GLITTER, GLITZ & GRIT

GLITTER, GLITZ

By Jim Lamb&GRIT

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO LASSOS

LAS VEGAS DECEMBER 1-10, 2022

Big names and even bigger money are a winning combo when it comes to Las Vegas—and the stakes are never higher than when the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo gallops into town.

This year’s event takes place Dec.1-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, making it the final face-off of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s season: World championships are on the line— and the spotlight is brighter than the Noon day sun.

Fortunes will be made. Reputations will be lost. Endurances will be pushed. Hearts will be broken—and yet, a fine time will be had by all.

Country music singer and songwriter Garth Brooks put it this way: “It’s the ropes and the reins, and the joy and the pain. And they call the thing rodeo.”

The formula for success is simple, really: Gather up top-tier cowboys and cowgirls, welcome them into an arena with deep rodeo roots, and a heritage of memorable competitions. Sprinkle in equal parts blood, sweat and tears, then invite dedicated fans to spend 10 days in the entertainment capital of the world where glitz and glamour meet glitter and grit—all in the name of roping and riding.

There are words highfalutin people might use to describe such historic moments: Incomparable. Inimitable. Unique. Unmatched. Sensational. Outstanding. Pre-eminent. For those who aren’t hoity-toity, however, the word that seems most appropriate falls somewhere between “Sizzle” and “BAM” …

“SHAZAM!”

If you can’t make it to Vegas to soak in the action, no problem: The whole shebang will be televised live on The Cowboy Channel, the official (and exclusive) broadcast and streaming partner of ProRodeo, the number one official source for rodeo news, events, schedules, past results, and other rodeo-related information.

The competition was originally established in 1958 to determine the world champion in each of rodeo’s main events. g

Bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, and bull riding have been a part of the mix since 1959. Team roping was added in 1962; barrel racing in 1967.

The popular tournament of rodeo stars is a consistent crowd-pleaser that brings in more than 170,000 enthusiasts. It has become the Thomas & Mack Center’s biggest client; in 2001 Wrangler became NFR’s first title sponsor.

This year’s Wrangler NFR takes place Dec. 1-10 and features the world’s top 119 contestants for a competition that will ultimately determine the winners of the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle and a share of the $10.257 million purse.

And it’s not just riders and ropers that’ll provide big-time entertainment. Here are the day-by-day opening acts and National Anthem performers:

Date Opening Acts National Anthem

Thursday, Dec. 1 Vegas Night Easton Corbin Friday, Dec. 2 Luke Bryan Glen Templeton Saturday, Dec. 3 Lainey Wilson Dan Smalley Sunday, Dec. 4 Adrian Brannan Presley Seal Monday, Dec. 5 Chancey Williams Will Jones Tuesday, Dec. 6 Ben Gallaher Wyatt McCubbin Wed. , Dec. 7 Steve Amerson Jim McCloughan Thurs., Dec. 8 Joe Nichols Candace Muir, USA & Corb Lund, Canada Friday, Dec. 9 Heath Sanders Drake Milligan Saturday, Dec. 10 Gold Night Maggie Minor

For those who might not appreciate the significance of singing the “Star Spangled Banner” at a rodeo (compared to a Super Bowl or the World Series) check out who sang it 1974—none other than Reba McEntire, who called it one of the biggest breaks of her career, “the one that got my foot in the door.”

. It’s worth noting that Reba is no Rhinestone Cowgirl: She grew up on a family ranch. Her Dad was a champion steer roper. She competed in barrel racing.

Reba is among those who will join the WFNR stellar line-up this year, along with Brooks & Dunn, Dwight Yoakam, and Terri Clark.

So how did the crown jewel of the rodeo reach such starry-starry heights? That can be directly attributed to the vision (and hard work) of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

The WNFR originally took place in Dallas, Texas, from 1958 through 1961, until it was moved to Los Angeles, California, where it was based from 1962 through 1964. It moved to Oklahoma City in 1965 and remained there until 1984. It eventually relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1985. The event was aimed at determining World Championships. The mix and mesh of rodeo match-ups with the flashy entertainment and bright lights of Vegas proved a perfect partnership, delivering non-stop action, tough-as-nails competition, and memorable performances.

Just like the early days of rodeo competition, the birth of Las Vegas (Spanish for “The Meadows”) generated more dust than dreams. Founded in 1905 after the opening of a railroad linking Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, construction on nearby Boulder Dam (now known as Hoover Dam) brought in waves of workers. Theaters and casinos soon followed. Electricity from the dam opened the door for building of new hotels along the Strip.

In 1966, Howard Hughes arrived, adding the final piece of the puzzle that helped transform Las Vegas into a family tourist magnet, thus creating the perfect economic ecosystem for bringing the rodeo to town.

