National Western Stock Show kicks off with exciting rodeo action

By Susan Kanode

National Western Stock Show Rodeo, Friday, Jan. 14

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 7, 2023) — Opening Saturday at the National Western Stock Show presented by Centura has become a fan favorite for rodeo contestants and enthusiasts over the past 10 years.

This year was no exception as the 11^th Super Saturday showdown between contestants representing Colorado rodeos and world-renown rodeos dueled it out for winner-take-all prizes of $8,000. Along the way to the final championship, the tournament-style competition paid the competitors as well with a total of $90.000 paid during three performances.

Wyatt Casper, who lives in the panhandle of Texas, got his second-consecutive championship here in the saddle bronc riding. Casper was part of the world team representing Rodeo Houston. He finished second in the world performance to advance to the semi-finals where he was the best representative of that team. He went on to the finals and got the win with an 82-point effort on Painted Fling from Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company.

The bull riding winner is coming off of his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. Tristen Hutchings finished third in the race for a world championship last year and is carrying that momentum over into 2023. Hutchings was on the Colorado team representing the Greeley Stampede. He watched as world team member Brody Yeary came off early and knew all he needed was to get a score to add $8,000 to his checking account. It worked in a big way when he scored 87 points on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Skin Walker.

Keenan Hayes from Hayden, Colorado won the bareback riding for the world team for the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo with a big 90-point score. The world team also got the win in the steer wrestling when Stetson Jorgensen stopped the clock in 4.7 seconds for the Dodge City (Kansas) Roundup. In the barrel racing team Colorado was at the top of the leaderboard when Brittney Barnett stopped the clock in 15.268 seconds. Barnett was entered here for the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo at Colorado Springs.  

The 117th National Western Stock Show will be host to a cross-cultural event with the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza in the Denver Coliseum on Sunday. Performances are at 2 and 6:30 p.m.

DENVER, Colo. — The following are results from Super Saturday, Colorado Versus the World rodeo, Jan. 7, 2023.

Cinch Jeans Team World Performance – contestant, rodeo represented

Bareback Riding: 1, Cooper Cooke, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, 89.5, $1,000. 2, Keenan Hayes, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 83.5, $700. 3, Tucker Zingg, Rodeo Houston, 81, $600. 4, Bronc Marriott, Rodeo Austin, 80.5, $500. 

Steer Wrestling: 1, Stetson Jorgensen, Dodge City (Kansas) Roundup, 4.1, $1,000. 2, J.D. Struxness, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 4.8, $700. 3, Denver Roy, Calgary Stampede, 5.2, $600. 4, Trell Etbauer, Cheyenne Frontier Days, $500.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Brady Hill, Buffalo Bill Rodeo (North Platte, Nebraska), $85.5, $1,000. 2, Wyatt Casper, Rodeo Houston, 85, $700. 3, Jesse Kruse, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 84, $600. 4, Mitch Pollock, Guymon (Oklahoma) Pioneer Days, 81.5, $500.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Amanda Welsh, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 15.381, $1,000. 2, Paisley Pierce, Buffalo Bill Rodeo (North Platte, Nebraska), $15.527, $700

3, Carley Cervi, Guymon (Oklahoma) Pioneer Days, 15.528, $600. 4, Tasha Welsh, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, 15.528, $600.

Bull Riding: 1, John Crimber, Rodeo Houston, 86.5, $1,000. 2, Brody Yeary, Guymon (Oklahoma) Pioneer Days, 85, $700. 3, Toby Collins, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 84, $600. 4, Garrett Uptain, Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo (Rapid City, S.D.), 81.5, $500.

RAM Rodeo Team Colorado Performance – contestant, Colorado rodeo represented

Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) Donny Proffitt and Jamie Howlett both representing the National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 84.5, $850 each. 3, Drake Amundson, Greeley Stampede, 78.5, $600. 4, Kashton Ford, Rooftop Rodeo (Estes Park) 78, $500.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Tucker Allen, Larimer County Fair Rodeo, 4.1, $1,000. 2, Don Payne, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 4.4, $700. 3, Jace Melvin, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 5.0, $600. 4, Jacob Edler, Colorado State Fair Rodeo (Pueblo), 5.2, $500. 

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ross Griffin, Elizabeth Stampede and Statler Wright, Rooftop Rodeo (Estes Park), 84, $850 each. 3, CoBurn Bradshaw, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 83.5, $600. 4, Hardy Braden, Greeley Stampede, 82.5, $500.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Brittney Barnett, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (Colorado Springs), 15,317, $1,000. 2, Shali Lord, Greeley Stampede, 15.322, $700. 3, Jessica Routier, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 15.455, $600. 4, Jenna Pruitt, Colorado State Fair Rodeo (Pueblo), 15.691, $500.

Bull Riding: 1, Bubba Greig, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 86.5, $1,000. 2, Brylen Dees, Larimer County Fair Rodeo (Loveland), 81.5, $700. 3, Tristen Hutchings Greeley Stampede, 77, $600. 4, Coby Johnson, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (Colorado Springs), 75, $500.  

Showdown – Colorado Vs. The World – Contestant, followed by team, score and money.

Bareback Riding: (Semifinals) 1, Keenan Hayes, World, 85, $1,000. 2, 2, Kashton Ford, Colorado, 82.5, $1,000. (Final), Hayes, 90, $8,000

Steer Wrestling: (Semifinals) 1, Stetson Jorgensen, World, 3.6, $1,000. 2, Don Payne, Colorado, 4.5, $1,000. (Final), Jorgensen, 4.7, $8,000.

Saddle Bronc Riding: (Semifinals) 1, CoBurn Bradshaw, Colorado, 85, $1,000. 2, Wyatt Casper, World, 87, $1,000. (Final) 1, Casper, 82, $8,000.

Women’s Barrel Race: (Semifinals) 1, Carley Cervi, World, 14.952, $1,000. 2, Brittney Barnett, Colorado

About the National Western Stock Show — The National Western Stock Show is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate-level scholarships in agricultural science, business, and rural medicine. It is our mission to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier livestock show, horse show, and center for year-round events. The 16-day show in January also serves as an entertainment arena, hosting one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, world-class horse events, family educational events, and Colorado’s largest western trade show. For more information, visit nationalwestern.com.

Next Stop: Various National Western Stock Show & Rodeo Contestants will head to Steamboat Springs for Cowboy Downhill