilled that the rodeo is in Vegas the same time that Brooks & Dunn and I are performing in front of 9,000 people in Oklahoma. Little did at Caesars,” Reba says. “We absolutely love it I know that moment would change my life and because we share an audience. I think December start my career. I met Red Steagall at one of the will offer a great combination of rodeo, country performances and he later brought me to Nashmusic and avid fans being in one town at the ville, where I recorded some of the songs he same time. Brooks & Dunn and I appreciate all and Glen Sutton had written. They pitched them around town and 11 months later I had a record- the hospitality we have received since beginning our residency at Caesars in 2015.” ing contract with Polygram/Mercury Records.

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Photo: Steve Spatafore.

REBA AND RODEO

“Performing last year was bittersweet. I love to sing the anthem at NFR, but since Clem McSpadden (known as the voice of rodeo during his career who passed away in 2008) wasn’t there, it made it sad for me. Clem was the one who always introduced me, and really, gave the approval for me to sing for the very first time in 1974. Red was in the audience last year and that was special.”

The Downtown Hoedown kicks off the Wrangler NFR in style with live music, dancing, drinks and a heckuva good time

Las Vegas Events Center,” says Mike Dini, The D director of marketing.

“With offerings and activations that can only be found in our neighborhood, fans have the opportunity to experience NFR in a way that really captures the spirit of the rodeo. We love locals and visitors alike, and know the rodeo attracts guests from around the world. The great part about celebrating NFR in Las Vegas is that no matter what hour of the day, there will always be something fun to do Downtown.

Photo: Tom Donoghue.

“It’s also been exciting to be a part of the development and success of the group of talented competitors that we sponsor, the Wright Family Bronc Riders. One of the best parts of working with the family is their relationship with the fans. Between appearances at the Downtown Watch Zone viewing parties to meet-and-greet events at the D, they are constantly looking for new ways to get facetime with their supporters and fans.”

The Plaza is also strong on the rodeo game and offers some unique opportunities for Wrangler NFR fans and

competitors in town for the various events including the Junior NFR. “In 2017, the Plaza Hotel & Casino was home to downtown Las Vegas’ first and only practice arena and stalls with holding pens for rough stock,” says Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “This year, the Plaza will again be an NFR hotel partner as well as the Junior NFR host hotel and the title sponsor for the Mini Saddle Bronc and Mini Bareback championships.

And this year, the Plaza has even more amenities and excitement planned!

The Plaza will provide a full outdoor equestrian arena and even more stalls for roping practice and exercise. In addition to practice, the arena will serve as the location for various special industry events and clinics led by rodeo experts. The arena will also offer onsite veterinarian services provided by Outlaw Equine.”

The unique amenities make it convenient for guests to house and exercise their animals just steps from their hotel room and in the heart of vintage Vegas.

Also, there are free viewing parties, live entertainment, complimentary shuttles,

and numerous food and drink specials throughout the 10 days at the Plaza plus Dummy Roping daily and Diamonds in the Desert Horse Sale Dec. 12-13.

“Rodeo has a long history at the Plaza — decades ago horse sales even happened in the Plaza’s ballroom,” says Jossel. “We are proud of our history and excited to bring back some of these traditions while also creating new ones for NFR fans today. The people who come to NFR are the same people who come to the Plaza. They are people who appreciate great entertainment, delicious dining options, comfortable hotel accommodations and personal customer service — all at affordable prices.”

Vegas Nods Its Head The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association holds its national convention at South Point—but that’s hardly the only thing going on at the resort at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard.

South Point also hosts such annual traditions as the Benny Binion Bucking Bull & Horse Sale, the Permit Challenge Rodeo, the World Bronc Futurity and the World Series of Team Roping, which is the third-richest equestrian

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event in the world. Additionally, South Point is the place to be for the nightly Montana Silversmiths Wrangler NFR GoRound Buckle Awards, which are emceed by Flint Rasmussen and Randy Corley.

“Las Vegas does an amazing job going country for 10 days, but the South Point stays country all year long,” says Ryan Growney, South Point general manager. “We will host 44 weeks of equestrian-related events in our Arena and Equestrian Center this year alone, and that culture is part of who we are.

“The NFR competitors have those Western values instilled in them at a young age, and that does not change once they reach the Super Bowl of Rodeo. I think many professional athletes lose that along the way, but luckily our cowboys and cowgirls do not.”

Over at The Orleans Hotel & Casino, PRCA barrelman Justin Rumford has hosted the on-property viewing party for the past two years. This year for the first time, he will host the after party as well. The National Finals Tonight show, entering its 12th year, is also at the Boyd Gaming resort but in a new location, allowing more fans to watch the nightly NFR recap with hosts Don Gay and Joe Beaver. Also new this year will be family friendly NFR viewing parties, both at The Orleans and at Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall.

RESPECTING RODNEY

Rodney Carrington loves touring and he loves the Wrangler National Final Rodeo.

All of the hoopla that surrounds it in Las Vegas is exciting and he has played to rodeo fans and Western lifestyle enthusiasts in town for the magical 10 days for two decades.

“I am having more fun than I ever have.

Every time I go on stage, it’s like talking to my friends - we have shared many years together,” Carrington says.

Carrington is set to bring his “Here Comes the Truth” tour to the David Copperfield Theatre at the MGM Grand Dec. 6-15.

“I love Las Vegas,” Carrington says. “It never closes, the food is incredible … I like getting out on those beautiful golf courses and in the community, and the weather is always nice. I feel like family (at MGM). I even know the bellmen.”

“Rodeo competitors are honest, hardworking athletes, and the fans share the same attributes,” says Jackie Ferrando, The Orleans’ director of marketing and special events. “They don’t take anything for granted, and they appreciate all that [the Western] life has to offer, and that includes the dedication it took to qualify for the NFR. They understand the sport relies on sponsorships from organizations such as Boyd Gaming and fans who buy tickets and follow their career to support it and them.

Fans will see many changes when they walk into The Orleans in December, as nearly half the property’s rooms will be renovated as part of an ongoing 18-month multimillion-dollar enhancement project.

MGM Resorts International operates a half-dozen resorts that are major sponsors of the Wrangler NFR including MGM Grand, where Scott Sibella serves as vice president and chief operating officer.

“How far the rodeo has come since it first started is the

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GOLD CARD REUNION Nowhere in Vegas other than the nightly perfs at the Thomas & Mack will there be more rodeo royalty gathered than the annual World of Rodeo Reunion and Gold Card Gathering, scheduled for Dec. 12-14 at The Orleans. The event is open to all rodeo fans. Auctions, special events, television shows and more highlight the event.

“The reunion is a unique and special for friends from days gone by, many whose excellence set the bar for our great sport of rodeo” Larry Mahan says. “Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate friendship, camaraderie and Western culture.” WorldofRodeoReunion.com.

Photos: Tom Donoghue, Steve Spatafore.

“For more than 30 years, Boyd Gaming has been bringing rodeo fans to Las Vegas,” says Ferrando. “Through offering NFR room and ticket packages, we’ve created many loyal guests and repeat customers. With the collection of activities featured at The Orleans each year and its close proximity to the main event, the property has become one of the premier hubs for fun-filled rodeo festivities. Additionally, our event marketing team is fortunate enough to interact with the fans each year to collect data and feedback, which we use to continually revise and improve our post-rodeo events. Giving the fans what they want is beneficial for us both.”

first thing that comes to my mind,” says Sibella, who also serves as chairman of Las Vegas Events, the NFR’s organizing body. “It’s a such a great event for Las Vegas, during a period that was extremely slow many years ago. It’s been an honor being part of the planning team.”

