Dirk Tavenner is set to make his third consecutive National Finals Rodeo appearance after finishing the regular 2023 season as the No. 8 ranked steer wrestler in the World.
The Idaho native came just three spots shy of a World Title in 2021 when he finished fourth and has been climbing back to the top ever since. With $107,839 to his name this season, Tavenner is one good run at the Thomas & Mack away from being in Gold Buckle contention, and he’s done it before, winning Rounds 1, 2, 6 and 10 in his debut in 2021.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
NFR Open (Colorado), $13,595
Tavenner didn’t place after a no time in Round 1, but things quickly improved from there. He placed sixth in Round 2 before throwing down a 4.8-second run to win the Semifinals. The Finals were not the toughest, but Tavenner’s 11.2 ended up first making him your National Champion in Colorado Springs.
St. Paul Rodeo (Oregon), $11,901
Cowboy Christmas in Oregon was good to Tavenner. A 4.0 was fast enough to tie for first in Round 1 and a 4.1-second run put him in a five-way tie for third in Round 2. This made Tavenner’s total on two head 8.1 seconds, the fastest in the Average to cash in.
Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo, $10,500
Tavenner was up in Performance 4 in Salt Lake City and he made an early statement with his round-winning 3.0-second run that was also the fastest run of the rodeo and matched the fastest of the entire season in the steer wrestling. In the Gold Medal Round, Tavenner was quick with a 3.5, alongside Stetson Jorgensen to share the Gold.
Greeley Stampede (Colorado), $10,158
The end of June brought in a hefty payday after Tavenner kicked off his Greeley Stampede with a second-place finish in Round 1 with a 3.8 second run. He ended up with total on three head on 13.5 seconds and that was fast enough for third in the Average.
FASTEST RUNS
Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo, 3.5 Seconds
His second fastest run of the season behind the 3 flat in Utah, he was 3.5 in Phillipsburg, Kansas in August. Tavenner was one of two cowboys to be a 3.5 and it was good enough for a second place finish. This added $2,731 to his earnings as he continued through the last two months of the season.
NOTABLE WINS
Deadwood Days of ’76 (South Dakota), 7.8 Seconds on Two Head
Consistency was key for Tavenner in Deadwood. Placing fourth in Round 1 with a 4.0-second run and tying for third in Round 2 with a 3.8 cinched him the title by four tenths of a second to add more than $8,000 to his name.
Gooding Pro Rodeo (Idaho), 3.6 seconds
Another August rodeo that added to his end of season momentum was Gooding. Tavenner was a 3.6 along with Don Payne to split the win. This was a 3.6-second run that was worth over $3,700 to push Tavenner into the final month of the regular season.
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