With more than half of the season left and millions of dollars yet to be won, athletes know that what they win during the "winter" season sets them up for the year. Some will be able to slow down, and others will have to enter after the winter season in order to fulfill their rodeo road dreams. Here's who is taking charge of the 2024 season.
The biggest story thus far in the season is someone who is living up to his name — Shad "Money" Mayfield. The tie-down roping superstar from Clovis, N.M., has a commanding lead in the standings and has also earned the most money of any athlete so far.
Sitting pretty in first place with $63,633, Mayfield has a lead of more than $42,000 ahead of second-place roper Chance Thiessen, who has pocketed a little more than $21,000 so far. Mayfield took full advantage of the $20,000 prize at Fort Worth, along with nearly $9,000 at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo.
Odessa, Texas, was also good to the tie-down roper, where he finished his run in 8.5 seconds to earn the second-place check of $4,145.
Mayfield set a goal and started it before he even competed at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Beginning at the Texas Circuit Finals, where the money counts toward the 2024 standings, Mayfield started cashing checks. At his performance in Waco, Texas, he tied four calves down in a total of 32.9 seconds and won $10,231.
During his interview after the win at Fort Worth, Mayfield said that just weeks before, he had been told that he needed to have surgery on both of his hips.
"After this win (at Fort Worth), I am going to hold off. I will keep rodeoing all year because I want another gold buckle, and this is my year," Mayfield said.
None of the other events have a leader emerging like Mayfield has in the tie-down, but they definitely are shaping up stand-outs.
The bareback riding has a very familiar leader, Keenan Hayes from Hayden, Colo. The young cowboy has taken the bareback riding world by storm and just continues to dominate. Hayes has amassed $35,531 ahead of Bradlee Miller from Huntsville, Texas, who has $31,654.
In the saddle bronc riding, Miami, Texas, is proud of Wyatt Casper. Having been to the NFR four times, Casper is setting himself up for another trip, and maybe this is his year to be the world champion. No doubt, there will be others who are hot on his heels. Hillsdale, Wyo. brings us Brody Cress, the veteran who has qualified for the NFR seven times and currently is just about $1,700 behind Casper.
Cody Teel picked up the $20,000 in Fort Worth and also vaulted himself to the number one position in the bull riding. The world champion and six-time NFR qualifier earned $37,972 in the 2024 year. Creek Young from Rogersville, Mo., is in second place with $31,970.
The big man, Will Lummus from Byhalia, Miss., has thrown steers down for $32,241 in paychecks this year, ahead of Dalton Massey from Ore., who has $29,216 in earnings.
Clay Smith and Coleby Payne have cashed $33,318 in the team roping and sitting atop the standings. Smith has qualified for the NFR on nine different occasions, while his partner, Payne, is looking for his first trip after finishing at number 17 last year.
The barrel race is being led by Cotulla, Texas, athlete Hailey Kinsel, and her incredible palomino mare. Sara Winkelman from Big Lake, Minn., made a big splash in Fort Worth, where she won $27,000 and moved to number two in the standings.
The breakaway has been one of the most fun events to watch so far, with Danielle Lowman from Gilbert, Ariz., roping in under two seconds nearly every time she nods her head. She has roped her way to number one with $27,408 in winnings. Rickie Fanning from the Badlands Circuit is in number two with $18,727.
There is still plenty of rodeo left in the season, and many moves will be made with a lot of changes at the number one positions, but things might be shaping up for some to see the bright lights of Las Vegas already in February.
