Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR), the sport’s richest and most prestigious rodeo, showcases the world’s best rodeo contestants and stock. Word with A Champ is providing a series of 10 five-minute daily reports featuring Indian contestants win, lose or draw, including interviews with ProRodeos favorite stars. It is an exciting time for our Native American contestants. Each of the 10 rounds pays big bucks to win and the best of 10 will earn a huge amount of money.
Indian Country is well represented with team ropers, former World Champion, Navajo, Erich Rogers and past INFR Jr. Breakaway Roping Champ, Cherokee, Brenten Hall; saddle bronc riders, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s Shorty Garrett and Indian World Champion, Cole Elshere; also for the first time breakaway roping will be featured at the WNFR as Navajo sisters, Anna and Carrie Bahe, all in contingency for the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association 2020 World Titles.
The 10-day championship event, typically held in Las Vegas every December, has enjoyed sold-out attendance for 35 years. In 2020 the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is moving to Texas to the Arlington’s Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers. In 2019, 168,952 fans cheered 119 of rodeo’s superstars at the 60th “Super Bowl ” of the sport, in which over $10 million was paid out to contestants who won or placed in rounds. The WNFR is moving to Texas for 2020, Arlington’s Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers
Day 1 – December 3, 2020
The 62nd Annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo kicked off Thursday, December 3, 2020 in Arlington,Texas, with great talent representing Indian Country. Our contingency is lead by 2017 World Champion, Navajo, Erich Rogers whom is joined by 2X top 15 qualifier, Cherokee, Brenten Hall, both in Team Roping as headers. Saddle Bronc Riders, two Cheyenne River Sioux, Defending Indian World Champion, Cole Elshere and a Heart Ranch sponsored rookie at the WNFR, Shorty Garrett, whom is #4 in the World Standings. A new event for 
the Wrangler NFR is Ladies breakaway Roping with Navajo Nation’s Carrie Bahe #1 in the World, with her sister Annie Bahe qualifying in the top 15. First Nations of Canada and Native American also provide some of the best in pro rodeo bucking horses and bulls.
Navajo, Erich Rogers and Texan, Paden Bray win Round 1 and $26,230.77 for their 4.8 second effort. We have results and interviews for the first of 10 rounds in an event sanctioned by the Profession Rodeo Cowboys Association. This program is supported by Heart Ranch, Justin Boot Company, 4 Bears Casino and Lodge, 4B Web Design and Wrangler. Long live Indians!
Day 2 – December 4, 2020
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, 62nd Annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Arlington, Texas, USA, is history in the making. A rank pen of bucking horses in the bareback and saddle bronc riding was brutal on the contestants, yet very entertaining to an enthusiastic, masked audience. Indian countries highlight included Cheyenne River Sioux, Shorty Garrett of South Dakota winning his first check, placing in the saddle bronc riding at his first WNFR in round three of ten. With each round, in each event paying $26,230.77 and, the best of ten rounds awarding $67,269.00 to the aggregate winner in each of the seven standard events, the week is young and much money is still at stake, in addition to PRCA World Championships.
Day 4 – December 5, 2020
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo celebrates it’s 62nd Annual NFR since it’s inception in 1959 in Dallas, Texas, there again in 1960 and 1961. Los Angeles, California hosted the years of 1962 and 1963. The marquis of sports finals, found a home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1964, with Clem McSpadden, it grew and prospered in ‘OKC until 1984. In 1985 the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned event increased prize money immensely when the Wrangler NFR moved to the “city of light’s” in Las Vegas, Nevada. It has grown from 1.8 million dollars in prize money in 1985 until 2019, worth over 10 million, for 10 rounds in each event.
