Oklahoma's Lazy E Arena ignites with top rodeo talent battling for world championships. Defending champions and rising stars vie for glory in thrilling performances at this year's IFR.
Tomorrow’s the start of the 56th annual International Finals Rodeo (IFR), the championship event of the International Pro Rodeo Association.
This year’s rodeo will be held at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, with 4 performances held January 15-18. The performances will be livestreamed on the NextGen rodeo app for fans across the country to follow.
The competition is tough this year, with top talent in every event. Going into this year’s rodeo, the number one spots in the world standings are as follows: Tanner Phipps in Bareback Riding, Darren Wagler in Bull Riding, Jack Smithson in Saddle Bronc, Dallas Philen in Barrel Racing, Brandon Ragsdale in Steer Wrestling, Heath King in Team Roping Heading, Stephen Britnell in Team Roping Heeling, Cynch Whitesell in Tie-Down Roping, and Grace Toberer in Breakaway Roping. These cowboys and cowgirls come from across the country, with their home states including Georgia, Indiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Several of these leaders are defending previous championship titles. At the 55th annual IFR, Tanner Phipps took home the coveted 2024 IPRA World Champion title, which was his third consecutive world title. Stephen Britnell also earned his eighth IPRA World Champion title in the team roping as a heeler.
Although not in the number one spot, the world standings hold many other world champions and fresh talent. Kyla Matthews reclaimed her title last year as the champion in the breakaway roping and is still a strong contender in the field with the potential for another title again this year.
Another notable talent not currently leading the world standings is the 2024 Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion Kody Rinehart, whose champion title was not his first, and will likely not be his last.
The beauty of these world standings is that they spotlight talent and seasonal success. They may predict world champions, but there can also be winners not included on the leaderboard, which is part of the unpredictable excitement of the rodeo.
A Gold Buckle Gala will be held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, January 14, and will be available for viewing via a livestream on Facebook. The first performance of the rodeo will be on Thursday, January 15 at 7:30 p.m., the second performance on Friday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m., the third performance on Saturday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m., and the fourth and final performance Sunday January 18 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday will be formatted as a kids day with the gates opening two hours before the start of the rodeo and numerous activities for kids offered. There will also be a trade show with numerous western vendors on display all throughout the rodeo for shopping and perusing craftsmen's products.
The rodeo will come to a close with the Sunday night world champion awards banquet and social hour, also held at the Lazy E Arena.
It’s almost time–which cowboys and cowgirls will take home the title of world champion this year?