Circuit Movers and Shakers as June 2024 Kicks Off (2024)

Circuit Movers and Shakers as June 2024 Kicks Off

• June 4, 2024
• ⎯Team Roping Journal

With a busy weekend of Pro Rodeo May 31-June 2, 2024, to kick off the summer, the circuit standings have seen some movement.

We take a deep look at which headers and heelers in each circuit had the most movement in the standings since our May 21, update.

Columbia River

Notable Moves

The top two spots on the heading side of the Columbia River remain the same, but Battle Ground, Washington’s Justin Farber jumped from eighth in the standings to third since May 21, now with $3,245. Farber cashed in at the PRCA Last Stand Rodeo in Coulee City, Washington, May 24-26, for $1,624 for second place. Bob Moriarty from Moxec, Washington, jumped from seventh to fourth since May 21, winning $647 at the Tonasket PRCA Founderdays Rodeo for third and $609 for fifth in Coulee City.

On the heel side, Jason Minor of Ellensburg, Washington, jumped from seventh to second, now with $3,245. Minor picked up a $1,624 with Farber at Coulee City to make the standings jump. Taylor Speer also jumped in the standings, going from sixth to third now with $3,035.26. Speer heels for Moriarty, and they took home $647 in Tonasket for third and $609 for fifth in Coulee City.

Standings

California

Notable Moves

Young gun Jaxson Tucker remains in the driver’s seat of the California Circuit heading standings, now with $12,486.18 after pocketing $1,566 for second in the second round of the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo. Marcus Battaglia from Ramona, California, took home $1,893 for the win in the first round in Santa Maria and $2,349 for second in the average to jump from seventh to second in the standings. Hilmar’s Preston Burgess also had a big weekend in Santa Maria, winning the average for $2,839, sixth in the first round for $326 and second in Round 2 for $1,566. Burgess jumped from 12th in the standings as of May 21, to seventh as of June 4.

Jason Johe, hailing from San Luis Obispo, now has a $6,157.76 lead over second on the heel side after cashing in $1,566 with Tucker in the second round of Santa Maria. Eight-time NFR qualifier Cody Cowden made major moves jumping from 15th in the standings to third after winning Santa Maria with Burgess. Madera’s Todd Hampton moved from 10th to fourth after winning the first round and second in the average in Santa Maria with Battaglia.

Standings

Wilderness

Notable Moves

The top two spots in the heading and heeling remain the same in the Wilderness Circuit, but on the head side, Devon McDaniel climbed from eighth to third in the standings after winning the Fort Herriman PRCA Rodeo in Herriman, Utah, for $2,492. The Caldwell, Idaho, header now has $2,853.60 won on the year. At fifth in the standings, Clint Knap just jumped into the standings in the last two weeks. Knap picked up a $2,681 check for first at the Colorado Stampede in Grand Junction May 24-26, which was co-approved for the Wilderness Circuit.

McDaniel’s heeler Brad Freeland also recently entered the Wilderness heeling race, thanks to their win in Grand Junction. Freeland also has $2,680.88 won thus far. Jared Fillmore of Payson, Utah, jumped from outside the standings to seventh after winning the Canyonlands PRCA Rodeo in Moab, Utah, for $1,639.

Standings

Montana

The Montana Circuit standings in both the heading and the heeling remain the same as two weeks ago, May 21. Five-time NFR qualifier Dustin Bird and reigning Montana Circuit champion heeler Ike Folsom are tied at the top of the standings with Delon Parker and 2004 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo champion Ryan Zurcher after an early win at the NILE Prorodeo in Oct. 2023, for $1,974.

Standings

Mountain States

Notable Moves

The Mountain States Circuit hasn’t quite picked up yet, but Bingham, Nebraska’s Cam Jensen has climbed into the top spot on the heading side. Jensen climbed from third as of May 21, to first as of June 4, after winning $1,632 at the Colorado Stampede in Grand Junction May 24-26. Two-time CNFR champion Kellan Johnson picked up momentum, winning second at Grand Junction for $2,331 to jump from outside the standings to second.

On the heel side, Clayton Symons moved into the first-place position after winning $1,632 in Grand Junction with Jensen. Symons jumped from second (as of May 21) to first. Kellan’s brother and 2021 CNFR champion heeler Carson Johnson moved into the heeling standings at second place after picking up second at Grand Junction with his brother for $2,331.

Standings

Turquoise

Notable Moves

On the head side, Trey Blackmore jumped from fourth to second since May 21, now having $6,142.94won on the year. The Hillside, Arizona, cowboy pocketed $1,639 for winning the co-approved Canyonlands PRCA Rodeo in Moab, Utah, May 31-June 2. Another major mover over the last two weeks was 2017 World Champion Erich Rogers. Rogers moved from sixth to third after winning fifth at the Home of the Navajo PRCA Rodeo in Window Rock, Arizona, for $2,162.

