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2024 NLD BUFFALO BILL RODEO
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2024
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
2023 RODEO CHAMPIONS Team roping champ: Matt Zancanella and Clay Holz A Nebraskan and a South Dakotan paired up to win the team roping.
Rodeo Association, and she’s breakaway roped in the Kansas Pro Rodeo Assoc. With the advent of breakaway at pro rodeos, she’s been competing at the pro level for about three years. “When I got the buckle in the mail with my name on it, I thought, this is crazy. I’ve won hundreds of buckles, but that was my first pro rodeo buckle.” The McMasters stay busy: she is a traveling nurse who works about 150 days a year. Together, they own a bar and grill, with a small hotel and also farm and ranch. As they travel, they try to hit as many rodeos as they can, the pros as well as the regional rodeos. Last June, they competed in Overton after Jessica had roped in North Platte, and won the mixed team roping there. She’s attended the Buffalo Bill Rodeo when her husband has roped there, but competing there was great. “It’s a cool rodeo and an insane atmosphere,” she said. “There were a lot of people there, especially for a Thursday night.” First buckle she won: at age 6 for the all-around, at the Eagle Creek Saddle Club. She competed in the barrels, poles, and the flag race. Favorite snack: Chex Mix. Rodeo accomplishments: Kansas Pro
Header Clay Holz, Niobrara, Neb., and heeler Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D., won the ’23 Buffalo Bill Rodeo with a 5.1 second run. Holz is a former Nebraska High School Rodeo athlete; Zancanella is a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier (2002-2004). The duo also won rodeos in Killdeer, N.D. and Northfield, Minn. This is the second time for Zancanella to win North Platte; he won the team roping in 2013 with Ty Blasingame. Jessica McMaster won her first ever pro rodeo buckle at the 2023 Buffalo Bill Rodeo. The Madison, Kan. cowgirl won the breakaway with a time of 2.7 seconds to win $2024 and the golden hardware. Even though North Platte was her first pro buckle, she’s no stranger to rodeo. She and husband Dawson McMaster have team roped together for years at the regional level, in the Nebraska State Rodeo Association and the Mid-States Breakaway roping champ: Jessica McMaster
© Don Christner photo
Jacob Benham, 2023 Saddle Bronc Riding Champ.
Saddle bronc riding champ: Jacob Benham Jacob Benham won his first pro rodeo buckle at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo. He scored 87 points on the Beutler and Son horse Rage for the win, the buckle, and a check for $2913. It was the first trip to North Platte for the 24-year-old, a resident of Dodge City, Kan. He had gotten his PRCA permit in 2022, but didn’t think he was ready for the pros. “I was trying to build my confidence and compete at some open rodeos,” he said. “I was thinking, (North Platte) is a big rodeo, and I wasn’t quite ready for it.” But ready he was, winning against some of the biggest names in saddle bronc riding and not being intimidated by them. “I looked down the line (of chutes) and saw all of those bronc riders, and I thought, ‘just go do your job.’ It was definitely a big moment for me to be on
that stage, with those guys, riding against them.” When he’s not rodeoing, Jacob trains horses and day works for area ranches, often getting up early in the morning to start the day. “I try to ride broncs more than work,” he said. “It’s more fun to rodeo for a living than it is to wake up at 4 am and go to work all day.” First buckle he won: at age ten, for the barrel racing in Hoxie, Kan. at an NBHA event. His mom made him and his brother barrel race before they did any other rodeo event, to learn how to ride. “It’s very important to ride correctly,” he said, “and learn how to control your horse and learn the frustration of not winning.” Favorite snack: black pepper beef jerky Rodeo accomplishments: 2023 Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo winner; 2x Prairie Circuit Finals qualifier. Family: wife Madison
© Don Christner photo
Matt Zancanella and Clay Holz, 2023 Team Roping Champ.
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