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SURROUNDED BY A GAGGLE OF RODEO reporters, Kaycee Feild tried to keep his emotions in check after clinching his record sixth bareback riding world championship at the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. There was talk throughout Wrangler NFR week that Feild might call it a career, and it was clearly going through his head as he fielded questions. Several of his responses inferred that the 34-year-old was thinking about what’s next in his life. But much like every other NFR contestant over those 10 days at the Thomas & Mack Center, he couldn’t help but comment on the event’s return to Las Vegas, as well. That was as special as any other part of his week – having
BY PATRICK EVERSON
the NFR back in its rightful home, after a one-year move to the Dallas area due to the pandemic. “Doing this back in Vegas is something awesome,” Feild said. “The energy here is something special, and you don’t get it anywhere else.” As it turns out, Feild later decided he’s going to ride at least one more year, so he might very well be back in Vegas in December 2022. The point remains: When it comes to the NFR, there’s no place like Las Vegas. All week long, contestants, NFR officials and, most of all, rodeo fans never stopped raving about the return of the Vegas vibe. Even before the NFR started, the night before Round 1 at the Downtown Hoedown, visitors from far and wide were amped up to be back in town.
PHOTO: Steve Spatafore.
VEGAS IS THE RIGHTFUL HOME OF THE WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO ® AND A TRIUMPHANT RETURN IN 2021 HAD EVERYONE BUZZING.
