Rodeo Daily

Down the Road With Don: Dynamic Duo Ready for RODEOHOUSTON

Don Payne, Western Sports Media's sponsored steer wrestler, is off to a great start in the 2024 PRCA season, with earnings of $18,253 and a comfortable position at 13th place. With Houston's RODEOHOUSTON coming up next, he's ready to conquer the big stage with his new horse.
Madi Roelofsen|
Down the Road With Don: Dynamic Duo Ready for RODEOHOUSTON
Down the Road With Don: Dynamic Duo Ready for RODEOHOUSTON

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) 2024 season is already underway, with large winter rodeos paying out substantial amounts. Don Payne, Western Sports Media's sponsored steer wrestler, is already in a comfortable position at 13th place this season with $18,253 in earnings.

"I'm pretty sure that's what I had, if not less, when I left for the summer last season," said Payne. "It takes a lot of stress and pressure off, having earnings like that early in the season."

Payne had a successful Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, banking a total of $5,456. Fort Worth is close to home, which allows his family and friends to come out and support him, making it his favorite rodeo.

Payne faced some ups and downs at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo but still managed to win $4,979.

Next week, Payne will be heading to Bay City, Texas, and RODEOHOUSTON, one of the largest and most important rodeos of the season.

"It can about make or break your season. If you do well enough, you just about punch your ticket to the NFR," said Payne.

Houston's arena is larger, which means the boxes are set further back, and steers run farther out. Four and five-second steer wrestling runs usually win the larger checks.

Payne will be traveling to Houston with a new teammate, a new horse that helped him qualify for the 2023 NFR during the regular season.

"I got him from Denard Butler. He let me ride him last season, and I turned more steers on him in three seconds than any other horse I've ridden," said Payne. "He's shorter, but he is so fast."

This exciting match-up has proven successful in the past, so Payne is looking forward to competing with his new horse for the remainder of the season. With Houston being next on the list, this dynamic duo has a big stage to conquer.

Payne said, "There's nothing that compares to the nerves and stress of the NFR. The rest aren't as nerve-racking, but Houston is big. It'll still make you have some nerves."

Published
Madi Roelofsen
MADI ROELOFSEN

Madi Roelofsen is a writer for Sports Illustrated's feature, Rodeo Daily. Madi not only writes about the western lifestyle and rodeo world but lives it daily. She attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, and competed in the barrel racing as part of their rodeo team. Roelofsen graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in animal science. Madi enjoyed not only competing in rodeo events but also spectating the greatest sport on dirt. In 2017, while on vacation attending the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, she met her husband Tim Roelofsen. They got married a few years later in 2020. Tim had already established TVR Working Horses but together they grew their program and enjoy raising foals, training colts, barrel racing, team roping and standing their stallions (TVR Eye Needa Corona and CR Baron Bee Joy "Big Sexy") in both Texas and Iowa. They stay busy with the horses, farming alfalfa and raising their baby girl, Texi. Madi has always been passionate about horses, from learning about different bloodlines, breeding the foals themselves to training and competing. She expresses that passion within the articles she writes to open up the world of horses and rodeo to everyone.  Twitter-@Madi_Roelofsen  Facebook- @TVR Working Horses

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