San Simon, Arizona’s Whip Peterson climbed from fifth to second in the Turquoise heeling standings after winning Moab with Blackmore. Chris Young, from Wittman, Arizona, made a huge jump as well, climbing from 12th to fourth, now with $5,430.38. Young won second in Window Rock for $3,027 to make the move.

Standings

Texas

Notable Moves

The Texas Circuit has the most money won thus far, with world standings leader Dustin Egusquiza and the No. 2 heeler in the world Levi Lord atop the circuit standings. Egusquiza and Lord, the team with nine NFR qualifications between the two, raked in $6,078 the weekend of May 30-June 2, to widen their lead in the circuit. In terms of standings movement, Shay Dixon Carroll bumped up to sixth in the heading standings from seventh. The three-time NFR qualifier picked up multiple checks since May 21 to make the move. Carroll took home $541 at the Lampasas PRCA Rodeo May 23, $517 at the Lampasas PRCA Rodeo May 24, $880 at the Mt. Pleasant Rodeo May 30-June 1 and $475 at the Hugo Pro Rodeo May 31-June 1.

On the heel side, Will Woodfin also made a small but notable move, jumping from eighth to seventh since May 21. The Marshall, Texas, heeler pocketed $811 in Lampasas May 23, and $1,188 for winning the Mesquite Championship Rodeo June 1.

Standings

Prairie

Notable Moves

Since May 21, Mason Appleton climbed from sixth to first in the Prairie Circuit heading standings. Appleton, just 20 years old from Chelsea, Oklahoma, made the jump by winning the Wilson County Pro Rodeo in Fredonia, Kansas, May 24-25, for $1,636, fifth for $1,466 at the co-approved Mt. Pleasant Rodeo May 30-June 1, and second at the Hugo Pro Rodeo in Hugo, Oklahoma, for $1,899 May 31-June 1. Appleton’s heeler Rance Doyal also jumped in the standings, thanks to their recent successes, from fourth to first.

Standings

Great Lakes

Notable Moves

In the Great Lakes Circuit, Will Clark bumped into first from second. Clark, an Erin, Tennessee, header, won third at co-approved Fredonia for $931 May 24-25, and $881 for ninth at the co-approved Will Rogers Stampede in Claremore, Oklahoma, May 24-26, to jump to first with $7,519.76. Jesse Boos picked up $1,545 for winning second at the co-approved Bennington PRCA Rodeo in Kansas May 30-June 1, to jump from fifth to third.

Derrick Crawford was the No. 4 heeler in the Great Lakes Circuit as of May 21, but after winning $931 in Fredonia and $881 in Claremore with Clark, Crawford is now second in the circuit. Jace Steenhoek moved from sixth in the heeling standings to fourth as of June 4, after winning second at Bennington with Boos for $1,545.

Standings

Southeastern

Notable Moves

The No. 1 header and heeler in the Southeastern Circuit remain the same, but on the head side, Clint Wallace made some movement since May 21. The Little Rock, Arkansas, native made a small jump from third to second in the standings after winning the co-approved Coles Tractor & Equip Regional PRCA Rodeo in Farmington, Missouri, May 24-25, for $1,020. Spunk Sasser also made a jump from sixth to fourth. Sasser won the 153rd Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida, May 31, for $1,003.

On the heel side, Karter Kagel jumped from sixth to fourth in the standings, thanks to the $1,003 check he picked up in Kissimmee with Sasser. Georgia’s Reno Gonzales moved from seventh to sixth after picking up a ninth-place check at the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith, Arkansas, May 27-June 1, for $1,140.

Standings

First Frontier

Notable Moves

The First Frontier Circuit is just kicking into gear, with Darren Morgan jumping into the standings at third. The reigning First Frontier Circuit champion header cashed in $1,124 for winning the Cowtown Rodeo in Woodstown Pilesgrove, New Jersey, May 25, to get his name in the 2024 standings. Tim Naylor of Hanco*ck, Maryland, just entered the standings after winning the 1st State Stampede in Harrington, Delaware, May 31. The $1,124 check puts Naylor tied for third in the standings.

A 13-time NFR qualifier, Britt Bockius has officially entered the 2024 First Frontier heeling standings, sitting tied for third with $1,124.47. Bockius won the Cowtown Rodeo May 25, with Morgan to grab his spot in the standings. Tanner Naylor is tied with Bockius at third after winning the 1st State Stampede with his father, Tim.

Standings

Badlands

As the action prepares to really kick off in the Badlands Circuit, the standings remain the same in both the heading and the heeling as they were May 1.

Standings