AMERICAN DREAMIN’
Bella Skinner punched her ticket to the Central Regional Semi-Finals in breakaway roping and barrel racing on May 4 at the Pittsburg, Texas, UPRA Rodeo. (Photo by Emily Hobbs Photography)
Check out who’s been hot at American Contender Tournament qualifiers across the nation.
From East to West and the Central Region in between, American Contender Tournament (ACT) hopefuls are in hot pursuit of their spots at one of the three lucrative ACT Regional Semi-Finals slated for January and February of 2025. Rich payouts are available at each Regional in all go-rounds and the aggregate, plus the top 5 from each Regional Finals advance to the $360,000-added American Contender Tournament Finals. From there the stakes get higher as athletes gun for a spot at the American Rodeo and the chance at the million-dollar Contender Bonus.
Below is a snapshot of who has earned their qualification to date. Note: if an event is not listed that means there are no qualified athletes in that event to date. Opportunities are available in all regions, so please visit https://americanrodeo.com/qualifier-events/ for updates.
STOP #1 ACT West Regional Semi-Finals Qualifiers
January 9-11, 2025 – Las Vegas, Nevada – South Point Arena – $314,325 paid out in 2024
Breakaway Roping
[Name Hometown & Location of Qualifier]
| Josey | Michael | Cut Bank, Montana | #1 Cut Bank, MT |
| Taylor | Girvin | Flagstaff, Arizona | #2 Camp Verde, AZ |
| Bailey | Girvin | Flagstaff, Arizona | #2 Camp Verde, AZ |
| Braydee | Bourdet | Hollister, California | #3 Red Bluff, CA |
| Tyree | Cochrane – A | San Luis Obispo, California | #3 Red Bluff, CA |
| Kayla | Olson | Chadron, Nebraska | #4 Billings, MT |
| Sutton | Mang | Lompoc, California | #5 Templeton, CA |
| Fallon | Ruffoni | Arroyo Grande, California | #5 Templeton, CA |
| Shaylee | Baxley | Paso Robles, California | #5 Templeton, CA |
| Tyree | Cochrane – B | San Luis Obispo, California | #5 Templeton, CA |
STOP #2 ACT East Regional Semi-Finals Qualifiers
January 23-25, 2025 – Lexington, Kentucky – Alltech Arena – $284,100 paid out in 2024
Barrel Racing
| Jessika | Lester | Bogies Fame Perks | Sutherland, Virginia | #1 Ocala, Florida |
| Alyssa | Sloan | Blings Smooth Lady | Citra, Florida | #1 Ocala, Florida |
| Jennifer | Dunn | Pocos Revenge | Nashville, Tennessee | #2 Athens, Alabama |
Breakaway Roping
| Bailey | Divine | Morganfield, Kentucky | #1 Paris, TN |
| Taylor | Earnhardt-Putnam | Mooresville, North Carolina | #2 Cleveland, NC |
| Breanna | Smith | Kelly, Louisiana | #3 Resaca, GA |
| Annslee | Gose | Lorida, Florida | #4 Lorida, FL |
Tie-Down Roping
| Clay | Livengood | Cleveland, North Carolina | #1 Cleveland, NC |
| Jake | Nix | Rosedale, Georgia | #2 Resaca, GA |
| Cross | Fulford | Moore Haven, Florida | #3 Lorida, FL |
Steer Wrestling
| Juan | Alcazar | Okeechobee, Florida | #1 Lewisburg, Tennessee |
| Kamry | Dymmek | Kissimmee, Florida | #1 Lewisburg, Tennessee |
| Joshua | Hefner | Knoxville, Tennessee | #1 Lewisburg, Tennessee |
STOP #3 ACT Central Regional Semi-Finals Qualifiers
February 13-15, 2025 – Tulsa, Oklahoma – Tulsa Expo Ford Truck Arena – $380,525 paid out in 2024
Barrel Racing
| Taylor | Gessley | TS BullyFrosted Fame | Boerne, Texas |
| Emma | Abbott | Elm Creek Chrome | Bluff Dale, Texas |
| Jett | Petkovich | Lady Jazarell | Cleburne, Texas |
| Jennifer | Driver | Brookstone Jo | Garden City, Texas |
| Alyssa | Urbanek-Wade | Fueled With Dinero | Stephenville, Texas |
| Elly | Lout | Pure vanilla | San Augustine, Texas |
| Aubrey | Smith | Jaynee | Stephenville, Texas |
| Natalie | Ohrt | VF Born Ta Ba Winner | Victoria, Texas |
| Leigh Anne | Robertson | Marthas Miracle | Boyd, Texas |
| Devon | Brown | Iknow Im Blazin Fast | Ada, Oklahoma |
| Hazlee | McKenzie | Seven E Baron Cash | Muldrow, Oklahoma |
| Stephanie | Fryar | Some Streakin French | Waco, Texas |
| London | Gorham | Cashin Chicks | Cotulla, Texas |
| Allison | Mullis | KN Fabulous Boo T | Aquilla, Texas |
| Bella | Skinner | Stylish Especial | Wills Point, Texas |
| Makenzie | Mayes | Need HRN | Winnsboro, Texas |
| Avery | Savoie | Moore Haven, Florida | #1 Decatur, TX |
| Kirsten | George | Nacogdoches, Texas | #1 Decatur, TX |
| Mary Beth | Beam | Terrell, Texas | #1 Decatur, TX |
| Bella | Skinner | Wills Point, Texas | #2 Pittsburg, TX |
| Jessica | Hemphill | Tulelake, California | #3 Shawnee |
| Colee | Cox | Tell, Texas | #4 Stephenville |
| Breely | Armes | Stephenville, Texas | #4 Stephenville |
| Jill | Tanner | Monument, New Mexico | #4 Stephenville |
| Results Pending | #5 Ardmore | ||
| Rylie | Edens | Hillsboro, Texas | #6 Glen Rose |
| Abby | McCreary | Canyon, Texas | #6 Glen Rose |
Bareback Riding
Connor Griffith Skullbone, Tennessee #1 Pittsburg Rodeo
Saddle Bronc Riding
Steve Hay Taroom, Queensland, AUS #1 Pittsburg Rodeo
Did You Know?
The Automatic Advancement scale below determines how many AA spots are awarded according to the number of entries competing.
1-5 entries = 1 Automatic Spot
6-10 entries = 2 Automatic Spots
11-15 entries = 3 Automatic Spots
16-20 entries = 4 Automatic Spots
21-25 entries = 5 Automatic Spots
26-30 entries = 6 Automatic Spots
31-50 entries = 8 Automatic Spots
51+ entries = 10 Automatic Spots
You must have a qualifed time or score to advance. Roughstock athletes must be 18 in order to compete.
For more information on upcoming qualifiers email us at [email protected].
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