This weekend’s historic weekend in the professional rodeo industry came to a dramatic conclusion as the RFD-TV’s The American kicked off inside the AT&T Cowboy Stadium here in Arlington, Texas. The community takes all of in open handed and makes sure that we all have what we need to get our jobs done and to make our stays here enjoyable. It was an overall very busy weekend but all in all it was a fantastic experience and our entire Rodeo Round Up team look forward to making our way back again next year.
Many story lines were headlining many of the topics such as the huge semi-finals performances, the triple crown contenders, the whole ERA/PRCA issue and the chase for the two million dollar payout. Along with those great stories that were unfolding there was a combined knowledge that legendary cowboy Lewis Feild had passed away just days ago and that his son and PRCA World Champion Kaycee Feild would be competing with a very heavy heart. The seven traditional rodeo events would have champions crowned and we have all that information below!
Bareback Rider Tanner Aus Wins The Title
Photo Credit: AVID Visual Imagery Rodeo Photography
In the first event of the night it was stout bucking horses that were paired up with some of the best bareback riders in the world. When the action kicked off there were 13 riders that would compete for their chance to advance to the “shoot out round” where a champion would be crowned and one cowboy would receive a huge payday to the tune of $100,000 courtesy of Randy Bernard and RFD-TV! When things were all said and done and the rides were completed it was the Midwest that had a fantastic showing in the shoot out round.
After the top four bareback riders went head to head it was my home state of Minnesota who would take claim to the first $100,000 check that was distributed at the 2016 RFD-TV’s The American. Minnesota High School Rodeo Alumni Tanner Aus of Granite Falls, MN would be the one that nobody could beat as he rode to a score of 88.50 points to win this prestigious event here in Arlington, Texas. We were able to catch up with him before the start of the shoot out rounds to get his take on the event and his chances at winning it. To see what he had to say be sure to check out our social media platforms throughout the next couple of weeks as we release one video every other day!
Derrick Begay & Clay O’Brien Cooper Continue Winning Ways
Photo Credit: AVID Visual Imagery Rodeo Photography
The team roping competition was one that many folks had a vested interest in. Trevor Brazile would be competing for the all around title, a female would compete and the return of Jake Barnes would all happen in the very first round in front of the sold out crowd that crammed into the AT&T Cowboy Stadium. The action would be hot and heavy and another great story line would continue as the shoot out round brought two veteran teams and two qualification teams would go head to head.
Once the remaining four teams had done their duties out on the arena floor it was a partnership that was brought to the forefront at last year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo that would once again be the center of attention. The dream formation of Derrick Begay and Clay O’Brien Cooper started many years ago when Derrick was just a little child. Again tonight another notch on the belt would be cinched as this team takes home the win from Arlington, Texas and leave $100,000 richer.
Ty Erickson Dominates To Take Title In Steer Wrestling
Photo Credit: AVID Visual Imagery Rodeo Photography
Up next was the big boys of professional rodeo to showcase their talents in the steer wrestling or bull dogging event. Tonight in this events, as in every other event, the fans in attendance would witness some of their favorite athletes perform for the first time in a competition capacity since the judgement came down on the Elite Rodeo Athletes organization. Some had gotten a little rusty and some showed no signs of being slowed down what so ever and came out with something to prove.
As the action began it would be four household names that would advance to the final round what would crown a champion. Cody Cassidy, Dakota Eldridge, Casey Martin and eventual winner Ty Erickson who would put on a show for the ages. In the end Erickson would lay down a blazing 4.80 second run on a pen of steers that gave the competitors a run for their money on this Sunday evening. Erickson was quite emotional as he talked about how the money he won would change his life forever.
Wade Sundell Becomes The Newest 1 Million Dollar Cowboy
Photo Credit: AVID Visual Imagery Rodeo Photography
The classic cowboy event of the saddle bronc riding is where the history making night would happen that would bring another million dollar cowboy to the limelight. The change to this year’s event would be that one contestant in this event would have a chance to make that million dollars even though he was within the top ten in the PRCA world standings for 2015. How did this come about you may ask? ….. Well that is what happens when you perform at the top of your game for the first two year’s of the Americans!
