RAPID CITY, SD – Big money, big names, big action — that describes the PRCA Xtreme Broncs Finals set for Sunday, August 18, 2024 at the Central States Fair in Rapid City.
The top 12 saddle bronc riders in the PRCA earnings standings and the top 12 competitors who have competed in the Xtreme Broncs Tour events will compete in a long go and a short go for the Xtreme Broncs title and a portion of the added money….the largest payout in saddle bronc history stand-alone events at $126,000.
The Xtreme Broncs Tour is a series of events that feature only saddle bronc riding competitions. These stand-alone events were first approved by the PRCA in 2016.
One of the visionaries in developing stand-alone saddle bronc events is Rory Lemmel, announcer and producer.
“A few years ago, several members of the PRCA board of directors flew up to watch a bronc match at the Faith Stock Show & Rodeo, among the first to host the stand-alone event,” recalls Lemmel.
“At that time, they had stand-alone X Bulls sanctioned but they wanted to see if a stand-alone saddle bronc match would attract people to stand on its own. It had to be competitive and there were other matches but it also had to be entertaining. Long story short they decided to approve these matches.”
The contestant and stock rosters at the Xtreme Broncs Finals on Sunday in Rapid City reads like a who’s who in the sport of rodeo. This event will bring the best saddle bronc riding competitors in the world to Rapid City.
“Although at first, there were just a handful of bronc matches, fast forward to today,” says Lemmel. “This year, there were 26 PRCA Xtreme Bronc Matches throughout the US and Canada. These matches count for X broncs standings and world standings only. They prove very hard to get in the finals because only the top talent in the world ride at these events.”
Contestant List:
Sage Newman, Montana
Brody Cress, Wyoming
Ben Anderson, Canada
Brody Wells, Wyoming
Zach Dallas, New Mexico
Lefty Hollman, California
Zeke Thurston, Canada
Layton Green, Canada
Cash Wilson, South Dakota
Wyatt Casper, Texas
Logan Hay, Canada
Kade Bruno, Idaho
Damian Brennan, Australia
Statler Wright, Utah
Ryder Wright, Utah
Kolby Wanchuk, Canada
Ryder Sanford, Louisiana
Logan Cook, Texas
Lucas Masca, Canada
Issac Diaz, Texas
Chase Brooks, Montana
Riggin Smith, Iowa
Parker Fleet, Texas
As much as the focus is on the cowboy, there is as much interest in the stand-out roughstock for the event. Most of these horses have been to the NFR and some carry the title of top PRCA saddle bronc horse of the year. Ten of the top stock contractors are represented at the Rapid City finals.
Long – Go Horse: Buck Order:
- 508 Painted Habitat, Dakota Rodeo Company
2. -104 Suga Boom Boom, Muddy Creek
3. 146 Rodeo Drive, Harper and Morgan
4. 2 Disco Inferno, Muddy Creek
5. -66 Route 66, Harper and Morgan
6. 701 Freckles, Big Bucks Rodeo
7. 82 Day Dreaming, Big Bucks Rodeo
8. 844 Carolina Blue, Harper and Morgan
9. 728 Lunatic Nation, Burch
10. 948 Iron Butterfly, Burch
11. 635 Calico Color, Burch
12. 735 Calico Valley, Burch
13. 800 I’m a Dand,y Burch
14. 548 Rev Runner, Burch
15. 876 Rough Motion, Pickett
16. 899 Cameron Dippin, Fettig
17. 766 Bravehear,t Fettig
18. 485 Good Time Girl, Fettig
19. 6571 Pretty Glamorous, Pickett
20. L02+ Stacked Deck, J-J
21. C68 In the Lou, J-J
22. 8755 Kevler Jacket, J-J
23. 170 Painted Commotion, J-J
24. 566 Fancy Streak, Sutton
Winner of the 2023 PRCA Xtreme Broncs Tour Wyatt Casper, from Miami, Texas, is one of the most consistent saddle-bronc riders in the PRCA right now. He’s again in this year’s line-up and is currently 6th in the PRCA standings.
While South Dakota has a reputation of being home to legendary saddle bronc cowboys and horses, it’s been something of a dry spell of late.
“It’s been a bit since we had a South Dakotan qualify for this event finals in Rapid City but this year we have Wall, South Dakota’s Cash Wilson in it.
Wilson is a contender, having cinched the saddle bronc world title at both the 2022 and 2023 Indian National Finals Rodeo. He is currently 27th in the PRCA saddle bronc standings.
“There is no better place to watch the best saddle bronc riders in the world, right here in Rapid City, in the heart of saddle bronc country,” says Lemmel.
The PRCA Xtreme Broncs Match at the Central States Fair gets underway at 7:00p.m., Sunday, August 18th in the Range Days Rodeo Arena.
The Rapid City event is the conclusion of the Xtreme Broncs Tour and will be nationally televised on The Cowboy Channel.
