BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Bayleigh Choate wasn’t even sure if she was going to try to professional rodeo full time in 2022, but after some early season success, which included over $10,000 in Austin, the Fort Worth native knew she had to give it a go.
Choate finished her first year as the only barrel rookie racer to make the NFR and after grueling schedule that included 89 rodeos, Choate was able to qualify in the No. 11 spot with $90,893 to her name.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
Rodeo Austin, $11,608
Choate and her main horse Boozer made a statement when the pair won the Semifinals and then proceeded to place third in the Finals with runs of 15.33 and 15.42 seconds.
California Rodeo Salinas, $8,991
Choate placed in the last three rounds of the four-head rodeo to finish second in the Average behind Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi. Her fastest run was a 16.12, good enough for third in Round 3.
FASTEST RUNS
Caldwell Night Rodeo, 17.04 Seconds
Choate was second in Round 2 of Caldwell with a blistering 17.04-second run. She was one hunredth of a second off Paige Jones’ 17.03, which tied for the fastest run of the rodeo. Choate would go on to finish fifth in the Average and bring home close to $4,000.
NOTABLE WINS
American Royal Rodeo, 15.09 Seconds
In a field that included the likes of Sherry Cervi, Emily Beisel and Wenda Johnson, Choate was the champion in Kansas City with a time of 15.09 seconds. She won nearly $3,000 and notched the first win of her ProRodeo career. The next week, she would win again PPCLA PRCA Rodeo in Mineral Wells, Texas.
Canadian Pro Rodeo Association
Choate spent plenty of time in Canada this summer and left with three wins. She was the champion of the Ponoka Stampede, Wainwright Stampede and High Prairie Elks Rodeo.
MEET THE NFR ATHLETES IS PRESENTED BY MONTANA SILVERSMITHS #everybucklehasastory #goldbucklebound