J.W. Harris

J.W. Harris – Mullin, Texas
9-time WNFR qualifier
4-time World Champion
2-time RNCFR Champion

J.W. Harris has been electrifying rodeo fans for nearly 10 years. He joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2005, and one year later he qualified for his first Wrangler NFR.

That was the first of nine qualifications, four of which resulted in world championships. 2014 saw a big change in the game plan Harris. The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) offered him three event exemptions starting with Fresno, Calif., last March where he finished 18th.

The next event was in Nampa, Idaho and he finished second. Then it was Billings, Mont., with a seventh place finish. By September he had solidified his position in the PBR world standings and was on his way to their World Finals also held in Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mack Center where he finished third at the event and ended up ninth in their world standings.

With his success, Harris is more motivated than ever.

“This has lit a fire under me,” he said. “I love riding bulls and doing so well at the PBR finals is a big confidence booster going into the NFR.”

Harris was ranked second in the PRCA world standings in September with over $40,000 of his earnings coming from the PRCA’s Xtreme Bulls competition. The association has a rule in place that none of those earnings can be counted in the world standings if a contestant does not compete at more than 40 rodeos.

That is the situation that faced Harris the end of September when he dropped to sixth place going into the WNFR. While he has ground to make up to earn his fifth world title at the WNFR, never ever count this formidable bull rider out.