This year, 2020, we’re in Arlington, Texas, U.S.A.. Indian country has two individuals in the top 5 in the world standings, prior to round 4. The 2017 World Champion and 10X WNFR qualifier, Navajo, Eric Rogers, Round Rock, Arizona, header in team roping, won round 1, earning 26,730.77 with healer Payden Bray of Texas. Shorty Garrett, WNFR Rookie, of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, in South Dakota, won money in round 3. Four time WNFR saddle bronc riding qualifier, Standing Rock Sioux Tribes, Cole Elshere has bucked off all 4. Cherokee of Oklahoma, Brenten Hall won round 4 in the team roping, heading for his partner, healer, Chase Tryan from Montana, to a winning time of 4.2. It’s the finals, the NFR, the series of the sport, hey rookie can you take ten head, have you got the heart?
Day 5 – December 7, 2020
The 2020 Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night (TETWP) at the 62nd Annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, was held in Arlington, Texas, USA. TETWP is a tradition to support breast cancer awareness and is the halfway mark of the 10 round competition in each of the eight standard events. The World Championships are the cumulation of the season earnings and the big money won during the 10 rounds of the WNFR. In team roping former world champ, Navajo, Eric Rogers and his partner, Paden Bray of Texas were 5 seconds placing sixth in the money and moved to first in the aggregate worth over $67,000.00, if they win the best on ten. Cherokee, Brenten Hall and partner Montana’s Chase Tryan were 9 seconds for no money team roping in five.
Both of our Indian country Headers have won rounds, Rogers in the first, and Hall in the fourth. Indian saddle bronc riders: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Cole Elshere has bucked off all 5 at his forth WNFR qualification; WNFR rookie Cheyenne River Sioux, Shorty Garrett was 83 points for no money in round 5, he won money in the third and is #7 in the world standings. Navajo sisters, Carrie and Annie Bahe will compete the next three days in the first ever WNFR ladies breakaway roping world championships in ProRodeo, Carrie is the #1 PRCA season standings winner.
Day 6 – December 8, 2020
The 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is celebrating 62 years, the pride of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 1959, this year being held in Arlington,Texas, USA. The sixth of ten performances sees a grateful field of contestants happy to compete and introduce ladies breakaway roping to the WNFR.
The 2020 PRCA Ladies Breakaway Roping Season Champion is Navajo, Cassie Bahe of Utah, she won money in two of the four rounds held today and is fourth in the aggregate. Cassie’s sister, Anna Bahe also finished in the top 15 in the season to qualify for the inaugural WNFR Ladies Breakaway Roping. Anna won money in the forth and is ninth best on four head. The ladies battle again, during matinee at Globe Life Field, December 9 & 10, for the $200,000.00 up for grabs in their event.
Cherokee, Brenten Hall with partner Chase Tryan were no time in the sixth, they have won $43,000.00 each. Navajo, Erich Rogers and partner Payden Bray broke out, losing their first place spot in the aggregate prior to the sixth round, now in second for the $67,269.00 for best on ten. Rogers and Hall have each won earlier rounds, heading for their heeling partners in team roping.
Day 7 – December 9, 2020
Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas held the 2020 MLB World Series and now, the 62nd Annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. We hope you are enjoying our coverage of six American Indian cowboys and cowgirls that have qualified in the top 15 in the world standings in each of their respective events to earn a spot and vie for a world title in Texas. We have concluded round 7 of 10 with matinees for the ladies breakaway inaugural WNFR event Dec. 8-10, and the rest at night.
Navajo sisters, Cassie and Anna Bahe of Utah are in the hunt for the break away roping championship. Cassie split third in the 5th round; fourth in round 6 and sixth in round 8, she is sixth in the aggregate and #2 in the world standings. Anna won round 6, split first in round 7 and is #14 in the ladies breakaway world standings.
Team ropers, Navajo, Erich Rogers roping with Paden Bray of Texas are #1 in the aggregate, fastest on 7 rounds worth $67,269.00 towards the gold buckle if they win, they placed sixth in round 7 and won round 1. Cherokee team roper Brenten Hall, heading for Chase Tryan of Montana, won round 4 and has earned $43,000.00 to this point. Rogers is #9 and Hall is #12 in the world standings header division, team roping.
