No Sponsors, No Problem For 2023 Steer Wrestling Average Champion

Don Payne rode into every round of the 2023 NFR with out a single sponsor, but it didn't stop him from winning the steer wrestling average at his NFR debut.

Coming into the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo not many people knew of the Stephenville, Texas cowboy Don Payne. 

After a couple injuries and not sitting near the top of the world standings, Payne was determined to not give up.

Going into the summer rodeos Payne had planned to pack up and go back to Texas if he didn't win at least $15,000. 

He won $25,000.

Payne hustled through the 2023 rodeo season and secured the 15th position in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association world standings. The final position that qualifies for the NFR.

Heading to his NFR debut Payne had $84,611 in the world standings. 

Arriving in Las Vegas with his wife, his brother, a toddler and a new born baby in tow, Payne had the full backing of his family and all that was left was his horsepower.

Grady Payne hazing for brother Don Payne at 2023 Wrangler NFR / Hillary Maybery Photography

Only a week before heading to Las Vegas fellow steer wrestler, Trevor Nelson, offered Payne his horse "Dr. Pepper" who had competed in the NFR before, in 2021, with four-time NFR qualifier Riley Duvall, where they won over $81,000.

Riding into the famed yellow walls of the Thomas and Mack with the help of his brother, Grady Payne, on the haze side, it was hard not to notice only the #119 back number and tiny PRCA patch on his shirts when Payne backed into the box. No logo's of cowboy hats or western apparel companies, no horse supplements or vets. Payne had no sponsorship patches, the only competitor with no sponsors.

Don Payne steer wrestling at NFR / Hillary Maybery for SI Rodeo Daily

Payne and his brother ran side by side each night, wrestling nine of his steer's between 4.0 and 4.9 seconds. Only his round five steer he flipped in 5.5 seconds.

"My round five steer was one other guys have won a bunch of money on, it was a good one. So I relaxed a little, got comfortable. I ended up missing my start so I realized I need to stay aggressive, wasn't going to let that happen again," said Payne.

Payne concluded round ten with a total of 44.9 seconds on ten steers, the newly crowned 2023 Steer Wrestling Average Champion. The title earned him $78,747, a gold buckle and a saddle. 

Don Payne winning the 2023 Steer Wrestling Average buckle and saddle / Hillary Maybery Photography

"It's so exciting, I serve a mighty God. There was a lot of pressure there at the end but knowing a lot of people have been praying for me kept my nerves calm," said Payne.

It total, Payne made his way back to Stephenville, Texas with $133,568 in NFR earnings, bringing his 2023 season earnings to a grand total of $218,180 and moving from 15th all the up to sixth in the world standings.

With the 2024 rodeo season already under way, Payne is currently sitting 22nd with $5,254. 

"Placing sixth in the world opens up the doors for me to get into Houston, Denver, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Calgary. Only top-five are able to get into the American but top-20 gets you in to the semi-finals for the American so it's one step closer," said Payne.

What a thrilling ten days Payne had in Las Vegas and what massive rodeos are in his sights for 2024. 

It should be an exciting 2024 campaign for Don Payne and all of his supporters.