Photo via ProRodeo.com

The first weekend of the Summer Run brought big checks for big names, an unexpected bulldogger cracking the Top 10, a 19-year-old keeping up with one of the best bareback riders in the World and more.

Headliner – Rocker Steiner: Steiner was the star of the weekend across all of ProRodeo as he won four rodeos and made five straight rides of 86 points or better along the way. He was the repeat champion at two of those rodeos, the Buffalo Bill Rodeo (Nebraska) and Strawberry Days Rodeo (Utah). He also added a Playoff Series win at the Snake River Stampede.

Hidden Gem – Joe Nelson: The 30-year-old bulldogger is up to No. 10 in the PRCA World Standings after making three straight runs of 4.5 or faster, including a 3.5 to win Round 2, to win the Average at the Snake River Stampede by more than a second over World No. 2 Jesse Brown. Nelson, who has never finished inside the Top 50, is No. 10 in the PRCA World Standings.

Headliner – Ky Hamilton: Without any of the Texas Swing rodeos to start the year, the 2023 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion still managed to start the Summer Run No. 10 in the World and at his first big event, he took advantage. The Aussie was 87.5 and 88.5 at the Reno Rodeo Xtreme Bulls to win almost $20,000 and jump four spots to No. 6.

Hidden Gem – Piper Cordes: The Montana State barrel racer won the Buffalo Bill Rodeo by two tenths with a time of 17.32 seconds. In second place was 2024 NFR Average Champion Andrea Busby.

Headliner – Tristen Hutchings: The No. 3 bull rider in the PRCA started his title defense in Reno with a 90-point ride as part of a weekend where he made three qualified rides of 87 or more points. He took second at the Silver State Stampede and won the Long Round at the Snake River Stampede.

Hidden Gem – Kashton Ford: The 19-year-old bareback rider did something not many did over the weekend, matched Rocker Steiner at a rodeo. He was 87 at Strawberry Days to split first. It was his second highest marked ride of the season.

Headliner – Marty Yates: Yates got better on every run at the Snake River Stampede, turning an 8.8, 8.2, and a 7.9 to win the rodeo by 2.8 seconds, the largest margin of victory in the tie-down roping there in at least 10 years. The victory, his first Playoff win of the season, moved him from No. 19 to No. 16 in the World.

Hidden Gem – Hoyt Kraeger: The Nebraska native got it done in his home state, winning the Buffalo Bill Rodeo with an 8.2-second aggregate time. A 3.8 won him Round 2 and ensured the victory.

Headliner – Damian Brennan: The Aussie bronc rider is out to the early lead in the Average in Reno thanks to back-to-back 87.5-point rides in the first two performances and also went 90 on Tickled Pink to win the Silver State Stampee