After parties, gold buckle presentations, chats with the champs and more are all part of the 10 magnificent days magic

The Gold Buckle Zone at MGM Grand features free viewing parties, giveaways, and live entertainment nightly. MGM Grand is also known as the Home of the Champions, sponsoring several world champions including four-time bull riding champ Sage Kimzey.

“The NFR is much more than a rodeo; it’s become an event throughout the city. What I tell people is to enjoy all the events that are planned over the 10 days, from shopping, entertainment, viewing parties and the other great events that take place during Rodeo Week.

At MGM Grand, we continue to add to our rodeo experience each year, and that is the case again this year.”

Rodeo Vegas at The Mirage—also an MGM Resorts property—is a fan and competitor favorite, and keeps the party going well into the wee hours with live music and more. Plus, the resort offers live viewing parties and appearances by Wrangler NFR competitors who represent Team Mirage.

The Silverton Casino provides free viewing parties presented by local country music station 102.7 The Coyote. The best part? They’re all-ages viewing parties, which can be difficult to find in Las Vegas. In addition, the off-Strip resort offers free concerts and plenty of food and drink specials. This year, the Silverton is partnering with Cowboys & Indians magazine on all Wrangler NFR events and will be featuring the second annual Best of West Ball.

Photos: John Plummer.

“Those who embrace the Western lifestyle generally are used to hard work, determination and honesty, and they rely on their neighbors to help them when needed,” says Silverton Casino and Hotel CEO Craig Cavileer. “They are a community. The Silverton Casino and Bass Pro Shops [located at the resort] is founded

The NFR is much more than a rodeo; it’s become an event throughout the city. What I tell people is to enjoy all the events that are planned over the 10 days, from shopping, entertainment, viewing parties and the other great events that take place during Rodeo Week.

Scott Sibella, MGM

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on these same principals. We cater to a demographic that is quintessential Americana. With our luxe lodge design and the Bass Pro Shops merchandising, fans of rodeo and the Western lifestyle are very comfortable with our resort. We see the NFR competitors, the stockmen and others who support the event as family. Silverton Casino and Bass Pro Shops are the perfect fit for the NFR.” Treasure Island Hotel and Casino is another huge supporter of the Wrangler NFR and all things Western lifestyle. They have to be, given that the world-famous Gilley’s Saloon is on property. But there are plenty of other reasons to visit TI during Rodeo Week.

“This year, in addition to our rodeo-fan favorite Gilley’s Saloon, we will introduce a new sports bar and lounge with unbeatable viewing of live NFR [action] on a state-ofthe-art LCD video wall,” says Don Voss, TI’s vice president of sales and marketing. “As always, we’ll provide special drink offers and prize giveaways, the NFR Bull Rider contestant autograph session, and offer one of the most convenient NFR shuttle stops on the Las Vegas Strip. We also have free parking and a hotel package with no resort fee.

“Our venues are designed to provide guests with a more intimate, socially interactive environment that provides a nice fit for our NFR regulars who stay or visit us each year. NFR competitors are some of the most approachable professionals in all of sports entertainment. They sincerely appreciate their fan base and know what makes for good hospitality.”

Even resorts that would seem like the last spots to “go country” get into the Wrangler NFR act and embrace the 10 days. Take, for example, the hip Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The resort’s president, Bill McBeath, has always been a big NFR supporter—he’s a rancher himself—and developed an initiative when he moved to the resort a few years ago. As of press time, information about NFRspecific entertainment at the Cosmopolitan was unavailable, but last year Cole Swindell, Dwight Yoakam and Dierks Bentley appeared at the resort. Expect similar high-level entertainment this December.

“By definition we’re never going to be a rodeo or Western lifestyle destination, but like we did last year, we are programming in some of the best Western acts going,” McBeath says. “It’s going to be a fun place to be after the rodeo.”

In all, 24 Las Vegas resorts are official Wrangler NFR sponsors: Bally’s, Caesars Palace, The Cosmopolitan, The D Las Vegas, Downtown Grand, Flamingo, Gold Coast, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, The Mirage, New York-New York, The Orleans, Planet Hollywood, the Plaza, Sam’s Town, Silverton, South Point, Treasure Island, Tropicana, Westgate Las Vegas and Wynn Las Vegas.

Caesars Entertainment properties saddle up for the NFR as well and this year some highlights are the mini-residency of Florida Georgia Line at the Zappos Theatre at Planet Hollywood. The country super group performs Dec. 1, 5, 7-9 and 11 during the magnificent 10 days.

It’s also Spurs on the Strip at Harrah’s where there will be competitor appearances and signings, viewing parties, free live entertainment and a party every night at Toby Keith’s Bar & Grill at the resort. There’s always a good time there.

There is simply too much information about each venue to include here, so visit NFRexperience.com or check out the NFR’s official social media channels for up-to-the-minute details.

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Photo: John Plummer.

A favorite tradition for fans is watching the inarena television feed at the many watch parties throughout Las Vegas at various resorts

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(JUNIOR NFR)

Weston Timberman

SUMMER SIZZLE

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Photo: Mark LaRowe.

JUNIOR NFR HOPEFULS GEARING UP FOR LOCAL, REGIONAL QUALIFIERS • BY REID THOMPSON

I

t’s going to be a long, hot summer for professional cowboys and cowgirls as they begin their stretch runs toward Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifications. The same certainly goes for hundreds of talented youths and teens who dream of punching their own tickets to Las Vegas for the third annual Junior National Finals Rodeo presented by YETI. The action will be intense and the competition fierce over the next few months as young contestants ranging in age from 6 to 19 square off for a chance to compete in one of eight events at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Wrangler Rodeo Arena from December 6-15.

Nearly 50 local and regional qualifiers are scheduled at rodeos across North America from June through

early October, with youngsters competing in age-specific divisions of bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing and mini bull riding.

These qualifiers, which attract thousands of contestants, will yield 600 invitations to the Junior NFR. In fact, simply securing a spot in the Junior NFR—which has rapidly become the most prestigious event in all of youth rodeo—is an accomplishment in and of itself.

“It definitely brings the best of the best from each state, so [the qualifiers are] tough competition,” says Weston Timberman of Columbus, Montana, the 14-year-old son of former professional bareback rider Chris Timberman. “It’s not just the kids around that area who are com-

peting. It’s kids from Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, North Dakota—everybody in that region.”

The regional qualifiers are great proving grounds for the young cowboys and cowgirls as they develop their skills and learn how to win against top-level talent. The competition can be so fierce that, depending on the region, winning a qualifying event can be even more challenging than walking away with a Junior NFR gold buckle—just ask two-time Junior NFR bareback qualifier John Jackson from Keller, Texas.

“The regional competitions [can be] a little tougher, because you know the competition is better,” says the 15-year-old Jackson. “I know several kids who could possibly beat me out at a regional competition, so I like

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Photo: Tom Donoghue.

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going to Vegas and going against kids from other states or even other countries—there’s not as much of a mental aspect that can mess you up.”

That’s not to say nodding his head in the bareback riding in Las Vegas the last two years was easy for Jackson.

But he embraced the challenge, as well as the experience provided at the Junior NFR, which takes place in conjunction with the annual Cowboy Christmas gift show and Rocky Mountain Elks Foundation Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo.

“Qualifying for Vegas, at least once or twice, can be a good steppingstone for somebody like me who’s been lucky enough to do so,” Jackson says. “The bright lights, all the people watching, the energy and all the autograph signings kind of freaks you out your first year. But now that I’ve been the last couple years, I don’t think it’s really going to affect me as much.”

