Pioneer Day at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo Was Action Packed
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.”
Joining Schalla from the third night in the bareback riding will be Garrett Shadbolt of Merriman, Nebraska. He rode Andrews Rodeo’s Cash N Carry for 85.5 points. He tied with Kade Sonnier from Carencro, LA on Legacy Rodeo’s Rosie’s Fight. Shadbolt is higher in the PRCA Playoff Series standings so he will advance to Saturday night.
Schalla is currently ranked No. 1 in the PRCA bull riding world standings but unfortunately the bull got the win on Thursday night in Salt Lake City ending his hopes of competing in both events on July 26 in the final round.
Taking the victory lap in the bull riding was none other than world champion Ky Hamilton of Mackay, Queensland, Australia. Hamilton rode Diamond G Rodeo’s Ricky’s Honky Tonk for 90.5 points to advance to the finals. While he has a gold buckle, he will be looking for his first gold medal come Saturday.
Joining him will be Utah’s own Hayes Weight who finished second with 90 points on Andrews Rodeo’s All Likkered Up.
The Gold Standard in Rodeo features a total of 400 competitors, who will take their shot at a share of over three-quarters of a million in prize money and a gold, silver or bronze medal that will be awarded on Saturday, July 26. There will be 40 competitors in all the roughstock events (Bareback riding, Saddle Bronc riding and Bull riding) and timed events (Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Tie-down Roping, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing).
A year ago, Don Payne left Salt Lake City on July 24 as a gold medalist in the steer wrestling. Fast forward one year and tonight he earned a return trip to the gold medal round winning the average in 9.2 seconds on two head and will be looking to defend that title. Payne of Stephenville, Texas, will be joined by Marc Joiner of Lorange, Louisiana who finished second in the second round in a time of 4.0 and was second in the average with a 9.4 on two.
The timed events, excluding barrel racing, are a two-go average with the top two advancing to the final round. The roughstock is a one go with the top two advancing to the gold medal round. The barrel racing is one go with a total of 80 barrel racers – 10 in the morning and 10 during the performance with the top 1 advancing out of each set.
Former Pioneer Top Hand winners Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp are heading back to the gold medal round at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo. Two years ago these two won the most money of any cowboy competitors at the three rodeos (Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Spanish Fork) within 150 miles of each other during Pioneer Week the third week of July each year. They are looking for another big check come Saturday advancing with a time of 13.4 seconds on two head. Joining them will be Clint Summers and Jade Corkill with a 13.7.
There was a tie atop the leaderboard in the saddle bronc riding with Australian Damian Brennan and Canadian Ben Andersen both tallying 85.5 points. Brennan of Injune, Queensland rode Diamond G Rodeo’s To The Limit, while Andersen of Eckville, Alberta, danced with Championship Rodeo’s Feather Fluffer. Both earned $1,875 but they not only have their eyes on the gold medal but the $18,000 paycheck that the winner will take home on Saturday night.
It was a good day for the Otero family on Pioneer Day with Michael Otero winning the first round in the tie-down roping with an 8.7-second run. He added an 11.2 during the second round on Thursday night, landing him second in the average with a total time of 19.9 on two head advancing to the finals. His wife, Carlee, turned in the fastest time thus far at the 2025 at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo during the fifth set of barrel racers on Thursday morning stopping the clock in 16.70 seconds. Both of them will be looking to stand atop the medal stand on Saturday.
Halyn Lide and Keeper made an amazing run as the seventh gunner out, stopping the clock in 17.00 seconds to advance to the gold medal round. She knocked Sharin Hall and Hello Stella off the top of the leaderboard to earn her spot. Hall had set the bar as the first racer out with a 17.04.
Scores/times will NOT carry forward to the Gold Medal Round (only to break ties). The eight (8) competitors in each event in the Gold Medal Round will compete in a sudden-death format with the winner collecting a Gold Medal and $18,000 cash.
Keeping it in the family, the breakaway ropers advancing to the gold medal are sisters-in-laws. Zoie Bedke won the average in a time of 5.0 seconds on two head, while Carly Christian was second in 6.4 seconds. Both make their homes in Oakley, Idaho.
Action at the Utah Day of ’47 Rodeo continues July 25 at 8 p.m. MT.
Tickets are still available. For more information on the event visit www.utahdaysof47rodeo.com.
