Swift of foot and bold in the arena, 18-year-old Rowdy Moon has been fighting bulls for the last four years. Though his bareback rigging rides alongside his cleats, the two-time NSRA Bullfighter of the Year dreams of working the WNFR from outside the chutes.
“My dad rode bulls in high school, and that’s what got us started,” says Rowdy, who currently makes his home in Taylor, Neb. “He put my brothers and I on calves when we were kids and we grew to love it!” As much as he loved riding bulls, the idea of fighting them was even more fascinating to Rowdy, and he attended his first bullfighting school as an eighth grader. “It was up in Johnstown, and Steve Wrangler and Jay Brewer put it on, plus Wacey Munsell and Aaron Ferguson were there helping,” Rowdy recalls. “I’ve been to three more schools since then, and I’ve had some good mentors and teachers. Boots and Phillips Rodeo Company took me under their wing when I was a freshman in high school.”
Rowdy primarily works Boots and Phillips’ rodeos while entering the bareback riding. During his high school years, he qualified for the NHSFR four times in the bareback riding, finishing third in the nation his senior year. As a freshman at Mid-Plains Community College, Rowdy also competes in the bareback riding on the rodeo team, trailing first place by one point. “The school is sponsoring me and I wear their jerseys for fighting the Nebraska high school rodeos, plus some other events. I’m really thankful for the support I get from them, my parents, and Boots and Phillips!”
Rowdy appreciates any opportunity to step into the arena, but a particular favorite of his is the Custer County Classic put on by Bud Everly in Broken Bow, Neb. “I’ve had the opportunity to fight with some of the greatest bullfighters in the world because of Broken Bow. I’ve fought with Frank Newsom and Cody Webster, as well as Cory Wall and Cory Greibel,” says Rowdy, who has also been named the Nebraska High School Bullfighter of the Year three times. Fighting bulls came to him naturally, growing up fighting calves freestyle. He had plenty of practice on his older brother’s bucking stock. “The biggest thing is thinking on your toes. If you can get a corner on a bull, the likelihood of him getting you is less,” Rowdy explains. “The most challenging for me right now is getting my name out there and stock contractors being able to see me work and hire me.”
Anxious for rodeo season to pick up again, Rowdy keeps himself occupied with school at Mid-Plains, where he is working towards a bachelor’s degree in business. He spends the rest of his time in the weight room, or playing basketball or paintball on campus. He occasionally heads home to see his parents, Casey and Sandra Moon, and two-year-old sister, Sadie. He also has two older brothers, Buck and Cody. Buck rode bulls through high school and college, while Cody raised bucking stock for several years.
“As long as I’m getting better at fighting, and staying healthy, I’m happy,” says Rowdy. “Now that I’m older, I’m ready to travel further. There are tons of rodeos in Nebraska, but not much in the way of freestyle bullfighting. Chad Smith puts on several freestyles in Iowa, and I really believe freestyles are coming back. I want to get more comfortable competing in them, plus they’ll help me get my name out there for my ultimate goal, which is fighting the NFR!”
