News

As part of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo’s move to Texas in 2020, its most popular ancillary event – Cowboy Christmas – is starting to take shape at the Fort Worth Convention Center, located in Downtown Fort Worth. The initial exhibitor list is now available here.

Through a partnership with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Las Vegas Events, Cowboy Christmas will run concurrently with the Wrangler NFR, Dec. 3-12, 2020. This year, the show offers more than 250,000 square feet of exhibit space and more than 225 exhibitors.

Held every year since 1986, Cowboy Christmas has grown into the ultimate shopping and interactive experience. Attendees will find unique products, including custom-made jewelry, Western wear, boots and spurs, furniture, original art, handmade crafts and home goods. Cowboy Christmas also offers the best source for official Wrangler NFR and PRCA merchandise. Cowboy Christmas is open from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily with free admission.

In addition to the shopping, attendees will find a variety of entertainment and offerings. The Rodeo Live Stage presented by RMEF will host two live daily shows, including Outside the Barrel with Flint Rasmussen and Cowboy Revival with host Shane Minor.

NFR Central, an area featuring interactive displays, live acoustic sets, radio remotes and autograph sessions will be located in the heart of Cowboy Christmas. Across the aisle from NFR Central is All Roads Lead to Vegas, an interactive area with giveaways, video content and information on the Wrangler NFR and Cowboy Christmas in 2021.

For more information on Cowboy Christmas and the Wrangler NFR, please visit www.NFRexperience.com and www.VegasNFR.com or through social media at /LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR.

The barrelman, pick-up man, bullfighters and photographers for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 3-12, were announced by the PRCA, Oct. 16.

RELATED: PRCA announces 2020 award nominees

Additionally, the photographer for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Nov. 6-7, and the photographer for the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Dec. 8-10, were announced:

They are as follows:

Bullfighters
Cody Webster
Dusty Tuckness
Nathan Jestes

Barrelman
John Harrison

Pick-up Men
Jason Bottoms
Shawn ‘Too Tall’ Calhoun
Brent Sutton

Photographers
Wrangler NFR
Steve Gray
Roseanna Sales
Clay Guardipee
Alaina Stangle

Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping
Rod Connor

Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping
Joe Duty

The rest of the contract personnel for the Wrangler NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 3-12, were announced Sept. 24. They were:

Announcers: Roger Mooney, Andy Seiler, Bob Tallman
Music Director: Benje Bendele
Secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom
Assistant Secretary: Amanda Sanders
Timers: Toby Dunlavy, Courtney Morehead, Shawna Ray

It’s common for rodeo athletes and fans to use the hashtags “grateful” or “blessed.” Each year, that gratefulness is expressed at the annual PRCA Awards Banquet before the start of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

The final online ballot process will be open Oct. 19-23 for applicable voting PRCA members. Eligible voters will need to keep an eye on their email’s inbox for voting information on Oct. 19.

The winners for each category will be announced at the PRCA Awards Banquet at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 2.

RELATED: 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Kicks off With Welcome Reception

The following men, women and committees are the nominees:

Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award
Cindy Rosser
Duane Reichert
Edie Longfellow
Gene Hyder
Kay Gay

Stock Contractor of the Year
Beutler & Son Rodeo Co.
Cervi Championship Rodeo
Frontier Rodeo Company
Pete Carr Pro Rodeo
Stace Smith Pro Rodeos

Announcer of the Year
Andy Stewart
Bob Tallman
Randy Corley
Wayne Brooks
Will Rasmussen

Secretary of the Year
Amanda Sanders
Brenda Crowder
Eva Chadwick
Sandy Gwatney
Sunni Deb Backstrom

Bullfighter of the Year
Cody Webster
Dusty Tuckness
Evan Allard
Nathan Jestes
Wacey Munsell

Pickup Man of the Year
Chase Cervi
Jason Bottoms
Josh Edwards
Matt Twitchell
Rex Bugbee