Timberman says he enjoyed his Junior NFR experiences the last two years and is hopeful that he’ll qualify in mini bull riding and bareback in 2018—not just to compete once again, but to soak in the environment.

“It was just like the real deal, except for kids,” he says. “They treated us like it was the real thing, and there were good crowds at Cowboy Christmas.

Junior NFR stars perform daily as part of Cowboy Christmas

“All the kids who have beaten me in the past have moved on, so I’m up there now gunning for it.”

“It’s growing, and the competition is definitely getting stronger,” Jackson says of the Junior NFR. “I’ve talked to several professional cowboys who’ve qualified [for the NFR], and all of them have told me they wish there had been opportunities when they were kids to be able to qualify for something like the Junior NFR. It’s pretty special.”

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Photos: Tom Donoghue.

Jackson, a high school freshman, looks back on his Junior NFR experiences fondly and is confident the event will serve him well in his march toward the professional ranks.

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(THOMAS & MACK)

It’s always exciting to come to Las Vegas and partner with the Wrangler NFR, especially this year during its 60th anniversary celebration,” says Abby Raber, creative director for A3 Merchandise.

or buy purchasing a standing room only pass:

THOMAS & MACK CENTER ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS ARE ANCHORED BY RODEO’S LARGEST TAILGATE PARTY AND MUCH MORE • BY MATT JACOB

I

If you’re lucky enough to have attended at least one go-round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, you know that while the action on the dirt serves as the main event, it’s hardly the sole attraction. For the entirety of the 10-day NFR, the Thomas & Mack Center is a hub of nonstop action both inside and out. Here are a few must-see (and must-do) items to include on your nightly checklist and some can be enjoyed without a ticket

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The ‘Shoe is also home base for “NFR Countdown,” a new pregame show this year that will be produced

by RFD-TV. Last but not least, The ’Shoe has a balcony that offers unobstructed, Instagram-worthy views of the famous Las Vegas Strip.

Get in the Zone … A few steps from the NFR Express Shuttle drop-off location is the ProRodeo Zone where fans can partake in a unique tailgating experience, courtesy of the official sponsors of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Enjoy live music nightly on the RAM stage, test your ridin’ skills on the MillerCoors mechanical bull and make a memory inside the Hesston photo booth. You can also try your hand at the Hesston Shootout game, take in

Photo: Steve Spatafore.

NUTHIN’ BUT A GOOD TIME

If The ’Shoe Fits … The highlight of the Thomas & Mack’s 2015 renovation was the creation of The ’Shoe, a 36,000-square-foot addition to the northwest side of the arena that offers rodeo fans interactive experiences and hospitality in a fully themed Western environment.

Looking for the Walk of Champions?

You’ll find it at The ’Shoe, along with a saloon, lounge, saddle displays and several televisions showing all the excitement inside the arena.

The ‘Shoe and the PRCA ProRodeo Zone are fan favorites each year

The ProRodeo Zone is also the place to score a bunch of free stuff, from T-shirts and koozies to a brand-new Polaris RANGER UTV and a $70,000 voucher for a new RAM Truck. “The ProRodeo Zone presents RAM with a wonderful opportunity to connect with its fans on a personal level, while also offering them a fun and exciting entertainment experience,” says Mike Orman, president of the RAM Rodeo Series. “We’re proud to be a part of rodeo’s biggest tailgate party.”

Meanwhile, Out on the Plaza …

Veteran NFR fans understand that the best way to make the most of the nightly experience is to show up early—not only to beat the traffic and find a good parking spot, but to visit the expansive NFR Plaza.

Looking to get your grub on? This

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is the place to find a bevy of food options, from barbecue ribs and burgers to corn cobs and Mexican favorites. Thirsty? Grab a beer or cocktail at one of the bars.

The NFR Plaza is also the site of various sponsor activations and displays, plus video boards that showcase the various post-rodeo entertainment offerings at sponsor hotels. Ticketing, souvenirs and other booths are here, too.

Something for Everyone … A3 Merchandise is the NFR’s official purveyor of apparel and novelties during Rodeo Week, offering everything from T-shirts, caps and leather contestant jackets to keychains, stuffed horses, picture frames, jewelry, limited-edition posters and Christmas ornaments.

A3 stocks apparel in a variety of sizes for men, women and children at a variety of price points.

The NFR is celebrating its 60th anniversary, which A3 will recognize by including the official anniversary

logo on many commemorative items.

“It’s always exciting to come to Las Vegas and partner with the Wrangler NFR, especially this year during its 60th anniversary celebration,” says Abby Raber, creative director for A3 Merchandise.

For Your Viewing Pleasure …

Whether you choose to arrive early or to stay late (or both), you’ll want to head over to the Cowboy Corral.

Located in the Cox Pavilion on the southeast side of the Thomas & Mack, the Cowboy Corral features live pre- and post-rodeo music, plenty of food options, a full-service bar, comfortable seating and even a large dance floor.

And when the rodeo action begins inside the main arena, the Cowboy Corral morphs into a live viewing area, where a large video board broadcasts each and every event in its entirety as the in-arena audio feed is piped into the Cox Pavilion.

Visit NFRexperience.com for all details.

Photos: Steve Spatafore.

the Bar Rockn’ Divas dancers, shop at the ProRodeo Gear tent or check out the Justin Sportsmedicine Team trailer to see how the experts keep the pro cowboys healthy and ready to go each night.

(COWBOY CHRISTMAS)

WELCOME TO THE SHOW FROM LIVE ENTERTAINMENT TO INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS TO THE JUNIOR NFR, COWBOY CHRISTMAS IS AN IMMERSIVE WESTERN LIFESTYLE AND SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

BY MATT JACOB

W

hether it’s a header and a heeler in team roping, a cowgirl and her steed in barrel racing or a bulldogger and his fourlegged buddy in steer wrestling, rodeo has always been a tandem sport. So, it’s only fitting that since the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo galloped into Las Vegas in 1985, it has had an important partner riding right alongside it: Cowboy Christmas.

Fun for all ages and shopping until your dropping is all part of the mega Cowboy Christmas

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“When you have dinner at some restaurants these days, it’s not just a meal—it’s an experience. And it’s the same thing with our gift show: You’re not there just to buy a pair of Wranglers,” says Bo Gardner, vice presi-

Photo: Steve Spatafore.

The official gift show of the NFR, Cowboy Christmas welcomes thousands of rodeo fans to the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the rodeo’s 10-day run. Throw in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo, which several years ago moved into the South Hall’s second-floor space, and Cowboy Christmas is a massive daytime celebration of the Western lifestyle that perfectly complements the thrilling competition that takes place each night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

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Here’s what attendees can look forward to this December: WELCOME TO THE STAGE: Presented

by RODEOHOUSTON, the Rodeo Live stage is located on the South Hall’s main floor and is a nonstop hub of—you guessed it—live programming from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. This includes RFD-TV’s Western Sports Roundup with host Steve Kenyon (10 a.m. – 11:45), Flint Rasmussen’s popular “Outside the Barrel” show (noon-1 p.m.) and the youth-centric “Rodeo Recess” (2:15-3 p.m.) hosted by veteran rodeo announcer Andy Seiler.

Also back for a third year is the livemusic show “Keepin’ It Country” (1:152 p.m.), but unfortunately without original host Daryle Singletary. The beloved country singer died unexpectedly in February, but with the blessing of his widow, Holly, “Keepin’ It Country” will go on, with country music artist Andy Griggs serving as host.

