National Rodeo News Roundup: April 11–21, 2025

Good evening, and welcome to your comprehensive national rodeo news update, covering all the major headlines and highlights from the last ten days across the United States—including a deep dive into the latest college rodeo action in Montana and a special spotlight on the Miles Community College Rodeo Team.

The American Rodeo Championship Weekend: Record Payouts and Big Wins

We begin in Arlington, Texas, where Globe Life Field was the epicenter of Western sports during The American Rodeo Championship Weekend on April 11th and 12th. This year’s event drew 180 competitors from 31 states and four countries, with contestants ranging in age from 11 to 53. Over $3 million in prize money was awarded, with the total payout reaching a record-breaking $4.6 million—making this one of the richest events in rodeo history.

The event featured all eight traditional rodeo disciplines and was broadcast live across FOX Sports networks. Fans were also treated to concerts by Bailey Zimmerman, Riley Green, and Ella Langley, turning the rodeo into a true celebration of Western culture.

Team Roping: Driggers and Nogueira Continue Their Dominance

In team roping, Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira continued their remarkable run. Fresh off a $154,000 win at the Bob Feist Invitational, they clinched another $100,000 each at The American Rodeo, with a lightning-fast 3.95-second run in the finals. This marks Driggers’ fifth American win and Nogueira’s third, further cementing their place among the sport’s elite.

Women’s Rodeo Championships: New Wellness Initiative

Looking ahead, the Women’s Rodeo Championships are set for May 11th through 17th in Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas. In a significant development, the WRC has teamed up with the Western Sports Foundation to launch free virtual wellness clinics for athletes. These clinics, beginning April 23rd, will cover topics such as social media, personal branding, financial wellness, and mental performance—aimed at helping female athletes build sustainable careers and healthy lives both in and out of the arena.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Class

The ProRodeo Hall of Fame has announced its class of 2025, honoring legends who have made lasting contributions to the sport. While the full list of inductees wasn’t detailed in this week’s coverage, the announcement has generated widespread excitement as fans look forward to the induction ceremony later this year.

Rising Stars and Rookie Highlights

The PRCA season is heating up, with rookie bareback rider Sage Allen making big moves in San Angelo, and rookie bull rider Bryce Jensen capturing attention with recent wins. Meanwhile, reigning world champion bareback rider Dean Thompson shared insights into his American Rodeo experience, and Louisiana’s Shane Hanchey made headlines by winning at The American Rodeo.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Updates

Moving north, Cheyenne Frontier Days, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, is wrapping up its six quarterfinals this week, setting the stage for the semifinals and championship rounds. The event continues to showcase top talent, including two 90-point rides in the semifinals and standout performances from both world champions and underdog cowboys.

Clovis Rodeo Set to Kick Off

Out west, the 111th Clovis Rodeo is gearing up for five days of action from April 23rd to 27th. The event will feature bull riding, PRCA rodeo competitions, a parade, and nightly concerts. The Clovis Rodeo is a major community event, generating $15 million in local economic impact and raising over $350,000 annually for charity.

Montana Rodeo Update: Big Sky Region Spring Surge

Now, let’s turn our attention to Montana, where college rodeo is in full swing and making headlines of its own.

The Big Sky Region is one of the most competitive in the country, with eight colleges and universities battling for team and individual honors. The spring season is especially intense, as teams travel to Bozeman, Havre, Miles City, and Missoula to finish out the season. Due to Montana’s unpredictable spring weather, weekends often feature back-to-back rodeos to keep the season on track and ensure all points count toward the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming, June 15–213.

Montana State University Spring Rodeo Recap

Montana State University in Bozeman hosted the Bobcat Spring Rodeo from April 10th to 13th at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. The MSU men’s and women’s teams faced off against nine other schools from Montana and Wyoming in a packed schedule, including two rodeos to help make up for weather delays earlier in the season7.

The action kicked off Thursday night, with slack rounds on Friday and Saturday mornings, and primetime performances each evening. The highlight came Saturday night, when Bobcat freshman Holden Atkinson delivered the most electric performance of the weekend, scoring a 75 to capture the bull riding title in the long go-round. Coach Kyle Whitaker called Atkinson’s ride “awesome,” noting that the capacity crowd’s roar was unforgettable.

