Wyoming Roper Reaches the Top 15

Pro rodeo’s playoff system to closeout the 2009 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour has completed its first round in western Washington State. And the rodeo in Puyallup, WA was especially good – a healthy pull y’all up – if you will, for Casper team roper Jhett Johnson. He had been fixed well below the Top 15 all year and then went out with partner Steve Purcella of Hereford, TX to win the playoff opener in Puyallup and jump to #15 while collecting more than $14,000. They came back to the big Pendleton Roundup in Oregon this past weekend and left with another $2,600 and Jhett moved up to #14 in the world standings. We spoke today with Jhett who is in Texas for a little practice before heading to the River City Roundup (the finals of this year’s playoffs) in Omaha Wednesday:



The top twelve teams compete in the playoff championship round at this week’s River City Roundup in Omaha. The same is true for the other events and Wyoming will be well represented there by bull rider Bobby Welsh from Gillette and Gillette saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson. Welsh won more money than any other contestant at Puyallup pocketing more than $23,000.

Wyoming Travel & Tourism will have a booth set up in front of the Quest Center in Omaha where visitors can meet our cowboys and pick up free autograph sheets. We are also giving away a couple of Wyoming vacation packages including a Yellowstone winter excursion in cooperation with park concessionaire Xanterra Parks & Resorts. A trip to next summer’s Cheyenne Frontier Days is also being given away.

WYO Pro Rodeo Notables

Powell, WY bull rider Kanin Asay won a round at the Xtreme Bulls national championships in Ellensburg, WA scoring 91 on a Burns Rodeo Co. (Laramie, WY) bull called Kid Twist. Asay amassed about $14,000 in Ellensburg and is now in the #6 position in the world standings. Bobby Welsh is fourth and has surpassed the $100,000 mark for the 2009 regular season. Casper’s Clayton Savage is in the seventh spot assuring three Wyoming bull riders have NFR slots and therefore a chance at a coveted world champion’s gold buckle.

Meeteetse’s Dusty Tuckness is a nominee for Bullfighter of the Year. All contestants, participating contract personnel, and dues paying rodeo committees have a vote in the outcome. The winners in all categories will be announced Wed., Dec. 2, during the PRCA Awards Banquet at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Cheyenne Frontier Days is once again in the running for Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year.