Nick Pelke will always be among the first to congratulate a friend on their success. And over the last few years, he’s had to do that numerous times.
When it comes to bareback riding in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Pelke has traveled with guys like Tanner Aus and Cooper Cooke. He’s also longtime friends with people like Jacob Lees, Jayco Roper, Cole Reiner and Leighton Berry. Each of those cowboys has earned a spot at the Wrangler National FInals Rodeo, and Pelke has been there to celebrate their accomplishments.
All the while, he’s been waiting for his moment to shine.
“I’m not going to lie – I kind of got sick of seeing all my buddies going to the Finals and me not going with them. Great for them, I’m not taking anything away from them at all. But you sure wish you were going with them in December, I’ll tell you that much,” Pelke said with a laugh. “But everybody has got that goal and it works out for different people at different times. It’s taken me a little longer than most to put it together, but I’m happy it is.”
After back-to-back finishes inside the top 25 in the PRCA World Standings, Pelke has taken the insights from his early days on the rodeo trail and used them to his advantage this season. The Mondovi, Wisc., cowboy has already cleared more than $62,500 in earnings for the year, putting him fifth in the World Standings heading into the coming summer run.
The turning point for Pelke came early as he won the average at the North American Championship Rodeo (also known as the Great Lakes Circuit Finals) back in November. Along with a round win at the New Years Eve Buck & Ball, Pelke came into 2025 with more than $17,000 already in his ledger.
His quest for that first NFR bid really took shape at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo as Pelke won round money on four straight rides, battling back through the wild card to reach the finals. Against J Bar J’s Straight Stick, he posted a 91.5-point ride, the first 90-point ride of his PRCA career, to win the round and claim a $20,000 check.
“I remember looking at (The Cowboy Channel reporter) and being like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to say anything without crying.’ She was like, ‘That’s all right,’” Pelke said. “I held it together but it was pretty obvious I was half choked up the whole time trying to talk.”
Since then, Pelke has done his best to keep adding on to his earnings while maintaining his place in the standings. He picked up round money in San Antonio and Houston, and took second at the Dixie National Rodeo and Battle Born Broncs. He closed out May by winning the Will Rogers Stampede.
Pelke admits there was a time in his career when he felt like every ride had to be the best of his life. Now, he’s come to understand what it means to have a more business-like approach to competing. He’s discovered the importance of consistency and confidence, both of which have put him in position for a special season – one that will hopefully see him join his buddies in Las Vegas this December.
“I’ve drawn the right horses at the right places and capitalized on them,” Pelke said. “I think in the sport of rodeo, particularly bareback riding but any event, I think the more consistent you can get and the more confidence you can build, the better off you are when those opportunities arise, which took a couple years for me to learn.”
Photo courtesy of Fernando Sam-Sin/@fsamsin