Travis Munro Claims RAM Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo Win
By: Dianne Finstad
Travis Munro wants to be the first Australian to make the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling. He showed that’s a realistic goal by starting his 2024 season with a win at the RAM Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo.
Munro, 30, placed second and third, and then took the average with 14.7 seconds on three head, earning a total of $5,909.
“I knew what I wanted to do,” Munro said, about his third steer. “I didn’t get a great start, but I got a good start. I just had to really stay out of my own head and let the chips fall.
He was a heavier, slower steer, and I just made a run on him, and it all worked out the way I needed it to, in my favor.”
The 5.3-second run didn’t place, but it was enough to snag the title.
“I honestly didn’t even know I’d won the average until afterwards. I thought I came in second, so I was pretty bummed out,” he said. “When I got told I’d won it, I was pretty excited. It’s the first ProRodeo buckle I’ve won in America actually, so it means a lot. It’s nice to get the first one out of the way and I’m going to be making sure there’s plenty more to come.”
It was Munro’s second trip to the Prairie Circuit showdown, where he was runner-up last year for both the average and the season long honors. But since Jacob Edler won both titles, Munro got the nod for the first NFR Open in July.
“Before that week, I had negative $300 left in my account,” Munro said. “I’d been in a bit of a dry spell, and I won $15,000, and it gave me a shot at the NFR. I finished 18th in the world.”
The former rugby player had just returned from a quick trip down under to his home in Queensland, Australia, where he told friends and family he was coming back to the U.S. to win the Prairie Circuit average and get back to the NFR Open.
“I try and have a very positive mindset. This year my main goal was to get into the top 30, so I can go to all the winter rodeos, and give myself a real good shot,” he said. “I wish I made the Finals. But I made my goal and gave myself a shot at the NFR. I think I’m the first Australian to be that high in the world steer wrestling PRCA | RAM World Standings at the end of the year.”
“I had a good year, but it made me hungrier to know that I can actually do it.”
Other winners at the $214,563 were all-around cowboy Coleman Proctor ($7,725, team roping and steer roping); bareback rider Jayco Roper (252 points on three head); team ropers Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin (18.1 seconds on three head); saddle bronc rider Jacob Benham (224 points on three head); tie-down roper Cash Fuesz (26.1 seconds on three head); barrel racer Tracy Nowlin (48.30 seconds on three runs); steer roper Cole Patterson (33.2 seconds on three head); and bull rider Creek Young (166.5 points on two head).
Courtesy of PRCA.