Heading into Vegas: 5 Big Storylines for the 2025 NFR — Through the Lens of 3H Rodeo – by Wayne Hassinger, Photojournalist – 3H Photography/3H Rodeo

As we prepare for the energy, excitement, and suspense of what is the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), I thought I’d share some storylines heading into this year’s Super Bowl of Rodeo.

It is important to note at the onset, while I capture a lot of rodeo action through the lens, I am not a “carded” PRCA photographer and thus do not have access to “shoot” the National Finals Rodeo. PRCA photographers must go through a comprehensive process to get their card, and even then, they must be selected to shoot the NFR. While I await news on my recent PRCA application, I continue “shooting” amateur, youth, and pro rodeos and bull ridings that I am invited to.

Typically, this time of year is full of anticipation leading up to the NFR while winter rodeos kickoff around the country signaling the beginning of the new rodeo season. However, as of this writing, the rodeo world is solely focused on an outbreak of Equine herpes virus (EV-1) that broke out mid-November which has numerous events canceling or rescheduling in an effort to keep all horses safe. In simplified terms, think Covid for horses (both in terms of potential danger to the horses and people’s reactions to the outbreak). I could write an entire blog on the current situation, but Kendra Santos already penned a fantastic post covering the topic (https://www.facebook.com/kendrasantoscowboys).

Let’s look forward by reflecting just a bit. It’s been on my mind to reflect on five key storylines coming into the 2025 NFR, and how some of what I captured at the Daddy of ‘em All (Cheyenne Frontier Days) ties into what is going to make this year’s NFR one for the books. Every cowboy and cowgirl knows – a win at Cheyenne can change their season and propel them into solid spot in the top 15. 

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1. The Bubble Battles: Who Fought Their Way into the NFR

Easily one of the most compelling themes of this rodeo season has been the fight to just get in. Ride hurt, sleep less, travel farther, be cowboy — the guys and gals who clawed for every dollar while gutting it out to secure that coveted NFR berth should be congratulated.

While Rocker, Stetson, Wacey, and Riley all punched their tickets to the show with plenty of season left, some of the sports’ biggest names were down to the wire:

• Saddle bronc rider Lefty Holman secured the 15th spot on the season’s final day, edging out Wyat Casper by less than $2,000.
• 16-time qualifier tie down roper Shane Hanchey punched his ticket for the 15^th spot by a mere $1,600 by earning a $4,000 payday in Sioux Falls
• Bareback rider R.C. Landingham missed the 15^th spot taken by Tilden Hooper by $110 – down to the wire, to the last jump – unbelievable!

Why it matters for Vegas: These are the scrappers with momentum. They’ve earned a spot in the show, and in a pressure cooker like the NFR, that kind of grit can lead to a championship buckle.

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2. History-Making Performances at Cheyenne & Their Impact on the Standings

The Daddy of ‘em All is more than the largest outdoor rodeo – it is a battleground where world standings shift in real time.

• On Championship Sunday, bareback rider Kade Berry broke a 51-year-old arena record with a 93.5-point ride on Lunatic Heaven.
• Also, on Championship Sunday, Brody Cress took a historic victory lap – look at the excitement of winning his record 4^th CFD saddle bronc championship on The Black Tie and making huge movement to qualifying for his ninth NFR.
• The total payout at CFD was huge — more than $1.12 million! That kind of cash doesn’t just keep you going down the road – it reshapes the race to Vegas!

I’m fortunate to shoot from “the dirt” on the hallowed grounds of Frontier Park, and I work hard to capture moments for the cowboys & cowgirls as well as the grit, the emotions, and the pageantry of pro rodeo. I get the shots of tight grips on the reins, deep breaths in the ready-area, the Dandies at work, and the animal athletes when they’re not performing.

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3. Young Guns vs. Experienced Killers

This year’s NFR field is packed with contrasts: First-time qualifiers going toe-to-toe with proven rodeo veterans.

• In bareback, four cowboys are making their NFR debut.
• On the women’s side, Lisa Lockhart secured her 19th NFR qualification, tying the all-time record.
• During 9 CFD rodeo perfs, I photographed a number of these faces: The rookies brimming with optimism, the veterans with their calm intensity, and the anticipation of what the future holds.

Vegas significance: When fresh energy meets hard-earned experience, the result is unpredictable — and electric.

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4. Paychecks Are Bigger Than Ever and the Stakes Are Higher

Pro rodeo has come a long way in the last decade, and that’s clear when you look at the money to be won. There is a lot of discussion about the money in rodeo – some suggest that the added money makes it look better than it actually is for many cowboys & cowgirls – but that’s an article for another day. 

• Nearly all NFR qualifiers this year crossed six-figure earnings in the regular season.
• The massive payout at The Dad had real consequences for the world standings. CFD has always had this effect, but the purse continues to grow which is the other reason every cowboy must make it to Cheyenne.
• Higher earnings mean tighter margins, more pressure, and bigger swings in who comes out on top in Vegas.

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5. Gold Buckle Dreams & Who Can Handle the Heat

Above everything else, the NFR is about one thing: The gold buckle. The season storylines about the newcomers, the veterans, and the money chase all lead to Vegas for the top 15 in each event, and now it’s time to see who can handle the pressure on the biggest stage.

• In bareback, Rocker Steiner has been a dominant force and solely focused on taking that buckle home, but guys like Sam Petersen, the new young gun in the bareback event, are coming into Vegas with plenty of confidence.  
• Cowboys like Ty Harris & Brody Cress have been here many times before but have yet to take the world champion buckle home.
• In all my years shooting CFD, I have always worked to capture images of cowboys and cowgirls facing the pressure and winning despite it. The great thing about the Dad – contestants want to win the coveted CFD buckle almost as much as that NFR gold buckle – so the pressure is always on at the Daddy of ‘em All.

Vegas matters because this isn’t just about the payday. It’s about legacy. Who can peak at the right time and be their best for 10 days in December? Who can handle the lights, the pressure, and the expectations?

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Closing Thoughts — Through the 3H Lens

As I look ahead to the NFR, just a short 10 days away now, I don’t just see those yellow chutes and the lights of Vegas — I see stories. Every picture I made this year at Cheyenne has its echo in Las Vegas: the rising rookies, the veteran champions, the celebrations & the disappointments, and the pressure-filled ready-area.

Here’s what I’ll be watching in Vegas:

• Those bubble-qualifiers who fought, who grinded, who were cowboy, and who made it.
• Cowboys & cowgirls who made major moves at Cheyenne and carried that momentum all the way to Vegas.
• How the first-time NFR qualifiers handle the bright lights and pressure of the show.
• How the veterans handle the pressure from the young guns. They’ve got experience handling the pressure of the NFR, but how do they handle those coming for them?

You can bet on this – I’m pulling for every one of them! Thanks for riding and reading along.

All photos ©2025 3H Photography/3H Rodeo

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