National Western Stock Show Rodeo Winding Down

Final Bracket Concludes at National Western Stock Show Rodeo

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 24, 2025) — Friday’s action at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in the Denver Coliseum saw the completion of the eighth and final bracket.

It’s been 16 performances full of contestants hoping to be in Denver for the Semi-Finals on Saturday and now they know who made the cut. One of those contestants was Haven Meged, a rancher from Miles City, Montana.

“The National Western Stock Show Rodeo is a living tale of the West, where every ride and rope stitches together the passion and pride of its people.”

Danny O’Donnell,
Chief Social Officer,
Cowboy Lifestyle Network

Haven Meged: Aiming for Championship Glory

Meged won the world championship in tie-down roping in 2019, the same year he won the collegiate championship for Tarleton State University. Since then, he has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals to compete for another world title every year for a total of six. He has yet to win a championship at this rodeo and would like nothing more than to represent his home state of Montana and his agricultural heritage at an event like the National Western Stock Show.

His success has seen him earning over $1.5 million in the rodeo arena. In true cowboy and ranching style, every chance he has gotten, he has invested in cattle and horses. A win here could help him continue to do that. He stopped the clock in 8.1 seconds Friday afternoon, then came to the evening performance and got an 8.5. His total of 16.6 seconds will have him roping again Saturday and working to advance to Sunday’s finals.

Shelley Morgan: Speeding Towards the Finals

Another contestant that had fans on the edge of their seats was barrel racer Shelley Morgan from Eustace, Texas. She rode nine-year-old Bucky Wonder Horse that she calls “Bee” for times of 14.74 and 14.70 to finish at the top of Bracket 8. She will make another run on Saturday and if she is successful then will have an opportunity to add her name to the Finals qualifiers and run for a championship at the 119^th edition of the National Western.

Saturday’s rodeos will feature three separate Semi-Finals performances with eight competitors that have advanced out of the brackets in each performance. Rodeo action starts at 11 a.m. with the second Semi-Finals at 3:30 and the third at 8 p.m.

Bracket 8 Results

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 24, 2025) — The following are results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.

Bracket 8 – Round 1

Bareback Riding: 1, Gavin French, College Station, Texas, 81.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Barney Fife. 2, Sage Allen, Blackfoot, Idaho, 80.5. 2, Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La., 80. 4, Jake Kesl, Tendoy, Idaho, 78.5.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Ty Bauerle, Jourdanton, Texas, 3.9 seconds. 2, Levi Rudd, Chelsea, Okla., 4.5. 3, (tie) Slade Wiseman, Kilgore, Texas, and Talon Sterkel, Brighton, Colo., 4.6.

Team Roping: 1, Riley Minor and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 4.9 seconds. 2, J.C. Yeahquo, Mandaree, N.D., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 5.1. 3, Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho, and Buddy Hawkins, Stephenville, Texas, 5.3. 4, Jayse Tettenhorst, Jacksonville, Texas, and Clay Futrell, Union Grove, N.C., 6.1.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas, 83.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Honey Darlin. 2, Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, 80.5. 3, Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 80. 4, Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah, 78.5.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Riley Webb, Falls City, Texas, 8.2 seconds. 2, (tie) Dylan Hancock, San Angelo, Texas, and Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 8.5. 4, Tyler Calhoun, Richards, Texas, 8.7. 

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas, 14.74 seconds. 2, Kristi Cole, Magnolia, Texas, 14.89. 3, Tricia Aldridge, Sanger, Texas, 14.91. 4, Makala Pierce, Poolville, Texas, 15.12.

Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Fulton Rutland, Westville, Okla., 80 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Pearl Jacket. 2, Tipton Wilson, Jackson, Wyo., 71. 3, Ethan Skogquist, Elk River, Minn., 68.

Bracket 8 – Round 2

Bareback Riding: 1, Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La., 82.5 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Mudslide. 2, Gavin French, College Station, Texas, 80.5. 3, Colton Clemens, Blackfoot, Idaho, 79. 4, Jake Kesl, Tenday, Idaho, 77.5.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Ty Bauerle, Jourdanton, Texas, 4.1 seconds. 2, Cody Devers, Perryton, Texas, 4.3. 3, Levi Rudd, Chelsea, Okla., 4.4. 4, Cimarron Thompson, Hobbs, N.M., 6.5.

Team Roping: (two times) 1, Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 6.0. 2, Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho, and Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas, 14.2.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah, 85 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Melstone Flash. 2, Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta, 82.5. 3, Gus Gaillard, Morse, Texas, 81.5. 4, Easton West, New Underwood, S.D., 80.5.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 8.1 seconds. 2, Dylan Hancock, San Angelo, Texas, 8.5. 3, Blane Cox, Stephenville, Texas, 8.7. 4, James Berry III, Natchez, Miss., 8.9.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Kristi Cole, Magnolia, Texas, 14.68. 2, Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas, 14.70 seconds.  3, Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 14.75. 4, Raelin Jurgens, Parker, S.D., 14.97.

Bull Riding: 1, Sage Vance, Lincoln, Neb., 85.5. 2, T.J. Gray, Dairy, Ore., 83. 3, Hawk Whitt, Thermopolis, Wyo., 79.5. 4, Tipton Wilson, Jackson, Wyo., 77.5.

Article Source: Press Release

About the National Western Stock Show — Established in 1906, the National Western Stock Show is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate level scholarships in agricultural-related fields of study. Its mission is to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier stock show, equestrian competitions, and center for year-round events. The 16-day show also serves as an entertainment arena, hosting one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, family and educational shows plus Colorado’s larges western trade show. For more information, visit nationalwestern.com.