9 Days to the NFR: Bareback Rider No. 9 Jayco Roper

National Finals Rodeo rookie Jayco Roper looks to make great first impression in Thomas & Mack

Kaleb Kistner | Nov 28, 2023

9 Days to the NFR: Bareback Rider No. 9 Jayco Roper /

The Wrangler Nationals Finals kicks off in nine days at the Thomas & Mack arena in Las Vegas. The NFR will take place from Dec. 7-16.

Jayco Roper is participating in his first Wrangler National Finals this year and hopes to make it a habit in the future. The Oktaha, Oklahoma native made quite the splash in his second full season the in the PRCA.

Roper is currently positioned in the No. 9 spot in the PRCA bareback riding world standings.

With only eight big wins throughout the season, Roper was determined to make the NFR this season. More notably, Roper won the Prairie Circuit Finals, Reno, and Puyallup rodeos.

After falling just short in 2022 in 19th place, Roper had vengeance on his mind. Roper won nine rodeos during the 2022 season, but his rodeo's he won this year had bigger earnings.

Ropers won back-to-back titles at the RAM Prairie Circuit Finals this past month and was also back-to-back champion at the Wayne Herman Invitational Xtreme Broncs 2022-2023 seasons.

Before the 2022 regular season, Roper was kind of irrelevant. Placing 34th in the 2021 season and 35th in the 2020 season.

Roper is among one of four bareback riders making their debut to the NFR this year. Joining him is Keenan Hayes, Dean Thompson, and Jacob Lees.

With a little bit of luck, Roper can earn some good money and possibly bring home his first NFR-average. Roper will have some pretty competition to go against, with eleven of the fifteen riders returning to the NFR.

Published Nov 28, 2023

KALEB KISTNER

Kaleb Kistner is from New Braunfels, a small community nestled in the Texas Hill Country. There’s only one “s” in Braunfels! Growing up in Comal County, it was an annual tradition to attend the Comal County Fair and Rodeo. Down the road was the San Antonio Stockshow and Rodeo, that his grandparents would religiously take him to each year. Along with the annual rodeos, Kaleb was an active member in FFA throughout high school. Showing rabbits and pigs, assisting with steers and goats, and participating in leadership development events, Kaleb received a well-rounded, basic education in agriculture. On top of that, Kaleb earned his Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America. Kaleb has a strong work ethic and love for agriculture and the great outdoors. He hopes to be able to spread his knowledge and bring a better understanding of the Western way of life to those who may not understand. Kaleb has pursued a career in plumbing, continuing to achieve each possible license as quickly as he can. Kaleb has a beautiful fiancée Makayla and his sweet daughter Kinleigh. During his down time, he and his family enjoy going to their parents’ ranches to spend time with the family.