Clown of the Year
Cody Sosebee
JJ Harrison
John Harrison
Justin Rumford
Keith Isley

Timer of the Year
Amy Muller
Brenda Crowder
Jayme Pemberton
Shawna Ray
Toby Dunlavy

Music Director of the Year
Bradley Narducci
Brandy Edmonds
Jill Franzen Loden
Josh Hilton
Randy Mayer

Photographer of the Year
Dale Hirschman
Dan Hubbell
James Phifer
Matt Cohen
Robby Freeman

Comedy Act of the Year
Gizmo McCracken
John Harrison
Justin Rumford
Keith Isley
Matt Tarr

Dress Act of the Year
Haley Ganzel Proctor
John Payne
Madison MacDonald & Piper Yule
Rider Kiesner & Bethany Iles
Tomas Garcilazo

Small Rodeo of the Year
Alamosa, Colo.
Blackfoot, Idaho
Jerome, Idaho
Mesquite, Texas
Yuma, Colo.

Medium Rodeo of the Year
Belle Fourche, S.D.
Burwell, Neb.
Cave Creek, Ariz.
Coleman, Texas
Guymon, Okla.

Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year
Cody, Wyo.
Deadwood, S.D.
Dodge City, Kan.
Gooding, Idaho
Prescott, Ariz.
Spanish Fork, Utah

Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year
Arlington, Texas
Denver, Colo.
Fort Worth, Texas
Rapid City, S.D.
San Antonio, Texas

OLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The date is set, and the cowboys and cowgirls will be in the arena. The 2020 Wrangler® National Finals Rodeo (NFR) participants will be introduced to the world and receive their back numbers on December 1 at the NFR Welcome Reception at Dickies Arena, the home of the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo.

This evening event will effectively start the 2020 NFR and will set the pace for 10 days of rodeo that will match the year’s greatest competitors in each of the sanctioned events. The event is one of the most anticipated moments at the NFR before the chutes open.

“This is where it all starts,” Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said. “The very best cowboys and cowgirls from this last year, along with the greatest names in rodeo will gather to kick off the 2020 NFR. We are so proud to host this event in a spectacular facility right here in the cultural center of Fort Worth. We are honored to be bringing the NFR back home this year to the real home of rodeo!”

The NFR moved to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, this year so the event could have a live audience.

The selection of back numbers signifies the contestants’ qualification to the NFR. It is a rite of passage and a confirmation of their success over the past year. All the training, discipline and preparation have brought these athletes – the very best of the best – to this event.

The Welcome Reception will start at 6 p.m. on December 1 and will be open to PRCA 2020 Convention attendees. Fans not attending the convention can purchase tickets to the reception for $30 beginning November 1.

Courtesy of PRCA

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is moving to Texas in December 2020. Arlington’s Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, will host the Wrangler NFR 2020 – the first non-baseball event at this extraordinary park. Event organizers confirmed the event will comply with all health and safety protocols for attendees. Wrangler NFR 2020 will take place December 3 through December 12, 2020 and fans can follow official PRCA updates throughout the event at www.prorodeo.com.

“We are so pleased to be at this amazing stadium for the most celebrated event on the rodeo calendar,” said George Taylor, chief executive officer of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). “We are committed to delivering a spectacular event for our fans and we are thrilled to be in Texas for it.”

“We are excited for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to take place this year at Globe Life Field,” said Allen Montgomery, Vice President General Manager, Wrangler Western Wear. “The health and safety of the fans, cowboys and cowgirls is of the highest priority, and we are grateful to the participating organizations for their work to put together a comprehensive plan that will allow everyone to enjoy a safe and fun event.”

“We are honored that the PRCA selected Globe Life Field to host the 2020 Wrangler Nationals Final Rodeo and are thrilled to be a small part of bringing this world-class event back to Texas,” said Neil Leibman, chief operating officer of the Texas Rangers. Globe Life Field officials have emphasized that recommended health and safety standards are being met. Safety measures will include a mask requirement at all times while inside Globe Life Field and there will be additional hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout the building.

