A month ago 21-year-old Kade Bruno was on the bubble, sitting at number 15 in the PRCA World Standings with just over $41,000 earned on the season. It looked like he was going to have to battle for his first career NFR appearance. Fast-forward to the end of July and Bruno is sitting in seventh place and has earned $93,000 thanks to an incredible stretch of riding.
Bruno got his month started in a big way at the St. Paul Rodeo where he placed second and won $9,400 after an 87-point ride. That check was a sign of things to come for Bruno.
Bruno entered the NFR Open with momentum after placing third at the Elgin Stampede Bucking rodeo. In Round one of the NFR Open, he went 87.5 points on Warhawk to win $5,500. In round two of the Open, he had his worst ride at 82 points but still placed third in the round, keeping him alive in the average. He followed that ride up with an 85-point ride in round three, which left him in a great spot in the average heading to the finals.
Bruno had a great draw in Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin, and he took advantage. Bruno was marked 90 points on the bronc which not only won the round but also solidified the average by five points over former World Champion Ryder Wright.
KADE BRUNO, 90 POINTS, NFR OPEN
In total, Bruno won more than any other athlete at the Open, with his winnings coming to $25,595. The massive weekend solidified his spot inside the top-10, but he wasn’t done.
Bruno hit the road and found himself in Ogden, Utah for the Ogden Pioneer Days. Bruno would match Logan Cook’s 87-point ride from earlier in the week to split the win and take home another check of over $5,000.
He would follow that ride up with one of his more modest checks of the month, finishing in fourth at the California Rodeo Salinas where he made another $2,000.
Bruno’s winning may not be done in July as he advanced to the semifinals in Cheyenne after an 86-point ride won his performance.
In total, Bruno has earned over $50,000 since mid-June and has jumped eight spots in the World Standings.