As a tribute to Singletary, this year’s “Keepin’ It Country” will honor the legends of country music, from Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash to Waylon Jennings and Garth Brooks. So after Griggs performs a plugged-in set with his band, he will welcome a different guest artist each day.

Griggs will also welcome an extra special guest at one of the “Keepin’ It Country” shows: Holly Singletary, who will represent the Daryle Singletary Foundation and Daryle’s enduring legacy.

JUST “KIDDING” AROUND: Smack in the middle of the RMEF Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo, attendees will once again find the Wrangler Rodeo Arena, which is home to the Junior NFR. Entering its third year, the Junior NFR features 600 of the top youth and teenage cowboys and cowgirls ranging in age from 6 to 19 who compete in mini versions of the same seven rough-stock and roping events that comprise the NFR (plus an addi-

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tional roping event called break-away).

The Junior NFR has been a tremendous hit with rodeo fans, so much so that the 1,100-seat arena fills to capacity at times for all 10 days—and remains full throughout the daily competitions that run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To accommodate the overwhelming demand, Junior NFR organizers last year converted an adjacent 5,000-square-foot space into a live satellite viewing area. The space proved a popular gathering spot for overflow crowds to catch all the action on an oversize LED video board while enjoying food and drink.

Western lifestyle products, autograph signings and unique displays turn heads during the 10 days at the Las Vegas Convention Center

DOWN ON THE BOULEVARD: Another new addition to Cowboy Christmas this year will be the Junior NFR Boulevard, where attendees will find exhibitors from Junior NFR-specific sponsors.

The Junior NFR Boulevard also will be home to a new live studio stage called NFR Extra where fans can catch interviews with folks who are immersed in a variety of Western industries.

IT’S THE GREAT OUTDOORS …

INDOORS: The epic RMEF Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo is on the second floor, where outdoor enthusiasts of all ages will find more than 250 exhibitors spread across more than 260,000 square feet of space. They’ll also find interactive exhibits like an archery challenge, mechanical bulls and a place to practice roping techniques.

Now entering its fourth full year as part of Cowboy Christmas, the RMEF picks up where Cowboy Christmas leaves off with its own live stage located upstairs at the center of the South Hall. Programming on the stage takes place daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes “Cowboys for Conservation,” where host Matt West interviews guests who focus on the conservation aspect of the Western lifestyle.

In addition to hosting a different country music artist each afternoon, the RMEF stage this year will be the site of a new NFR Calcutta, an auction where fans can bid real money on NFR participants that they think will score well inside the Thomas & Mack Center.

Photos: Steve Spatafore.

dent of corporate marketing for Las Vegas Events, which operates Cowboy Christmas. “We’ll want to entertain you throughout the whole day and give you a real experience.”

(FEATURE)

A SUPER 60 YEARS John Van Cronkhite, the first general manager of the National Finals Rodeo, World Champion Jim Shoulders and ProRodeo Hall of Fame steer wrestler Harley May traveled to the White House September 29, 1959 to present President Dwight D. Eisenhower

THE WRANGLER NFR HAS BEEN GALLOPING FOR SIX DECADES, AND THE EXCITEMENT CONTINUES TO GROW WITH EACH GO-ROUND • BY PATRICK EVERSON

And Shawn Davis has been part of almost every single one of them.

Davis was an up-and-coming saddle bronc rider when he got his first taste of the NFR, qualifying for the event in 1963, the NFR’s fifth year of existence. Two years later, after the NFR moved from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City—where it would

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remain through 1984—Davis won the first of his three world championships.

He finished his riding career as a 12time NFR qualifier, then served as an NFR judge three times. From there, he oversaw the NFR’s last three years in Oklahoma City as president of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

In that latter role, Davis cast the tiebreaking vote that would forever change the NFR: relocating the event to Las Vegas. Since that move in 1985, Davis has been the glue that’s held it all together. Including this year’s run, the now 77-year-old has had some level of involvement – even

a couple of years simply in the role of spectator – in 56 of the 60 NFRs. And if he could have made it 60-for60, he would have.

“When the NFR was in Dallas, from 1959 to 1961, I was just a kid at that time. But I was quite excited and always interested in it,” Davis says.

“To begin with, it was a goal I had to compete in it, to be able to win a world championship.”

After capturing his first gold buckle in 1965, Davis claimed back-toback titles in 1967 and ’68. Those three triumphs aside, Davis truly cemented his rodeo legacy with how

Photo: PRCA.

W

hen the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo rides into Las Vegas in December for its annual 10-day run, it will mark the Super Bowl of Rodeo’s 60th year of competition, a milestone to be sure.

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COWBOY’S COWBOY No cowboy in history is more decorated at the Wrangler NFR than Trevor Brazile.

He holds every major record in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), including records for most money won in a career (over $6,000,000), most AllAround World Championship (13), most overall Word Championships (23) and the only cowboy to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in four events. He is a living legend of the sport of rodeo.

he’s handled the NFR over the past three-plus decades, primarily as the event’s general manager.

Deciding to move the NFR to Vegas, however, was hardly a slam dunk.

“I guess when I made the decision to vote to move it, I stepped out on a limb,” Davis says. “It was taking a very successful event from a city that spent of lot of time on it and had done a great amount of work promoting it. That first year in Vegas didn’t sell out.”

Bob Thain, a longtime rodeo producer, went to work under Davis when the NFR moved, and he recalls the initial growing pains in the desert in December 1985. “I was there when we were putting free tickets on Benny Binion’s craps tables, trying to get people to attend,” Thain says.

“If it wasn’t for Benny and Shawn, it would’ve never moved to Vegas.

Shawn knew Benny would help support the NFR in Las Vegas.”

In 1987, the NFR finally began to hit its stride, selling out all 10 nights at the Thomas & Mack Center. It marked the beginning of a streak that continues to this day, as the rodeo has now sold out 310 consecutive nights— and will no doubt reach 320 during this year’s run December 6-15.

“It’s unbelievable,” the now-retired Thain says. “Even Benny would’ve never dreamed what it’s become for the city of Las Vegas, for the PRCA, the casinos and the fans. Now, it’s packed, and every casino has featured entertainment. It’s a whole different world than when we first arrived.”

It’s also light years from the NFR’s humble beginnings in Dallas and Los Angeles. So how did the NFR get to this point? First and foremost, Davis and his team decided to make the NFR much more television friendly, which in turn made it much more fan friendly inside the arena.

We knew to compete in Las Vegas, we had to put glitz, glitter and glam on it, and encourage crowd participation, Davis says.

2013 – Trevor Brazile wins his 19th gold buckle, besting the previous record holder, Guy Allen who finished his career with 18

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Photos: Left, Tom Donoghue; right, Mike Copeman.

Charmayne James wins her 10th consecutive world title, adding one more in 2002

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“At one time, others said rodeo couldn’t be done in a TV time frame because of the animal element. I was able to tighten that element,” says Davis, who worked diligently to fit each evening into a two-hour window. “We had to choreograph and rehearse with the announcers, when the music plays, all of it.”

Over the years, Davis has continued to oversee the enhancement of the in-arena experience, integrating more and more technology and never allowing for a dull moment.

From pyrotechnics to booming music to speedy bursts of entertainment that fill what little down time there is, the NFR is as much a show as it is a rodeo. But Davis insists the rodeo’s roots have not changed.

“We knew to compete in Las Vegas, we had to put glitz, glitter and glam on it, and encourage crowd participation,” Davis says. “But when the NFR started in 1959, the idea was the best contestants against the best livestock. We’ve always stuck to that, focusing on the contestant for those two seconds or 30 seconds of glory.”

