Rodeo Daily

Fan Favorite Cowboy Breaks Out of Retirement for American Rodeo Bid

Rodeo fans were excited to see one cowboy in particular back into the box in Las Vegas at the American Rodeo Contender Tournament Regionals
Teal Stoll|
Luke Branquinho
Luke Branquinho | Kristen Schurr/The American Rodeo

After five World Championships, 14 National Finals Rodeo qualifications, and over $2.5 million in career earnings, one well-known cowboy is back from retirement to compete for his chance at the richest one day rodeo in the world, The American.

Following a lengthy and prosperous career, the rodeo athlete announced his official retirement in 2022. But in January of 2025, we have seen him once agan back into the box at the American Rodeo Contender Tournament Regionals in Las Vegas, Nev., in the steer wrestling.

Who is this decorated mystery man? None other than Luke Branquinho, of course. Hailing from Los Alamos, Calif., the cowboy has become a familiar face as a rodeo commentator in the past few years, including the NFR. Branquinho has long been one of the greatest personalities of rodeo and that has shone on the mic. As much as we have enjoyed listening to him, it is even more fun to see the talented cowboy back in the arena competing.

Branquinho's professional career began in 1999, when he first became a member of the PRCA. He went on to win the Steer Wrestling Rookie of the Year title in 2000. He earned NFR Average titles in 2008, 2011, and 2014. The cowboy's World Championships came across a decade - 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2014. Branquinho qualified for his last NFR in 2015, but was still winning at some of the biggest rodeos in the country in 2021.

Branquinho, along with his wife, Lindsay, and sons, Cade, Jameson, and Luke Hayes, have remained involved in rodeo, despite his retirement from full-time competition. Despite Type I diabetes, which he manages with an insulin pump, he competed at the most elite level for over two decades and is not finished yet.

Luke Branquinho
Luke Branquinho | Kristen Schurr/The American Rodeo

Round 1 of the Semi-Finals was Thursday, January 9, 2025, with Round 2 following on Friday. The Finals will be Satuday night at 7 PM PST. You can watch the Finals on FS1 or Teton Ridge Plus.

The American Rodeo will take place in Arlington, Tex. at Globe Life Field, April 11-12, 2025. In order to make it to Globe Life, athletes must first make it through a rigorous qualification process. One step in that process is the Contender Tournament Regionals, where Branquinho is competing this week. The event is held at the South Point Hotel and Casino and the top five contenders from each region qualify for the American Contender Finals.

Published
Teal Stoll
TEAL STOLL

Teal Stoll is a lifelong Wyomingite from a working ranch family of several generations. Both sides of her family have deep roots in rodeo, as contestants and stock contractors. Teal grew up horseback and actively competes in rodeos and barrel races. She has degrees in both business and accounting, which she uses operating her own bookkeeping service. Teal enjoys spending time with her horses, training colts, and maintaining her string of athletes. When she isn’t at the barn, she can be found reading, doing yoga, or on her paddle board at the lake. Teal lives with her fiancee and a plethora of animals, because she can’t say no to a displaced critter with a sad story. When she isn’t on the road running barrels, she spends her time helping with day to day operations on the family ranch.

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