The Greeley Stampede Arena was buzzing with excitement on Thursday evening as it kicked off Day 1 of the PRCA ProRodeo, attracting enthusiastic rodeo fans eager to support their favorite competitors in various events including bareback riding, steer wrestling, and team roping.
The action commenced shortly after 7 p.m. with the bareback riding, featuring Texas native Clayton Moss, who had a challenging ride but managed to earn a score of 70. Following him were Randy Farrell and Tucker Carricato from Wyoming, with Carricato receiving a redo later in the night, where he scored 74. The standout performance of the round came from Dean Thompson, a high school wrestling champion from Utah, who achieved an impressive score of 85.
In a charming spectacle, the rodeo also featured mutton busting, where young children donned their best rodeo outfits attempting to ride sheep. The crowd cheered as some kids held on while others quickly tumbled off, adding to the spirited atmosphere.
As the evening progressed, competitors took to steer wrestling, with Kyler Dick clocking in at 4.9 seconds. However, the night’s top demonstration came from Tucker Allen, who successfully put his steer down in 3.9 seconds to lead the round. Gavin Soileau matched Allen’s time in the second round, creating a three-way tie with Dakota Eldridge and Cash Robb.
The excitement continued with the team roping event, where three pairs tied for first place in the opening round at 4.9 seconds. Later, Lightning Aguilera and Wyatt Cox claimed victory in the second round with a speedy 4.2 seconds. Meanwhile, in tie-down roping, Riley Mason Webb led the first round with a time of 8.1 seconds, while Cash Fuesz was slightly behind in the second round at 8.2 seconds. Kassie Mowry took the lead in barrel racing with a time of 17.05 seconds.
The rodeo festivities will continue with events scheduled daily until the finals on Wednesday, July 2. Fans can purchase tickets for the finals and other events through the official Greeley Stampede website, greeleystampede.org.
With each event bringing thrilling performances and a sense of community among fans and competitors alike, the Greeley Stampede promises to be an unforgettable celebration of rodeo culture.