By Tracy Renck, PRCA

In his 10th year of ProRodeo competition, bareback rider Richmond Champion checked the Dixie National Rodeo off his list with a record-tying 91-point ride on Brookman Rodeo’s Famous Dex in Jackson, Miss., Feb. 19. Jackson’s rodeo was originally scheduled to end Feb. 17, but inclement weather led to a series of schedule changes that pushed the final roughstock events back to Feb. 18-19, while the timed events wrapped up on the 17th.
“This is maybe the second check I've ever won here in 10 years,” Champion laughed. “It’s a tough rodeo and it has so many good horses and good guys. In this event, you have to have the horsepower and make it count. I knew when I drew Famous Dex that this is an opportunity a guy wants. He definitely showed his stuff today.”
The bar was set high at Jackson earlier in the week when Shane O'Connell made a 90-point ride on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Wilson Sanchez.
“There were a lot of good rides, and we were keeping up with The Cowboy Channel all week,” Champion said. “Tanner Aus had my horse earlier and was 88, but I didn't think Famous Dex had his day with him. He got the rust knocked off and then had the week off with the weather delays. He's one everyone wants to get on, and I'd been waiting for my time.”
Champion witnessed Orin Larsen's 92.5-point ride on Famous Dex to win the Yellowstone Riggin' Rally in Darby, Mont., in September. Champion was also there when Tim O'Connell posted an 87-point ride on Famous Dex during Round 5 of the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
When he finally got his turn on the horse, Champion kicked up plenty of dust during an intense ride that ended in a dismount reminiscent of an Olympic gymnast.
“When that whistle blew, he wasn’t letting off the gas at all,” Champion said. “The last thing I remember was seeing Too Tall (pickup man Shawn Calhoun) and his horse’s back end.”
Moments later Champion saw a 91 next to his name on the scoreboard. That put him alongside Justin McDaniel, who set Jackson's bareback riding record of 91 in 2009.
Champion's Jackson win was worth $4,286, which will launch him from 23rd to well within the Top 15 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings.
“Between last year and this year, every rodeo is important where they're adding high dollars and bringing the top stock,” Champion said. “If you get a good horse, you’ve got to seal the deal all year long and want to be up in the world standings so that you're in contention for the NFR and a world title. You have to make all the opportunities count.”
Jackson was nearly a missed opportunity. The week’s winter storm jumbled up a lot of schedules, but Champion and his traveling partners Caleb Bennett and Connor Hamilton adjusted and made it to the Georgia National Rodeo in Perry, where Champion had an 86.5-point ride on Big Rafter Rodeo's Minnie Pearl, Feb. 18.
“We tried not to go stir crazy,” Champion laughed. “We just moved our plans around and it was a little backwards, but we were a lot better off than a lot of other guys.”
Champion, 28, competed at his sixth NFR (2014, 2016-20) and finished eighth in the world standings. He's seeking lucky No. 7.
“We’ve learned from last year to get started early with the ones that are still happening and put your name in the hat,” Champion said. “I’m definitely banking on the summer and spring being more normal than last year. Having a good winter is important for getting to the NFR and makes the summer more of a breeze.
“That's the game plan, get to Perry and Kissimmee (Fla.) and San Antonio, which leads right into The American. Just keep that momentum rolling and take all the opportunities you can.”
Other winners at the $198,822 rodeo were steer wrestler Tyler Pearson (7.9 seconds on two head); team ropers Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 4.0 seconds; saddle bronc riders Wyatt Casper (88 points on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo's Palindrome) and Riggin Smith (88 points on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo's Border Town); tie-down roper Clint Robinson (15.7 seconds on two head); barrel racer Randee Prindle (13.89 seconds) and bull rider Trevor Kastner (91 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos' Gas Hog). Marcus Theriot won the all-around with $1,550 (tie-down roping, steer wrestling and team roping).
Team ropers Dustin Egusquiza and Travis Graves won the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Miss., with a 4.0-second run, their second major ProRodeo win of the 2021 season.
On Jan. 16, the duo won the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo in Odessa, Texas. On Feb. 17, they climbed to the No. 1 position in their respective events in the PRCA | RAM World Standings by winning $5,554 each in Jackson.
