The American Rodeo: Your Guide to the Bareback Riding Contestants Vying for $1M

These 10 bareback riders are ready to go at it and compete for $1 million. Who are they, and what can you expect?

Click Thompson, courtesy of Teton Ridge

It's American Rodeo week! The best of the best are headed to Globe Life Field to try their luck at winning $1 million.  Five contestants will be eligible to win all or a piece of the $1 million prize. Five are invitees and are able to win $100,000. Either way, it is certainly worth their efforts!

Here is your guide to the 10 contestants in the bareback riding:

L-R: Jess Pope, Keenan Hayes, Kade Sonnier, Clayton Biglow, Rocker Steiner

• Keenan Hayes — 2023 PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider. This will be his first trip to the American Rodeo. So far in 2024, Hayes has won $46,531 and is sitting at No. 2 in the world standings. His most recent wins include placing in two of the rounds at San Antonio, Texas, and finishing third overall at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. He has looked solid in every competition and will certainly be one to watch.
• Jess Pope — 2022 PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider. He has previously won $5,500 at The American Rodeo. Coming from Waverly, Kans., Pope portrays a lot of confidence even though his 2024 has started off a little slower. Pope is sitting at No. 26 in the world standings with $15,014
• Kade Sonnier — After making his first appearance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2023, Sonnier has been on a winning streak. The Carencro, La.cowboy finished third at San Antonio, Texas, second in Okeechobee, Fla., and won Lake Charles. The 24-year-old cowboy has earned $27,976 and is ranked No. 10 in the world standings.
• Clayton Biglow — 2019 PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider. Biglow has had quite a bit of success in the spotlight of The American Rodeo winning $27,925. With eight WNFR qualifications, Biglow won't let the pressure get to him and will surely "let it all roll" when he cracks the gates.
• Rocker Steiner — One thing is for sure: this Weatherford, Texas cowboy will be giving it all he's got and showing off for the judges when it's his turn to work for eight seconds. There is no one hotter in the bareback riding than Steiner. Everything he enters, he wins. He is the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo champion, along with the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo champion. He has picked up checks for $48,250 in 2024 and sits at No. 1 in the PRCA standings. Steiner garners attention everywhere he goes and will absolutely be one to watch. 

L-R: Taylor Broussard, Jacob Lees, Tilden Hooper, Cole Reiner, Bradlee Miller

• Taylor Broussard — Two-time WNFR qualifier from Estherwood, La. Broussard has been winning by picking up placing checks at Ft. Pierce and Kissimmee, Fla. With $36,330 in earnings in 2024, Broussard is ranked No. 5 in the world standings.
• Bradlee Miller — This 20-year-old cowboy from Huntsville, Texas, is hot right now. He has already won $41,535 to be ranked No. 3. He just recently picked up the first-place check in the finals at the La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros rodeo, where he also was the overall reserve champion. Having been to The American Rodeo before and winning $13,540 in the past, Miller is poised and ready to ride.
• Jacob Lees — Caldwell, Idaho, sends this former WNFR qualifier to the chutes. Lees finished at No. 11 in the 2023 PRCA standings. He has picked up checks for $16,087 so far in 2024. Lees just earned a little more than $1,000 at the Cinch World's Toughest Rodeo in Columbus, Ohio. Lees will be giving the other contestants a run for their money.
• Cole Reiner — Four-time WNFR qualifier and previous money winner at The American ($20,826). Reiner finished 2023 in the PRCA at No. 7, and that's exactly where he sits currently. The Buffalo, Wyo., cowboy had a big night in San Antonio, where he rode Night Crawler for 89 points in the finals. He added $12,500 to his standings race where he has already won $33,104. Watch for him to be strong out of the gate, and with the chance to win the biggest prize, you can be assured his effort will be 100%.
• Tilden Hooper — The odds are against everyone else with this guy in the contender portion. Hooper is a two-time American Champion who has already collected $223,220 from his efforts. Hooper has made nine trips to the WNFR. While the 36-year-old will be the veteran of the field, no one better count their money before Hooper nods his head.