While it’s called The American, there was some Canadian content at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 1st. T here were cowboys, bucking horses and a pick-up man from the North Country in front of 42,563 spectators that braved a blizzard to get there. The one-day spectacular, two-million-dollar rodeo was broadcast to millions of homes.
The winners in each of seven events received $100,000 for their efforts. The top 10 in last year’s standings were invited back, but in addition there was a million-dollar bonus to be paid to a winner or winners that came through a series of qualifiers. Bareback rider Taylor Price and roper Reese Riemer shared the bonus and left with $600,000 payoffs.
Jake Vold of Airdrie was second in the ‘riggin riding’ and pocketed a cool $25,000. After the rodeo he told rodeo writer Dianne Finstad, “It was amazing. There were six cameras on you at all times and cameras in the air. It makes you really feel like a pro.”