story by Lindsay Humphrey Even though Ginalee Sinner attended her first rodeo at just 4 years old, she hasn’t always been a full-fledged rodeo gal. […]
story by Lindsay Humphrey Seventeen-year-old Brooke McCully is lucky in many ways, but she’s especially thankful for both of her sisters: Brittni, 21, and Brynne, […]
TERMS:
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September 13, 2020
Bareback
1 Tanner Rupprecht $6,346.34
2 Whitten Hoover $4,407.49
3 Austin Rose $2,186.58
4 Logan Glendy $1,359.19
5 Gauge Mcbride $1,329.31
6 Trey Seevers $1,216.97
7 Spencer Denaeyer $1,192.20
8 Jared Schultis $763.67
Calf Roping
1 Riley Pruitt $6,190.40
2 Boe Brown $5,192.68
3 Chip Wilson $4,984.46
4 Cody Rieker $4,422.27
5 Jt Adamson $4,326.82
6 Miles Garwood $3,589.58
7 Chadron Coffield $2,808.06
8 Tanner Stec $2,675.83
9 Patrick Martin $2,290.29
10 Grant Turek $1,838.70
11 Nick Becker $1,568.98
12 Matt Elliot $1,523.28
13 Miles Kenzy $1,399.05
14 Clete Scheer $1,242.77
15 Brian Garr $1,207.16
16 Garrett Nokes $1,096.29
17 Cody Nye $708.28
18 Cameron Jensen $619.90
19 Jace Logan $552.21
20 Lucas Phillips $510.38
Steer Roping
1 Ora Taton $8,558.21
2 Will Mcbride $2,898.36
3 Matt Hebbert $2,686.64
4 Tyrel Taton $2,445.76
5 Rod Hartness $2,419.59
6 Brian Garr $2,407.88
7 Troy Tillard $1,800.37
8 Wade Pearson $1,440.69
9 Blaine Baumgartner $1,268.55
10 Chris Pearson $1,229.77
11 Cameron Jensen $1,219.72
12 Ryan Bestol $1,061.28
13 Wayne Barber $1,039.59
14 Wade Shoemaker $828.92
15 Todd Eberle $668.80
16 Ryan Miller $379.93
17 Paul Fornstrom $154.58
Breakaway
1 Bailey Brown $8,717.98
2 Makenzie Wilson $6,698.87
3 Macy Fuller $6,602.38
4 Georgie Lage $5,849.71
5 Brittni Mccully $5,401.16
6 Mable Mcabee $4,653.34
7 Brandy Schaack $4,365.77
8 Brooke Mccully $4,220.99
9 Jan Brown $4,163.66
10 Katie Mundorf $4,132.63
11 Jessica Koppitz $3,939.21
12 Amber Coleman $3,617.84
13 Ginalee Sinner $3,611.47
14 Jessica Mcmaster $3,033.79
15 Kirby Eppert $2,891.56
16 Brandy Jamerman $2,179.85
17 Brook Jamison $2,068.45
18 Katie Haythorn $1,812.19
19 Kelley Haythorn $1,692.71
20 Lillian Fletcher $1,633.55
Team Roping – Header
1 Cooper White $7,559.41
2 Brian Dunning $5,771.45
3 Clayton Van Aken $5,534.72
4 Cooper Brott $4,628.88
5 Nick Becker $4,399.60
6 Steve Sherwood $3,774.08
7 Jhett Trenary $3,752.80
8 Jade Schmidt $3,022.44
9 Lucas Phillips $2,951.42
10 Tad Sheets $2,734.51
11 Taylor Davis $2,450.80
12 Jeff Johnston $2,425.46
13 Cole Remington $2,038.91
14 Mark Wray $1,774.86
15 Spencer Jobman $1,501.58
16 Reece Weber $1,475.28
17 Spencer Sinner $1,035.23
18 Cole Morgan $1,005.94
19 Blaine Finney $876.84
20 Nathan Poss $869.58
Team Roping Heeler
1 Tucker White $7,559.41
2 Levi Tyan $6,226.47
3 Toby Mentzer $5,771.45
4 Dawson Mcmaster $4,925.43
5 Dustin Harris $3,942.04
6 Clay Elkington $3,774.08
7 Bret Trenary $3,752.80
8 Chris Sherman $2,967.34
9 Tyrell Reynolds $2,951.42
10 Todd Hollenbeck $2,878.30
11 Cody Ware $2,038.91
12 Matt Kasner $1,538.06
13 Hunter Walker $1,501.58
