It was an electric night in front of the sold-out at the Utah Days of ’47 Arena in Salt Lake City and all the competitors brought the heat to put on a golden performance for the crowd.

Bull rider Hayes Weight saved the best for last in front the home state crowd setting a new arena record with a 93-point ride aboard Sankey Rodeo’s Magic Touch. Ironically enough the Goshen, Utah, cowboy rode the same bull in 2024 in the semifinal round for 91 to tie the arena record at the time.

WPRA breakaway roper Taylor Munsell has been close to a gold buckle but has yet to reach that pinnacle in the sport of professional rodeo, but 2025 might just be her year.

Currently ranked No. 1 in the world standings, she is eyeing the $18,000 paycheck that will be awarded to the gold medalist in each event in Salt Lake City on Saturday, July 26 at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo presented by Zions Bank. She won the round on Friday night in 2.0 seconds to land atop the leaderboard with a total time of 5.6 seconds on two head. She was second in the first round earlier in the day with a run of 3.6 seconds.

“I feel that I do better when I just go out there and I don't focus on everything else and just try to make the best run I can,” stated Munsell of Alva, Oklahoma. “I seem to do a lot better when I do that. These rodeos are a lot but it's been fun.”

This is a busy time of year for all professional rodeo athletes but not many are as busy as Wacey Schalla who is competing in the two very physically demanding events of bareback riding and bull riding.

Schalla got things underway on Pioneer Day in Salt Lake City posting 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Red Bone to lead all bareback riders on night number three.

“That was a very good horse tonight,” stated Schalla after taking his victory lap inside the Utah Days of ’47 Arena in downtown Salt Lake City. “I was just glad to draw a good one that I could show what I was able to do today. I am just trying to capitalize on everything I get on.”

Utah saddle bronc rider Allen Boore is looking to add to the trophy case with another gold medal from the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo presented by Zions Bank. Boore of Axtell took the win on July 23 with an 86.5 point ride on Championship Rodeo’s Damaged Goods.

The 2025 Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo presented by Zions Bank kicked off Tuesday night, July 22. The Utah athletes made their home state proud and will be looking to bring home the gold on Saturday. This is the only Gold Medal rodeo in the world and the only professional rodeo that awards gold, silver and bronze medals, a staple of the rodeo since 2017.

Rodeo athletes Kassie Mowry and Marty Yates will be officially recognized as Utah’s Pioneer Week Top Hands on April 4, 2025 during the annual Governor State of Sport Banquet at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Each will be awarded $15,000 at this event.