Other standout Bobcat performances included Trav Johnson winning in steer wrestling, Ryatt Thompson and Ryley Mapston taking first and second in saddle bronc riding, and Weston Hersel topping the tie-down roping. Five Bobcats placed in the top six in steer wrestling, showcasing the depth of MSU’s talent.

MSU remains atop the Big Sky Region standings for both men and women as the season heads into its final stretch1.

Miles Community College Rodeo Team: Spring Spotlight

A special spotlight now on the Miles Community College Rodeo Team, who have been making their mark this spring. The MCC Pioneers are currently ranked seventh in the men’s team standings and sixth in the women’s team standings in the Big Sky Region, with several athletes making notable contributions across multiple events1.

• Saddle Bronc Riding: Rope Roghair leads the way for MCC, currently ranked sixth in the region with 160 points1.

• Team Standings: The MCC men’s team has accumulated 275 points, while the women’s team holds 10 points as of the latest standings1.

The Miles Community College Rodeo is a highlight of the spring calendar, set for April 24th through 27th in Miles City. The event will feature two consecutive rodeos, giving MCC athletes a home advantage and a critical opportunity to climb the standings as the season nears its conclusion234.

MCC’s rodeo athletes will be competing in all major events, including bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing. With the top three contestants in each event from each region advancing to the CNFR, these home performances are crucial for MCC’s national ambitions3.

Recent and Upcoming College Rodeos in Montana

Here’s a quick rundown of the recent and upcoming Big Sky Region college rodeos:

• April 10–13: Montana State University Spring Rodeo, Bozeman

• April 18–19: MSU-Northern Rodeo, Havre

• April 24–25: Miles Community College Rodeo #1, Miles City

• April 26–27: Miles Community College Rodeo #2, Miles City

• May 2–3: University of Montana Rodeo, Missoula23456

These events are critical for athletes hoping to qualify for the CNFR. The University of Montana’s spring rodeo, the last stop on the Big Sky Regional Circuit, will be held at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds in Hamilton this year due to construction at the Missoula Fairgrounds5.

Big Sky Region Standings: Key Performers

Let’s take a closer look at the Big Sky Region’s current standings and some of the top individual performers1:

MCC’s Rope Roghair remains a standout in saddle bronc, and the team is pushing for more top finishes as the season progresses.

College Rodeo Across the Nation

Montana isn’t the only state where college rodeo is heating up. Across 11 regions, collegiate athletes are balancing rodeo season and academics, with spring rodeos underway from Arizona to Nebraska and California to Texas. In the Big Sky Region, Montana State University leads both the men’s and women’s standings, while other regions see strong showings from schools like Mid-Plains Community College in Nebraska, Black Hills State University in South Dakota, and Cal Poly in California3.

The CNFR in Casper, Wyoming, will bring together the best collegiate athletes from across the country in June, where national champions will be crowned.

Montana’s Rodeo Legacy

It’s worth noting Montana’s deep rodeo roots. Five colleges in the state have rodeo teams or clubs, and lawmakers recently passed a bill making American Rodeo Montana’s official state sport—a move that underscores the cultural importance of rodeo in the region. The bill was widely supported, including by the Montana American Indian Caucus, and took effect immediately.

That’s a Wrap

From record-breaking payouts in Texas to the electric atmosphere of college rodeo in Montana, and from new wellness initiatives for women athletes to the crowning of rodeo legends, it’s been a landmark ten days in rodeo. The season is just heating up, with big events like the Women’s Rodeo Championships, the Clovis Rodeo, and the CNFR still ahead. And with the Miles Community College Rodeo Team hosting two pivotal home rodeos this week, all eyes are on Miles City to see which athletes will rise to the occasion and punch their ticket to nationals.

Thanks for joining us for this national rodeo roundup. Stay tuned for more action, more champions, and more stories from the heart of rodeo country. See you down the trail!