American Dreamin'

BY TETON RIDGE | 1/15/2024

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

Breakaway Roping

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]