Mayfield returns to National Finals Rodeo

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – 'Tis the season for broncs and bulls, riding and roping. The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is back.

The 65th NFR is celebrating its 38th year in Vegas. It begins Thursday and lasts through Dec. 16 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Clovis native Shad Mayfield has qualified again in tie-down roping. He comes in with $206,603 in prize money for the year, second only to Riley Webb of Denton, Texas, who has earned $280,404.

This is Mayfield's fifth consecutive season in which he's qualified for the NFR. He won the title in 2020, finished 12th in 2019 and seventh in 2021 before finishing second last year to Caleb Smidt, of Bellville, Texas. Smidt comes in to the 2023 NFR in seventh place with $133,128 in earnings.

Mayfield, 23, has earned just over $1 million in five seasons on the professional rodeo circuit.

Logan Medlin of Tatum is another local who's qualified for the NFR. He's fifth among team ropers (heelers) with $133,487 in earnings for the year. Wesley Thorp of Throckmorton, Texas, leads that group with $172,152 going into the finals.

Contestants compete in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, steer roping, barrel racing and breakaway roping.

The NFR will also crown an all-around winner. Stetson Wright of Beaver, Utah, who leads saddle bronc riding and bull riding standings coming in, is the all-around leader with $459,620 in prize money.

This year's purse is almost $4 million more than last year's. The rodeo's payout has increased to more than $11.5 million, according to prorodeo.com.

Round winners take home $30,706 per round; average winners earn $78,747.

In all, 119 cowboys and cowgirls have qualified for the NFR.

Ticketmaster is selling resale tickets for the event for around $100 on the low end to more than $900 on weekend dates.

Televised coverage is available through the Cowboy Channel and Cowboy Channel+.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal contributed to this report.