Tanner Butner is making his second consecutive National Finals Rodeo appearance after a huge regular season.
The Wyoming saddle bronc rider left his mark in rodeo history at one of the most iconic rodeos in Texas before going on to pick up three wins in his neighboring state of Montana to earn his spot with the best of the best.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup (South Dakota), $19,000
After going through each round and advancing to the Semifinals, Butner put together an 83.5-point ride that landed him in the Finals of the first ever Governor’s Cup. He wound up just a point short of the win after an 86.5 on Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Valley to cash in his biggest paycheck of the season on the final day of the regular season. He was outside the Top 15 at the beginning of the Governor’s Cup, but ended up No. 11 in the World entering the NFR.
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, $9,760
Butner was the No. 2 man to advance from Bracket 3 after placing sixth in Round 1 and winning Round 2. Butner added his name to the history books of Fort Worth when he matched up with Andrews Rodeo’s All Or Nothin’ in Round 2 of Bracket 3. The two would go on to make the highest marked ride ever at the rodeo when the judges scores came out to an astounding 94 points. After tha, he placed third in the Semifinals, which him on to the Finals, where he rode Rafter G Rodeo’s Assault for 88.5 points to get a piece of the money.
HIGHEST MARKED RIDES
Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo (Oklahoma), 90 points
The second 90+ Point Ride of Butner’s regular season came in the spring. Frontier Rodeo’s Lonesome Eyes was the horse to do it on and Butner put a winning 90-point ride together to claim the title in Guymon. It was the first time in his career Butner had won a rodeo in Oklahoma.
National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, 88 Points
Butner earned his way to the Finals in Denver where he met up with The Cervi Brothers’ Womanizer. He made his highest marked ride of the National Western when he rode for 88 points to finish second and cash in a total of more than $6,000.
NOTABLE WINS
Home of Champions Rodeo (Montana), 85.5 Points
Splitting the win in Red Lodge, Montana came after a head-to-head match with Brookman Rodeo’s Lonely Dreamer. The 85.5-point ride would add almost $3,000 to Butner’s earnings.
Golden Spike Rodeo (Utah), 85.5 Points
Another visit to the pay window came in Tremonton, Utah, which marked Butner’s thid PRCA Playoff Series win of the year after Red Lodge and Guymon. A matchup with Legacy Pro Rodeo’s Flirting with Disaster resulted in the winning 85.5-point ride that was worth $4,534.
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