Young Saddle Bronc Rider Takes Average Lead at PRCA Permit

Shea Fournier took the lead in Saddle Bronc at the PRCA Permit Finals in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, as the 2024 PRCA Saddle Bronc season continued across the country.

Fournier, a 22-year-old from Raceland, La., won the second round of the event with an 86.5-point ride on Wilamena, supplied by Cervi Championship Rodeo. That ride earned him $1,024 in the second round, after he collected $512 in Friday’s first round, where he earned third place on an 81-point ride.

With a two-round average of 167.5 points, he was 0.5 points ahead of Zachary Dallas, who claimed the win in Round 1 with an 85-point ride, which also netted him $1,024.

Dallas ended up in fourth place with an 82-point ride on Saturday.

At the Waller County Fair and Rodeo in Hempstead, Texas, Cort Scheer took the lead and the top payout with an 82.5-point ride on No. 800x, supplied by Pete Carr Pro Rodeo. Scheer’s ride replaced Tegan Smith at the top of the standings after Smith’s 81.5-point ride on Friday.

Scheer won just one Saddle Bronc event during the 2023 season, which was in San Antonio. But he’s a six-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier with more than $1.3 million in career earnings.

Roper Kiesner, Brady Hill and Brandon Lansford rounded out the Top 5.

At the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo in Bonifay, Fla., Joe Farren and Parker Kempfer shared the final winnings in the Saddle Bronc after taking the lead with identical 82.5-point rides. Farren rode 4L & Diamond S Rodeo's Painted Too Blue, while Kempfer rode 4L & Diamond S Rodeo's Gabriel. Each won $1,319 each. Farren shared the title at last year’s event in Bonifay.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING RESULTS

Waller County Fair & Rodeo

Hempstead, Texas, Oct. 5-7

1. Cort Scheer, 82.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's No. 800x, $2,267; 2. Tegan Smith, 81.5, $1,738; 3. Roper Kiesner, 81, $1,285; 4. Brady Hill, 78, $831; 5. Brandon Lansford, 77.5, $529; 6. Weston Patterson, 76, $378; 7. Jake Clark, 75.5, $302; 8. Jake Finlay, 75, $227.

Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo

Bonifay, Fla., Oct. 5-7

1. (tie) Joe Farren, on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo's Painted Too Blue, and Parker Kempfer, on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo's Gabriel, 82.5 points, $1,319 each; 3. Brandon Lansford, 79, $819; 4. Jarrod Hammons, 76, $546; 5. Jack Smithson, 75, $318; 6. Wacey Hathcock, 73, $227.

PRCA Permit Finals

Waco, Texas, Oct. 6-8

First round: 1. Zachary Dallas, 85 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo's Scarlette, $1,024; 2. Ira Dickinson, 83.5, $768; 3. Shea Fournier, 81, $512; 4. Dylan Hancock, 80.5, $256. Second round: 1. Shea Fournier, 86.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo's Wilamena, $1,024; 2. Isaac Richard, 84, $768; 3. Bailey Small, 83, $512; 4. Zachary Dallas, 82, $256. Average leaders: 1. Shea Fournier, 167.5 points on two head; 2. Zachary Dallas, 167; 3. Bailey Small, 163; 4. Ira Dickinson, 161.5; 5. Isaac Richard, 160; 6. Dylan Hancock, 154.5; no other qualified rides.

Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo

Rosenberg, Texas, Oct. 6-8

1. Will Pollock, 81 points on Mo Betta Rodeo's Shasta Pop; 2. (tie) Jarrod Hammons and Garrett Long, 80.5 each; 4. Weston Patterson, 80; 5. Parker Kempfer, 78; 6. Dean Wadsworth, 76.5.

Grand National Rodeo

Daly City, Calif., Oct. 6-7

First round leaders: No qualified rides. Second round leaders: 1. Gregory Koehler, 71 points on Flying U Rodeo's Maggy May; no other qualified rides. Average leaders: 1. Gregory Koehler, 71 points on one head; no other qualified rides.