GREELEY, Colo. – World champion steer wrestler Ty Erickson came out smokin' fast at this weekend's RAM National Circuit Finals, but Idaho's Olin Hannum closed even stronger to win this year's championship.
Erickson took the opening round in a time of 3.8 seconds, two-tenths quicker than Blake Knowles and Trevor Duhon who split second/third place money. The Helena cowboy tied for sixth in the second round in a time of 4.5. That combination earned Erickson this year's average win and $3,363, but Olin Hannum, who has been to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo twice clocked a 3.7-second run in the four-man, sudden-death finals to capture the coveted title at Island Grove Regional Park.
Utah's Stetson Wright, competing in saddle bronc riding and bull riding, took the All-Around title earning $12,998.
“I made the finals at (the RAM NCFR) in Kissimmee (Fla.), and I broke the barrier and didn’t do as well as I wanted to,” Hannum, 42, told ProRodeo.com afterward. “This year I didn’t win much money but did well right at the end.”
Hannum, who reached the NFR in 2011 and 2017, finished in a tie for third in the eight-man semifinals with Will Lummus, as each clocked 4.7-second runs. He was the first cowboy to compete in the finals and had a simple approach.
“I just wanted to get a good start and make the best run I could,” Hannum said. “Everybody there (in the final four) were really good bulldoggers and had really good horsepower. I thought some guys were going to need to stub their toes for me to have a chance.”
Stetson Jorgensen finished second with a 4.3-second run, followed by Blake Knowles (4.4) and Lummus (13.6), who broke the barrier.
Hannum rode his horse, Maverick, 15.
“This win feels just like when I made the NFR,” said Hannum, who competes in the Wilderness Circuit. “I have not been rodeoing a lot. This has been my dream to stay circuit rodeoing and come here and have a really good circuit finals. I was really disappointed because I thought we weren’t going to be able to have it (because of the COVID-19 pandemic). I feel really blessed that they were able to put it on and come here to Greeley.”
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the RAM NCFR, originally scheduled to take place in Kissimmee, Fla., in April, was moved to Greeley.
Hannum comes from a storied rodeo family. His late father, Jack, was a five-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR, once in tie-down roping (1977) and four times in steer wrestling (1978-80, 1983). He also served as a PRCA administrator.
Olin's late mother, Lynn, twice worked the NFR as a timer. Olin’s younger brother, Jake, qualified for the Wrangler NFR in 2007 as a tie-down roper.
Now, Olin is scaling back his rodeo schedule, but he has another saddle to add to his collection.
“I have three children, (daughters) Cheznie, 8, Kennedy, 6, and Jackson, 3, and they were here this week,” Olin said. “I just wanted to be around closer to my family and children, and I have a cabinet business (Arrowhead Cabinets) and want to keep it going.”
In addition to cash, the RAM NCFR champions won a $20,000 RAM voucher, a Cactus Saddle, a Montana Silversmiths buckle, a Polaris Ranger, a pair of Justin boots and an OtterBox cooler.
(PRCA media contributed to this story)
All-around cowboy: Stetson Wright, $12,998, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.
Bareback riding: First round: 1. Blaine Kaufman, 89 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo's Wilson Sanchez, $3,201; 2. Cole Goodine, 84, $2,425; 3. Tristan Hansen, 82, $1,746; 4. (tie) Ty Taypotat and Trenten Montero, 80, $922 each; 6. Evan Betony, 79, $485. Second round: 1. Nate McFadden, 85.5 points on Brookman Rodeo's Make Ya Smile, $3,201; 2. (tie) Briar Dittmer and Jade Taton, 84.5, $2,086 each; 4. (tie) Blaine Kaufman, Ty Taypotat and Tim Murphy, 84, $776 each. Average: 1. Blaine Kaufman, 173 points on two head, $3,201; 2. Trenten Montero, 164.5, $2,425; 3. Tristan Hansen, 164, $1,746; 4. Cole Goodine, 160.5, $1,164; 5. Trevar McAllister, 158.5, $679; 6. Jade Taton, 158, $485. Semifinals: 1. Blaine Kaufman, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's San Angelo Sam, $3,880; 2. Trenten Montero, 88, $2,910; 3. Cole Goodine, 78.5, $1,940; 4. (tie) Tristan Hansen and Trevar McAllister, 78, $485 each. Finals: 1. Tristan Hansen, 89 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo's Nutrena's Tic Tac, $3,880; 2. Blaine Kaufman, 86, $2,910; 3. Trenten Montero, 85, $1,940; no other qualified rides.
