The 43rd Wrangler/Professional’s Choice ACTRA National Finals brought ropers from across the Western United States, Hawaii, and Canada to Reno, Nevada, to compete for over $1,000,000 in cash and awards. With nearly perfect weather, 70° and sunny most of the week, it was a memorable event for contestants, sponsors, and spectators alike. Even when gusts reached 40 mph on the final day, the National Board kept things rolling smoothly indoors for the #3 roping. It was a week filled with sunshine, great roping, and unforgettable camaraderie, a true celebration of ACTRA’s mission and spirit.
This year was a great year for ACTRA and its members. Contestant participation was up 17%, and team entries increased by more than 680 teams. Over $50,000 in added money was paid out during the week, and an impressive 44% of ropers took home a check. If there was ever proof that ACTRA has something to offer everyone, this was it. New programs debuted this year; Buster 2.0 Monday, Polaris Rangers awarded in the California Custom Super 7, and the Red River Arenas #4.
Chase Grantham earned the Red River Arena Buster 2.0 Drag as the high-point roper on Monday, October 20. Only winning the drag by two points. Logan Sullivan and Blake VanStavern took home $15,200 and Polaris Rangers as champions of the California Custom Super 7. Thank you to Trevor Messersmith and California Custom Trailer & Power Sports for your continued support. The uncle-and-niece team of Avery Painter and Easton Foust claimed victory in the Red River Arenas #4, earning $13,570, Red River Arena chutes and lead-ups, and Tres Rios buckles.
ACTRA’s success wouldn’t be possible without the incredible partners who support our members year after year. A heartfelt thank-you to: Scott Thomas Saddlery, Wrangler, Professional’s Choice, Tres Rios Silver, Yeti, Resistol, Red River Arenas, Total Feed, Zesterra, Cactus Ropes, Fast Back Ropes, Rope Smart, California Custom Trailer & Power Sports, RenoTahoe, BEX, and The Gene Aguiar Family. The awards lineup was nothing short of outstanding.
Tuesday night’s Member Reception and Catastrophe Fund Auction at The Nugget Casino Resort was a highlight of the week. The food was excellent, the crowd lively, and the generosity unmatched. ACTRA President JT Bradley honored three surprise recipients as 2025 Lifetime Members: Larry McGrady, Shawn Aguiar, and Linnea Botelho. Each was moved to tears by the recognition of their years of service to ACTRA.
Branden Edwards took the mic for the live auction, which, along with the silent auction, raised an impressive total for the Catastrophe Fund. The evening concluded with the California Custom Super 7 Calcutta, leaving everyone in high spirits. A special thank-you to Dode Dugger for organizing such an incredible night — you outdid yourself.
Producing an event of this magnitude takes an enormous amount of coordination and teamwork. ACTRA is truly blessed with a dedicated Board and team that make it all possible. Thank you to Mark Moreland for the exceptional arena management and Zane Dansie for providing the outstanding chute crew and cattle. Hats off to Billy Butler, Brodi Jones, and Buck Cardoza for your consistent flagging and long hours in the saddle.
Thanks to Heidi Fettic, Kelli Riley, Linnea Botelho, Julie Cravens, Penny Barker, Carrie Hayes, Julie Okamura, Katrina Pelroy, and Courtney Medley for setting the tone and ensuring a smooth week. Appreciation to Shelly Winn for coordinating awards, Daphne Van Stavern and Brenda Robbins for managing the ACTRA booth, DeLisa Fracchia for keeping ACTRA’s social media fresh and current, and Branden Edwards, the Voice of ACTRA, for leading the opening and high-team ceremonies with enthusiasm and style, and an exceptional National Anthem.
ACTRA also thanks Jeff and Stacey Freitas of JF Video for streaming the Finals live on webcast and Cowboy Channel+, allowing fans across the world to share in the experience.
