Held in the historic town of North Platte, Nebraska — the birthplace of legendary showman Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West shows — the Buffalo Bill Rodeo is hailed as America’s First Rodeo.
It’s only gotten bigger and better each year since its founding in 1882, and 2020 was no exception.
The Buffalo Bill Rodeo brought big names to North Platte this past week, and the competition was stiff. Among the highlights of the 2020 rodeo were Tilden Hooper’s 89-point ride on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Hard Times, Cody Devers laying one down in just 3.6 seconds, team ropers Nelson Wyatt and Levi Lord stopping the clock at 3.8, and Denton Fugate going 88 on Beutler and Son’s Roll Tide.
Here’s a look at the final results and payouts:
BAREBACK RIDING: 1. Tilden Hooper, 89 points, $2,549; 2. Tim O’Connell, 86.5, $1,954; 3. Zach Hibler, 84.5, $1,445; 4. Kaycee Feild, 82.5, $935; 5. Pascal Isabelle, 82, $595; 6. Will Martin, 81, $425; 7. Blaine Kaufman, 80.5, $340; 8. (tie) Jesse Pope and Craig Wisehart, 78, $127 each
STEER WRESTLING: 1. Cody Devers, 3.6 seconds, $3,251; 2. (tie) Tanner Milan and Cole Edge, 3.8, $2,737 each; 4. Jace Melvin, 4.0, $2,224; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Cade Staton, Jacob Talley and J.D. Struxness, 4.1, $1,369 each; 9. (tie) Will Lummus, Blair Jones and Stetson Jorgensen, 4.2, $228 each.
TEAM ROPING: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 3.8 seconds, $3,815 each; 2. Steven Duby/Evan Arnold, 4.6, $3,413; 3. (tie) Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II and Clint Summers/Douglas Rich, 5.0, $2,811 each; 5. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett and Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 5.1, $2,008 each; 7. (tie) Tyler Wade/Billie Jack Saebens and Colby Lovell/Paul Eaves, 5.2, $1,205 each; 9. Reno Stoebner/Colton Brittain, 5.3, $602; 10. (tie) Clayton Van Aken/Levi Tyan and Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson, 5.4, $100 each
SADDLE BRONC RIDING: 1. Jake Finlay, 87.5 points, $2,797; 2. Taos Muncy, 85.5, $2,145; 3. Jacob Kammerer, 85, $1,585; 4. (tie) Keene Justesen and Jesse Bail, 84, $839 each; 6. (tie) Cole Elshere and Tegan Smith, 80.5, $420 each; 8. Brady Hill, 80, $280
TIE-DOWN ROPING: 1. Macon Murphy, 7.8 seconds, $4,206; 2. Cory Solomon, 8.0, $3,763; 3. Will Howell, 8.4, $3,321; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 8.5, $2,878; 5. Ben Robinson, 8.7, $2,435; 6. (tie) Kyle Lucas and Zack Jongbloed, 8.8, $1,771 each; 8. Trey Young, 8.9, $1,107; 9. Chance Oftedahl, 9.1, $664; 10. Lane Livingston, 9.2, $221
BARREL RACING: 1. Michelle Alley, 17.20 seconds, $2,741; 2. (tie) Amanda Welsh and Tiany Schuster, 17.51, $2,124 each; 4. Destri Devenport, 17.55, $1,645; 5. Megan Swint, 17.57, $1,371; 6. Cindy Smith, 17.58, $959; 7. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.60, $685; 8. Michelle Darling, 17.63, $548; 9. Jimmie Smith, 17.64, $480; 10. Emily Miller, 17.65, $411; 11. Stevi Hillman, 17.66, $343; 12. (tie) Kathy Grimes and Carly Taylor, 17.69, $137 each
BULL RIDING: 1. Denton Fugate, 88 points, $3,744; 2. (tie) Brody Yeary and Jesse Hopper, 82, $2,514 each; 4. Jeston Mead, 78, $1,406; 5. Ty Wallace, 74, $914; 6. Clayton Sellars, 72, $668; 7. Trey Kimzey, 70, $545 | *no other qualified rides