Now, as the NFR celebrates its 60th anniversary, Davis is finally ready to ride off into the sunset—at least somewhat. This will be his last year as the NFR’s general manager, though he’ll continue to consult while longtime rodeo announcer Boyd Polhamus takes over as production chief. And the PRCA has a new chief, as well, with George Taylor having taken the CEO reins from Karl Stressman earlier this year.

Taylor is right on board with his predecessor’s philosophy of keeping the NFR contestant-centric.

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“I know it’s the Super Bowl of Rodeo, but the amazing thing to me is what it means to the contestants,” Taylor says. “They will sacrifice life and limb, literally. I’m not sure there’s any other sport like that. That was the greatest ‘a-ha’ moment for me since I’ve been here. The NFR is amazing with history as a championship event that is as great as there is in any sport.”

That said, Taylor understands the PRCA and the NFR have a duty to provide fans the best possible product. So don’t be surprised to see more in the way of fan zone experiences and technological advances, including data on events and even virtualreality offerings.

“For me, the big thing is: How do we continue to drive a compelling fan experience at the event? It’s hard to [answer] that when you sell it out every night. And yet we know we

can’t stand still, no matter how successful we are,” Taylor says. “Many people, irrespective of age, are looking at the screen in their hand, the screen in the arena and the rodeo going on in front of them. We’ve got to leverage the fact that people are so engaged with technology.”

It’s certainly a long way from Davis’ first NFR 55 years ago, when all the hype and technology that currently exists didn’t seem remotely possible.

At the same time, for the man who has lived them, those 55 years have flown by.

“When you’re active, your life progresses so quickly, you don’t realize it,” says Davis, who expects many more NFR milestones. “The NFR has done what I’d hoped it would for the sport. It’s very stable—and I still don’t believe it has reached its potential.”

1972 – Larry Mahan wins his sixth world All-Around title competing in all three rough stock events

Photos: Top, Dan Hubbell; Bottom, PRCA.

Davis and his crew did such a good job reducing the amount of down time between events that the NFR is now two solid hours of virtually nonstop action, leaving fans in the stands with little time to so much as blink. “You gotta be paying attention, or you’re gonna miss something,” he says. “I think that’s one of the biggest advancements.”

1989 – Ty Murray, 20, becomes the youngest All-Around world champion, winning the first of his seven All-Around gold buckles

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(Q&A)

TAKING THE REINS NEW PRCA CEO GEORGE TAYLOR SHARES HIS PLANS AND VISION • BY REID THOMPSON

How do you feel about the current state of the PRCA, and what are some of your goals for the organization moving forward?

We’re fortunate to have an opportunity to come in and lead an organization with a solid foundation— a fan base of more than 43 million, six million of which will attend one of our 600 rodeos in 2018. We have amazing cowboys and rodeo committees making a difference in the communities they serve—approaching $1.5 billion in economic impact and charity work.

One of our greatest assets is of course the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the penultimate achievement that cowboys dream about. The gold buckle says it all. That said, there are many opportunities for growth. Our greatest opportunity is to drive unity in our sport. It’s tough in today’s world, where more time is spent discussing things we don’t like or how we are different. What I know is that organizations and communities that rally around a cause, vision or purpose can achieve amazing things. So, unification around our vision is No. 1.

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One of the most important goals to achieve that vision is to continue to grow our fan base and increase the global exposure of this great sport, its athletes and the amazing communities that host our events and the charities they serve.

BLVD

This year marks the 60th anniversary

of the Wrangler NFR. What are your thoughts about the PRCA’s signature event, and what would you like to see from it in 2018 and beyond?

The NFR is truly an amazing, historic event—like the Super Bowl for football and The Masters for golf. Ten straight nights of sellout performances every year in Las Vegas. That said, change is the only constant in business, and this is also true for sports and entertainment businesses. As mentioned in the first question, it’s all about driving the fan experience. The cowboys believe in [that philosophy], and we will continue to use the fan to drive where it goes, while respecting the history represented in the event.

With the NFR such an established part of Las Vegas each December and aspects like the Junior NFR helping to feed the PRCA pipeline, do you believe the event still has room to grow? And how important is the NFR for what it does for the sport of rodeo as a whole?

The NFR is the ultimate achievement in the sport of rodeo, no doubt. Room for growth—always. A big piece of that growth is related to how we grow our fan base. As you know, we are limited at the [Thomas & Mack Center], so that means our growth will come outside the arena. Our story is so much bigger than simply the competition in the arena.

Our job is to really understand what elements of that story touch the different segments of our fan base, and tell those stories where our fans want to consume them—be it network television, cable networks, over-the-top digital streaming technologies, social media platforms, etc.. We also have incredible opportunities to partner with our fans to source that material.

Another outside-the-arena opportunity we can leverage is our NFR Fan Zone, in partnership with our sponsors. We can develop some truly exciting experiences inside and outside the arena—we are just scratching the surface.

Photos: PRCA.

N

ew Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association CEO George Taylor is coming out the chutes strong as he leads the organization into a new era that will feature growth, a sizeable and significant charitable impact and, of course, world-class rodeo featuring the best cowboys in the world. Saddle up and enjoy our arena-side chat with the PRCA’s new boss.

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In 2017, Tuf Cooper won his first All-Around title and Nellie Miller galloped to her first Barrel Racing gold buckle

go-round and didn’t win, and he told me I was about to be real fast on that run before the trouble. Then he said I was going to be the All-Around champ and [told me] congratulations.

NELLIE MILLER Entering the 2017 Wrangler NFR, winning a world title never crossed the mind of barrel racer Nellie Miller, who used to sell raffle tickets during the Wrangler NFR to raise money for her UNLV rodeo team.

It wasn’t that Miller lacked confidence, but rather it just seemed like Tiany Schuster’s huge lead was insurmountable. But little by little, Miller, who began the week in third place in the season standings, narrowed the gap, then pulled off the upset.

ing in my brother-in-law and my dad’s footsteps. My whole life, Trevor has pushed me to do more events and go in the direction we are going now. He is family, a mentor and a competitor.

Before the NFR began … I tried to not think about winning the title, because everything had to go just right. When it started to get more real toward the end, I tried to keep my head on straight and not let any thoughts about winning creep in. I tried not to talk about it with anyone and kept to myself as much as possible.

So by the time Night 10 came around, I was a pretty calm. I knew if I kept doing the same things, everything would turn out fine.

Competing against family … is what I have been doing my entire life with the big rodeo family I have. We do it at rodeos, and we do it every day at the house. It’s one of the reasons I got to be so good. We’re able to help each other out and become better competitors, because we go at each other every day.

Winning the NFR world title … is an amazing achievement. Everything has to go just right for the whole year for it to happen. It’s an amazing achievement for everyone involved— not just me, but also my family and everyone who helped me. For it all to come together is still unreal.

Trevor was the first one ... to come congratulate me when I won the title last year, and he told me he loved me.

On that final night I was also going for the calf-roping world title. I had some trouble with the calf in the final

Being a world champion … has been new and exciting. I really didn’t know what to expect, but for everyone to be so excited about my achievement— even people I don’t know—has been really fun.

TWO CURRENT TITLEHOLDERS SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS ABOUT WINNING AND LIFE AFTER EARNING A GOLD BUCKLE • BY BRIAN HURLBURT TUF COOPER For the Cooper family and their relatives, winning a Wrangler NFR world title comes naturally, creating an interesting dynamic at the ole family dinner table.

