Bubba Buckaloo
Bubba Buckaloo – Kingston, Okla. ($88,868)
First-time WNFR qualifier
Bubba Buckaloo’s journey to his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has been full of twists, turns and has involved a lot of different team roping partners.
In fact, the $88,868 won during the 2018 regular season was with six different heelers. And none of them were Chase Tryan, who will be roping behind Bubba in Las Vegas. Bubba joined the PRCA in 2008. Prior to this year the highest he finished in the world standings was 23rd in 2015.
He has far surpassed this, qualifying for the NFR in sixth place. His year got off to a big start at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo last February. Roping with Joseph Harrison, they stopped the clock in 3.9 second to tie for the fastest time in the final round.
San Antonio’s championship is based on money won. Bubba and Joseph each collected $21,863, about $2,000 less than winners Coleman Proctor and Billy Jack Saebens. Then he won Rodeo Corpus Christi in Texas with Clint Summers. He got two more titles with Tyler Worley and one with Hunter Koch. He also had some success with the reigning world champion heeler, Cory Petska and Travis Woodard.
While he has had several team roping partners, his horsepower has remained consistent. Bubba works for Dufur Quarter Horses from Caddo, Oklahoma. He has the distinction of being the only team roper at this year’s NFR riding a stallion, Dash Ona Drifter, aka “Prowler” owned by Dufurs.
Bubba has been working on an NFR qualification for most of his life. He started roping with his dad when he was just five year’s old. Steve Buckaloo rode horses and roped on the ranch and in the arena. He also had a sand and gravel business.
He competed in high school and qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo three out of four years. A major life change came about in 2014 when he got married. His wife, Josie, travels with him and helps keep him positive.
The self proclaimed “nervous person” will be doing everything in his power to stay calm, focused and positive as he ropes on rodeo’s biggest stage in December. His family, friends and fans will be on the edge of their seats as he and Prowler work to make a big impact in Las Vegas.
