BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
With a determined late-season push, Dustin Boquet vaulted from outside the Top 25 into NFR contention, ultimately stepping in for the injured Creek Young, who had been ranked No. 15. Anticipating the possibility, Boquet remained in touch with Young and was prepared for the opportunity. When the call came in early November, it was confirmed: Boquet would make his fourth NFR appearance, returning for the first time since 2021.
Heart O’Texas Fair and Rodeo, $5,482
Boquet was the champion of the first two rodeos he competed in during the 2024 regular season and both of those wins came all the way back in October of 2023. In Waco, he was 87.5 points on Let’s Go Brandon. The other win, which was worth an additional $3,000, was for an 85-point ride at the Northwest Florida Championship.
Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo, $7,767
After getting bucked off his next four bulls after back-to-back wins to start the season, Boquet bounced back in a big way with an 84.5-point ride to take second at the prestigious December roughtstock event. He would go on to win his next rodeo, too, the Stampede at the Ike on Jan. 6.
Lufkin Xtreme Bull Bash, $9,030
While he was advancing through RodeoHouston (where he’d advance to Championship Sunday), Boquet stopped off in Lufkin, Texas to win the Xtreme Bull Bash with an 88.5-point ride. He split the win with Maverick Smith and they were a half point better than Trey Benton III and Clayton Sellars.
Missoula Stampede, $5,482
Boquet had to wait a bit to get his first win of the Summer Run, but when it came his way, it did so in style. His 90-point ride on Hot Rocks was his highest marked ride of the season and got him the title on Aug. 10. That same weekend, he also took third in the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Oregon and sixth at the Omak Stampede in Washington.
Kitsap Stampede Xtreme Bulls, $9,513
Speaking of the Evergreen State, it was there that Boquet’s NFR chances really began to take shape. He was 84.5 points on Big Stone’s Misunderstood, whose 42.5-point bull score was his highest of the season.
After that event on Aug. 24, Boquet was No. 24 in the World, up from No. 28 on Aug. 1.
Pendleton Extreme Bulls Tour Finale, $24,071
After he bucked off his first bull in Pendleton, the likelihood Boquet was going to Las Vegas was next to zero, but when he was backed into a corner, he responded. Boquet went on to ride his next three bulls, all for more than 85 points and in the end, his 260.5 points on three were enough to win the Average and pick up a $14,000 check.
That win vaulted Boquet up to No. 16 in the World, a position he would hold for the final three weeks of the regular season.
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