Our Reno partners play an essential role in ACTRA’s continued success. Greg Weinbender and the staff at The Nugget Casino Resort for their hospitality. The Reno-Sparks Livestock Event Center team for top-notch facilities and support. The RSCVA for ensuring the Reno community welcomes ACTRA families each year.
It was great to see the “Shop the West” Vendor Show return to full form this year! The rail spots along the mezzanine were packed with new and longtime vendors offering everything from early Christmas gifts to roping essentials. A big thank-you to Mike Jardine for coordinating with vendors and sponsors to create such an engaging shopping experience for contestants and fans alike.
The 2025 Wrangler/Professional’s Choice ACTRA National Finals were a complete success. For the complete National Finals results, visit www.actra.org
Ladies Breakaway: 1st Adriene Steffen 8.19 on 3, $3,200; 2nd Suzanne Williams 10.37 on 3, $2,300; 3rd Jayden Jensen 10.54 on 3, $1,850; 4th Cate Hepper 10.59 on 3, $1,450; 5th Gabrielle White 10.68 on 3, $1,200.
All-Girl Roping: 1st Kylyn Watkins / Rikki Perezchica 36.60 on 4, $1,740 each; 2nd Sammy Jo Duby / Loralee McKoen 49.00 on 4, $1,220 each; 3rd Denise VonTour / Brittnee Drawver 49.16 on 4, $930 each; 4th Adel Brown / Rikki Perezchica 55.20 on 4, $695 each.
Muley Roping: 1st Jace Jepson / Jarrett Peek 28.12 on 4, $1,500 each; 2nd Wyatt Peek / Jarrett Peek 32.31 on 4, $1,045 each; 3rd Nolan Scott / Gavin Cardoza 33.88 on 4, $775 each; 4th Preston Young / Dan Holland 34.12 on 4, $545 each.
#10½ Handicap Roping: 1st Ryder Winn / Noah Williams 24.88 on 4, $2,200 each; 2nd Todd York / Clay O Cooper 26.62 on 4, $1,650 each; 3rd Pierce Wold / Tucker Alexander 27.46 on 4, $1,170 each; 4th Zack Engelhart / Blake VanStavern 28.00 on 4, $825 each.
Mixed Handicap: 1st Alyssa Warnke / Ryan Wemple 27.66 on 4, $2,425 each; 2nd Shelby Dunning / Tucker Alexander 29.55 on 4, $1,960 each; 3rd Jeanne M Jones / Marty Okamura 32.00 on 4, $1,400 each; 4th Delaney Kunau / Asher Freeman 33.05 on 4, $1,025 each.
Open Roping: 1st Brodi Jones / Jason Duby 38.64 on 5, $3,535 each; 2nd Zalin Arritola / Clay O Cooper 40.01 on 5, $2,120 each; 3rd Blake VanStavern / Stoney Boy Joseph 40.79 on 5, $1,415 each.
Rope Smart Big Bucks #9: 1st Sutton Lockett / Chase Grantham 27.21 on 4, $9,000 each; 2nd Chance Kretschmer / Asher Freeman 30.40 on 4, $5,500 each; 3rd Zack Engelhart / Jason Duby 30.41 on 4, $4,200 each; 4th Sutton Lockett / Dawsyn Ozcoidi 31.79 on 4, $3,000 each.
#8½ Roping: 1st Billy Butler / Blake VanStavern 28.36 on 4, $2,400 each; 2nd Todd York / Conner Finks 30.45 on 4, $1,745 each; 3rd Justin Stacy / Gavin Cardoza 30.92 on 4, $1,300 each; 4th Colt Bray / Adam Fitze 31.24 on 4, $975 each; 5th Pierce Wold / Blake Bowler 31.32 on 4, $730 each.
Gene Aguiar Scholarship Roping: 1st Cash Filipponi / Chase Grantham 20.07 on 3; 2nd Brady Jardine / David Grupe 23.28 on 3; 3rd Bill Horner / Conner Finks 24.63 on 3; 4th Jason Duby / Bill Finks 26.63 on 3; 5th Bill Horner / Monty Jo Petska 27.67 on 3; 6th Jacob DeBusk / Cash Prettyman 28.35 on 3.
