The road to the NFR is filled with more than just quality runs, diligent preparation and a strong mindset for success. It’s more than smart decisions regarding traveling partners or the time put into setting achievable goals that contribute to what you want out of the sport. For rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, success often begins long before they back into the box or settle down into the chute to nod their heads. It starts with a smart entry strategy that considers travel, logistics, available purse and, above all, feasibility. With hundreds of rodeos on the calendar, competitors must weigh in on decisions regarding stock quality, arena conditions and competition level. The Fourth of July rodeo run – also known as Cowboy Christmas – is considered one of the busiest weeks or months of the year due to the sheer number of rodeos that can be entered and the money up for grabs. Cowboys and cowgirls alike view this time strategically and plan their runs according to their set goals and standards for the year.
Photo by Sam-Sin Photography
Tucker Allen, 25, of Ventura, California, is a 2024 NFR steer wrestling qualifier and is well on the way to another qualification to Las Vegas this December. However, despite his strong start in the 2025 season, Allen is no stranger to the importance of a well-planned and executed Cowboy Christmas. To Allen,
“The Fourth of July is one of the most important weeks of the rodeo season… some of the best rodeos are then, and it is important to work the big ones.”
Allen furthered the idea that despite the importance of hitting the large rodeos, utilizing the vast number of smaller but well-run productions is equally as important to making the finals. As a steer wrestler, Allen takes into consideration his traveling partners, the logistics involved with travel, and the timing of performances and slacks. Allen will primarily be traveling with Justin Shaffer, Jace Melvin and Holden Myers during the 2025 season.
When asked about his Fourth of July entry and horsepower strategies, Allen expressed that, often, they will leave horses with family and fly out to work other rodeos where they will mount out. According to Allen, “We always try to work certain slacks [over the fourth run] to make the rest of the week easier for Livingston [Montana], Red Lodge [Montana] and Cody [Wyoming].” It is no secret that the fourth run is hectic and can be classified as brutal for contestants. When asked how busy the month of July is in terms of running steers, Allen stated, “I think that is the easiest part of the whole week. You try and block out what has gone into getting to that rodeo and just do the best you can.” Allen furthered the idea by saying, “If it doesn’t work, all you can do is be ready for the next steer that day or that next morning or night.” Given the physical strain, Allen elaborated, “It’s always a given that you will be worn out mentally after the fourth, but physically, for our event, it’s not much of a toll since we are in shape and run lots of practice cattle.” Fundamentally, the Fourth of July rodeo run is instrumental in qualifying for the NFR; Allen stated, “The fourth is important to us and can almost ensure your ticket to the NFR if you hit big. You must take each steer one at a time and not carry the bad runs with you to win on the next one.”
Photo by Sam-Sin Photography
Tristen Hutchings, 25, of Monteview, Idaho, is a three-time NFR bull riding qualifier with notable successes through NFR round wins, PRCA rodeo titles, collegiate championships and most recently, the 2025 American Rodeo bull riding title. As a rough stock competitor, the logistics of travel and the expenses associated with rodeo differ slightly in comparison to the timed event cowboys and cowgirls. However, the amount of opportunity and the need to plan strategically does not change, no matter the event you compete in. According to Hutchings, “There is a lot of opportunity when it comes to the Fourth of July … some people call it quits if they don’t have a certain amount of money won, but I’ve seen the Fourth of July make or break [a competitor].”
Photo by Clay Noel Harper
In terms of entry strategies, Hutchings expressed, “We go to the largest paying rodeos and make the [logistics] work. You might not trade all year, but you trade during the fourth.”
Travel between flights and driving varies from contestant to contestant; however, Hutchings primarily “drives to everything… sometimes we pay for it in less sleep, but we have our home on wheels at the rodeos.” As for strategically planning in their entering, Hutchings, and his traveling partners “try and map it out” in a way that ensures the bigger rodeos are hit and that they are not overdoing it. The Fourth of July is busy, and according to Hutchings, “It’s nonstop. You never get a break, and it’s a great time to be on a heater!”
Photo by Sam-Sin Photography
Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, South Dakota, and 18-time NFR barrel racing qualifier has a more unique and substantial approach to the Fourth of July rodeo run to maximize profits and showcase her horses’ abilities. Cowgirls competing in barrel racing take into consideration the importance of Cowboy Christmas and its ties to an NFR qualification. Lockhart stated, “Ultimately, there is a lot of money to win in July and August… so you just never say never. It a perfect time to capitalize on some large venues, and so it is something that you plan strategically to fit your situation.” For Lockhart, the cowgirl primarily tries to fit her horses to which rodeos she believes they will excel at the best.
Photo by Clay Noel Harper
“It’s not always about what is the biggest rodeo, but where my horses have the biggest chance.”
Horsepower is key to success within the WPRA barrel racing, and allowing the horsepower the chance to do the talking is necessary for a successful fourth and overall season. When asked about entry strategies to maximize the number of rodeos attended, Lockhart stated, “Quality not quantity. I’m very strategic in trying to plan my schedule where my horses are not worn out” due to the number of rodeos available at the end of July and into August. “I will strategize where I can hit as many good ones as I can and know they will fit my horses’ situations while still [prioritizing] rest.” For the NFR Barrel Racing Average Champion, in some years, the planning is very routine, while in other years, it can change. Lockhart continued with her grateful outlook on getting to compete in the Bad Lands circuit and the number of rodeos available in that region. The flexibility of schedules allows Lockhart to switch out horses or adjust her schedule depending on the needs of her and her four-legged athletes. A key decision factor that goes into Lockhart’s overall success as a barrel racer within the WPRA.
Rodeo is a high-stakes sport where the wrong decision or lack of preparation can be the deciding factor between a gold buckle or the loss of one. The right decision can make all the difference between being crowned a champion or being sent home to try again the next year. Behind every ride or run is a careful calculation of travel routes, added money, stock draws, arena setups and overall competitive formats. No matter your level of competition, smart entry strategies are as essential as the ropes you choose to use, the way you set your feet or the decisions that go into a successful run. In the sport of rodeo, every second counts, and the factors that contribute to winning do not always start in the arena, but rather the choices made long before you pull through the gates of the grounds.