By the way, the word rodeo is rooted in the Spanish word rodear meaning roundup—where the many facets of the cattle industry brought together skill sets of the American West, Spanish ranchers, and Mexican ranch-hands, whose day-to-day survival required roping, riding, breaking horses, and catching cattle. It’s only logical, then, that such a competitive (and sometimes deadly) cultural environment would produce an especially vigorous and lively sport, where outcomes would be decided by hard-earned and time-honed skills and strength, along with the occasionally splash of luck.

Out of spontaneous informal competitions at race tracks, fairgrounds, and festivals, the modern rodeo was born—turning the sweat-churning work-skills of tie-down roping, team roping, steer roping, and bronc riding into sport.

It was really only a matter of time and fate that the dusty town of Las Vegas—with its subtropical desert climate, hot summers, warm transitional seasons, and short, mild winters—would transform itself into an entertainment magnet with major attractions, casinos, and hotels. That’s essentially why the rodeo has called Vegas ”Home” since 1985, with the exception of 2020, when it took place at the Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, due to COVID-19.

It should be noted that the NFR transforms the look and feel of Las Vegas in a special way. Rodeo fans decked out in Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots, and out sized hats stroll up and down the Vegas strip. They fill hotel lobbies, casinos, showrooms, and restaurants—but you don’t need to be a cowboy or cowgirl to have a rip-roaring time. g

RECURRING NIGHTLY EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED, INCLUDING: VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS OFFICIAL WRANGLER NFR VIEWING PARTY

Dec. 1 - Dec.10. Opens at 4 p.m. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas — 24 Oxford, 5 p.m. — RMEF Calcutta. NFR Live Feed at 5:45 p.m. Free live concerts. Free Admission/Open to the Public. (Paid table/bottle service available.) For more information, visit www.VirginHotelsLV.com

NFR AFTER DARK AT WESTGATE LAS VEGAS

Dec. 1 - Dec.10. Opens at 4 p.m., with free entertainment in iBar, 6 p.m. Viewing parties in iBar and Cabaret Theatre, 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Free concerts in Cabaret Theater, 10:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Live entertainment in iBar. Free Admission/Open to the Public. For more information, visit westgatelasvegas.com

SOUTH POINT PRESENTS RAMRODEO TAILGATE PARTY

Dec. 1 - Dec.10. 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. South Point Convention Center. Free Admission/Open to the Public.

BOYD’S RODEO VIEWING PARTY

Dec. 1 - Dec.10. Nightly at 5:45 p.m. Hosted by Jody Carper. The Orleans Hotel & Casino, Bourbon Street Lounge. Free Admission/ Open to the Public, are 21 and up. For more information, visit www.BoydGaming.com/NFR

GARY LEFFEW’S BUCKAROO BALL

Dec. 1 - Dec.10. Opens at 5 p.m. Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Live viewing party coupled with dancing, pool tables, tasty food, thirst-quenching drinks and more. Enjoy live music on Thursday-Saturday, featuring Dez Houston and Steve Strugis and the Rifleman. Free Admission/Open to the Public. For more information, visit dlvec.com

THE MIRAGE PRESENTS RODEO VEGAS

Dec. 1 - Dec.10. 5:45 p.m. - 12 a.m. Live viewing party followed by free concerts nightly from Country Music’s Biggest Stars. Daily drink specials and giveaways. The Mirage Race & Sports Book. Free Admission/Open to the Public, age 21 and up. For more information, visit www.Mirage.com/NFR

MGM GRAND GOLD BUCKLE ZONE

Dec. 1 - Dec.10. Level Up. Live entertainment featuring free concerts nightly. Free Admission/Open to the Public. For more information, visit www.mgmgrand.com/NFR

BUCKIN’ BASH AFTER PARTY

Dec. 1 - Dec.10. Nightly at 9 p.m. Hosted by Jody Carper. The Orleans Hotel & Casino — Bourbon Street Lounge. Live music, dancing, special guests and giveaways. Free admission/Open to the Public, age 21 and up. For more information, visit www. BoydGaming.com/NFR

WRANGLER NFR GO ROUND BUCKLE PRESENTATIONS HOSTED BY FLINT RASMUSSEN & JOE BEAVER

Dec. 1 - Dec.9. 9:30 p.m., with live broadcast on The Cowboy Channel. South Point Showroom. Free Admission/Open to the Public. Free concerts to follow each night in the South Point Showroom: Chancey Williams, Dec. 1-3; Aaron Watson, Dec. 4-7; and Randall King, Dec. 8-10.

