North Platte, Neb. (June 14, 2017) – Hardy Braden didn’t have to call home tonight to let his parents know how he did at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte.

Butch and Tammy Braden were on hand to see their son take the lead in the saddle bronc riding after the first night of competition.

The Welch, Okla. cowboy rode the Beutler and Son Rodeo Co. horse Painted Desert for 86.5 points to take the lead.

It was a bit of revenge for the 28-year-old cowboy. He’d rode the horse, a twelve-year-old gelding, in Burwell, Neb., three years ago. “Last time I got on her, she kind of made me look stupid, actually. She got me behind (in spurring) and I couldn’t catch up, and she just made me look like a stepchild out there,” Braden said.

Braden, who has been competing since he was 18 years old, is having the best year of his rodeo career. He’s sitting fourth in the PRCA world standings, the highest he’s ever been. “It’s unbelievable, actually,” he said. “It hasn’t really sunk in. It’s been like a dream, almost.” He’s competed at about 28 rodeos so far, well under the 100 that saddle bronc riders are allowed to count for the world standings, to be in the top fifteen to qualify for the elusive world championship, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December.

He doesn’t keep track of where he is in the standings; his mom does that. “I try not to look,” he said. “No sense in it. I’m just going to go out there and do the best I can, and let the cards fall where they may.”

He’s had some pretty big wins so far this year, winning first in Red Bluff, Calif. in April, Claremore, Okla. last month, and getting checks in Santa Maria and Redding, Calif., and Strong City, Kan.

Drawing good horses is part of his successful year. “I’m just drawing good,” he said. “I may be riding a tick better, but the last three or four years, I feel like I’ve been riding the same. I’ve been drawing decent the whole year, and that’s a big plus.” A successful year would result in his qualifying for his first ever Wrangler NFR, where the best fifteen cowboys in each event battle for the world championship.

His dad Butch is on hand to work as a pickup man at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo, and his mom, while helping with the pickup horses, cheered as her son rode. Braden loves the support. “My family, they’re pretty awesome. My dad’s picking up here, so it’s kind of a family affair. It always makes it awesome for me, especially when I ride decent.”

The busiest part of the rodeo season is about to kick off, and Braden will head to Pleasant Grove, Utah on Saturday, then go on to Reno, Nev., Lehi, Utah, and then Greeley, Colo. for the Fourth of July.

He’s not changing his strategy for the rest of the year. “I’ll do what I always do, hit the same rodeos as I always have,” he said.

And hopefully he’ll end up in Las Vegas for the Wrangler NFR in December.

After the morning’s slack and the evening competition, other leaders are bareback rider Orin Larsen, Ingles, Manitoba (83.5 points), steer wrestlers Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala. and Ryan Swayze, Freedom, Okla. (4.0 seconds each), tie-down roper Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D. (9.0 seconds), team ropers Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo. and Wyatt Cox, Arroyo Grande, Calif. (5.3 seconds), barrel racer Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas (17.17 seconds) and bull rider Tanner Bothwell, Rapid City, S.D. (74 points).

The 2018 Miss Rodeo Nebraska was crowned, with the title going to Kristin Kohmetscher of Lawrence, Neb. The 24 year old cowgirl is a student at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the daughter of Duane and the late Laurie Kohmetscher.

The second of four nights of rodeo takes place Thursday, June 15 at 8 pm. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show awareness of breast cancer, and proceeds will be donated to the Callahan Cancer Center in North Platte. Tickets are available at www.NebraskalandDays.com and at the gate.

Results, 1st Performance and slack, June 14, 2017
North Platte, Nebraska – Buffalo Bill Rodeo

Bareback riding
1. Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba 83.5 points on 202 Stardust; 2. Trey Moore, III, Anniston, Alberta 82; 3. Casey Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 79.5; Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo. 71.

Steer wrestling
First go-round results
1. (tie) Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala. and Ryan Swazye, Freedom, Okla. 4.0 seconds each; 3. (tie) Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. And Jake Johnson, Mound City, Kan. 4.3 each.

Tie-down roping
First go-round results
1. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D. 9.0 seconds; 2. Ace Slone, Cuero, Texas 10.0; 3. L.D. Meier, Texhoma, Texas 10.1; 4. Lane Livingston, Seymour, Texas 10.8; 5. Cody Huber, Albia, Iowa 11.1; 6. (tie) Paul David Tierney, Oral, S.D. and Tweety McBride, Brenham, Texas 11.2 each.

Saddle bronc riding
1. Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla. 86.5 points on Painted Desert; 2. Dawson Jandreau, Kennebec, S.D. 79.5; 3. Shade Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla. 79; 4. Tom Knight, Gunnedah, Australia 75.

Team roping
1. Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo./Wyatt Cox, Arroyo Grande, Calif. 5.3 seconds; 2. Cale Markham, Vinita, Okla./Austin Rogers, Crescent, Okla. 11.2; 3. Zac Parrington, Hoyt, Kan./Rodney Melton, Wilburton, Okla. 11.8; 4. Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala./Trace Porter, Leesville, La. 12.4.

Barrel racing
1. Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas 17.17 seconds; 2. Ari-Anna Flynn, Charleston, Ark. 17.24; 3. Tracy Nowlin, Nowata, Oka. 17.43; 4. Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M. 17.59.

Bull riding
1. Tanner Bothwell, Rapid City, S.D. 74 points on Tokyo Massage; 2. Cullen Telfer, Thonotosassa, Fla. 65.5; no other qualified rides.

All results are unofficial