Buffalo Bill Rodeo crowns 2024 champions, improves world rankings

Few names in rodeo get attention like Rocker Steiner and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi. Everyone immediately knows who you’re talking about, without any explanation. Both stars showed up in North Platte, Nebr. for the Buffalo Bill Rodeo held June 12-15 and both walked away with the championship.

The Wild West Arena hosts many rodeos throughout the year, but the best cowboys and cowgirls descend on North Platte in June to show who is the best of the best.

The 2024 version was filled with talent making a pit stop en route to a hopeful trip to Las Vegas in December for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

In the bareback riding, two-time WNFR qualifier Rocker Steiner from Weatherford, Texas, came to town and rode Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Happy Hour for 88 points to take the win.

Ranked number five in the world rankings so far in 2024, Steiner welcomed the addition of $2,242 to his total. He should be on track to secure his third trip to the WNFR in December, but a lot can happen between now and September 30, so every penny counts.

On the roping team, familiar names Levi Lord and Dustin Egusquiza took 4.5 seconds to claim victory with paychecks of $3,149 each.

Lord is ranked second in the world rankings with $78,712 earned while his partner, Egusquiza is ranked number one in heeling with the same amount of money. With nine WNFR qualifiers between them, this veteran duo is going to be tough to beat the rest of the season.

A 25-year-old unclassified cowboy from Leedey, Oklahoma, showed up to show saddle riders. When Ean Price competed on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Fight Night, he meant business. Scoring 85.5 points was on track for victory.

The Oklahoma man deposited $2,852 for his eight-second effort and certainly gave him a confidence boost.

In the barrel race, world champion cowgirl Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi won the barrel race by a considerable margin. His time of 16.55 seconds was almost two-tenths faster than the competition.

The 17-time WNFR qualifier is looking to get her summer run off to a strong start and the win in North Platte certainly gave the Lampasas, Texas, star a boost. Known to handle pressure, rest assured that even though Pozzi-Tonozzi is currently ranked number 32, she will be fierce in the arena and hard to beat on the wire.

Bareback riding:1. Rocker Steiner, 88 points in Beutler & Son Rodeo Happy Hour, $2,242; 2. Keenan Hayes, 84.5, $1,719; 3. Cole Franks, 84, $1,271; 4. McBride Gauge, $83,822; 5. Waylon Bourgeois, 82, $523; 6. Garrett Shadbolt, 80.5, $374; 7. Spencer DeNaeyer, 80, $299; 8. Jake Kesl, 78.5, $224.
Steer wrestling:
First round:1. Travis Munro, 4.0 seconds, $1,513; 2. (tie) Riley Duvall and Austin Hurlburt, 4.1, $1,122 each; 4. Seth Peterson, 4.3 years, $731; 5. Marc Menuisier, 4.5 years, $470; 6. Kalane Anders, 4.7 years, $261.
Second turn:1. Tyler Pearson, 3.5 seconds, $1,513; 2. Eli Seigneur, 3.9, $1,253; 3. Tanner Brunner, $4.1,992; 4. (tie) Logan Lemmel and Jacob Sterkel, 4.4, $600 each; 6. (tie) Kalane Anders, Payden McIntyre, Tyler Ravenscroft and Sawyer Strand, 4.5, $65 each.
Average:1. Travis Munro, 8.7 seconds on two heads, $2,270; 2. Eli Seigneur, 8.8, $1,879; 3. Austin Hurlburt, 9.1, $1,487; 4. Kalane Anders, 9.2, $1,096; 5. Tyler Ravenscroft, 9.3, $705; 6. Cody Devers, 9.4, $391.
Team roping:1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 4.5 seconds, $3,149 each; 2. Payton Pirrung/Logan Schliinz, 4.9, $2,779; 3. Cyle Denison/Tanner Braden, 5.3, $2,408; 4. Trevor Olson/Tracer Olson, 5.4, $2,038; 5. Jake Pancost/Cole Cooper, 5.5, $1,852; 6. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 5.6, $1,667; 7. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 5.7, $1,482; 8. Jay Tittel/TJ Watts, 6.0, $1,297; 9. (tie) Cooper Brott/Dawson McMaster and Andrew Ward/Kollin VonAhn, 6.1, $926 each.
Riding a horse in the saddle:1. Ean Price, 85.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Fight Night, $2,852; 2. Joe Priebe, 84, $2,186; 3. (tie) Talon Elshere and Kasey Rosendahl, 79, $1,331 each; 5. Jack Skavdahl, $78.5, $665; 6. (tie) Roper Kiesner and Wade Sundell, 78, $428 each; 8. Garrett Long, 77, $285.
Lashing rope:
First round:1. Lane Livingston, 8.9 seconds, $1,763; 2. JD McCuistion, 9.0, $1,459; 3. Denton Oestmann, 9.3, $1,155; 4. Zane Kilgus, 9.6 years, $851; 5. Connor Matheson, $9.8, $547; 6. Clint Graves, 9.9, $304.
Second turn:1. (tie) Coy Arnold and Ryan Belew, 9.1 seconds, $1,611 each; 3. Wall of Chance, 9.5, $1,155; 4. Ty Moser, 9.6, $851; 5. Connor Matheson, 9.7 years, $547; 6. Trey Hall, 9.9, $304.
Average:1. Connor Matheson, 19.5 seconds on two heads, $2,644; 2. Jase Staudt, 20.9, $2,188; 3. Lane Livingston, 21.1, $1,732; 4. Clint Graves, 21.3, $1,276; 5. Glenn Jackson, 21.8, $821; 6. (tie) Cole Robinson and Ty Moser, 21.9, $228 each.
Barrel racing:1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 16.55 seconds, $2,709; 2. Paige Jones, 16.74, $2,303; 3. Shelley Morgan, 16.77, $1,896; 4. Summer Kosel, 16.79, $1,625; 5. Dona Rule, 16.80, $1,355; 6. Emily Beisel, $16.87, $948; 7. Leslie Smalygo, $16.88, $677; 8. Tillar King, $16.93, $542; 9. Stevi Hillman, $16.95, $474; 10. Ari-Anna Flynn, $16.99, $406; 11. (tie) Ashley Day, Patty Finney and Angie Meadors, 17.04, $203 each.
Bull riding:*1. JR Stratford, 86.5 points to Mayhem by Beutler & Son Rodeo, $3,664; 2. Colton Byram, 86, $2,821; 3. Chase Dougherty, 85, $2,098; 4. Hudson Bolton, 83.5, $1,376; 5. Garrett Uptain, 83, $894; 6. Brandon Ballard, 81, $654; 7. Riggen Hughes, 73, $533; no other qualified rides. *(all totals include earth money).