n 2022, Las Vegas Events will begin to honor the best of the best in Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® history. In NFR history, there have been 10 five-time cham pions, 5 six-time champions, 6 seven-time champions, and 9 eight-time champions, but the inaugural class of Vegas NFR ICONS features legends who have won nine, 11 and 26 world titles respectively.
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Ty Murray, Charmayne James and Trevor Brazile will be honored during separate ceremonies as part of the first three Wrangler NFR performances this year. Each has earned a banner with his or
“Boy, a banner, that’s a special thing,”
Brazile (26), James (11) and Murray (9) have combined for 46 PRCA World Championships and 15 NFR average titles. For Murray, the honor Is special.
Trevor Brazile, Charmayne James and Ty Murray to be honored as Vegas NFR ICONS
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her name on it, which will be lifted to the rafters of Thomas & Mack Center where from hereon will be displayed at every NFR performance.“LasVegasEvents is committed to hono ring the history and legacy of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® in Las Vegas,” says LVE President, Pat Christenson. “Since 1985, Las Vegas has crowned more than 320 World Champions. Winning one world title makes a career. Winning more than nine is iconic. The history and legacy of the Wrangler NFR is driven by its great champions. This year we will begin to honor the most decorated contestants of the past 36 years.”
VEGAS NFR ICONS
BY BRIAN HURLBURT
26-time PRCA World Champion √ 11-time PRCA World Champion √ 9-time PRCA World Champion √ ProRodeo Hall of Fame √ NFR Vegas Icon √
SHANE.ADAMMURRAY,&JAMES;PRCABRAZILE,PHOTOS:
Las Vegas Events officials continue to work with the producers of each event, which include ProRodeo Hall of Fame steer wrestler Ote Berry and two-time world champion barrel racer Kelly Kaminski, lea ding up to the Junior World Finals. The pro ducers hold qualifiers across the country throughout the year to determine which contestants will compete in Vegas.
Heart of the WorldYETINFRJuniorFinals 42 SADDLEBOOK.PHOTOS:
It’s a spotlight on the young ropers and riders that current PRCA World Champion steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack appreciates.“Kidsgetto come to Vegas and have their entire families with them for support,” Waguespack says. “The finals puts them on a heck of a stage and it helps them get the momentum rolling for whe never they’re ready to step up to a bigger stage.”
Info: NFRexperience.com/ JuniorWorldFinals
World Finals
“The Cowboy Channel will again feature live-streaming on the front of the pay line, but it will be free,” Gardner explained. “Last year we averaged about 11,000 downloads a day. And the number conti nues to grow because peo ple are watching the Junior
The YETI Junior World Finals show off and prepare the next generation of rodeo stars
Once again, both the Cowboy Channel and Saddlebook will have a significant presence at the Junior World Finals.
thatrodeobeentheattestants’companySaddlebook,reruns.”anonlinethatrecordsconscoresandtimesvariousrodeos,includingJuniorWorldFinals,hasanintegralpartofthethepastfewyearsandshouldbethecaseagain
“Our goal is to keep as many youth invol ved with rodeo as we can,” he says.
thisHeyear.added that fans can expect some chan ges to the Junior World Finals in the near future, but no matter what happens the focus of the event will be on the contestants.
“We bring this to the NFR, but it’s those cowboys and cowgirls who give their hearts to this program,” she says. “I know when they walk away after meeting the kids, it’s life changing for them. We were going to have the athletes inspire the kids, but it’s also had the opposite effect: the kids have inspired the athletes.”
While Tonascia credits, among others, Las Vegas Events and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for bringing the Golden Circle of Champions to the NFR, she is quick to point out the contestants are the main rea son the event has such a powerful impact.
Twenty children and their families from rodeos around the country and Las Vegas will be honored at this year’s NFR, where they will have lunch with NFR cowboys and cowgirls, take part in rodeo activities with their assigned “champions” and attend that night’s fourth performance of the rodeo. Ten of the kids and families will be from the Las Vegas area, while the others will be representing 10 rodeo committees from across the Tonasciacountry.andher team have worked clo sely with Jeff Gordon, the president and CEO of the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, and his team, to identify the children who will get to experience the “Western Way of Life” for the day. The kids not only get to spend time with the con testants, but they are also presented with NFR champion buckles from Montana Silversmiths, a Resistol hat that has been autographed by every NFR contestant, in addition to gear from Wrangler, Boot Barn and Justin Boots.
--Tina Tonascia, Founder, Golden Circle of Champions
Info:
“We give each kid a sign that reads, ‘My Champion is …,’” Tonascia says. “So, you can always spot them in the arena on Sunday night. We urge fans to give a wave or a word of support
The most inspiring byproduct of the Golden Circle of Champions event are the long-lasting friendships that are created.
