Champions crowned at the 2024 WNFR
The world’s top rodeo athletes gathered at the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR), which took place Dec. 5-14 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, where they competed for the prestigious Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Gold Buckle.
Fierce rodeo action took place as 121 contestants competed for a share of the record $12.5 million purse and vied for world titles.
Bareback riding
In bareback riding, Dean Thompson of Altamont, Utah landed in second place in the final round with an 88.5-point ride on Straight Stick from J Bar J, but was ultimately crowned world champion at the end of the night.
Weatherford, Texas Cowboy Rocker Steiner closed out his season in second place, followed by Keenan Hayes of Hayden, Colo. in third.
Bradlee Miller of Huntsville, Texas had a strong finish and placed fourth in the world standings, while Jess Pope of Waverly, Kan. finished the year in fifth.
Steer wrestling
J.D. Struxness of Milan, Minn. entered the final night projected to take fourth, but walked out of the arena with his first gold buckle and world champion title.
Northwest Mississippi Community College Rodeo Coach Will Lummus of Byhalia, Miss. had another strong showing and finished second in the 2024 average and world standings for steer wrestling.
Second-year Steer Wrestler Cash Robb of Altamont, Utah slid into third place, while WNFR veteran Dakota Eldridge of Elko, Nev. secured fourth place.
Performing consistently for the past decade, four-time WNFR qualifier Rowdy Parrott of Mamou, La. rounded out the leaderboard for 2024.
Team roping
With an impressive run of 3.8 seconds in the final round, Tyler Wade of Terrell, Texas was crowned the 2024 World Champion Header and Wesley Thorp of Throckmorton, Texas was named the World Champion Heeler.
Clint Summers of Lake City, Fla. and Jake Long of Coffeyville, Kan. finished second in the world and won the WNFR team roping average.
Coleman Proctor of Pryor, Okla. and teammate Junior Nogueira of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil loped into third, and Kaleb Driggers of Hoboken, Ga. and Levi Lord of Sturgis, S.D. secured fourth place.
Rounding out the leaderboard in the team roping event was Dustin Egusquiza of Marianna, Fla. and Logan Medlin of Tatum, N.M.
Saddle bronc riding
Eight-time WNFR qualifier Ryder Wright of Beaver, Utah led the world standings and clinched his third world title with a strong final ride on the 2024 Horse of the Year All or Nothin’ of Andrews Rodeo Company of Bagwell, Texas.
Damian Brennan of Injune, Queensland, Australia came up just short of the world title, finishing second in the world standings.
Wyatt Casper of Miami, Texas, a five-time national qualifier, squared off against Vold Rodeo Company’s Crossbreed’s Captain Hook, scoring 85.5 points to secure third in the world and first in the WNFR average.
In fourth place, Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, Canada was right at home in Las Vegas on Cervi Championship Rodeo Company’s Vitalix Womanizer, scoring 86.5 points in the last round to finish in the top five.
Representing Wyoming, Brody Cress of Hillsdale rounded out the world champion leaderboard in fifth place with an 89-point ride on R Watson Boots Ed Bishop, another great saddle bronc horse from Cervi Championship Rodeo Company.
Tie-down roping
Riley Webb of Denton, Texas broke his own earnings record and won his second straight tie-down roping world title.
Clovis, N.M. Cowboy Shad Mayfield, riding 2024 Horse of the Year Lollipop, secured second in the tie-down roping event in front of a packed house on the final night of the WNFR.
Haven Meged of Miles City, Mont. rebounded from a slow start and climbed to the third spot in the world standings.
Hitting his stride, Ty Harris of San Angelo, Texas didn’t go home empty handed and secured fourth place, while Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, La. secured fifth in the world and second in the WNFR average.
Barrel racing
Five-time WNFR qualifier Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas was crowned the 2024 Barrel Racing World Champion after a 13.59-second run in the final round of competition.
Hailey Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas and her well-known mare Sister didn’t miss a beat and found their way to the winner’s circle, securing second in the world.
Andrea Busby closed out her first WNFR on Jets Top Gun, sired by the legendary Blazin Jetolena, breaking the WNFR aggregate record and capturing third place in Las Vegas.
In fourth was Ashley Castleberry of Montgomery, Texas, and ending a sensational season was Emily Beisel of Weatherford, Okla., winning the final round of racing with a 13.51-second run which pushed her into fifth in the world.
Bull riding
In bull riding, Josh Frost of Randlett, Utah clinched the world champion title and his second WNFR average title by outpacing the field as the only rider to land seven qualified rides.
Bull Rider Hayes Weight of Goshen, Utah had the best regular season of his career and wrapped up the 2024 season in second place.
Hayes was the only rider to make eight seconds in round 10, scoring 87.5 points on Coffee Misunderstood, a bull from Frontier Rodeo Company of Freedom, Okla. that made his debut at the 2024 WNFR.
WNFR Rookie Cooper James of Erda, Utah relied on consistency and earned a win in a tough pen of bulls in round seven, scoring 88 points on Midnight Rider of Rafter H Rodeo Livestock of Hulbert, Okla., pushing him into third in the 2024 world standings and second in the WNFR average.
Coming off of a dream season, Bull Rider T.J. Gray of Dairy, Ore. came to the WNFR on a mission to secure a big win but finished the 2024 season in fourth place.
In fifth, Bull Rider Tristen Hutchings of Monteview, Idaho missed round 10 of the WNFR with a sprained left knee he sustained during round nine when he received a no score aboard Smith Pro Rodeos’ James Bond, but did end the year in third place in the WNFR average.
Breakaway roping
The 2024 breakaway roping season concluded with Kelsie Domer of Dublin, Texas being crowned the world champion, followed by Martha Angelone of Stephenville, Texas who secured second on the world leaderboard.
When the dust settled, Breakaway Roper Josie Conner of Iowa, La. clinched third place, and Shelby Boisjoli-Meged of Calgary, Alberta, Canada landed in fourth place.
Ending the 2024 season, Jackie Crawford of Stephenville, Texas rounded out the leaderboard in fifth place.
All-round winners
After 10 days of competing at the 2024 WNFR, Mayfield took home his second PRCA World Championship with the All-Around title in Las Vegas.
Proctor ended the season in second place and Nogueira added to his winnings by placing third in the All-Around.
Wacey Schalla of Arapaho, Okla. secured fourth and Erich Rogers of Round Rock, Ariz. ended the season in fifth place.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
