The 21-year-old bareback rider from Minden — a two-time Nevada State High School Rodeo Association champion — is having his best season on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit and said he’s excited to have a chance to ride for the big prize money and coveted Silver Spurs trophy awarded to Reno Rodeo winners.
“Oh yeah, I’m excited,” Denny said. “That’s my favorite rodeo. It’s pretty much my hometown rodeo. My family will come out.”
The 95th anniversary Reno Rodeo — the city’s longest-running special event — starts its 10-day run on Thursday with Xtreme Bulls and will wrap up June 28 with the championship go-round. Between the rodeo and its auxiliary events, nearly $3 million in prize money will be distributed in the next two weeks.
Denny will be one of 17 cowboys and cowgirls from Northern Nevada in the field of 658 competitors in this year’s rodeo. The top 12 in each event — bareback, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding — qualify for the championship go-round.
For Denny, just knowing he would be in the field was a relief.
“I’ve entered it four times and been drawn out twice,” he said.
The bareback field will feature 48 riders, most of which are riders in the top 50 of the PRCA World Standings. Riders outside the top 50 can enter, but get “drawn out” from the field if a rider above them in the standings also enters.
Denny has been in that situation twice. Last year, he was drawn out, but made the field at the last minute when one of the riders above him was injured and couldn’t compete.
This year, there was no doubt if he would make the field.
“I’m sitting 36th right now, so I was pretty solid,” he said.
Solid is the way Denny’s season has been going. His name has been popping up near the top in the results for a number of rodeos, including earlier this month when he won the bareback title at the Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City, Kan., and split first place at the Southwestern International PRCA Rodeo in El Paso, Texas.
Those wins helped push Denny’s season total to $8,166. With the bulk of the rodeo season still to come, he has already surpassed his earnings from last season.
“I have more experience,” he said. “It’s my third year now. I’ve been working out a lot and staying healthy and that makes a big difference. I work out as much as I can, and that really helps out.”
His first- and second-round rides in Reno will be on June 26 and 27, respectively, as he’s in the final set of 12 riders who compete over two-day periods in the preliminary rounds.
In the meantime, he’ll be on the rodeo road, including competing for Feather River College in the College National Finals Rodeo this week in Casper, Wyo. Denny has been on a rodeo scholarship with Feather River College in Quincy, Calif., for the past two years.
The Reno Rodeo kicks off the busiest time of year for professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, with many competing in a rodeo per day through much of July. Known as “Cowboy Christmas,” competitors can make the majority of their money for the regular season.
Denny, who is traveling with his younger brother, Wyatt, said it will be a busy few weeks.
“I won’t be home from now until … I don’t even know,” he said. “We’re just trying to make the best of it.”
He knows he’ll be in Reno for his rides, with his brother and parents, Norm and Cindy, in town to watch.
“I’m excited for that,” Denny said.
NEVADA COMPETITORS
• Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville: He is up in the team roping during slack and in the eighth performance on June 27. He is also up in the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping on June 23.
• Jade Corkill, Fallon: He is up in the team roping during slack on Saturday morning and in the second performance on Saturday night. He is also up in the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping on June 23.
• Grant Denny, Minden: He is up in the bareback riding during the seventh performance on June 26 and eighth performance on June 27.
• Dakota Eldridge, Elko: He is up in the steer wrestling during morning slack on June 27 and during the eighth performance on June 27.
• Jamie Gee, Paradise Valley: She is up in the barrel racing during slack on June 23 and during the fourth performance on June 23.
• Clint Harry, Nixon: He is up in the team roping during slack on June 23 and in the fourth performance on June 23. He is also up in the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping on June 23.
• Daxton Jim, Owyhee: He is up in the team roping during slack on Sunday morning and in the third performance on Sunday night. He is also up in the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping on June 23.
• Sterling Lambert, Fallon: He is up in the steer wrestling during slack on June 26 and during the seventh performance on June 26.
• Markus Mariluch, Elko: He is up in the bull riding during the sixth performance on June 25.
• T.J. McCauley, Reno: He is up in the team roping during slack on June 23 and in the fourth performance on June 23. He is also up in the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping on June 23.
• Rachel Primm, Washoe Valley: She is up in the barrel racing during slack on Saturday morning and during the second performance on Saturday night.
• Kimberli Quinn, Reno: She is up in the barrel racing during slack on Friday morning and during the first performance on Friday night.
• Renee Ryckebosch, Sparks: She is up in the barrel racing during slack on Friday morning and during the first performance on Friday night.
• Lita Scott, Reno: She is up in the barrel racing during slack on June 26 and during the seventh performance on June 26.
• Sterling Ray Ward, Gardnerville: He is up in the bull riding during the sixth performance on June 25.
• Remi Wildeman, Elko: He is up in the bull riding during the third performance on Sunday night.
• Kourtney Woods, Fallon: She is up in the barrel racing during slack on Saturday morning and during the second performance on Saturday night.
RENO RODEO
WHAT: 95th anniversary Reno Rodeo
WHEN: Thursday-June 28
WHERE: Reno Rodeo Arena, Reno Livestock Events Center grounds
EVENTS: Bareback, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, barrel racing, bull riding, mutton busting, businessman’s steer decorating.
TICKETS: $12-27 depending on seating and performance date. (Day of performance tickets sold at the gate increase $3.) Tickets are available at www.renorodeo.com, by calling 800-325-7328; at the Lawlor Events Center ticket office on the University of Nevada campus or the Reno Livestock Events Center ticket office at 1350 N. Wells Ave.