GoldenCircleofChampions.com
Another cool element is what happens during the Wrangler NFR performance when fans welcome them to the arena and wish them well.
“It was all started to help bring aware ness to pediatric cancer and to give these kids one day where they don’t have to think about doctors,” Tonascia says. “I feel like we’ve accomplished that goal and we’ve also provided a resource of companionship and support to these families. What’s really neat is the long-term relationships that have developed between these kids and their families and the contestants. You can’t put a price tag on those bonds and those relationships.”
Heart of theHeartNFRof the NFR 46 areThepriceless.”GoldenCircle of Champions began in 2016 as part of the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo to bring awareness to children battling life -threatening cancer. Since then, the Golden Circle of Champions has expanded to the Wrangler NFR, with this year’s event set for Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Tuscany Hotel in Las Vegas. But the friendships last throughout the NFR and beyond.
when they see the kids.”
“When we started this program, it was with the intention of helping these kids and their families and giving them the experience of a lifetime.”
A GRAND JOURNEY
It was a long wait for 2022 Miss Rodeo America Hailey Frederiksen, but she finally got her ride (and crown)
Like the journey NFR competitors must endure to successfully qualify for the rodeo in Las Vegas, the road to becoming Miss Rodeo America is competitive and daunting. Even more so for Frederiksen due to events beyond her control.
BY BRIAN HURLBURT
“Excellence is where the rubber meets the road and achieving excellence means your hard work has finally paid off,” Frederiksen said. “I have obtained an amazing goal and will use this platform for the better, but there's so much more excellence I want to achieve after this. I look forward to the rest of my time as Miss Rodeo America, but I am also looking way fur ther beyond that. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me next in terms of excellence.”
Even if the specifics are difficult to remem ber, given the magnitude of the moment …
“My life was forever changed when my name was called during the pageant at South Point and that moment began a series of whir lwind events and emotions,” Frederiksen said during a break at an NFR promotional event at Resorts World. “Riding through the tunnel of the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time was amazing, but I don't remember much because it happened so quickly. Still to this day, I look back and try to remember that incredible moment. I can't wait to ride in every single round later this year.”
accomplished her goal of becoming Miss Rodeo America and perfor ming her duties and representing the Miss Rodeo America organization at the highest level have been her main focus.
Frederiksen is a first-generation college graduate from Colorado State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences with a minor in Agricultural Business. Following her reign as Miss Rodeo America, she plans to obtain a masters in Agricultural Communications and use her ambition and passion to con tinue her work as an #agvocate. She also enjoys riding horses, barrel racing, breakaway roping and dancing.
It was no different for 2022 Miss Rodeo America, Hailey Frederiksen, who was inspi red, humbled and excited by her gallop into the NFR’s bright lights.
MissAmericaRodeo 48 SHANE.ADAMPHOTO:
“A lot of people only see the eight days of the actual pageant, but there is so much more pre paration that is needed to be successful,” Frederiksen said. “For me, I had already spent almost two and a half years of my life dedicating myself to the preparation of the Miss Rodeo America. The 2020 pageant was canceled due to the Covid19 pandemic and I was crow ned Miss Rodeo Colorado in 2019. Without hesitation, I agreed to continue as Miss Rodeo Colorado for an extra year. There is a lot of hard work, tears, blood and sweat that goes into those eight days, but it is worth all of Frederiksenit.”
Visit MissRodeoAmerica.com for all details for the 2022 pageant, which is Nov. 27-Dec. 4 at South Point.
Anewly-crowned Miss Rodeo America will never forget her initial goosebump-inducing journey around the fabled Thomas & Mack Center during the Wrangler Natio nal Finals Rodeo ® Grand Entry.
“The whole experience in and around the Thomas & Mack Center has been designed for the fans.”
But let’s not forget the electricity gene rated within the Thomas & Mack Center during the actual rodeo. More than 2,000 tons of dirt and over 700 animals transform
“Here in Las Vegas, it’s a short start and we have to go superfast at the barrier,” says Tyler Waguespack, the 2022 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Champion. “Trevor Brazile said it the best. ‘It’s a marathon that you have to sprint 10 nights in a row.’ Every time we back in the box, we have to keep our foot on the gas and keep it going.”
It all adds up to a one-of-a-kind experience for any rodeo fan lucky enough to be at the Thomas & Mack Center for the 2022 NFR.
the level of act is going to new levels.
Thomas & Mack Happenings
Pat Christenson, President, Las Vegas Events
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the Thomas & Mack Center into the world’s premier rodeo venue.
