The WRANGLER Horse and Rodeo News is an equine and rodeo publication with circulation in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Utah and Idaho.
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Las Vegas. "I'm looking for stuff that is and could hold up on the PRCA trail, is seasoned, and could be at the NFR that year," Morrison said. "The demand for top stock for every contractor is high, they are looking for the superstars, and that's what we try to bring them every year," he continued. Starting early in the year, Nate starts watching videos and traveling to rodeos and futurities to scout for that year's sale stock. Throughout the summer, he keeps an eye on them to see how they're holding up, talks to cowboys who've been on them, and by October has made his final calls on who is going to Vegas. Horses and bulls are so often judged by their bloodlines, but Morrison places a heavy emphasis on their ability to buck and remain sound throughout the year. "Pedigree has a lot to do with it, but this sale is geared way more towards performance. The value is in their performance," Morrison said. While it's possible to find a horse sale every night of the year across America and Canada, what makes the Binion Sale so unique is the format. In 2014, the PRCA Permit Challenge was brought in, where the top permit holding cowboys ride, and the horses and bulls are auctioned off as soon as the whistles blows. The top permit holders in the timed events are also invited and the event is a fully fledged rodeo performance. Coupled with the Permit Challenge is the Stace Smith Bronc Futurity. The 16th through 30th bronc riders in the PRCA standings, who narrowly missed the NFR, are invited to the futurity. There, top level 4 and 5-year-old saddle broncs are bucked and sold. The top stock in the world fetches a high price. In 2023, the top selling bareback horse, Dynamite Trail, sold for $45,000. Lipstick Stain, a saddle bronc horse, sold for $23,000, and a bull named White Wolf went to the highest bidder at $50,000. However, it was a futurity saddle bronc horse, Lilly Monster, that brought the biggest check at a whopping $77,500. Overall, the entire sale cleared $1,000,000 in 2023. This year the sale will be held on Thursday, December 5, the first day of the NFR. Traditionally, the event was held over two days, but this year the permit challenge will be held in the morning with then futurity in the afternoon. "One thing I really want to promote is how spectator-friendly of an event it is, it's very exciting. Especially with the Permit Challenge, if you're a timed event fan or just a roughstock fan, you're getting it all. With this year with the Stace Smith Bronc Futurity and the Permit Challenge, we're going to offer once ticket for both events in one day. It's always the first day of the NFR, and we're always done in enough time for everyone to get over to the Thomas and Mack for the NFR," Morrison said. Tickets will go on sale on the South Point Hotel and Casino's website closer to the event. More details can be found on https://www.bennybinionsale.com. Lucas Macza on 508 Redford. Photo Credit: Casey St. Blane Photography Keenan Hayes on 213 Blazing Saddles. Photo Credit: Casey St. Blane Photography