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.8 seconds, $3,201; 2. (tie) Blake Knowles and Trevor Duhon, 4.0, $2,086 each; 4. Will Lummus, 4.1, $1,164; 5. Mose Fleming, 4.2, $679; 6. Jesse Brown, 4.5, $485. Second round: 1. Tanner Brunner, 3.8 seconds, $3,201; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.0, $2,425; 3. Kyle Whitaker, 4.1, $1,746; 4. Sterling Lambert, 4.2, $1,164; 5. J.D. Struxness, 4.3, $679; 6. (tie) Matt Reeves, Ross Mosher and Ty Erickson, 4.5, $162 each. Average: 1. Ty Erickson, 8.3 seconds on two head, $3,201; 2. Will Lummus, 8.9, $2,425; 3. Sterling Lambert, 9.4, $1,746; 4. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Cody Pratt, 9.5, $922 each; 6. (tie) Olin Hannum and Trevor Duhon, 9.7, $243 each. Semifinals: 1. Blake Knowles, 4.0 seconds, $3,880; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.2, $2,910; 3. (tie) Will Lummus and Olin Hannum, 4.7, $1,455 each. Finals: 1. Olin Hannum, 3.7 seconds, $3,880; 2. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.3, $2,910; 3. Blake Knowles, 4.4, $1,940; 4. Will Lummus, 13.6, $970.
Team roping: First round: 1. Jacob Dagenhart/Zack Mabry, 5.1 seconds, $3,201 each; 2. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 5.5, $2,425; 3. Dawson Graham/Keely Bonnett, 5.6, $1,746; 4. Quinn Kesler/Colby Siddoway, 5.7, $1,164; 5. Kellan Johnson/Brock Hanson, 6.1, $679; 6. Jason Stewart/Calgary Smith, 6.3, $485. Second round: 1. Erich Rogers/Lane Siggins, 4.3 seconds, $3,201 each; 2. Coy Rahlmann/Ryan Von Ahn, 5.3, $2,425; 3. (tie) Brady Tryan/Justin Viles and Radley Day/Taylor Williams, 5.9, $1,455 each; 5. Dawson Graham/Keely Bonnett, 6.0, $679; 6. Kellan Johnson/Brock Hanson, 6.2, $485. Average: 1. Dawson Graham/Keely Bonnett, 11.6 seconds on two head, $3,201 each; 2. (tie) Quinn Kesler/Colby Siddoway and Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 12.2, $2,086 each; 4. Kellan Johnson/Brock Hanson, 12.3, $1,164; 5. Jr. Dees/Nano Garza, 13.3, $679; 6. Coy Rahlmann/Ryan Von Ahn, 13.6, $485. Semifinals: 1. Jr. Dees/Nano Garza, 5.0 seconds, $3,880 each; 2. Bandis Guiterrez/Orlando Jauregui, 5.4, $2,910; 3. Coy Rahlmann/Ryan Von Ahn, 5.8, $1,940; 4. Brady Tryan/Justin Viles, 7.0, $970. Finals: 1. Coy Rahlmann/Ryan Von Ahn, 11.1 seconds, $3,880 each; 2. Jr. Dees/Nano Garza, 12.8, $2,910; 3. Bandis Guiterrez/Orlando Jauregui, 19.5, $1,940; no other qualified runs.
Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. (tie) Shorty Garrett, on Sutton Rodeos' Sweet Emotion, and Stetson Wright, on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos' Midnight Cowboy, 86 points, $2,813 each; 3. Ryder Wright, 85, $1,746; 4. Joe Harper, 84.5, $1,164; 5. (tie) Jace Angus, Kolby Wanchuk and Ray Hostetler, 82, $388 each. Second round: 1. Shorty Garrett, 84.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos' Flashcard Champ, $3,201; 2. Brody Cress, 83.5, $2,425; 3. (tie) Stetson Wright and Ryder Wright, 82.5, $1,455 each; 5. J.J. Elshere, 81, $679; 6. Taos Muncy, 79.5, $485. Average: 1. Shorty Garrett, 170.5 points on two head, $3,201; 2. Stetson Wright, 168.5, $2,425; 3. Ryder Wright, 167.5, $1,746; J.J. Elshere and Joe Harper, 161.5, $922 each; 6. Bradley Harter, 160.5, $485. Semifinals: 1. Shorty Garrett, 91.5 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Toma Jo, $3,880; 2. Stetson Wright, 86.5, $2,910; 3. Joe Harper, 81, $1,940; 4. Jacobs Crawley, 77, $970. Finals: 1. (tie) Shorty Garrett, on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Marquee, and Stetson Wright, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's Big Tex, 87.5 points, $3,395 each; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 83, $1,940; 4. Joe Harper, 80, $970.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. (tie) Jesse Popescul and Jake Pratt, 9.2 seconds, $2,813 each; 3. Cole Bailey, 9.9, $1,746; 4. Cody Huber, 11.4, $1,164; 5. (tie) Matt Shiozawa and Bryce Bott, 11.5, $582 each. Second round: 1. Bryce Bott, 10.0 seconds, $3,201; 2. Shad Mayfield, 10.2, $2,425; 3. Trevin Baumann, 10.3, $1,746; 4. Clint Robinson, 10.6, $1,164; 5. Darnell Johnson, 11.2, $679; 6. John Douch, 11.7, $485. Average: 1. Jake Pratt, 21.3 seconds on two head, $3,201; 2. Bryce Bott, 21,5, $2,425; 3. Jesse Popescul, 21.7, $1,746; 4. Clint Robinson, 22.3, $1,164; 5. Cole Bailey, 23.2, $679; 6. Cody Huber, 25.5, $485. Semifinals: 1. Jake Pratt, 10.2 seconds, $3,880; 2. Cody Huber, 10.7, $2,910; 3. Clint Robinson, 11.1, $1,940; 4. Trevin Baumann, 11.2, $970. Finals: 1. Jake Pratt, 8.5 seconds, $3,880; 2. Cody Huber, 9.2, $2,910; 3. Trevin Baumann, 10.1, $1,940; 4. Clint Robinson, 18.3, $970.