Adds Christenson: “This year there will be more that we integrate into the opening artists and the national anthem. And there will be more use of our video board during both of those.”
everybody is up above you. Every time you walk in there for the first round, it is like a new feeling that we haven’t experienced all year. The fans are awesome and they are loud. If they don’t get you excited at this rodeo, you probably shouldn’t rodeo.”
Waguespack’s analogy could also be used for fans looking to make the most out of their time inside and out of the historic Thomas & Mack Center.
“The Thomas & Mack Center is awesome,” says Caleb Smidt, the 2022 PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Champion. “It is a place that seems like everybody is sitting on top of you. It is like you’re in a little dungeon and
“We’re making a lot of cosmetic changes at the Thomas & Mack to improve the faci lity for all of those people,” Gardner says. “We know that these contestants go to some of these new venues with state-of-the-art facilities and the NFR is the Super Bowl of rodeo, so some of our direction this year is to improve the back-of-house foundations for the production side of things.”
Not all of the changes at the Thomas & Mack Center will be noticeable to the fans, however. Those back-of-house changes have been designed to benefit the contestants, the stock contractors and others responsi ble for the production of the NFR.
“With all that is available for fans before, during and after the rodeo, you can’t find any other city in the country that will support an event as well as Las Vegas supports the NFR,” Gardner says.
NFR contestants continually rave about the sight lines and intimacy of the arena. The fans are right on top of the action and they feel it.
“We are creating one of our best lineups of entertainers for the opening ceremonies,” says Bo Gardner, vice president of corpo rate marketing, Las Vegas Events. “Cowboy Revival is the new sponsor for the opening act and this year we will feature a quality lineup. I think that our fans will notice a big change. And the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is still a major sponsor for the national anthem. Fans will see some new faces as well as some familiar ones singing the ‘Star Spangled Banner.’”
From the barrels to the bulls and every thing in between, the starts are short and the arena walls are close. That all adds up to fast-paced action during every event.
When the Wrangler National Finals
Season Ticket Spotlight
SEASON TICKET SPOTLIGHT: THE ROSSER FAMILY
“Cotton was always a huge supporter of rodeo and the competitors, but he also knew the fans were the ones that made it all possible,” Karin Rosser says. “He believed what they had accomplished in Oklahoma City had run its course and Las Vegas was
Cotton’s celebration of life in July was attended by 2,000 people and broadcast by The Cowboy Channel. Those who spoke at the event included Steve Hearst, vice presi dent and general manager of Hearst Western Properties; Randy Bernard, former CEO of Professional Bull Riders and current co-ma nager of Garth Brooks; Sen. Shannon Grove; and Katharine and Reno Rosser with remarks from Lee, Cindy and Brian Rosser; and Pat Christenson, president, Las Vegas Events.
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Flying U shortly after an accident in 1956 ended his competitive rodeo career. Pretty much ever since, Cotton and his family have worked to make the Flying U one of the most successful stock contrac ting firms in professional rodeo and he was known for his outstanding rodeo produc tions, including the flamboyant opening ceremonies presented at the National Finals Rodeo, the Houston Livestock Show and the Grand National Rodeo in San Francisco just to name a few. Cotton was also a key player behind the NFR’s move from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas in 1985.
BY BRIAN HURLBURT
He will be missed, but his legend will live on through the annual NFR production.
He inspired so many and loved attending the NFR with his wife, Karin, and his large family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.Cottonpurchased
“It is such a special time and rodeo, and we loved to watch and appreciate the quality and commitment of all of the competitors who made it to the NFR and were in the top 15 in their certain events,” Karin says.
“Cotton’s name is iconic along with Willy, Waylon, Garth, Ty and Trevor,” Christenson says. “When you say the name Cotton, everyone in rodeo knows who you are talking about. That term ‘show’ became synony mous with the NFR and that started in 1985 with Cotton. He was our P.T. Barnum.”
Everyone knows the name Cotton Rosser. He will be missed in 2022 | but family, friends will carry on tradition
The Rosser family have been season ticket holders since day one and attended each night of the rodeo for decades. In the early days, Cotton purchased 80 tickets, a huge investment when the rodeo in Vegas wasn’t a sure bet.
ready to step up and raise the purse and help in other ways. He loved Las Vegas, Las Vegas Events and what they have done for the NFR.”
Rodeo® rolls into the Thomas & Mack Center in December, things won’t be quite the same because Cotton Rosser won’t be around. Rosser, a rodeo production legend who over saw the Flying U Company, “tipped his hat” for the last time June 22, 2022.