Lessons LEARNED
This past season we had three ropings where for an $80 entry fee the average winners won $10,000 and the high point roper won a $50,000 RAM Truck. We had a saddle roping on a Tuesday that topped 800 teams. We have seen the team counts in the #6 and #7 divisions grow.

Reigning Champs
Awarding a combined $556,600, the National 12, National 9 and National 8 Finales each paid $100,000 plus trophy Cactus Saddlery saddles and fancy Gist Silversmith buckles to the winning teams. This was the third consecutive year for the National 9 Finale and it continues as the highest paying division of the Finals.

National 12: GROFF & ROGERS
“When I first got her, I bet she bucked every single day I rode her for the first year,” Groff recalled. “You never knew when, or where, she was going to blow up, but you could count on the fact that she was going to. She’s 8 now, and in the last three or four years she's only bucked a handful of times.

National 9: JOHNSON & JIRON
Johnson is known by his family and close friends for his calm demeanor and ability to perform well under pressure—traits that undoubtedly paid off as he backed in the box at Rancho Rio at one of team roping’s highest paying divisional ropings of the year.

National 8: NELSON & OLSON
“Not many guys can say they have won as much money at one time, the way we did at the NTR Finals,” said National 8 Finale winner, Chuck Nelson. “That’s a lot of money and it really feels good, we are very blessed to get a chance to enter a roping like that.

National 10: MCLEOD & BAIZE
For the last four years Rocky McLeod, his wife, Rhonda, and their daughter, Shayle, have made the 27-hour trek from Kamloops, B.C., Canada, to Maricopa, Ariz., to enjoy the Sonoran Desert weather and the booming equestrian lifestyle. More importantly, they come to compete every chance they get.

LegendsChampionships: DINEEN & NELSON
Dineen owns and operates Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, a company he started in 1986. He was managing a ranch in Longmont, Colo., where the owner had 250 head of buffalo in addition to cattle. As soon as he was introduced to the buffalo market, Dineen saw a future in the business.

TOP DOLLAR
Held annually in conjunction with the NTR National Finals, The Horse Sale at Rancho Rio, has quickly become one of the industry’s top rope and performance horse sales.