Five Wyoming Travel & Tourism sponsored cowboys are headed to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las Vegas this year. The world series of rodeo, this event hosts the top rodeo professionals across the country. Wyoming, having the smallest population of all the states, is home to three bull riders sitting in the top ten in the world standings. Kanin Asay of Powell, Bobby Welsh of Gillette and Clayton Savage from Casper are those three bull riders and they will be accompanied by their close friend, Dusty Tuckeness of Meeteetse, who will be protecting them in the arena. In order to be a bullfighter at the WNFR, you must be voted on by the top twenty pro bull riders in the world. Tuckness won after two rounds of voting. Team roper, Jhett Johnson from Casper will also be representing the state of Wyoming. Johnson has made himself and Wyoming visible by hauling a wrapped horse trailer across the country for the last three years.  The trailer includes scenes of Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Devils Tower.

Wyoming Travel & Tourism Director, Diane Shober is proud of this year’s talent and plans to root on Tuckness, the aforementioned bull riders and Casper team roper Jhett Johnson, “This is our fifth year and we are pleased to have made this connection with not only the rodeo athletes but also Wyoming’s vibrant rural, agricultural community,” Shober added., “Wyoming is the only state that sponsors professional rodeo athletes.”

Rodeo fans can follow WNFR action December 2-13 on The Rodeo Hand blog. Posts include recaps, video highlights and features stories.

Wyoming Travel & Tourism will have a table set up at the Wrangler booth (#425) at Cowboy Christmas in the Las Vegas Convention Center December 3-12. Folks can stop by, meet Team Wyoming, pick up a FREE personalized autograph sheet and enter to win a trip to Cheyenne Frontier Days or Cody/Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls. An online promotion will also be available for those not attending the national finals. Details will be available on the website.