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COLORADO SPRINGS - One of the dominating mantras in the sport of ProRodeo is that, because of its camaraderie and close-knit atmosphere, rodeo is one big family. That will certainly be true - in the literal sense - at the 2010 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where 14 contestants will be competing alongside family members Dec. 2-11.
Led by the Wrangler NFR's first dual three-brother combinations of Clay, Travis and Brady Tryan and Clint, Clif and Tuf Cooper, this year's Wrangler NFR will truly be a family affair.
In addition to the ropers, the steer wrestling brother tandem of Curtis and Cody Cassidy will compete together in Las Vegas for the first time after Cody secured his first Wrangler NFR qualification this year. Top-ranked Curtis just won his second Canadian Finals Rodeo title Nov. 11-14, and seventh-ranked Cody also has two of those championships on his résumé.
For the third time, brothers Heith and Cody DeMoss have qualified for the Wrangler NFR in the saddle bronc riding together, with Heith coming in ranked fifth and Cody in the 12th spot. The bronc riders also competed together in Las Vegas in 2007 and last year.
Rod Hay's decision to withdraw from the Wrangler NFR due to injury means there will be a second set of brothers in the saddle bronc riding field, with 2008 World Champion Cody Wright being joined by younger brother Jesse. Jesse Wright finished the regular season in 16th place, just $428 out of the final qualifying spot that went to Sam Spreadborough.
Throw in Trevor Brazile, who is Tuf and Clif Cooper's brother-in-law, and Stran Smith, who is an uncle of all three Cooper brothers, and the family ties run deeper. If that wasn't enough of a representation of the sport's family atmosphere, steer roper Dan Fisher competed at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping in Guthrie, Okla., Nov. 5-6, with his sons, Vin and J. Tom.
Western and rodeo families are closer than most, so it should come as no surprise that so many family members have qualified for the sport's pinnacle event.
"Everybody grows up wanting to be a cowboy," said Cody DeMoss, who is competing in his seventh Wrangler NFR this year. "As far as ranchers and cowboys in general, it's a family affair - whether it's being at home raising cows or ranching. Rodeo is America's sport, and America should be all about family. We're just happy to be able to be a part of it, and we're enjoying every minute of it."
Curtis Cassidy is chasing his first world championship in his fourth Las Vegas qualification and said that this year's Wrangler NFR will be extra special since his younger brother will be there, too.
"I think it's going to be really cool," Curtis Cassidy said. "You don't get a chance like that every day, and to be able to go and compete with my brother every night is going to be awesome. We've made the Canadian Finals together and a few other different places, but nothing as big as Las Vegas.
"It's going to be a lot of fun. It will just be cool to be down there competing together."
The Cassidys have a healthy competitive relationship and a sibling rivalry, but are always quick to be there for each other every step of the way.
"We always try to outdo each other all year long, but we're also supporting each other at the same time," Curtis said. "If one does better than the other, we'll always razz each other a little bit, but we're definitely in each other's corner, too."
Cody Cassidy, who qualified for his first Wrangler NFR despite breaking his wrist in July, can't wait to get to Las Vegas and compete with his brother.
"It's something that, when you start out, you set as a goal," Cody Cassidy said. "It's going to be pretty neat for the both of us brothers to be there, and it'll definitely be something you remember forever."
For the bulldoggers' father, Greg, having both of his sons competing at the Thomas & Mack Center is a wish fulfilled.
"I remember sitting beside my dad in the stands watching Curt the first time he made it in 2002 and him saying he wanted to see both of us there together," Cody Cassidy said. "At the time, I had just started steer wrestling, so I kind of chuckled and thought it was a far-fetched idea. But, as time changed and I got better, it became a reality."
Cody DeMoss said that competing alongside his younger brother at the "Super Bowl of Rodeo" is something that never gets old.
"Heith is always exciting to be around anyway, and there's never a dull moment with him," Cody DeMoss said. "Watching him ride the buckers every night, you never know what's going to happen, so you've always got to watch. God has blessed me and Heith by leaps and bounds, and we're just so thankful for what He's done for us.
"To get to go to the NFR with your brother in the same event - you just can't describe that. It's very special."
Of all the brother pairings, the greatest age disparity is to be found with the Wright brothers. Cody Wright is 33 and Jesse 21. It's the first year that any of Cody's seven brothers will be with him at the Finals.
"It's exciting," Cody Wright said. "I don't remember ever talking about it (competing at the NFR with a brother), but I always hoped they would go, and I always hoped that we would travel together.
"There's about 10 years difference in our ages, so I didn't know what would happen. I didn't put any pressure on them, but I hoped it would happen. It's nice to have (Jesse) with me. It's just neat that he made it."
-Neal Reid
This is an excerpt from the Wrangler NFR Preview Edition of ProRodeo Sports News.
The entire PSN edition will, for the first time, be posted online at prorodeo.com as of Dec. 2.