2025 NFR: Ranching heritage, family ties & rodeo roots
The dark of night has set in under the big skies of Montana, but the lights are bright and the contestant’s gold buckle dreams are on the horizon. The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) is back in Sin City.
Haven Meged, Miles City, Montana native competing in the NFR (Photo by Hailey Rae)
Strong Communities Breed the Toughest Competitors
For the majority of people involved in various western and agriculture industries, the beginning of December brings a familiar nostalgia to households across the nation. “Welcome to Las Vegas for the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo,” the announcers say proudly as folks at home watch the historic yellow bucking chutes open for the first Bareback rider of the night. Watch closely, this year it may just be a Montana man.
This year, Montana and Wyoming residents will see some familiar faces in the Thomas and Mack Arena, and on their big screens. Ty Erickson is no stranger to the wicked fast start in the steer wrestling. With this being his tenth trip, he is the veteran of the Big Sky and Cowboy State contestants who qualified. Brody Cress, hailing from Hillsdale, Wyoming will make his ninth straight appearance under the bright lights in the saddle bronc riding. Haven Meged of Miles City, Montana has qualified for his seventh consecutive finals in the tie down roping. Sage Newman of Melstone, Montana and Brody Wells of Powell, Wyoming are of the next contestants that qualified in the saddle bronc riding. This is Newman’s fifth qualification and Well’s second. Montana has two athletes who will be making their way to the big show for their WNFR debuts. Sam Petersen, a Helena, Montana native will be nodding his head in the bareback riding, while Tayla Moeykens of Three Forks, Montana will ride down the alley for the first time in the barrel racing. These seven are among the 118 contestants that finished in the top 15 of their events at the end of the regular season.
Brody Wells at the 2024 NFR (Photo provided by Wells’ Facebook page)
Brody Wells at the 2024 NFR (Photo provided by Wells’ Facebook page)While these competitors are among this year’s pool vying for their shot at a world title, they could not have made it here without a native Montanian who laid the foundation for the sport of professional rodeo. Bill Linderman was born in Bridger, Montana in 1920 and was raised in Red Lodge. He started his rodeo career when he was 16 and was a member of those who led the charge in creating the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA). In 1950, he eventually became the first man to win three titles in a single season – Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, and the All-Around Championship. Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame mentions he won six world titles between both ends of the arena, and was the first professional cowboy to win more than $500,000. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979, and the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2012. In his induction speech, they noted, “Bill had a great work ethic, and hated lying and deception. He was always the one to go out of his way to help someone. Bill bought old properties and rebuilt the buildings for resale. He was also an avid golfer, warmheartedly calling it ‘cow pasture pool’”. He passed away in 1965, but these key characteristics of Bill are all attributes that make up the Montana tight-knit communities and the residents that fill it– especially those that are still competing in rodeo today.
Western Ranch Brokers’ Bill Boyce on his central Montana ranch.
Western Ranch Brokers’ Bill Boyce on his central Montana ranch.Western Ranch Brokers very own Bill Boyce competed in his fair share of the rodeo scene in his younger years. Bill is a fourth-generation Montana rancher, and grew up roping calves and steer wrestling. Rodeo and ranching are in his blood, and he personally understands the connection of the sport and its ties back to Montana. Boyce believes, “Good old ranching work ethic played a role in the success of the older generations of cowboys”. He went on to say that, “On the timed events side, your biggest adversary is mother nature. Those people that have a goal to rodeo at a higher level, they know they are going to have to work harder and do things to make themselves better when the conditions are not ideal.”. The weather in Montana may have some extremes, but it helps breed resilient cowboys.
“Good old ranching work ethic played a role in the success of the older generations of cowboy.”
When people think of the NFR, they often imagine the contestants on two legs… but behind every world-class performance is equally world-class stock. Elite bucking horses and bulls that shape the outcome of each event. The states of Montana and Wyoming play a major role here too. Both states have been home to influential stock contractors whose animals are selected to perform at the NFR. These ranches are often multi-generational, operating on thousands of acres of pristine land. Brookmans, J Bar J, and Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics are among some of the stock contractors from Montana and Wyoming that were selected to bring their talented animals to this year’s WNFR.
This connection gives our real estate clients an important perspective: acreage isn’t just pretty – it’s productive, valuable, and rooted in real agricultural purpose. In choosing Montana or Wyoming for your next real estate venture, you are investing in a lifestyle that is shaped by heritage, grit, strong communities, and pride for the western way of life. Whether someone wants to run cattle and bucking bulls, train performance horses, or simply enjoy the open skies and western lifestyle, these two states offer land with generations of proven potential, and Western Ranch Brokers is committed to prioritizing your specific goals.
Properties may come with productive farm ground, sporting habitat for big game or waterfowl hunters, irrigated ground, or equestrian amenities that are tied to historic traditions. Our clients can be confident the land maintains its long-term utility and value, and the culture is just the same. Let our experience of a combined 50+ years lead the way for you as you navigate the buying and selling process. Contact our team to find out how we can work for you, and join us in wishing our local cowboys and cowgirls the best of luck in the 2025 National Finals Rodeo.