“Well, it pays about six grand,” Egusquiza laughed when asked about how important Jackson is during the winter run. “$5,500 is a big hit this time of the year to help in the standings. I believe it put us at No. 1, and it's always good to be No. 1 in the world. That's where everyone wants to be and it feels great to rack up some money before the big rodeos. It'll make July less stressful.”
Before their Jackson win, Egusquiza was third among the headers and Graves was second for heelers, both with $10,554.
“It paid quite a bit, and with COVID there isn't a lot to go to, so it's very important to go and do well,” said Graves, 36.
Their Jackson win came with Egusquiza riding his horse, Jack, and Graves on his new horse with no name.
Graves bought his 6-year-old dun American Quarter Horse gelding in December from team roping heeler Lane Siggins, the 2012 Turquoise Circuit all-around champion.
“I’ve ridden him everywhere this year, like when we won in Odessa,” Graves said. “He’s been working great and everything is feeling good. I think I'll ride him a lot this year.”
Jack’s prowess in the arena was on full display during the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where Egusquiza and Graves won Rounds 2 and 3. They finished 10th in the average with 55.0 seconds on seven head with Egusquiza seventh in the world and Graves ninth for their respective categories.
“We had a good NFR and came close to the main goal and missed it by just a couple of mistakes,” Egusquiza said about their hunt for the gold buckle. “We just need to capitalize on December. We started out good, but didn't draw good toward the end and didn't catch a couple; but we had a chance though.”
This year marks Graves’ first Jackson win since beginning his ProRodeo career in 2002.
“It’s cool, you know, you want to win all of the big rodeos,” Graves said. “It’s cool to add it to your résumé.”
After five trips to the Jackson rodeo, this was also Egusquiza's first catch and first win there.
“It’s a cool win for me since I went to Jackson quite a few times and never caught one clean,” said Egusquiza, 25. “We had a pretty slow steer, so that always helps, and he stepped off to the right and squared up pretty fast, and T.G. got him fast. It was an unorthodox run for 4 (seconds) flat since we went further in the arena.”
“Some of my buddies took 18 hours for a seven-hour drive home,” Egusquiza said, adding that his trip went smoothly.

In his 10th year of ProRodeo competition, bareback rider Richmond Champion checked the Dixie National Rodeo off his list with a record-tying 91-point ride on Brookman Rodeo’s Famous Dex in Jackson, Miss., Feb. 19. Jackson’s rodeo was originally scheduled to end Feb. 17, but inclement weather led to a series of schedule changes that pushed the final roughstock events back to Feb. 18-19, while the timed events wrapped up on the 17th.
“This is maybe the second check I've ever won here in 10 years,” Champion laughed. “It’s a tough rodeo and it has so many good horses and good guys. In this event, you have to have the horsepower and make it count. I knew when I drew Famous Dex that this is an opportunity a guy wants. He definitely showed his stuff today.”
The bar was set high at Jackson earlier in the week when Shane O'Connell made a 90-point ride on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Wilson Sanchez.
“There were a lot of good rides, and we were keeping up with The Cowboy Channel all week,” Champion said. “Tanner Aus had my horse earlier and was 88, but I didn't think Famous Dex had his day with him. He got the rust knocked off and then had the week off with the weather delays. He's one everyone wants to get on, and I'd been waiting for my time.”
Champion witnessed Orin Larsen's 92.5-point ride on Famous Dex to win the Yellowstone Riggin' Rally in Darby, Mont., in September. Champion was also there when Tim O'Connell posted an 87-point ride on Famous Dex during Round 5 of the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
When he finally got his turn on the horse, Champion kicked up plenty of dust during an intense ride that ended in a dismount reminiscent of an Olympic gymnast.
“When that whistle blew, he wasn’t letting off the gas at all,” Champion said. “The last thing I remember was seeing Too Tall (pickup man Shawn Calhoun) and his horse’s back end.”
Moments later Champion saw a 91 next to his name on the scoreboard. That put him alongside Justin McDaniel, who set Jackson's bareback riding record of 91 in 2009.
Champion's Jackson win was worth $4,286, which will launch him from 23rd to well within the Top 15 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings.
