From cowboy Calcutta to rough and rowdy tiebreakers, the fourth annual Battle Born Broncs rodeo lit up the Rafter 3C Arena in Fallon on Saturday, April 20. With top riders facing off against some of the best bucking stock in the world, the night was packed with action, grit, and good old-fashioned Western entertainment.
This year, Battle Born Broncs moved from June to April to coincide with the Fallon High School Rodeo. The combined weekend allowed for an expanded PRCA Rodeo Camp on Friday and a full-throttle pro rodeo event on Saturday night.
The festivities began with a Friday night welcome party featuring live music from Cash Prophets of Shingle Springs, California, sponsored by Sizemore Construction. Old-school country tunes filled the arena as cowboys and cowgirls of all ages danced the night away after touring the first-class Western Marketplace trade show. Vendors offered everything from handmade jewelry and leatherwork to boots, apparel, and rustic yard art.
Saturday night kicked off with a packed VIP dinner for contestants and generous sponsors like the City of Fallon, A&K Earthmovers, Les Schwab and many more. A Cowboy Calcutta followed, in which spectators bid on cowboys competing in the event. The highest bidder “buys” a rider or team; if they win or place, the bidder earns a share of the prize money. Proceeds often support a local cause or add to the purse.
When I came time to load the chutes, 30 bareback riders and 30 saddle bronc riders geared up to test to their mettle in one of the world’s most dangerous sports. Fans cheered as they watched a fierce showdown between elite riders and legendary broncs. One fan-favorite—Mustard of Sankey Pro Rodeo—made his fourth return to Fallon, helping Nick Pelke land second place in the bareback competition with a score of 86.5.
In the Bareback Riding, Rocker Steiner claimed the top spot with 89 points on Sozo from Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics, earning $7,924. Nick Pelke followed in second with 86.5 points on Mustard, also from Sankey, for $6,075. Cooper Cooke placed third with 86 points and took home $4,490, while Kade Berry scored 85 for fourth place and $2,906. Rounding out the top five, Jess Pope earned 84.5 points for $1,849. Additional placings included Sage Allen, 83.5 points, $1,321; Weston Timberman, 83 points, $1,057; and Cole Franks, 82 points, $792.
In the Saddle Bronc Riding, Sage Newman and Darcy Radel tied for first with 88.5 points each—Newman on Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic Nation and Radel on The Black Tie from Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics—earning $7,025 apiece. Lefty Holman secured third with 86.5 points for $4,506. Ben Andersen and Brody Cress tied for fourth at 86 points, each receiving $2,386. In sixth place, Damian Brennan and Q Taylor both scored 84.5 points and were awarded $1,193. Zachary Dallas rounded out the top eight with 84 points and $795.
Notably, Brody Cress represented Wyoming and took home $2,386 with his 86-point ride. Rocker Steiner’s win marked him as the first two-time champion of the Battle Born Broncs. Radel and Newman, tied for first, settled the winner of the bronze trophy with a friendly leg-wrestling match—Radel came out on top. Newman, who previously won the bronze in Fallon in 2024, was a good sport about leaving the bronze behind this time.
Battle Born Broncs delivered not just a thrilling show, but a celebration of rodeo tradition and rising talent. With big wins, new legends, and a packed house of cheering fans, Fallon once again proved it’s a place where champions ride.
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