14 Jett Hillman $1,495.25
15 Dustin Chohon $876.84
16 Gunner Walker $869.58
17 Cody Merritt $809.83
18 Lynn Campbell $783.05
19 Doug Finney $749.47
20 Brad Schieck $600.62
Mixed Team Roping
1 Shelby Hinkle $6,747.73
2 Brook Jamison $5,212.86
3 Leigh Sherwood $3,631.00
4 Lydia Van Aken $3,425.93
5 Shawnee Sherwood $3,045.86
6 Mercedes Trenary $3,018.10
7 Ginalee Sinner $2,698.88
8 Danielle Wray $2,655.50
9 Jessica Mcmaster $1,506.03
10 Peyton Mentzer $1,491.42
11 Macy Fuller $1,359.28
12 Sydney Graff $1,252.81
13 Amber Coleman $1,151.16
14 Pam Hollenbeck $957.82
15 Bodelle Mueller $949.26
16 Tanya Goad $737.18
17 Sarah Campbell $688.36
18 Jada Jensen $546.94
19 Kori Phillips $539.88
20 Emily Vinton $495.80
Steer Wrestling
1 Boyd Sawyer $5,285.10
2 Ben Robinson $4,184.85
3 Tom Littell $3,210.53
4 Dru Melvin $2,886.25
5 Kris Rasmussen $2,793.93
6 Cord Hesseltine $2,571.77
7 Weston Winkers $2,407.55
8 Jeff Johnston $2,300.12
9 Trevor Haake $2,254.72
10 Chad Vancampen $2,234.04
11 Jace Logan $2,130.99
12 Jeff Richardson $1,641.49
13 Marshall Still $1,600.56
14 Tyler Ravenscroft $1,589.21
15 Parker Johnston $1,267.76
16 Chadron Coffield $978.27
17 Brody Cleveland $722.14
18 Taylor Davis $709.01
19 Jarrett Rasmussen $565.65
20 Danny Manning $524.19
Saddle Bronc
1 Derek Kenner $10,304.58
2 Sage Miller $3,943.49
3 Brody Mcabee $3,844.87
4 Rowdy Chesser $3,446.71
5 Triston Eklund $1,651.44
6 Cable Wareham $814.07
7 Jack Skavdahl $512.96
8 Blaine Flack $316.63
9 Jared Schultis $228.96
10 Monty Bailey $37.11
Barrel Racing
1 Dori Hollenbeck $14,429.40
2 Ginalee Sinner $11,443.88
3 Gayle White $6,016.99
4 Carla Jensen $5,959.26
5 Patty Finney $5,033.80
6 Lorie Diodosio $4,215.11
7 Branda Marsh $3,922.17
8 Michaella Lay $3,567.93
9 Sandy Hickey $3,395.55
10 Jessica Leach $2,702.66
11 D’ann Gehlsen $2,315.01
12 Jena Garwood $1,866.01
13 Kelsey Lauenstein $1,651.50
14 Jordan Littell $1,583.59
15 Ashton Ottley $1,243.08
16 Haley Brown $915.94
17 Jamie Chaffin $844.14
18 Pam Hollenbeck $817.05
19 Mataya Eklund $712.90
20 Katie Loughran $708.18
Bull Riding
1 Brett Mcabee $7,947.75
2 Lane Gambill $6,309.20
3 Lance Daniel $1,964.54
4 Ethan Lesiak $847.88
Male Rookie Of The Year
1 Brett Mcabee $6,933.74
2 Sage Miller $3,943.49
3 Rowdy Chesser $2,543.49
4 Lance Daniel $1,964.54
5 Jace Logan $2,683.20
6 Cameron Jensen $1,839.62
7 Grant Turek $1,838.70
8 Marshall Still $1,600.56
9 Tyler Ravenscroft $1,589.21
10 Ethan Lesiak $847.88
Female Rookie Of The Year
1 Jessica Koppitz $3,939.21
2 Morgan Busby $738.72
3 Caitlyn Comfort $415.73
All Around- Women
1 Ginalee Sinner $15,670.01
2 Macy Fuller $7,961.66
3 Brook Jamison $7,281.31
4 Amber Coleman $4,769.00
5 Jessica Mcmaster $4,539.82
6 Brandy Schaack $4,499.69
7 Danielle Wray $3,707.00
8 Shawnee Sherwood $3,332.74
9 Peyton Mentzer $2,282.93
10 Katie Haythorn $2,217.68
All Around- Men
1 Nick Becker $5,968.58
2 Jeff Johnston $4,725.58
3 Chadron Coffield $3,786.33
4 Brian Garr $3,615.04
5 Lucas Phillips $3,461.80
6 Taylor Davis $2,569.77
7 Jace Logan $1,924.18
