The Top 12 steer wrestlers heading to Red Deer, Alberta for the 49th Canadian Finals Rodeo are set.
There has been a replacement, as No. 5 Tanner Milan is now sidelined with a pec injury. This left a hole to be filled and it is one of Canada’s best that happened to be next in line, Cody Cassidy.
No. 1 Dalton Massey, $30,891
Making his debut in Red Deer is the No. 1 cowboy in both Canadian and PRCA World Standings. Winning the Ponoka Stampede, the Bruce Stampede, Okotoks Pro Rodeo and making the Finals at the Calgary Stampede allowed Massey to eek into the CFR with a lead of about $300.
No. 2 Scott Guenthner, $30,596
Guenthner has slowed down his professional rodeo career and kept things closer to home, but that includes the Calgary Stampede, which he won in this year. This will be his eighth CFR appearance and to add to it, he is the defending champion.
No. 3 Stephen Culling, $27,673
Culling hit the jackpot of Finals when Oct. 1 rolled around, the money was counted and the dust settled on his sixth CFR and his first NFR qualifications. The Fort St. John bull dogger stayed consistent throughout the season to get it done. He is one of three cowboys in the field this year to make both the NFR and CFR.
No. 4 Harley Cole, $25,703
Cole’s season consisted of two big wins coming his way. A 3.5 at the Strathmore Stampede and a 4.0 at the Guy Weadick Days added a combined total of $8,487 to his earnings to secure his fourth trip to the CFR.
No. 5 J.D. Struxness, $21,489
This will be Struxness’ second consecutive trip to Red Deer for the CFR. In 2022, he finished fifth in the Average and earned over $10,000 at the CFR to round out his Canadian season.
No. 6 Chance Butterfield, $21,401
Butterfield made a huge return the arena this year after two dislocated shoulders resulted in surgery. He bounced back in a big way as he enters the CFR with a title within reach. This is his second trip to the CFR, his first came in 2017.
No. 7 Riley Reiss, $20,731
The North Dakota steer wrestler had a successful season in Canada. He picked up wins at the Taber Spring Classic Rodeo, Teepee Creek Stampede and the Field of Dreams Stampede while also making the Final 4 in Ponoka. All together, these wins cinched his first qualification to Red Deer.
No. 8 Tim Kemp, $19,122
Kemp is heading to his third consecutive trip to the CFR. He picked up his final win of the regular season at Oldstoberfest in Alberta and this added another $2,000 to his earnings on top of securing yet another CFR qualification.
No. 9 Ryan Shuckburgh, $18,929
Shuckburgh is now a three-time CFR qualifier, doing so consecutively since 2021. The Regina Pile O Bones Champion was also the winner in Edmonton and to round out his season inside the Top 10.
No. 10 Morgan Grant, $18,622
The All-Around hand from Didsbury, Alberta is a veteran of the CFR, having made his first qualification in 2013 in the tie-down. His first trip in the steer wrestling followed two years later. For his 2023 regular season, Grant picked up a win at Dawson Creek and High Prairie.
No. 11 Ty Miller, $15,652
A year off from Red Deer was plenty for Miller has he locked in his fourth trip to the CFR. Miller’s first big win of the season came early on when he cinched the Falkland Stampede. His next big win came in August at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo.
No. 12 Cody Cassidy, $14,890
It was a perfect fit, having Cassidy as the No. 13 steer wrestler that moved up into the Top 12 with Milan being sidelined. The 17-time CFR qualifier’s 2023 season consisted of steady checks that landed him in just the right spot but no big wins coming his way yet.