In 2017, Tuf Cooper beat out his brother-in-law (and 23-time world champion) Trevor Brazile to win the prestigious season-long All-Around gold buckle—a buckle Brazile has won an amazing 13 times. And long before Cooper and Brazile rode to glory, Tuf’s father, Roy, won the AllAround crown in 1983, adding to his collection of eight world titles.

Winning the All-Around title … was a dream come true, especially follow-

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Photos: Greg Westfall.

INSIDER THINKING

I honestly never expected ... it could turn out like it did, because Tiany had such a big lead. I just tried to be consistent and continue doing what I had done the entire year leading up to the NFR.

December 6 - December 15

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Crunching the Numbers 45,000 – Miles traveled $60,000+ – value of by vehicle by backtop PRCA contractor to-back bareback competition bulls champ Tim O’ Connell annually $80,000+ – Value of first-rate PRCA con$15,000 – Total spent on tractor bucking horse air travel by back-toback bareback champ $10,000,000 – Total Tim O’ Connell annually Wrangler NFR Purse 1-2-3 – Overall histori- $10,000 – Amount cal rankings of Trevor earned by each contestBrazile’s top three ant for qualifying for season earnings (2010, Wrangler NFR 2014, 2015) $676,923.08 – Per Go 7 – Times Bodacious Prize Money the bull was ridden successfully in 138 $84,615.38 – attempts Per Go, Per Event Prize Money 10 – Years Wrangler NFR contract keeps $2,030,769.23 – event in Las Vegas Total Average (through 2024) Prize Money 20 – Total competitors $253,846.15 – in PRCA history with Average Prize Money, four world titles, inPer Event cluding bull rider Sage Kimzey who has won $8,800,000.00 – four in a row Total Payoff 13 – Consecutive years $1,100,000.00 – bullfighter Joe Baum- Total Payoff Per Event gartner appeared at Wrangler NFR (1992-2004)

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that dark alley and into the Thomas & Mack, I was like, ‘Whoa! I’m here, and I’ve done this!’ That’s when it really sunk in that, ‘Holy smokes, I really am Miss Rodeo America!’”

Winning the Miss Rodeo America title was a longtime goal for Sheffield, who graduated from Berry College in Rome, Georgia.

“Rodeo cowboys dream about going [to the Wrangler NFR] and getting a gold buckle, and rodeo queens dream about going there as Miss Rodeo America,” she says. “I went to the NFR in 2011, and I thought, ‘What I wouldn’t give to get to ride here in the Thomas & Mack,’ and then there I was in 2017. It was absolutely overwhelming and just a blessing.”

WRANGLER NFR BY THE NUMBERS TAKING STOCK

The main duty for Miss Rodeo America is to travel the country throughout the year as one of the sport’s chief ambassadors. It’s a chore Sheffield has embraced with open arms.

“It’s been a whirlwind, but a really fun whirlwind,” she says. “It’s been neat to experience the variety of rodeos and see how they’re run, and getting to meet the people in charge who pour their hearts into making [the rodeos] happen. It’s been awesome.”

A DESERT QUEEN

MISS RODEO AMERICA KERI SHEFFIELD CAN’T WAIT FOR WRANGLER NFR 2018 • BY REID THOMPSON

K

eri Sheffield will never forget her first lap around the Thomas & Mack Center arena floor.

It happened during the opening ceremonies of the sixth performance at December’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where the Summerfield, Florida, resident smiled wide and waved proudly as she completed a custom-

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ary victory lap after being crowned Miss Rodeo America 2018. It was all over in a flash for Sheffield—the first rodeo queen from Florida to earn the coveted crown—but the memory will remain with her forever.

“There’s nothing quite like the NFR, and to be able to be a part of it was crazy,” says Sheffield, an intensive care nurse. “When I rode through

“I’m excited for all my hot laps in the Thomas & Mack,” she says. “Last year, I got one, but this year, I get nine. I’m looking forward to the buckle presentations for the goround winners each night, because you get to interact with the contestants and their families.

“Vegas completely changes into a cowboy town when the Wrangler NFR is there, and I’m going to be fully immersed in it this year. I can’t wait for whatever the NFR throws my way.”

Photo: Miss Rodeo America.

(MISS RODEO)

Before she knows it, Sheffield will be back in Las Vegas wrapping up her Miss Rodeo America tenure during the 60th Wrangler NFR from December 6-15. And much like her first time riding onto the Thomas & Mack Center dirt, she’s eagerly anticipating several more grand entrances.

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The Smith Family, led by Ted, have been coming to the NFR since day one in Vegas.

There are too many memories to mention for Coon and his family members, but one nightly part of the show stands above them all.

WRANGLER NFR BY THE NUMBERS TAKING STOCK

“Nothing can surpass the enthusiasm, excitement and energy of the Grand Entry at the beginning of each NFR performance,” says Coon.

“There is a spirit of respect and patriotism felt that represents great American values we all share.”

FAMILIES AFFAIR WRANGLER NFR TRADITIONS ARE MEANINGFUL TO SEASON TICKET HOLDERS • BY THOMAS HURLY

E

ach year, families from across the nation descend upon Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It’s also become an NFR BLVD. tradition to tag along and learn a little more about some of these special visits.

Without any farther ado, say hello to the Anderson Dairy extended family from Las Vegas and the extended Smith clan from Oregon.

Meet Anderson Dairy This local dairy has been producing milk and ice cream since 1907 and is a Las Vegas locals favorite. Original

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founder Harry Anderson first started with 10-15 milking cows. In 1934, the Kenny Searles family bought the diary and general manager Glen Coon helped operate it. The Searles and Coon families still own and operate the dairy today, making Anderson Dairy one of the oldest family owned businesses in Las Vegas. The company has had 10 seats since the Wrangler NFR moved to Las Vegas in 1986.

“We live in one of the world’s most famous cities, but despite the bright lights, Las Vegas is still our hometown,” says Dave Coon, on behalf of the entire Anderson Dairy family.

“As Las Vegans, we are fortunate for

The Smith Family Smith family patriarch, Ted, was a well-known rodeo announcer and personality for KUMA radio in Pendleton, Oregon. The Smith family have been Wrangler NFR season ticket holders since 1984, starting first with 25 seats in Oklahoma City and now maintaining 14 seats in Las Vegas.

“The rodeo in Las Vegas has always been a major highlight in the lives of the Smith family and Ted was bringing people to Las Vegas for the rodeo even when it was an ‘unknown’” says his son, Greg. “We have watched it grow from a purse of $1.5 million to the $10 million that it is today.”

The Smiths used the tickets for family, friends, KUMA business associates and other Oregon rodeo notables. Close friends of the family were Tom and Nita Currins, whose nephew, Mike, was a longtime Wrangler NFR competitor. Mike was tragically killed in a plane crash on his way to a rodeo in 1990.

The Currins attended the rodeo for decades along with Greg and is his wife, Darlene, who now reside in Mesquite, Nevada, 77 miles north of Las Vegas. They look forward to the quick drive to Las Vegas this December.

Photos: Smith Family.

(FAN Q&A)

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the opportunity to attend and to be a part of such an amazing event.

It is special. Las Vegas Events has done a tremendous job, as only they can, in creating, developing and maintain such a tremendous presentation. Organizers, competitors and fans alike can be grateful and proud to be part of such an amazing experience. Our hats off to the cowboys and cowgirls who compete, the fans and Las Vegas Events.”