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Results: - Performance 3 – July 24, 2025
Bareback riding: 1. Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, OK, 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Red Bone, $2,000; 2. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, NE and Kade Sonnier, Carencro, LA, 85.5, $1,500 each; 4. (tie) Matthew Tuni, Dennehotso, AZ and Cole Reiner, Buffalo, WY, 84, $500 each.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Cooper Cooke, Sage Allen, Jacob Lees, Rocker Steiner (won tie-breaker based on Playoff Series standings to advance), Wacey Schalla, Garrett Shadbolt (won tie-breaker)
Steer wrestling: Third set - First round:1. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, NV, 4.2 seconds, $914; 2. (tie) Don Payne, Stephenville, TX and Ty Bauerle, Jourdanton, TX, 4.3, $571 each; 4. Cody Devers, Perryton, TX, 4.7, $229. Second round: 1. Will Jummus, Byhalia, MS, 3.9 seconds, $914; 2. Marc Joiner, Loranger, LA, 4.0, $686; 3. Don Payne, Stephenville, TX, 4.9, $457; 4. Mike McGinn, Haines, OR, 5.0, $229. Average: 1. Don Payne, 9.2 seconds on two, $1,371; 2. Marc Joiner, 9.4, $1,029; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 10.1, $686; 4. Mike McGinn, 10.5, $343.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Stetson Jorgensen, Tyler Waguespack, Chance Howard, Levi Rudd, Don Payne, Marc Joiner
Team roping: Third set First round: 1. Tyler Wade, Terrell, TX/Wesley Thorp, Stephenville, TX, 4.9 seconds, $914; 2. Clint Summers, Lake City, FL/Jake Corkill, Victoria, TX, 6.2, $686; 3. Jake Clay, Sapulpa, OK/Tanner Braden, Dewey, OK, 10.3, $457; 4. Rhett Anderson, Annabella, UT/Caleb Hendrix, Fallon, NV, 11.5, $229. Second round: 1. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, TN/Cory Petska, Marana, AZ, 4.5 seconds, $914 each; 3. Mason Appleton, Chelsea, OK/Rance Doyal, Kenefic, OK, 5.0, $686; 3. Jake Clay, Sapulpa, OK/Tanner Braden, Dewey, OK, 6.1, $457; 4. Clint Summers, Lake City, FL/Jade Corkill, Victoria, TX, 7.5, $229. Average: 1. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 13.4 seconds on two head, $1,371 each; 2. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 13.7, $1,029; 3. Jake Clay/Tanner Braden, 16.4, $686; 4. Rhett Anderson/Caleb Hendrix, 21.8, $343.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Kolton Schmidt/Landen Glenn, Riley and Brady Minor, Lightning Aguilera/Wyatt Cox, Shay Carroll/Levi Lord
Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Damian Brennan, Injune, Queensland, Australia, on Diamond G Rodeo’s To The Limit and Ben Andersen, Eckville, Alberta, Championship Rodeo’s Feather Fluffer, 85.5 points, $1,875 each; 3. Logan Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 84, $1,250; 4. Rusty Wright, Milford, UT, 82.5, $1,000.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Chase Brooks, Sage Newman, Allen Boore, Bailey Small, Damian Brennan, Ben Andersen
Tie-down roping: Third set - First round: 1. Michael Otero, Perrin, TX, 8.7 seconds, $914; 2. Paden Bray, Stephenville, TX, 8.8, $686; 3. Macon Murphy, Keatchie, LA, 10.1, $457; 4. Cash Enderli, Liberty, TX, 10.4, $229. Second round: 1. Marty Yates, Stephenville, TX, 8.2 seconds, $914; 2. Cash Fuesz, Eureka, KS, 9.3, $686; 3. Macon Murphy, Keatchie, LA, 9.5, $457; 4. Jack Jongbloed, Iowa, LA, 11.0, $229. Average: 1. Macon Murphy, 19.6 seconds on two head, $1,371; 2. Michael Otero, 19.9, $1,029; 3. Zack Jongbloed, 22.4, $68; 4. Cash Fuesz, 22.7, $343.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Dylan Hancock, Cash Hooper, John Douch, Tom Crouse, Macon Murphy, Michael, Otero
Breakaway roping: Third set- First round: 1. Zoie Bedke, Oakley, ID, 2.1 seconds, $854; 2. Jackie Crawford, Stephenville, TX, 2.4, $641; 3. Carly Christian, Oakley, ID, 3.2, $427; 4. Kendal Pierson, Wardlow, AB, 4.2, $214. Second round: 1. Kendal Pierson, Wardlow, AB, 2.6 seconds, $854; 2. Zoie Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, 2.9, $641; 3. Carly Christian, Oakley, Idaho, 3.2, $427; 4. Martha Angelone, Stephenville, TX, 4.7, $214. Average: 1. Zoie Bedke, 5.0 seconds on two head, $1,281, 2. Carly Christian, 6.4, $961; 3. Kendal Pierson, 6.8, $641; 4. Jackie Crawford, 2.4 seconds on one, $320
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Braylee Shepherd, Rickie Fanning, Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, Ryland Lufkin, Zoie Bedke, Carly Christian
Barrel racing: First round, Fifth set: 1. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 16.70 seconds, $1,495; 2. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 17.04, $1,121; 3. Morgan Beckstrom, Spanish Fork, UT, 17.17, $748; 4. Sherry Cervi, Marana, AZ, 17.43, $374. Six set: 1. Halyn Lide, China Spring, TX, 17.00 seconds, $1,495; 2. Sharin Hall, Pilot Point, TX, 17.04, $1,121; 3. Sophie Palmore, Weatherford, TX, 17.07, $748; 4. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, OK, 17.10, $374.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Tricia Aldridge, McKale Seitz, Kassie Mowry, Julia Johnson, Carlee Otero, Halyn Lide
Bull riding: 1. Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 90.5 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s Rick’s Honky Tonk, $2,000; 2. Hayes Weight, Goshen, UT, 90, $1,750; 3. Colten Fritzlan, Rifle, CO, 87.5; $1,250; 4. Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, ID, 86, $1,000.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Sam Southern, Bodee Burr, Hayden Ferguson, Ky Hamilton, Hayes Weight