“Between last year and this year, every rodeo is important where they're adding high dollars and bringing the top stock,” Champion said. “If you get a good horse, you’ve got to seal the deal all year long and want to be up in the world standings so that you're in contention for the NFR and a world title. You have to make all the opportunities count.”
Jackson was nearly a missed opportunity. The week’s winter storm jumbled up a lot of schedules, but Champion and his traveling partners Caleb Bennett and Connor Hamilton adjusted and made it to the Georgia National Rodeo in Perry, where Champion had an 86.5-point ride on Big Rafter Rodeo's Minnie Pearl, Feb. 18.
“We tried not to go stir crazy,” Champion laughed. “We just moved our plans around and it was a little backwards, but we were a lot better off than a lot of other guys.”
Champion, 28, competed at his sixth NFR (2014, 2016-20) and finished eighth in the world standings. He's seeking lucky No. 7.
“We’ve learned from last year to get started early with the ones that are still happening and put your name in the hat,” Champion said. “I’m definitely banking on the summer and spring being more normal than last year. Having a good winter is important for getting to the NFR and makes the summer more of a breeze.
“That's the game plan, get to Perry and Kissimmee (Fla.) and San Antonio, which leads right into The American. Just keep that momentum rolling and take all the opportunities you can.”
Other winners at the $198,822 rodeo were steer wrestler Tyler Pearson (7.9 seconds on two head); team ropers Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 4.0 seconds; saddle bronc riders Wyatt Casper (88 points on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo's Palindrome) and Riggin Smith (88 points on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo's Border Town); tie-down roper Clint Robinson (15.7 seconds on two head); barrel racer Randee Prindle (13.89 seconds) and bull rider Trevor Kastner (91 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos' Gas Hog). Marcus Theriot won the all-around with $1,550 (tie-down roping, steer wrestling and team roping).
Team ropers Dustin Egusquiza and Travis Graves won the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Miss., with a 4.0-second run, their second major ProRodeo win of the 2021 season.
On Jan. 16, the duo won the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo in Odessa, Texas. On Feb. 17, they climbed to the No. 1 position in their respective events in the PRCA | RAM World Standings by winning $5,554 each in Jackson.
“Well, it pays about six grand,” Egusquiza laughed when asked about how important Jackson is during the winter run. “$5,500 is a big hit this time of the year to help in the standings. I believe it put us at No. 1, and it's always good to be No. 1 in the world. That's where everyone wants to be and it feels great to rack up some money before the big rodeos. It'll make July less stressful.”
Before their Jackson win, Egusquiza was third among the headers and Graves was second for heelers, both with $10,554.
“It paid quite a bit, and with COVID there isn't a lot to go to, so it's very important to go and do well,” said Graves, 36.
Their Jackson win came with Egusquiza riding his horse, Jack, and Graves on his new horse with no name.
Graves bought his 6-year-old dun American Quarter Horse gelding in December from team roping heeler Lane Siggins, the 2012 Turquoise Circuit all-around champion.
“I’ve ridden him everywhere this year, like when we won in Odessa,” Graves said. “He’s been working great and everything is feeling good. I think I'll ride him a lot this year.”
Jack’s prowess in the arena was on full display during the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where Egusquiza and Graves won Rounds 2 and 3. They finished 10th in the average with 55.0 seconds on seven head with Egusquiza seventh in the world and Graves ninth for their respective categories.
“We had a good NFR and came close to the main goal and missed it by just a couple of mistakes,” Egusquiza said about their hunt for the gold buckle. “We just need to capitalize on December. We started out good, but didn't draw good toward the end and didn't catch a couple; but we had a chance though.”
This year marks Graves’ first Jackson win since beginning his ProRodeo career in 2002.
“It’s cool, you know, you want to win all of the big rodeos,” Graves said. “It’s cool to add it to your résumé.”
After five trips to the Jackson rodeo, this was also Egusquiza's first catch and first win there.
“It’s a cool win for me since I went to Jackson quite a few times and never caught one clean,” said Egusquiza, 25. “We had a pretty slow steer, so that always helps, and he stepped off to the right and squared up pretty fast, and T.G. got him fast. It was an unorthodox run for 4 (seconds) flat since we went further in the arena.”
“Some of my buddies took 18 hours for a seven-hour drive home,” Egusquiza said, adding that his trip went smoothly.