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ALL-IN ON WESTERN LIFESTYLE EACH DECEMBER, THE WRANGLER NFR IS VEGAS’ ANCHOR TENANT. BUT SEVERAL OTHER QUALITY RIDIN’ AND ROPIN’ EVENTS KEEP FANS ENTERTAINED AND COMPETITORS OF ALL LEVELS PERFORMING • BY BRIAN HURLBURT 50 2018 |

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ou can’t take more than a few steps in Vegas in December without walking past somebody wearing a cowboy hat. Indeed, Vegas is a cowboy—and cowgirl—town during the 10 days of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and the variety of Western lifestyle events staged during Rodeo Week continues to grow in the city that glitters.

One event bursting at the seams is the All-In Barrel Race. Founder Chris Woodruff says Las Vegas in December is perfect for an event like his.

“The unique thing about the All-In Barrel Race is that barrel racing has suddenly become the favorite event in rodeo,” Woodruff says. “With so

Photos: All-In Barrell Race.

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The World Series of Team Roping is one of the world’s richest equestrian events

The Preifert World Series of Team Roping has been riding into Las Vegas each December for more than a decade. It’s not only a huge event for the city, but with a total purse of about $12 million, it’s the second-richest equestrian event in the world, only topped by the Breeders’ Cup. Ropers take over Las Vegas—and specifically the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center— throughout the month.

“The combination of the preChristmas shopping, vacation venues, the Wrangler NFR, the ability to rope for millions of dollars each day, and now the addition of the other events trying to duplicate the World Series of Team Roping has combined to create the unheard of concept that well over $22 million will be distributed within

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You can’t take more than a few steps in Vegas in December without walking past somebody wearing a cowboy hat. Indeed, Vegas is a cowboy—and cowgirl—town during the 10 days of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and the variety of Western lifestyle events staged during Rodeo Week continues to grow in the city that glitters. the cowboy world during that one week,” says Dennis Gentry, founder of the World Series of Team Roping.

“This is an unprecedented time within the Western lifestyle.”

A relative newcomer to the Vegas December Western scene is Bullfighters Only, an epic competition that features the world’s top bull fighters performing unthinkable tricks over, under, around and, in general, far-too-close to rank bulls.

“Bullfighters Only is the only Western action sport, and is judged on style and creativity like most action sports,

and we encourage our guys to be individuals,” says Bullfighters Only CEO Aaron Ferguson. “Las Vegas is the perfect destination for us.”

These three world-class events add up to a Western jackpot in Vegas.

All-In Barrel Race, The Orleans The All-In Barrel Race was developed as a handicapped barrel race themed after Lady Luck herself, and is open to all levels of barrel racers.

A one-fee concept allows participants to secure a hotel room, horse stall, truck and trailer parking, jacket, open arena time, and entry

Photos: Wold Series of Team Roping.

many who compete in barrel racing all across the United States, Las Vegas is a perfect destination for a ‘big’ race with the NFR in town. It gives the competitors another reason to come to Las Vegas and be a part of the complete overall experience of the NFR, Las Vegas and what the All-In race has to offer.”

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into the competition. Even better: The event offers 100 percent payback of entry fees.

Bullfighters Only is where cowboy daredevils meet the X Games

New for this year is a third race, The Orleans Open. The three big races are December 6-8, December 10-12 and December 14-16 at the Orleans Arena located at the casino-resort.

Also added December 6-8 is the All-In Youth Championship. This race features an additional $25,000 in prize money for contestants 18 and under.

A Futurity for horses that are 5 years old and under, with another $25,000 added in prize money, is also new for 2018. Overall this year, the All-In events are guaranteed to pay out almost $600,000 in prize money.

“There’s nothing better than seeing the excitement on the faces of those who win $10,000 in each of the categories, because most of the ladies in the competition aren’t professionallevel, so this is a thrill of a lifetime for them,” Woodruff says. “It’s unheard of for some of these ladies to win that kind of money in some of the slower divisions, so it’s exciting for them and fulfilling for us.”

The competition is free and open to the public. For additional details, visit LVBarrelRace.com.

HBO’s Vice News describes the sport like this: “Freestyle bullfighting is kind of like the skateboard vert ramp event at the X Games, except the ramp has two massive horns, weighs 1,500 pounds and desperately wants to kill you. The rules are simple—you’ve got 60 seconds to pull off as many tricks as possible. The more dangerous and stylish, the more points. You also get points for how ferocious your opponent is. Whoever gets the most

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points walks home with the cash.”

The Las Vegas event caps a seasonlong schedule of Wrangler Bullfights across the country. Among the standings leaders as of July were Toby Inman, Kris Furr, defending Las Vegas champion Weston Rutkowski and Justin Ward.

started as a way to basically entertain cowboys during the daytime hours when the Wrangler NFR is in town.

Tickets and additional information can be found at BullFightersOnly.com

The South Point, the event’s host site, has three arenas, and the property becomes the world’s host of team ropers each December. Many competitors stay at the resort, store their horses and gear on property in air-conditioned stalls, and have a wonderful time.

Priefert World Series of Team Roping, South Point Started in 2006, the Preifert World Series of Team Roping is now the world’s richest team roping event.

Season-long qualifiers pay out in excess of $30 million, with an additional $12 million up for grabs in Las Vegas. Not bad for an event that

The World Series finale is the culmination of 100,000 teams competing in 140 sanctioned events during the year in the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Czech Republic and the Dominican Republic. The public is invited to attend the event free of charge. Check out WSTRoping.com for more information.

Photos: Bullfighters Only.

Bullfighters Only, Tropicana Bullfighters Only is the world’s premiere freestyle bullfighting competition series and features an international roster of elite pros competing against the meanest fighting bulls for the largest purse in bullfighting history.

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FAREWELL, PARDNER!

AS WRANGLER NFR BOSS SHAWN DAVIS RIDES INTO RETIREMENT, SEVERAL DIGNITARIES WEIGH IN ON A JOB WELL DONE • BY BRIAN HURLBURT

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winning back-to-back gold buckles in 1967-68. Those who saw Davis ride say he demonstrated the same tenacity and commitment on a horse that he’s displayed since 1986 when he took over the NFR’s operations.

Because of the Wrangler NFR’s epic success—with Davis leading the charge into the modern era—the competitor part of his story often gets overshadowed. Davis was a three-time world champion saddle bronc rider, claiming his first title in 1965 before

Off the dirt, possibly nobody in NFR history has had a bigger impact. Davis was a major proponent of moving pro rodeo’s annual 10-day season-ending championship from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas.

A longstanding member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys As-

efore he began orchestrating the Super Bowl of rodeo, retiring Wrangler National Finals Rodeo general manager Shawn Davis was pretty dad-gum good on the dirt.

Photos: Tom Donoghue, Steve Spatafore.

(SHAWN DAVIS)

sociation’s board of directors, Davis served as the board’s president from 1982-85 and cast the deciding vote to relocate the NFR to Las Vegas beginning in 1986.

This year, Davis will oversee his final Wrangler NFR before handing the reins to former arena announcer Boyd Polhamus, who will assume the hot seat in 2019, with Davis sticking around as a consultant.

As Davis rides off into the sunset, we asked Polhamus and others for some parting words on the man who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979 and named a Legend of Rodeo in 2011: “As much credit as he gets, he is still vastly underrated for his importance to its yearly success or failure.

If I had to pick one quality that has made Shawn successful, it would be his attention to detail. Even the tiniest of issues gets put under the microscope and is most thoroughly vetted before a course of action is taken. Once that course is decided, he sees it through in a meticulous fashion. Running a close second to his attention to detail is his knowledge of the event. No human being, living or dead, possesses Shawn’s complete and comprehensive knowledge about every aspect of the National Finals Rodeo. When he leaves, he takes that with him— and that, my friend, is a significant loss.” – Boyd Polhamus, former arena announcer and incoming Wrangler NFR general manager

Photos: PRCA.