Barrel racing: First round: 1. Jimmie Smith, 17.17 seconds, $3,201; 2. Michelle Darling, 17.25, $2,425; 3. Nellie Miller, 17.28, $1,746; 4. Brooke Wills, 17.34, $1,164; 5. Jill Wilson, 17.35, $679; 6. Meka Farr, 17.36, $485. Second round: 1. Jessica Routier, 17.16 seconds, $3,201; 2. Kelly Yates, 17.30, $2,425; 3. Brooke Wills, 17.38, $1,746; 4. Jimmie Smith, 17.39, $1,164; 5. Jill Wilson, 17.40, $679; 6. Nellie Miller, 17.44, $485. Average: 1. Jessica Routier, 34.55 seconds on two head, $3,201; 2. Jimmie Smith, 34.56, $2,425; 3. (tie) Nellie Miller and Brooke Wills, 34.72, $1,455 each; 5. Jill Wilson, 34.75, $679; 6. Michelle Darling, 34.78, $485. Semifinals: 1. Nellie Miller, 17.11 seconds, $3,880; 2. Jimmie Smith, 17.33, $2,910; 3. Shali Lord, 17.34, $1,940; 4. Jessica Routier, 17.47, $970. Finals: 1. Nellie Miller, 17.19 seconds, $3,880; 2. Shali Lord, 17.43, $2,910; 3. Jessica Routier, 17.60, $1,940; 4. Jimmie Smith, 22.51, $970.
Bull riding: * First round: 1. Jeff Bertus, 90.5 points on Andrews Rodeo's Cool Arrow, $3,298; 2. Josh Frost, 87.5, $2,522; 3. Jeff Askey, 85, $1,843; 4. Wyatt Nez, 74, $1,261; 5. Fulton Rutland, 66, $776; no other qualified rides. * Second round: 1. Ruger Piva, 89.5 points on Andrews Rodeo's Cool Arrow, $3,977; 2. Nick Tetz, 83.5, $3,201; 3. Garrett Uptain, 78, $2,522; no other qualified rides. * Average: 1. Jeff Bertus, 90.5 points on one head, $3,201; 2. Ruger Piva, 89.5, $2,425; 3. Josh Frost, 87.5, $1,746; 4. Jeff Askey, 85, $1,164; 5. Nick Tetz, 83.5, $679; 6. Garrett Uptain, 78, $485. *Semifinals: 1. Jeff Askey, 88 points on Brookman Rodeo's Hot Axe, $3,880; no other qualified rides. * Finals: 1. Jeff Askey, 89.5 points on Andrews Rodeo's Chupacabra, $3,880; 2. Ruger Piva, 88.5, $2,910; no other qualified rides. *(all totals include ground money).
Total payoff: $388,000. Stock contractors: New Star Pro Rodeo and United Pro Rodeo. Sub-contractors: Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Andrews Rodeo, Beutler & Son Rodeo, Brookman Rodeo, Big Rafter Rodeo, Hi Lo ProRodeo, Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics, Sutton Rodeos and Stace Smith Pro Rodeos. Rodeo secretary: Amanda Sanders. Timers: Cathy Wieferich, Molly Twitchell and Roger Mooney. Announcer: Will Rasmussen. Bullfighters: Mike Driver, Aaron Hargo and Wacey Munsell. Clown/barrelman: J.J. Harrison. Flankmen: Kenny Barringer, Levi McCray, Brent Sutton and Rhett Beutler. Chute boss: Brent Sutton. Pickup men: Duane Gilbert, Wade Sankey and Jason Bottoms. Photographers: Roseanna Sales and Mallory Beinborn. Music director: Jill Franzen Loden.
