Battle Born Broncs Moves to April

In 2022, several professional rodeo cowboys rode into the Oasis of Nevada, ready to take on some of the sport's toughest broncs. They came for the inaugural Battle Born Broncs, a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned bronc riding event in the newly completed Rafter 3C Events Complex.

Battle Born Broncs has set the stage for other professional rodeo productions at 3C, helping establish Fallon as a Western heritage destination. Now in its fourth year and with strong backing from the City of Fallon, Churchill County, and many dedicated sponsors, the event is raising the bar for rodeo excellence in Nevada.

This year, Battle Born Broncs moves from its traditional June Thursday night slot to next month. Rafter 3C officials and Darcie Spero, Battle Born Broncs founder and producer, elected to host the Xtreme Broncs event for April 18-20, 2025, to coincide with Fallon High School Rodeo weekend to give youth contestants a rodeo experience that will help them look to their future. 

Jesse Segura, Rafter 3C Deputy Director, the City of Fallon, and Spero have scheduled five college rodeo coaches from Cal Poly, Fresno State, Univerity of Nevada Las Vegas, College of Southern Idaho, and Feather River College to speak with the high school rodeo athletes. Coffee with the Coaches will allow contestants to learn about college rodeo and programs of study offered at the represented schools.

In addition, Battle Born Broncs is hosting a youth training camp on Friday, April 18. Aspiring rough stock riders will learn about safety and technical skills in the arena and the importance of health and fitness. This year, six-time world champion bareback bronc rider Kaycee Feilds, and Luke Branquinho, fourteen-time NFR qualifier and 5-time world champion steer wrestler, will be among the professionals sharing their knowledge of what it takes to be a champion.

The schedule change also benefits stock contractors, who must meet summer rodeos' demands in California, where contestants and contractors participate in multiple events on the same weekend. Battle Born Broncs stock contractors will bring their top PRCA bucking horses - thirty bareback and thirty saddle bronc, to test their mettle against top-ranking riders.

Riders will compete for $50,000, two coveted trophy bronzes, and other prizes valued at $10,000. All money won at this event counts toward the PRCA World Standings, determining the fifteen contestants qualifying to compete at the Las Vegas National Finals in December. 

Vendors will be set up in the mezzanine Friday through Sunday, closed Saturday from 2-5 p.m. to allow set up for the Saturday night PRCA bareback and saddle bronc performances. The Welcoming Party is on Friday, April 18, at 6 p.m. at Rafter 3C, featuring The Cash Prophets band (the gospel according to Johnny Cash). Sponsored by Sizemore Construction, the event is open to the public. The Cowboy Calcutta will be on Saturday, starting at 7 p.m., at the Rafter 3C Complex during the competitor's dinner. The performances will begin at 8 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The Cowboy Channel will be filming the action and airing the following week. The way to see the excitement in real time is to attend the performances. Tickets can only be purchased online at battlebornbroncs.com.