NFR Insider: Meet the Steer Wrestlers #13 Tucker Allen

Allen has steadily climbed the World Standings for the past three years and finished the 2024 season inside the top 15, qualifying for his first National Finals Rodeo

Teal Stoll | Nov 22, 2024

Tucker Allen / PRCA

Tucker Allen

Rodeo on SI had the opportunity to chat with another first-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, Tucker Allen. The cowboy hails from Ventura, CA, and will compete in Las Vegas, NV, at the Thomas and Mack Center, December 5-14. With a solid history of steadily finishing each season higher in the World Standings, Allen was officially able to secure his top 15 spot in 2024.

This year, Allen earned wins at Poway, CA, the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo (Castle Rock, CO), and West of the Pecos (Pecos, TX). Another cowboy who found himself on the bubble in the final days of the season, Allen competed at the Governor's Cup in Sioux Falls, SD, as well as some of the lucrative last-minute rodeos on the West Coast. Checks in San Bernadino and Poway were a key to his NFR qualification.

Season Earnings: $93,437
Hometown: Ventura, CA
Season Ranking: 13th
NFR Qualifications: 1 (2024)

1. What horses did you ride this season?

Telle Em PYC (PYC Paint Your Wagon x Tell Em Belle) "Banker" owned by Justin Shaffer
Bully Up The Alley (JS Frenchmans Bully x Alamans Alley) "Grey" or "MGH" owned by Shaffer
"Nightlinger" owned by Allen
Haze horse: Tuff Rey (Woody Be Tuff x Fay Rey) "Stingray" owned by Shaffer, Tod Wojciechowski, Tyler Wojciechowski

I mostly rode Justin Shaffer's horse Banker, also rode his horse Grey, and my horse Nightlinger at the long scores.

2. Are you taking the same horses to the NFR?

We will be riding Banker there this year and hazing on his haze horse Stingray for each other.

3. If you had to pick a competitor’s horse to ride, which one would it be?

Besides Banker, I'd like to ride Ty Erickson's horse Crush (Finding Meno). He’s a super cool horse.

4. Who is your mentor or someone you look up to?

Luke Branquinho has been my mentor since I started. I look up to him and John W Jones Jr. They both have helped me out so much.

5. What brand of saddle do you ride?

I ride a Cactus saddle.

6. Favorite restaurant?

In N Out Burger

7. Favorite movie?

Nacho Libre

8. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

Workout and rope

9. What is your favorite sport other than rodeo?

Football

10. What was your biggest win of the year?

Reno , Nevada

11. What’s one thing about the NFR you think most people don’t know?

That it’s a marathon.

12. As a rookie to the NFR, what are you doing to prepare yourself?

Practicing a lot and working on being fundamentally correct and perfecting the start at the Thomas and Mack. Mentally prepare myself to be ready to win every night and physically prepare myself to be in the best shape I can be.

13. How many steers do you run in a practice session?

Till we or the cattle are too tired.

14. Do you have any superstitions?

No superstitions.

15. What is your favorite brand of bit?

John Israel Bit

Published Nov 22, 2024

TEAL STOLL

Teal Stoll is a lifelong Wyomingite from a working ranch family of several generations. Both sides of her family have deep roots in rodeo, as contestants and stock contractors. Teal grew up horseback and actively competes in rodeos and barrel races. She has degrees in both business and accounting, which she uses operating her own bookkeeping service. Teal enjoys spending time with her horses, training colts, and maintaining her string of athletes. When she isn’t at the barn, she can be found reading, doing yoga, or on her paddle board at the lake. Teal lives with her fiancee and a plethora of animals, because she can’t say no to a displaced critter with a sad story. When she isn’t on the road running barrels, she spends her time helping with day to day operations on the family ranch.