The big rodeo begins tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center and runs through Dec. 9, but Utah will send more than just three bull riders, two saddle bronc riders, one bareback rider and one tie-down roper to the most lucrative event of its kind in the world.
Seventeen of the approximately 300 bucking horses and bulls to be used at the rodeo were also bred and raised in Utah.
"Our state will be well-represented, both in terms of athletes and animals, perhaps more than ever before," said Bud Kerby, owner of Sanpete County-based Bar T Rodeo, Inc.
Bar T, the largest and oldest stock contractor in the state, will send three bulls and 10 bucking horses - six barebacks and four saddle broncs - to Las Vegas. Five bulls from 15-year-old Diamond G Rodeos, based in Toquerville and owned by Steve and Cyndi Gilbert, were also on the prestigious invitation list, but one has a horn infection and so only four Diamond G stock will be ridden - or not - the next 10 days.
"Whether you are there in person or watch it on TV, you are going to see animals from Utah," said Cyndi Gilbert. "It's really exciting."
While the top 15 contestants in each of seven events qualify for the NFR based on the amount of money they've won since January, the stock is selected by a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association committee, and "a lot of politics are involved," said both Gilbert and Kerby.
"It is not easy to do," Kerby said. "We've been in the top three or four the last few years [in terms of number of head provided] and have sent at least one animal every year since 1959. Some of the 60 or so PRCA stock contractors in the country go years without getting any [invitations]."
Kerby received the 2006 Remuda Award at a banquet at the South Point Hotel & Casino on Wednesday night. The award is voted on by the PRCA's roughstock event directors and given each year to one stock contractor who provides an elite pen of stock on a regular basis.
"I'm pretty honored," said the son of longtime Days of '47 Rodeo stock provider Swanny Kerby. "It is only a few years old, but, in time, it will be one of the most coveted awards in rodeo."
A record purse of $5.375 million will be up for grabs for 118 men and women, while the stock contractors are also paid handsomely.
The three bulls selected from Bar T are Big Dipper, Willy Do It and Corkscrew. Goldilocks and Firefly are two of the 10 bucking horses.
Gilbert said Diamond G typically has 6-10 animals picked for the 10 performances, so having five selected and four entered is sort of a down year for the outfit located close to the entrance to Zion's National Park.
Diamond G's bulls are White Magic, Whirlygig, Orange Crush Jr. and Charmed, I'm Sure!
Gilbert said the contractor is also proud of owning the bull that produced the highest score ever - a 96, by Cody Hancock - at the NFR. His name was Mister USA.
drew@sltrib.com
National Finals Rodeo
What: 48th Annual National Finals Rodeo
* Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
* When: Begins today and runs through Dec. 9 with 10 performances
* Who: The top 15 regular-season money winners in each event
* Events: Bareback riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing, bull riding
* Purse: $5.375 million
Utah ties
Utahns in the 2006 National Finals Rodeo
Name Hometown Event World ranking
SONNY MURPHY Herriman Bull Riding No. 2
WESLEY SILCOX Payson Bull Riding No. 3
STEVE WOOLSEY Payson Bull Riding No. 10
JESS DAVIS Payson Bareback No. 7
CODY WRIGHT Milford Saddle bronc No. 4
RUSTY ALLEN Lehi Saddle bronc No. 5
CLINT ROBINSON Spanish Fork Tie-down roping No. 11
Television Schedule
TODAY: ESPN2, 10 p.m. (T)
FRI.: ESPN2, 10 p.m. (T)
SAT.: ESPN2, 7 p.m.
SUN.: ESPN2, 7 p.m.
MON.: ESPN2, 10 p.m. (T)
TUE.: ESPN2, 10 p.m. (T)
WED.: ESPN2, 10:30 p.m. (T)
Dec. 7: ESPN2, 10:30 p.m. (T)
Dec. 8: ESPN2, 10 p.m. (T)
Dec. 9: ESPN2, 7 p.m.
(T) - tape delayed
