Rodeo

Former WNFR Bareback Rider Don Mayo Passes Away News 2023

Don Mayo, a former bareback rider for the National Finals Rodeo, passed away on May 21 in Stephenville, Texas. He was 84. From 1961 through 1963, Mayo competed in the NFR and finished second to Ralph Buell in 1962, a career-best result. Mayo was one of five children reared on the family farm and was born on August 23, 1939, in Grinnell, Iowa, to Charles and Bernice Haynes Mayo. The Mayo family produced hogs, cattle, maize, and soybeans. Mayo was accustomed to working long hours on the farm as a young child, feeding pigs and milking cows before dawn. Mayo attended Grinnell High School, where he excelled in wrestling, after attending the small, rural Sheridan Township School for his elementary education. Don, at 12 years old, came upon an article about Casey Tibbs, a showy dressed rodeo cowboy who rode a purple Cadillac, in Life Magazine in 1951. Don was adamant that he wanted to become a rodeo star after reading the essay. Soon after, Don and his younger brothers Paul, Bob, and Roger started practicing on the family farm’s cattle. When Don finally attended a neighborhood amateur rodeo, he won the bareback riding event and $18. He was addicted.   Don began his career as a professional rodeo cowboy after receiving his high school diploma in 1957. Even though it was difficult at initially, Don was committed to winning. By 1961, Don had attained success and was able to compete in the bareback riding event at his first National Finals Rodeo. He qualified one again in 1962, and he won reserve world champion. Don was at the peak of his game and set on winning the world championship in 1963. At the age of 22, tragedy occurred while traveling to a rodeo on July 5, 1963. Don was engaged in an automobile accident with his younger brother Paul that left Don in serious condition and paralyzed from the waist down. Don would never again be able to use his legs, ending his hopes of becoming a cowboy world champion. At the time of the accident, he held a sizable lead in the race for the bareback riding world championship. Don didn’t give up though. He was determined to walk with crutches and not be confined to a wheelchair. Don was discharged from the hospital on crutches after putting in 18 months of diligent effort and therapy. After his accident, Don went on to have great success in the insurance and real estate industries. Despite his disability, he managed to learn how to fly a plane and eventually acquired four different aircraft, which he used to traverse the nation for more than 30 years selling life insurance. For his fortitude, resilience, and tenacity as well as his capacity to overcome obstacles and disappointments while maintaining a positive outlook and never giving up on life, Don was an inspiration to many. Don was honored in Oklahoma City in 2002 by being admitted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. In addition to his parents, Delores Weaver, Bob Mayo, and Paul Mayo, Don was also predeceased by his sister. Myrlen “Ling” Mayo, his devoted wife of 18 years, his brother Roger Mayo, his nephews Beau and Les Mayo, Jim and Mark Weaver, and his nieces Mary Whitehead and Diane Heaton all survive him. On Saturday, June 3, at 2 p.m. (CT), the Stephenville Cowboy Church of Erath County will host a memorial ceremony for Don Mayo.   Courtesy of PRCA

WNFR Bull Rider Koby Radley Suffers Left Leg Injury 2023 News

NEW: Bull rider Koby Radley can’t escape the injury bug. Injuries have plagued Radley ever since his appearances at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2018 and 2019. The Holden, Louisiana, cowboy’s most recent accident occurred on May 18 at the Bill Hoy Kiwanis Rodeo in Clarksville, Tennessee, when he was bucked from Universal Pro Rodeos’ Nightmare and broke his femur in his left leg. Radley, 24, stated, “It was just a freak thing.” “He bucked me off, and my right leg went in front of me and my left leg went behind me. Not a terrible fall, either. I believe that my landing with that leg behind me caused it to break in three places. On May 19, I underwent surgery in Clarksville.   To hold the rods and a rod through my femur, “they put three screws in my knee and two in my hip.” Radley, who has $44,888 and is ranked 13th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings as of May 24, will be out indefinitely. When Radley saw his orthopedic surgeon in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he was informed that his recovery time would be three months. “It all relies on how the wound heals. Both a longer and a shorter version is possible. Radley underwent left knee surgery in January 2020, which kept him out of action for ten months. He then sustained ailments to his right shoulder in 2021 and 2022, which led to the season-ending injury in August and the current femur issue.   I just can’t seem to get any luck, Radley stated. “I suppose all you can do is trust the procedure. I was doing great this season, so I was really looking forward to it. I’m hoping I can get over all of these injuries so I can advance in my work. Radley earned $160,072 in the 2018 world rankings to place 10th, and $195,349 in the 2019 rankings to place seventh. He finished third in Rounds 2 and 6 in Vegas in 2018 and Round 3 with a 92-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo’s Spotted Demon in 2019. He also finished second in Round 5 in 2019.   Courtesy of PRCA

PRCA Cowboys Donate to Help Injured Bull Rider Reid Oftedahl 2022

In order to assist bull rider Reid Oftedahl, members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Associations are coming together in a time of need. Oftedahl suffered an injury in the second round of the Teton Ridge-sponsored Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The cowboy from Raymond, Minnesota, was thrown forward, struck the head of the bull, and landed …

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Latest PSN: Stetson Wright rewrites ProRodeo record books 2022

At the Teton Ridge-sponsored 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Stetson Wright was a man on a mission. Wright made $414,222 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas over the course of ten nights. During his record-breaking season, he won his sixth and seventh PRCA World Championships. We caught up with the young superstar …

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Stetson Wright caps epic season with all-around, bull riding titles (Updates) 2022

Stetson Wright had an unforgettable Wrangler NFR season on Saturday night in Las Vegas. World Champion Interviews    Round 10 Photo Gallery Before 17,788 spectators at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, Wright set the single-season PRCA earnings record ($927,940), the all-around single-season earnings record ($758,829), the bull riding single-season earnings record ($592,144), …

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2022 National Finals Rodeo Wrangler NFR Round 3 News & Notes

Round 3 – Dec. 3, 2022 Round 3 Daysheet The opening act is country music star Lainey Wilson, and country singer Dan Smalley will sing the national anthem.The performance sponsor is Hesston by Massey Ferguson.ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray, a Vegas NFR icon, will be honored in an arena presentation and a banner unveiled …

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National Finals Breakaway Roping 2022: Wednesday

Exclusive live video coverage from Las Vegas, Nevada’s South Point Arena & Equestrian Center;2022, Wednesday, November 30. Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by Teton Ridge South Point Hotel & Casino November 29-30, 2022. The event is being presented by Teton Ridge South Point Hotel & Casino. During the two-day, 10-round competition, the top 15 …

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Scott Snedecor keeps drive for five championships alive with strong first day at NFSR 2022

WHAT: National Finals Steer Roping WHEN: Nov. 5, 7 p.m. (CT), Rounds 6 through 10 WHERE: Kansas Star Arena, Mulvane, Kan. WATCH: On PRCA Cowboy Channel Plus App WHAT’S In question: Top 15 cow ropers competing for a big showdown and a portion of $500,000 Adjusts: Pay six spots. First ($10,160); second ($8,408); third ($6,657); fourth ($4,905); fifth ($3,153); …

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Standout cowboy/stock contractor Bernis Johnson passes away 2022 (NEWS)

Bernis Johnson, a seven-time qualifier for the Public Finals Rodeo, and the proprietor of five-time Sans protection Pony of the Year Sippin’ Velvet, died on Oct. 27 in Cleburne, Texas. He was 90. “My father you could call him a homestead kid, however my uncles and aunties would constantly say he was a cattle rustler …

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