The 2024 Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo took place October 17-19 in Duncan, Oklahoma. The top 12 athletes in each event from Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma battled for year-end and average titles, and the chance to represent the Prairie Circuit at the NFR Open in July 2025. A couple Nebraska rodeo athletes made their presence known.
Valentine native Mataya Eklund had a rock-solid performance in the barrel racing, placing third in rounds one and two, and grabbing second place in round three. Her consistency paid off, tying her for second in the average with none other than World Champion barrel racer Emily Beisel of Oklahoma.
Bareback rider Gauge McBride kicked off the rodeo in a big way, winning the first round with an 84 point ride on Silver Creek Rodeo’s horse, Bare Naked. The Kearney cowboy continued his success by claiming second place in round two with an 82 point ride. McBride finished the PCFR splitting third in the average with Quintonn Lunsford of McCune, Kansas.
Tie down roper Denton Oestmann of Auburn snagged a check in round three, placing third with an 8.8 second run.
Listen to our interview with Gauge McBride:
Listen to our interview with Denton Oestmann:
Listen to analysis from Prairie Circuit Finals Media Director, Ted Harbin:
Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo
Oct. 17-19
Duncan, Okla.
Bareback riding: First round: 1. Gauge McBride, 84 points on Silver Creek Rodeo’s Bare Naked, $2,166; 2. (tie) Jayco Roper and Bryce Eck, 81, $1,354 each; 4. Quintonn Lunsford, 73, $541. Second round: 1, Bryce Eck, 84 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Big League, $2,166; 2. Gauge McBride, 82, $1,624; 3. Qintonn Lunsford, 81, $1,083; 4. Jayco Roper, 79, $541. Third round: 1. Jayco Roper, 86 points on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Rose Gold, $2,166; 2. Bryce Eck, 82, $1,625; 3. Quintonn Lunsford, 77, $1,093; 4. Dylan George, 76, $541. Average: 1. Bryce Eck, 247 points on three rides, $3,249; 2. Jayco Roper, 246, $2,437; 3. (tie) Gauge McBride and Quintonn Lunsford, 231, $1,218 each. Year-end champion: Bryce Eck.
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Cody Devers, 4.9 seconds, $2,279; 2. Riley Westhaver, 5.3, $1,709; 3. Jacob Edler, 5.4, $1,139; 4. Trisyn Kalawaia, 5.6, $570. Second round: 1. Chance Howard, 5.4 seconds, $2,279; Mason Couch, 5.6, $1,709; 3. Cody Devers, 5.8, $1,139; 4. Travis Munro, 6.1, $570. Third round: 1. Cody Devers, 4.8 seconds, $2,279; 2. Jarek VanPetten, 5.1, $1,709; 3. (tie) Mason Couch and Riley Duvall, 5.5, $855 each. Average: 1. Cody Devers, 15.5 seconds on three runs, $3,418; 2. Travis Munro, 18.5, $2,564; 3. Trisyn Kalawaia, 23.1, $1,709; 4. Riley Duvall, 27.4, $855. Year-end champion: Cody Devers.
Breakaway roping: First round: 1. Taylor Munsell, 2.6 seconds, $2,279; 2. Beau Peterson, 3.0, $1,709; Winter Williams, 3.3, $1,139; 4. Christi Braudrick, 3.5, $570. Second round: 1. Cheyanne McCartney, 2.1 seconds, $2,279; 2. Tia Wallace, 3.0, $1,709; 3. Beau Peterson, 3.1, $1,139; 4. Taylor Munsell, 3.3, $570. Third round: 1. Jenna Lee Hays, 2.7 seconds, $2,279; 2. Taylor Raupe, 2.9, $1,709; 3. (tie) Christi Braudrick, Cheyanne McCartney, Tia Wallace and Taylor Munsell, $427 each. Average: 1. (tie) Cheyanne McCartney and Taylor Munsell, 9.2 seconds on three runs, $2,991 each; 3. Beau Peterson, 9.7, $1,709; 4. Christi Braudrick, 10.7, $855. Year-end champion: Taylor Munsell.
Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Cooper Thatcher, 81 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Wally, $2,279; 2. Weston Patterson, 80, $1,709; 3. Trent Burd, 79, $1,139; 4. (tie) Heston Harrison and Denton Ward, 77.5, $285 each. Second round: 1. Weston Patterson, 82.5 points on New Frontier Rodeo’s Kate’s Hot Daughter, $2,279; 2. Ean Price, 80.5, $1,709; 3. Trent Burd, 79, $1,139; 4. Denton Ward, 78.5, $570. Third round: 1. Weston Patterson, 84.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Cross Fire, $2,279; 2. Tanner Hayes, 83.5, $1,709; 3. Ean Price, 82, $1,139; 4. (tie) Sam Martin and Dahlyn Thomas, 80, $285 each. Average: 1. Weston Patterson, 247 points on three rides, $3,418; 2. Trent Burd, 235.5, $2,564; 3. Denton Ward, 234.5, $1,709; 4. Tanner Hayes, 230.5, $855. Year-end champion: Roper Kiesner.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Paul David Tierney, 9.3 seconds, $2,279; 2. Tyler Milligan, 9.4, $1,709; 3. Kason Dyer, 9.5, $1,139; 4. Austin Lawrence, 10.7, $570. Second round: 1. Coy Arnold, 8.9 seconds, $2,279; 2. Blake Carter, 9.1, $1,709; 3. Paul David Teirney, 9.3, $1,139; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 9.5, $570. Third round: 1. Ryan Jarrett, 7.4 seconds, $2,279; 2. Tyler Milligan, 8.2, $1,709; 3. Denton Oestmann, 8.8, $1,139; 4. Clint Graves, 8.9, $570. Average: 1. Ryan Jarrett, 28.2 seconds, $3,418; 2. Austin Lawrence, 30.2, $2,564; 3. Tyler Milligain, 30.4, $1,709; 4. Connor Matheson, 33.8, $855. Year-end champion: Ryan Jarrett.
Team roping: First round: 1. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 4.6 seconds, $2,279; 2. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.8, $1,709; 3. Tyler Hobert/Shannon Frascht, 5.4, $1,139; 4. J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins, 5.9, $570. Second round: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins, 5.4 seconds, $2.279; 2. Corben Culley/Tator Taton, 5.6, $1,709; 3. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyle, 6.7, $1,139; 4. Tyler Hobert/Shannon Frascht, 8.1, $570. Third round: 1. Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 6.3 seconds, $2,279; 2. Andrew Ward/Kolin VonAhn, 9.5, $1,709; 3. Brandon Farris/Dawson McMaster, 10.1, $1,139; 4. Corben Culley/Tator Taton, 10.5, $570. Average: 1. Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 26.7 seconds on three runs, $3,418; 2. (tie) J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins and Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 11.3 seconds on two runs, $2,136 each; 4. Tyler Hobert/Shannon Frascht, 13.5, $855. Year-end champion header: Mason Appleton. Year-end champion heeler: Rance Doyal.
Barrel racing: First round: 1. Emily Beisel, 16.18 seconds, $2,279; 2. Tana Renick, 16.41, $1,709; 3. Matay Eklund, 16.42, $1,139; 4. Ari-Anna Flynn, 16.43, $570. Second round: 1. Tana Renick, 15.98 seconds, $2,279; 2. Tracy Nowlin, 16.25, $1,709; 3. Mataya Eklund, 16.30, $1,39; 4. Chelsie Shoop, 16.31, $570. Third round: 1. Tana Renick, 15.97 seconds, $2,279; 2. Mataya Eklund, 16,06, $%1,709; 3. Emily Beisel, 16.26, $1,140; 4. Kallie Gates, 16.27, $570. Average: 1. Tana Renick, 48.36 seconds on three runs, $3,418; 2. (tie) Emily Beisel and Mataya Eklund, 48.78, $2,136 each; 4. Sadie Wolaver-Troyer, 49.20, $855. Year-end champion: Emily Beisel.
Steer roping: First round: 1. Billy Good, 9.6 seconds, $2,100; 2. Thomas Smith, 10.2, $1,575; 3. (tie) Riley O’Rourke and Coleman Proctor, 10.5, $787 each. Second round: 1. John E. Bland, 9.7 seconds, $2,100; 2. Trenton Johnson, 10.0, $1,575; 3. Blake Deckard, 10.5, $1,050; 4. Connor McNeil, 10.9, $525. Third round: 1. Thomas Smith, 9.5 seconds, $2,100; 2. Brodie Poppino, 10.6, $1,575; 3. John E. Bland, 11.1, $1,050; 4. Trenton Johnson, 11.7, $525. Average: 1. Trenton Johnson, 35.2 seconds on three head, $3,150; 2. Blake Deckard, 38.6, $2,362; 3. Dee Kyler Jr., 39.6, $1,575; 4. Billy Good, 43.0, $787. Year-end champion: Chet Harren.
Bull riding: First round: 1. Jesse Hopper, 84 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Black Panther, $2,260, 2. (tie) Jackson Ward and Fulton Rutland, 81, $1,412 each; 4. Coy Pollmeier, 68.5, $565. Second round: 1. Jesse Hopper, 85.5 points on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Dr. No, $2,260; 2. Fulton Rutland, 85, $1,695; 3. Patterson Starcher, 83.5, $1,130; 4. Jackson Ward, 82, $565. Third round: 1. Coy Pollmeier, 88 points on Big Rafter Rodeo’s Ivy League, $2,448; 2. Colton Byram, 85, $1,883; 3. Jesse Hopper, 84, $1,318; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Jesse Hopper, 253.5 points on three rides, $3,390; 2. Coy Pollemeier 236, $2,542; 3. Fulton Rutland, 166 points on two rides, $1,695; 4. Jackson Ward, 163, $847. Year-end champion: Coy Pollemeier.
