Wyatt Nez of Flagstaff, Arizona, posted a ride of 85 points on Powder River Rodeo’s bull No. 194 on Thursday night at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo in Cortez at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Jessica Nix/PRCA Photographer
Wyatt Nez of Flagstaff, Arizona, posted a ride of 85 points on Powder River Rodeo’s bull No. 194 on Thursday night at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo in Cortez at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Jessica Nix/PRCA Photographer

CORTEZ – 95 years and still growing – the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo competitors made sure that the fans wouldn’t have to wait long to see some incredible action.

Last year, it took until Saturday before the fans witnessed a successful eight-second bull ride in the night’s final event. In the 2025 edition of the UMR rodeo, it took one rider.

Wyatt Nez, a bull rider from the Navajo Nation who calls Flagstaff, Arizona, home, electrified the night with a ride of 85 points on Powder River Rodeo’s bull No. 194. Speaking with UMR public relations director Madelaine Gaskey after his big ride, Nez lauded the special moment, “Every time I nod my head, I’m thinking about that eight-second buzzer and making sure I give it everything I’ve got.”

Riley Barber from Blackfoot, Idaho jumps off his horse to wrestle his steer at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
Riley Barber from Blackfoot, Idaho jumps off his horse to wrestle his steer at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
Taylor Winn from Annabello, Utah prepares to lasso his steer’s hind legs during the team roping event at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
Taylor Winn from Annabello, Utah prepares to lasso his steer’s hind legs during the team roping event at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal

Nez joined a pair of other riders to post scoring rides on Thursday night, joining Brad Moreno’s 76 and Mecate Trammell’s 70.

Along with the strong initial score posted by Nez, there were several other marks on Thursday will be difficult to unseat through the rest of the weekend. Wyoming cowboy Hunter Reaume posted a run of 10 seconds flat in tie down roping to best a field of six other runs that were under 12 seconds.

World No. 2 team roping combination of Tanner Tomlinson and Travis Graves proved why the duo is a threat to win the NFR title this winter, posting a run of 4.4 seconds as the first team out of the gate.

Cooper Lane from Keller, Texas rides Rockin Cotton during the saddle bronc competition at the rodeo at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
Cooper Lane from Keller, Texas rides Rockin Cotton during the saddle bronc competition at the rodeo at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
After a harrowing ride, Bronc Chuck Another Cord finally bucks off Stephen Graefen from Dwight, Illinois at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
After a harrowing ride, Bronc Chuck Another Cord finally bucks off Stephen Graefen from Dwight, Illinois at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal

A pair of efforts from the Thursday morning slack runs held up through the night, highlighted by Texas cowgirl Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi setting an arena record in barrel racing with a run of 17.17 seconds. Meanwhile, Keenesburg, Colorado’s Brady Buum posted a 4.2 second steer wrestling takedown as the top four efforts in the event came in the morning session.

Six-year-old Savannah Stuckman holds on tight during the Mutton Bustin’ event at Thursday night’s rodeo at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
Six-year-old Savannah Stuckman holds on tight during the Mutton Bustin’ event at Thursday night’s rodeo at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
The evening’s rodeo clown John Harrison tries to budge his horse companion during one of the many interludes between competitions at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal
The evening’s rodeo clown John Harrison tries to budge his horse companion during one of the many interludes between competitions at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo on June 12 at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal

In breakaway roping, a tie between Grace Perez and Braylee Shepherd with each cowgirl posting times of 2.6 seconds set the stage for an exciting next two days in the event.

In the bareback and saddle bronc events, Wyoming’s Myles Carlson posted the best score to open the night’s festivities with a ride of 78 points on Siete Lagos in bareback riding, while Australia’s Joe MacQueen established the Day One best of 79.5 in the saddle bronc while riding Wackadoodle.

Friday’s rodeo action commences at 7 p.m., with Military Night being celebrated at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. Among the many exciting elements of the night, the famed Wright family will be available for autographs from 5:30 – 6 p.m. before they take to the arena in saddle bronc and bull riding.