Feild, Jarrett and Masters Surpass $2 Million
Three cowboys joined the $2 million club during the 2018 summer run. Bareback rider Kaycee Field, tie-down roper Ryan Jarrett and team roper Chad Masters all surpassed the $2 million mark in career earnings in the last couple of months.
Tuf Cooper, Cory Petska and Matt Shiozawa also joined the $2 million club earlier this year (Click here to read their story).
Of the thousands of cowboys to compete in the PRCA, only 27 had surpassed $2 million in career earnings. Now that number is to 30.
Feild was the first of the recent trio to make $2 million. He needed to win $34,800 to surpass $2 million, and he accomplished it as of July 2 PRCA | RAM World Standings.
One week later, Jarrett surpassed $2 million as of the July 9 standings. The Georgia cowboy had needed to earn $41,000 in 2018 to surpass $2 million.
Masters needed to earn $88,108 this season to surpass $2 million. He accomplished that as of Sept. 17, when the money he won at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up was factored in.
Kaycee Feild
“It’s pretty unreal,” Feild said. “It’s not a goal I ever had, to make $1 million or $2 million. But, to be in the game as long as I have and to have the success I’ve had at such a young age is amazing and humbling.”
Feild started competing with the PRCA in 2007 and went on to qualify for the Wrangler NFR eight times (2008-15) and won four consecutive world titles (2011-14).
“What it took to achieve that will last a lifetime – the memories, the historic rides, the championships, all of it,” Feild said. “I’d heard Billy Etbauer and Cody Ohl, when they went over $2 million, it was like, man, that’s a ton of money and something cool. Not many people are in that gang. The more I think about being in the league with those guys, it’s a true blessing to be one of the luckiest to do this for as long as I have and stay healthy.”
Feild ended the 2017 season ranked 30th, but he came back swinging in 2018 and is ranked seventh in the world standings. Surpassing $2 million and basically clenching his ninth Wrangler NFR qualification was thanks in part to winning seven rodeos outright this season and being co-champion at the RAM Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo.
“You’ve got to have fun on the rodeo trail and make memories, and you have to be tough in the roughstock events,” Feild said. “You have to be mentally prepared and physically ready to take a beating.”
Ryan Jarrett
Jarrett wasn’t aware that he crossed the $2 million mark, but he knew he was getting close.
“It’s quite an accomplishment for sure,” Jarrett said. “I’ve been rodeoing 14 years, so I’m glad to finally have crossed the $2 million mark.”
Jarrett had another thought.
“I’d like to know where it’s all at,” he laughed. “It’s very expensive to compete in rodeo, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve enjoyed rodeoing and will continue to enjoy it.”
Jarrett started competing with the PRCA in 2004 and went on to have a highly decorated career. He won the All-Around world title in 2005 while competing at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling and tie-down roping. He returned to the Wrangler NFR for tie-down roping in 2006, 2009-13 and 2015-17.
“It takes lots of dedication and determination,” Jarrett said. “A lot of people think it’s a bed of roses, but there’s a lot of grind and grunt work day in and day out from June through Sept. 30.”
Jarrett credits higher rodeo payouts for surpassing the $2 million mark.
“The prize money being richer now than it was 10 years ago helps for sure,” Jarrett said. “I hope rodeo continues to grow and make the prize money even better in the next 10 years.”
Chad Masters
Seventeen years into his PRCA career, just getting to compete in rodeo professionally feels like an accomplishment to be appreciated, Masters said.
“Shoot, I can’t believe I passed a million,” Masters said. “I know people are always saying this, but if you work hard at it, it pays off.”
Masters started competing with the PRCA in 2001 and made it to 30 rodeos his rookie year, then he qualified for his first Wrangler NFR in 2003.
“I saw I was in the Top 20 in 2002, and I couldn’t believe it,” Masters said, noting the increase in prize money over the years. “That meant as much to me as making the NFR.
“After years of rodeoing I’ve been to a lot of rodeos. I’ve been fortunate to have guys to help me get there and good horses. Without good horses and good partners, it’s a struggle, but if you have good horses and good partners it makes your job easier.”
That combination of good horses and roping partners helped Masters make 11 Wrangler NFR qualifications (2003-04, 2006-12, 2015 and 2017) while winning the world title in 2007 and 2012.
“I’ve had some great years and some bad years, and when you have the bad years it sure makes you want to win more,” Masters said.
Breaking into the $2 million club was the culmination of a lifetime of roping for Masters.
“My dad was a calf roper, and I was swinging a rope before I could talk,” Masters said. “We started team roping when I was 8 or 9 years old, and I’ve always loved the sport of roping as much as anything.”
Courtesy of PRCA