Dean Thompson put together a stellar rookie season in which he qualified for his first NFR and earned over $170,000 to finish No. 13 in the World. In his sophomore year, he proved it was no fluke. Thompson finished the regular season No. 4 in the Bareback Riding World Standings thanks to $172,000 in earnings.
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, $15,500
Thompson had a great start to the season at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. He placed in four rounds, including the second in the Second Semifinal and the Finals. In the Semis, Thompson was 88.5 points to win $2,500. In the Finals, Thompson was 91.5 points to place second and earn an additional $12,000, bringing his total earnings in Fort Worth to over $15,000.
La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros, $7,309
Thompson posted two solid rides on his way to an Average title at La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros. He opened the rodeo with an 85-point ride to place third in the Long Round. In the Finals, he placed second with an 86-point ride. Thompson took home the Average after going 173 on two. It marked his first of a PRCA-leading six Playoff Series Rodeo wins.
Guymon Pioneer Days, $3,149
For the second consecutive year, Thompson made a massive ride to win Guymon, this time sharing it with fellow Top 10 cowboy Jess Pope. Thompson was 90 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, the same horse he rode for 92.5 to get the win in 2023.
Sisters Rodeo, $5,957
Thompson took home the title at the Sisters Rodeo where he was 88 points on Cowboy Fever. Thompson took home just under $6,000 with the win. In just two years, he has already accumulated three Playoff Wins in Oregon after winning the Farm-City Pro Rodeo and Pendleton Round-Up as a rookie.
Greeley Stampede, $9,479
Thompson put together a great pair of rides at the Greeley Stampede. In Round 1, he was 88 points on Black Kat, which would win him the round and earn him over $4,000.
In the Finals, Thompson posted an 86.5-point ride to place second. The two rides brought him to 174.5 on two which won him the average and brought his total earnings to $9,479 in Greeley.
St. Paul Rodeo, $7,846
Thompson placed third in St. Paul after an 86-point ride. The finish earned him just under $8,000 and would provide a nice boost to his season earnings. St. Paul was the only Cowboy Christmas rodeo he Thompson competed in.
Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, $11,950
Ogden provided one of the most lucrative one-header rodeos during the Summer Run. Thompson posted an 89-point ride to get the win on Smith Pro Rodeos’ North Star. With the win, Thompson earned just under $12,000. Over the next month, he would go on to place second at two other big Utah Rodeos, the Cache County Fair in Logan and the Golden Spike in Tremonton.
Meet the NFR Athletes is presented by Montana Silversmiths #EveryBuckleHasAStory #BrandOfChampions #FromGreatToGold