RELATED: Everything you need to know – Q/A for Wrangler NFR

Seats will be sold in groups of four with separation between groups. Contact-limiting measures, such as mobile tickets, have been implemented throughout the event. There will also be metal detector screenings and a no bag policy at entries on performance nights. Globe Life Field is encouraging all guests to check the CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services websites for any guideline changes prior to the event.

The Arlington and Fort Worth convention and visitors’ bureaus and sports commissions are rolling out the welcome for this one-of-a-kind event and both cities have worked hard to bring the Wrangler NFR to Globe Life Field.

“From cattle drives, museums and even the names of our professional sporting teams, our love of cowboy culture runs deep here in Tarrant County,” Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams said. “I can think of no better choice for the Super Bowl of rodeo than to be hosted here in the heart of North Texas. Arlington and Fort Worth have so many family friendly attractions and rich experiences to offer rodeo fans who will be traveling from across the country to cheer on these professional cowboys as they strive to set new records and achieve their American Dream in the arena.”

Nearby Fort Worth will also play host to the Wrangler NFR 2020 experience, as the annual PRCA Convention will be held November 30 to December 3, 2020, in addition to the Cowboy Christmas and a slew of other fan-favorite events.

“We are a rodeo city and we’ve roped a big one,” Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said. “The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is an incredible win for our region and another example of how Fort Worth can host major events safely during this unprecedented time. This summer, Fort Worth has hosted major, national events in golf, racing and bull riding. Sporting events like the Wrangler NFR are a vital part of our visitor economy that creates jobs and supports our recovery.”

The NFR was born in Texas and the first three years of the event were held at the Dallas State Fairgrounds beginning in 1959. Years later, the event moved to Las Vegas and has been staged at the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV in Las Vegas since 1985. That venue is not available for live entertainment with fans this year due to coronavirus restrictions in Nevada.

In a survey earlier this summer, rodeo fans said overwhelmingly that they wanted an NFR venue that would accommodate fans.

“Part of what makes Globe Life Field work for us is the ability to bring in fans and deliver the full NFR experience,” Taylor said.

Organizers pledge to preserve the NFR experience that fans love and that has necessitated a one-year move out of Las Vegas.

The PRCA began looking for an alternate venue earlier in the summer. The State of Texas, the Texas Rangers and Globe Life Field stepped up. Ultimately, this has been a thoughtful partnership between Texas, Globe Life Field, the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth, the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Fort Worth, and the Sports Commissions of both Arlington and Fort Worth.

“The State of Texas knows how to do this,” Taylor said. “We’ve been impressed with how well this has come together for our rodeo cowboys and rodeo fans.”

The Wrangler NFR is a 10-day event that includes the fan-favorite Cowboy Christmas as well as the PRCA National Convention. The schedule also includes nightly Buckle Presentations, Benny Binion’s World Famous Wrangler NFR Bucking Horse Sale, the PRCA Awards Banquet and Gala and the Pro Rodeo League of Women Style Show and Luncheon.

Tickets for Wrangler NFR 2020 will go on sale to the public September 25, 2020 via texasrangers.com/NFR. Wrangler NFR Season Ticket holders will be invited to purchase tickets early beginning September 16, 2020. Wrangler NFR events and the PRCA awards ceremonies will be broadcast on the PRCA media partner, The Cowboy Channel. The PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app users will also be able to stream events both live and recorded.

The Cowboy Channel is the official media partner for the PRCA and Wrangler NFR 2020. Cowboy Channel will host a more detailed discussion of their broadcast plans at their offices tonight, September 9, at 7 p.m. (Central Time) at their Fort Worth studio. The Cowboy Channel is located at 130 East Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth.

Courtesy of nfrexperience.com