Million-Dollar Dreams

lilylandreth

2 years ago

By Lillian Landreth

The American 2024 boasts another lineup of stellar athletes. The top 5 in each event from the 2023 PRCA season compete with the top 5 contenders who qualified through the semi-finals. These are the athletes with million-dollar dreams this weekend.

Timed events

Among them are header Dustin Egusquiza (ranked 2^nd in the world) and heeler Travis Graves, currently unranked, who could still rope that million dollar bonus. The team has finished in the top 10 at the WNFR twice.

A newcomer to The American is tie-down roper Kincade Henry, ranked 9^th in the world. The 22-year-old accomplished a goal he’s pursued for the last 6 years when he qualified for The American 2024.

Will Lummus, number one in the world steer wrestling standings, has thrown down steers several times at The American, both as a contender and a top 5 exemption. This year he’s eligible once more for the biggest payday of his life.

Roughies

On the roughstock end, Canadian brothers Dawson Hay (ranked 32^nd) and Logan Hay (ranked 6^th) are both vying for the million in the saddle bronc riding. Bareback rider Tilden Hooper returns for a potential third American title, making a comeback after a year off from a neck injury. Cody Teel, ranked 4^th in the world bull riding standings, competes alongside a talented field of ranked and unranked bull riders, along with PBR athlete Cody Nance.

How ’bout them cowgirls

Among the cowgirls, breakaway roper Bailey Bates is ranked 4^th in the WPRA standings and is also a two-time Indian National Finals Rodeo World Champion. And competing alongside barrel racers two or even three times her age is 16-year-old Rylee Jo Maryman. She won the American Rodeo Contender East Qualifier in Lexington, Kentucky, and is a multiple-time world champion in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association.

About the Author

Lillian Landreth is a freelance writer and editor. She particularly enjoys writing about rodeo and the extraordinary people and animals who make the lifestyle fascinating. The author of more than 1,000 stories, her writing has appeared in the Rodeo News; The Ketchpen, published by the Rodeo Historical Society and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum; and local newspapers. She is also working on her first novel. When she’s not writing, Lily enjoys riding with the Snake River Stampeders night light drill team, coaching the EhCapa Bareback Riders, a PRCA specialty act, and teaching horseback riding lessons. She makes her home in Southwest Idaho with her entrepreneurial husband, their dog, horse, and cows.