Kody DeShon

Kody DeShon – Helena, Mont.
First-time WNFR qualifier
1-time RNCFR qualifier

Kody DeShon’s first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) qualification came down to the last ride at the last rodeo of his regular season.

It wasn’t exceptional, in fact it wasn’t even great – it was however, enough. He was 16th in the world standings behind Tanner Learmont a week before the season ended. All of the guys on the bubble were making late-season pushes for a trip to Las Vegas.

Kody was in Kansas City at the American Royal Rodeo and got on Silver Creek Pro Rodeo’s Dougie for one of the most important eight seconds of his career. It resulted in a 76-point score that earned him $489. He moved up to 15th in the world standings by a mere $206.

While Kody will be representing the state of Montana at this year’s WNFR, he will always call Idaho home. That’s where he was born, raised and where his bull riding career started. His father Brent DeShon has been a big influence in and out of the arena. Tragically, Brent was killed in a snowmobiling accident two years ago, just six days before Kody’s 28th birthday.

Kody joined the PRCA in 2010, but this is the first year that he has hit the rodeo trail hard enough to qualify for the WNFR. California was good to DeShon as he won Lakeside and $3,000 last April, then tied for the win at San Juan Capistrano in August to keep his hopes of a WNFR qualification alive.

Kody has career earnings of $87,348 and $62,633 of that has come this year. With his first WNFR qualification and never-say-quit attitude, that figure is expected to increase substantially.