SHAWNEE, Okla.-- The 32nd edition of the International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR) welcomed over 820 contestants from across the world, to the tight-knit community of Shawnee, Okla. Concluding on the evening of July 12, 13 new champions were crowned, etching their names in the history books, alongside many of rodeo’s greatest legends.
The champion youth rodeo stars left the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center with the pride of earning one of the most coveted youth rodeo titles, significant shares of the near $220,000 total payout and most importantly– priceless memories that will span a lifetime.
Kicking off the excitement in bareback riding was leading man Kash Loyd (Cleburne, Texas). The Team Calendars member entered the short-go as the leading roughstock rider, with a 10-point aggregate lead. With an impressive 83.0 ride, Loyd followed in the footsteps of many historic bareback riders, becoming the 2024 IFYR Bareback Riding Champion.
Reflecting on the week, Loyd said, “The entire week has been awesome. Starting with a go-round win and continuing it into a short-round win, it’s ecstatic how great this week has been for me.”
Did someone say déjà vu in the team roping? Fans and competitors alike watched in awe as 2023 IFYR Team Roping Champion Cason Richey (Sunset, Texas) and Beldon Cox (Weatherford, Texas) repeated their victory lap with an impressive time of 16.6 seconds on three steers.
Patton Ann Lynch (Crawford, Texas) continued her winning ways during the competitive short-go. Running a 16.092-second run in the final round, the Texas cowgirl pocketed over $7,000 and the prestigious barrel racing champion title.
Narrowly topping the competitive field of pole benders was Texas cowgirl Camree Slavin (Canadian, Texas) with a smooth 20.690-second time, and an aggregate time of 40.138 seconds.
Home state cowgirl Bleu Hall (Okmulgee, Okla.) stayed true to her winning ways in the final round of the IFYR Breakaway Roping. With a quick 1.9-second run to conclude her week in Shawnee, she collected over $6,700 at the pay window and a lifetime of priceless memories.
Smooth and consistent, Cajun cowgirl Alyssa Gary laid down a 7.0-second run in the final go to maintain her number one position in the average. Taking home nearly $3,000, the rising sophomore at McNeese State University expressed her gratitude for the opportunities in Shawnee. “It’s so exciting, I love getting to be in Shawnee. The first thing I could do was smile. I was so excited; it was just such a happy moment to win.”
Laying down one of the fastest times of the week was Blake Carter (Seminole, Okla.) during the short go. With an impressive 7.7-second run, the home state cowboy rose to the top of a competitive pack of tie-down ropers to capture the event win.
For the first time in IFYR history, the steer wrestling title was won by two athletes. Tying for the prestigious title with an aggregate time of 13.9 seconds on three head were Kreece Dearing (Chico, Texas) and Colton Wilson (Bertram, Texas). The two athletes battled each other all week while also cheering each other on. Dearing explained, “There is no one else I’d want to share this win with. This is a memory we’ll share forever.”
North Carolina cowboy Colt Bass (Statesville, N.C.) continued to dominate the saddle bronc riding field, taking home the prestigious title with an accumulative score of 237.5 on three horses.
Covering his second bull in the final round, Jack Mitchell (Weatherford, Texas) took home the bull riding champion title and nearly $3,000.
For over three decades, the IFYR has welcomed youth rodeo standouts, for one of the largest and most prestigious titles. For more information about the IFYR, please visit here.