#6½ Over 40: 1st Brian Temple / Lonnie Varner 30.95 on 4, $1,850 each; 2nd David Rosenthal / Scott Harvey 32.34 on 4, $1,290 each; 3rd Mike Umbdenstock / Casey Glazier 33.46 on 4, $950 each; 4th Brian Temple / Nick Wilkinson 35.16 on 4, $670 each.
Century Roping: 1st Billy Butler / Daniel Green 29.93 on 4, $1,665 each; 2nd JT Bradley / Scott Harvey 30.19 on 4, $1,165 each; 3rd Mike Umbdenstock / Clay O Cooper 31.03 on 4, $890 each; 4th Todd York / Clay O Cooper 31.89 on 4, $665 each.
California Custom Super 7: Average: 1st Logan Sullivan / Blake VanStavern 35.59 on 5, $7,600 each; 2nd Sutton Lockett / Dawsyn Ozcoidi 37.51 on 5, $6,600 each; 3rd Luke Bowler / Daniel Green 39.66 on 5, $5,700 each; 4th Wyatt Bullivant / Chase Stouard 39.82 on 5, $4,800 each; 5th Cole Hook / Scott Harvey 40.20 on 5, $3,750 each; 6th Trent Hennigar / Trace Hennigar 41.35 on 5, $2,300 each; 7th Steve Dugger / Birch Eiguren 42.13 on 5, $2,000 each.
#4½ Over 40: Average: 1st Tim Jones / Ty Marriott 39.25 on 4, $3,165 each; 2nd Dan Coverly / John Amestoy 39.55 on 4, $2,475 each; 3rd Gary Bruhn / Jeff Staples 42.43 on 4, $1,790 each; 4th Larry Pearle / Blair Wheatley 44.09 on 4, $1,515 each; 5th Justin Dillon / Tony Graham 48.38 on 4, $1,240 each.
#5½ Roping: 1st Ty Duarte / Cole Hill 31.31 on 4, $6,000 each; 2nd Boone Seal / Sam Riley 32.56 on 4, $5,125 each; 3rd Logan Sullivan / Levi Segura 34.14 on 4, $4,480 each; 4th Dino Webb / JW Rose 34.71 on 4, $3,800 and $1,900; 5th Marti Anderson / Jimmy Gallagher 34.81 on 4, $3,045 each; 6th Colton Kluser / Todd Teskey 35.76 on 4, $2,420 each; 7th Kamish Wagner / Chase Stouard 35.86 on 4, $1,820 each.
Red River Arena #4: 1st Avery Painter / Easton Foust 37.02 on 4, $6,785 each; 2nd Tayler Jo Sherman / Lucas Teskey 39.94 on 4, $5,915 each; 3rd Mathew Burgess / Riley Hughes 40.27 on 4, $5,215 each; 4th Marty Powers / Lance Johnson 40.60 on 4, $4,345 each; 5th David Guerra / Luke McMullen 40.78 on 4, $3,560 each; 6th Christal Fiedor / Kim Grubbs 40.83 on 4, $2,815 each; 7th Paige Littrell / David Guerra 41.14 on 4, $2,025 each; 8th Rydin Joseph / Kapena Kaiwi 43.05 on 4, $1,285 each.
#3 Roping: 1st Whittney Wiberg / Elijah Dansie 35.57 on 4, $5,400 each; 2nd Kate Knoll / Tyler M Silva 35.93 on 4, $4,900 each; 3rd Colby Knoll / Carson Cash 38.69 on 4, $4,250 each; 4th Devin Kerr / Jack Kerr 39.50 on 4, $3,500 each; 5th Larry Pearle / Cuatro Sanchez 41.64 on 4, $2,825 each.