“As President of the PRCA, by casting his tie-breaking vote to bring the NFR to Las Vegas, Shawn changed the economic value of December from a losing month to one of the more profitable ones.

Also, with his guidance of 33 years, and streamlining the NFR down to roughly two hours, he made sure it stayed that way.” – Michael Gaughan, owner, South Point “When the NFR moved to Las Vegas and the Thomas & Mack Center, I was the arena’s assistant director.

For the next 16 years I watched as the formula Shawn introduced in Las Vegas—the top 15 contestants

”As much credit as he gets, he is still vastly underrated for his importance to its yearly success or failure. If I had to pick one quality that has made Shawn successful, it would be his attention to detail.” -- Boyd Polhamus

on the best stock in a preciselytimed, two-hour performance— evolved into one of the greatest shows in sports. In 2001, as Las Vegas Events’ new president, I had the opportunity to get to know the man. I found the key to his success is an uncompromising obsession with maintaining the focus on the contestant while delivering a wild, two-hour ride for the fan. We have all benefitted tremendously from Shawn’s commitment to the success of the Wrangler NFR.” – Pat Christenson, President, Las Vegas Events

the cowboys are very appreciative of that.” – Tim O’ Connell, two-time bareback world champion “Shawn has done an amazing job making the NFR the most exciting sport to watch. The NFR wouldn’t be where it is today without his direction.” – Scott Sibella, President/ COO, MGM Grand; Chairman, Las Vegas Events.

“Nobody has done more for rodeo than Shawn Davis and the sport is much better off because of his commitment. For the last 25 years, he has made the Wrangler NFR into what it is. Rodeos across the country try to do things like the NFR and there is no higher compliment than that.” – Bennie Beutler, assistant GM of the NFR.

“He has been in Vegas since day one and has had such a significant impact on the development of the entertainment product that the NFR has become. He’s had to overcome some traditional rodeo philosophies, and he has been the one who has driven it. I call him theGeneral.

During the two weeks of the rodeo, he is all business. The choreography is absolutely perfect. He really has done a phenomenal job.” – Bill McBeath, President/CEO, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

“He has been key in making the NFR what it is today, and I know

For Davis’ Wrangler NFR perspectives, turn to page 34.

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(NFR SUPERSTITIONS)

SUPERSTITION OR ROUTINE? WE ASKED THREE OF THE WORLD’S BEST RODEO ATHLETES HOW THEY PREPARE FOR A RIDE. IT BORDERS ON SUPERSTITION, BUT IT MOSTLY IS JUST A METHOD TO THE MADNESS • BY BRIAN HURLBURT

Nellie Miller, Barrel Racing I don’t do anything specific, but I do have my routine with my horse (Rafter W Minnie Reba, which she raised). I enjoy spending quiet time

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with her, which we do about 30 minutes before the ride. The bond between a horse and rider is pretty unique. You have to be so in tune with the horse, because they can’t tell you what they are thinking. You have to use your animal sense and figure out what you need to do for them.

That bonding time helps set the tone for the ride.

that I’m ready for the chute to open.

When I wrap my hand around, I look to make sure everyone is ready—particularly my flank man. Because if he screws the flank up, you are in bad trouble. Then I make sure my horse is standing right. At the NFR, I’m not going to take a horse until he’s standing right. When there is a gold buckle on the line, I am not taking Tim O’Connell, Bareback the horse until I am comfortable with I always do the same thing each time everything. Then when I get my hips before I ride. Some might call it a into my rigging, I look at both my toes routine, others a superstition. All I and make sure my feet are cocked out, know is, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. so all I have to do is straighten my foot First, I do a warm-up to prepare my to get my mark out. I call it looking body for getting on a bucking horse. down the barrel, but I look down from Then when I get on the horse in the my rigging handle to the horse’s neck. chute, I do the same thing every time Then I nod my head, and my body before nodding my head to signal takes over.

Illustration: Christopher A Jones.

Tuf Cooper, All-Around, Tie-Down Roping I’m not superstitious. In fact, if I have something in my head that maybe seems like a superstition, I will do the opposite to just prove a point that none of that stuff is true. The only thing that matters is mindset and focus. Once I’m in the box, I feel calm because I’ve done all the prep throughout the year. Right before I turn my horse around in the corner, my thought is just about that calf. Just watching that calf and focusing on my dancing partner for that run.

Home, Home on the Strip Join us when WNFR is back in town and take in all the action at Cowboyville, featuring a live nightly simulcast of the WNFR, drink specials and more.

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(ROOKIES)

Clayton Sellars, Tanner Brunner

AS THE SUMMER WINDS DOWN, SEVERAL ROOKIES AND POTENTIAL FIRST-TIMERS HAVE THEIR SIGHTS ON THE WRANGLER NFR • BY PATRICK EVERSON

A

s has been proven by countless cowboys over the years, it’s no easy task to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It requires a lot of hard work, certainly some luck, and perhaps more than anything, a willingness to travel lots and lots of highway miles.

phone while en route to Springdale.

In fact, the rodeo cowboy motto ought to be: Have truck, will travel.

“I’ve been thinking about being at the NFR since this year started. So I’m not very surprised right now,” said Sellars, from Leesburg, Fla. “I was surprised early in the year, when things started falling into place so rapidly.”

Clayton Sellars lived out that motto in a recent 24-hour stretch, which is one of the reasons he might be the only PRCA rookie to qualify for the 2018 Wrangler NFR. On a recent Wednesday night, the 20-year-old bull rider competed in Greeley, Colo.

Following that ride – a no score, since he was bucked off – he and his traveling partners hit the seriously long road to compete the following night at a rodeo in Springdale, Ark., a trek of more than 800 miles.

“We’re somewhere in the middle of Kansas right now,” Sellars said by

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As the calendar turned to July, Sellars was sixth in the world standings, in very good position to finish among the top 15 bull riders and earn that trip to Las Vegas in December. No small feat for any contestant, particularly a rookie.

At the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Sellars won his bracket, then cashed in both rounds of the semifinals to rack up about $9,000. He also took first at a smaller rodeo in New Braunfels, Texas, where he was among only two bull riders to post a qualifying ride, so those two split the rest of the prize purse – ground money, as it’s called – as he left with another $7,500.

That helped Sellars pile up $62,815 through early summer and put him firmly in contention to ride for 10 nights at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Sellars could be the only rookie at the NFR, but several other cowboys could be first-time qualifiers, including steer wrestler Tanner Brunner of Ramona, Kan. In his sixth year of PRCA competition, Brunner was ninth in the world standings at $37,514 through early summer.

Unlike Sellars, though, Brunner was trying not to think about the NFR. “I’ve kind of got a goal of how much money I want to win. I’m trying not to look ahead too much,” Brunner said, noting his second-place finish in the average at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo was the big payday, at just over $10,000. “I’m sure I’ll start thinking about it more when it gets closer.”

Other strong prospects to become first-time NFR qualifiers include: bull riders Dustin Boquet, Chase Dougherty, Tristan Mize and Koby Radley; bareback rider Shane O’Connell, no relation to two-time world champion Tim O’Connell; and team roping heeler Trey Yates, son of 21-time NFR qualifier J.D. Yates.

Time will tell how the NFR bell tolls for thee.

Photos: Greg Westfall.

FIRST TIMERS

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