Yes, Rodeo’s spirit is in the air. Action and entertainment are everywhere—but it’s what happens in the arena that drives the machine: Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Barrel Racing, and Bull Riding.

The NFR showcases the talents of the PRCA’s top 15 moneywinners in each of these events.

Let’s take a quick look-see as to what it’s all about:

BAREBACK RIDING — The rider has to stay on a bucking horse for at least eight seconds to secure a successful run. Cowboys are only allowed to hang on to the horse by using a surcingle (called a rigging) and also a sturdy lead rope called a bronc rein that is attached to the horse’s halter. Each successful eight-second ride in this format is scored out of a maximum of 100 points per ride. The riders are judged on how hard the horse is to ride and how in-control the rider is during the run. This ultimately determines how many points the rider will score for that ride of at least eight seconds. The cowboy that has the most total points collectively at the end of the competition wins the event.

STEER WRESTLING — The cowboy is on a horse, and the rider jumps off to wrestle a steer to the ground by latching onto its horns. This is based on speed as the cowboy is timed on how fast they can achieve this feat. It’s one of the more entertaining but also dangerous events as the cowboy can run the risk of jumping off his horse and missing the steer landing in an awkward position at high speeds. The cowboy could also potentially have the steer get on top and catch a horn in a bad place. Note: This event is also sometimes known as “bulldogging.”

TEAM ROPING — This is the only team event in the competition. Two ropers go after a full-grown steer and attempt to capture and restrain it in the fastest time possible. Both teammates are on horseback. One rider (called the header) lassos the running steer’s horns; at the same time, the other rider (the heeler) lassos the steer’s two hind legs. The two partners then face each other and pull the steer between them once the animal is successfully captured. The event was designed to be a simulation of a real-life interaction that occurs on ranches when cowboys need to capture and restrain an animal for treatment.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING — This event is similar to Bareback Riding, but in this case the rider uses a western saddle with no horn and a bronc rein while attempting to stay on the back of a horse for eight seconds. The scoring system is the same as Bareback Riding as each run is scored out of 100 points and the cowboy with the most total points is awarded the winner at the end.

TIE-DOWN ROPING — Also called Calf Roping, it’s the oldest rodeo event: A cowboy ropes a running calf with a lariat, aiming to lasso the animal’s neck. His horse then stops, and the cowboy dismounts, runs to the calf, throws it to the ground, then ties three of its feet together. For this event, the horses are trained to hold the rope taut to the calf, ensuring the calf doesn’t keep moving while the cowboy attempts to tie it. This event is based on speed and originated from cowboys wrangling up calves for branding or treatment on a ranch.

BARREL RACING — This specialty event features championshiplevel female riders on horseback who gallop through a clover pattern of barrels, attempting to make tight turns without knocking over the barrels. The contestant who goes through the circuit the fastest wins the event as long as there are no deductions from knocking over a barrel which would add five seconds per barrel knocked over onto the time. Strength, agility, and intelligence are the keys to winning.

ALL-AROUND — At the end of the WNFR official competition, this title is granted to the highest-earning cowboy who has competed in more than one event throughout the year. This popular event typically sells out every seat in the house to witness who will be crowned world champion of the year.

In 2021, the All-Around title went to Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, who at age 22 set an all-time record of $320,482. He’s the first cowboy to win three straight All-Around titles to start his career and the first to collect three All-Around titles in a row since Trevor Brazile Brazile, who did so 2013-2015.

Here’s what Wright said to ProRodeo Sports News: “When I was really little, my goal was to do both events as a pro (saddle bronc riding and bull riding). Then when I started getting a little older I kind of just got to where I wanted to be just like my dad and just ride saddle bronc. After about a week of doing that, I decided I was a bull rider as well. Nothing has changed since then.”

Wright is now eyeing a fourth All-Around gold buckle, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, some of the All-Around contenders hot on Wright’s heels for 2022 include Caleb Smidt of Bellville, Texas; Haven Meged, Miles City, Montana; Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah; and, Zack Jongbloed of Iowa, Louisiana. The top contenders in each of the other categories include:

BAREBACK RIDING: Cole Reiner of Buffalo, Wyoming STEER WRESTLING: Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho TEAM ROPING HEADER: Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Georgia TEAM ROPING HEELER: Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Sao Paula, Brazil SADDLE BRONC RIDING: Sage Newman, Melstone, Montana TIE-DOWN ROPING: Shad Mayfield, Clovis, New Mexico BULL RIDING: Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah BARREL RACING: Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Oklahoma

The 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is ready to roll. Riders are primed. Judges are prepared. The Thomas & Mack Center is shimmering in the distance like a crown jewel. Time is growing short. Can you hear it? Tick.Tick.Tick. Tick … Then “BAM!”