By Ruth Nicolaus
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — June 21, 2025 — While the College National Finals Rodeo wrapped up in Wyoming this weekend, two college rodeo athletes made a splash at the professional level in Nebraska, claiming victories during the final night of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte on Saturday.
Montana State University student Piper Cordes earned her first professional win in barrel racing, clocking in at 17.32 seconds aboard her 10-year-old gelding, Fiesta. The victory was especially meaningful for the Bozeman, Montana, freshman after a challenging college rodeo season.
“It was surreal,” Cordes said. “I’m glad all the ups and downs happened because it brought me here.”
Fiesta, whose dam Rosa was a six-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier with veteran barrel racer Lisa Lockhart, thrived in the wide-open layout of North Platte’s Wild West Arena.
In the bull riding, recent Sul Ross State University graduate Gavin Mitchell of Graford, Texas, was one of just three cowboys to make a qualified ride, scoring 77.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Six Shooter. Mitchell, who holds a degree in animal science, took home more than $5,500.
“My plan A is to ride bulls, and my plan B is to make plan A work,” said Mitchell, currently ranked fourth in the PRCA permit standings.
In breakaway roping, Cedar Jandreau of Kennebec, South Dakota, claimed the title with a quick 2.5-second run—just shy of the arena record. She rode a 5-year-old gelding named Dollar, owned by her father and trained by family friend Tate Cowan. The win comes after Jandreau spent last season recovering from a car accident that left her with two broken ankles.
Nebraska was well represented in steer wrestling, where Hoyt Kraeger of Weeping Water took home top honors with a combined time of 8.2 seconds on two head. Riding a horse trained by his brother Reed, who also hazed for him during the competition, Kraeger credited his win to the support of his family and team.
“It takes a lot of help,” Kraeger said. “You can’t do it yourself, especially in steer wrestling.”
Overall event champions were:
- Bareback Riding: Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, Texas (86 points)
- Saddle Bronc Riding: Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas (84 points)
- Tie-Down Roping: Jacob Haren, Callaway, Neb. (19.5 seconds on two head)
- Team Roping: Co-champions Garrett Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas/Conner Herren, Crooks, S.D., and Eric Martin, Aurora, Colo./Ryon Tittel, Pueblo, Colo. (6.1 seconds)
- Bull Riding: Gavin Mitchell, Graford, Texas (77.5 points)
Austin Hurlburt of Norfolk, Nebraska, was named the all-around champion (tie-down roping and steer wrestling).
During Saturday’s rodeo, the 2025 Trail Boss Award was presented to Deb Cox of Mullen, Nebraska. A lifelong horse trainer and barrel racer, Cox is celebrated for her six decades of involvement in the sport and her leadership in Rodeo Bible Camps.
The Buffalo Bill Rodeo is a central feature of NebraskalandDays, which continues next week with events including a prime rib feed, pickleball tournament, and concerts featuring Luke Bryan (June 27) and Bailey Zimmerman (June 28).