JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The National Finals Rodeo is underway in Las Vegas and Wyoming contestants might be a bit underrepresented in quantity, the quality was sure evident on opening night.
Just three rodeo contestants are listed as officially hailing from the Cowboy State. And they were all Wyoming needed to get to the top of the leaderboards in several events.
Gillette’s own Amanda Welsh, an NFR rookie who started the NFR ranked 7th in the world, tied with 4-time NFR qualifier Cheyenne Wimberly with a 13.77 run Thursday. That was good enough to pocket $24,167 for her night’s work.
What’s more impressive is it’s Welsh’s first trip to the big show and, while other seasoned veterans usually ride nationally renowned horses for hire, Amanda saddles up a horse her and her family raised.
“My parents put their heart and soul into their breeding program and we always knew that Firefly had what it took to get here. We just waited on God’s timing to get us here,” an emotional Welsh said. “For him to go out and split the go-round his first time out is pretty awesome.”
In bareback, Cole Reiner took 2nd place with an 88.5 ride aboard Irish Eyes from the Sankey Rodeo Company. Reiner was a standout wrestler from Buffalo, Wyoming in his high school days. With the strong showing, Reiner moved up one spot to 7th overall in the world standings.
Another former wrestler—Brody Cress—took home $16,000 with 3rd place finish in saddle bronc. Cress, who attended Cheyenne East High School, posted an 87.5 and now is in 3rd place in the world standings with $168,335.