Boxholm, Iowa is where the “Wild Man” calls home and you could hear the yelling from 800 miles away as Wade Sundell climbed aboard his shoot out round match-up. Joined by Jake Wright, Cort Scheer and Jacobs Crawley this would be one of the toughest events to win throughout the entire evening. Sundell did just that scoring the only 90+ point ride at this year’s event by earning a 90.75 point score to win the Triple Crown and stake claim to a sum of 1.1 million dollars! Be sure to look on our social media page to see our exclusive interview with him before the start of the shoot out rounds!
Hunter Herrin Wins Title And $100,000
Photo Credit: AVID Visual Imagery Rodeo Photography
In the tie-down roping event it was stacked with past world champions and those on a mission to make a statement to the rest of the professional rodeo community. Trevor Brazile would run for the all around title, Fred Whitfield would make his return as the exemption and Tuf Cooper would show off his fast hands but none of these rodeo greats would do what it would take to place in the top four and be invited back to the championship shoot out round.
Young guns seemed to be the way it was going to shake out on a Sunday night inside of the AT&T Cowboy Stadium. Cory Soloman, Justin Maas and Tyson Durfey would join Hunter Herrin in the last round to put on a show for the fans. Although they are young in age these four are very well known among the enthusiastic rodeo fans. After the runs were made it was Hunter Herrin that would claim victory and become the newest winner of a $100,000 payday!
Sarah Rose McDonald Outlasts All Others To Claim Victory
Photo Credit: AVID Visual Imagery Rodeo Photography
Next up would be the pretty ladies on fast horses as the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and the Better Barrel Races show off the incredible talent that these ladies have in the barrel racing event. The field was stacked from young up and comers to multi-time world champions and they proved to have what it took to light the AT&T Cowboy Stadium on fire. When the first round was over it was four of the most talented ladies that would advance.
Once it was over and the barrels were loaded into the back of the Polaris Ranger and taken out of the arena it was one blonde bombshell that would be named RFD-TV’s The American barrel racing champion. 2-time champion Lisa Lockhart advanced and came up just short of obtaining the triple crown title but still managed to take home a cool $25,000 which is not a bad day at the office. Sarah Rose McDonald was overcome with emotion while being interviewed on the main stage as she was handed her $100,000 check for her efforts!
Joao Ricardo Vieira Wins The American’s Bull Riding
Photo Credit: AVID Visual Imagery Rodeo Photography
In the fan favorite event of professional bull riding the top talent within the Professional Bull Riders organization showcased their power and determination just 24 hours after the Iron Cowboy concluded in the very same arena. In round one only three were able to automatically advance to the shoot out round with one being drawn back for a second shot at victory. As the round began you could tell how bruised and battered these cowboys were after competing in their own event the night before.
In the shoot out round Stetson Lawrence, Fabiano Vieira and Kaique Pacheco would try to live up to the hype that the in arena announcers tried to portray. In the end neither of them would be able to stay aboard for the needed eight seconds to obtain a qualified ride. That being said, 24 hours after loosing the Iron Cowboy title that he was defending for the second straight year Brazilian Joao Ricardo Vieira would be the only one to ride and was rewarded for his efforts with an 81.75 point ride, the title of the RFD-TV’s The American Bull Riding Champion and $100,000!
After a fantastic week here in Texas it is time for our Rodeo Round Up and AVID Visual Imagery Rodeo Photography teams to head back to the great Midwest. Although we may be leaving our coverage of the weekend’s events do not end. Stay tuned to all of our social media platforms to see all of the exclusive interviews and behind the scenes pictures that we had the honor of being a part of. We will publish one video interview or picture every other day so you all can continue to enjoy everything we were a part of this past week during this history making professional rodeo weekend!
It is quite easy to follow all the breaking news and excitement with the Rodeo Round Up simply by copying this website into your favorites in your web browser for easy one-click access to event statistics. You can also like and follow us on Facebook here, or by liking and following us on Instagram and/or Twitter at @therodeoroundup. Jason has also made it easy for you to be a part of his interviews by opening up a listener comment line. If you have a question for a certain rodeo star simply call in and leave your name, where you are from, who the question is for and what your question is and he will do his best to get it answered for you during his interviews!
When are you going to replay the America I lost electricity and never got to watch it please let me know Thanks
Times will vary ….. you can check your local listing on the RFD-TV channel ….. thanks!!