PRCA Flashback Friday: Trey Benton III’s 2012 Sikeston, Mo. Win Sparked his First WNFR Trip

Trey Benton III has qualified for seven Wrangler National Finals Rodeos. His first trip to Las Vegas came back in 2012 at just 20-years-old, when he went on to finish ninth in the world.

It was a bull ride at the Sikeston (Mo.) Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo 10 years ago this week that further cemented his spot in the Top 15. Benton III put together an 86-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Two Faced.

That score was good enough for the Richards, Texas cowboy to split the win with fellow WNFR qualifier Trevor Kastner and earn himself a $4,343 payday.

He would eventually end the 2012 ProRodeo regular season third in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $109,743. He’s rode a lot of bulls in the 10 years since then, but he still remembers the key stretch like it was yesterday.

“I remember 2012 really well because it was my rookie year in rodeo,” said Benton 30. “At that point in the season I was fighting to get to the No.1 spot in the world. I think I already had the Finals made at that point. It was about trying to go into Vegas as high as possible in the standings.”

Benton III said it was a season that he’ll never forget as it set the stage for everything he’s accomplished in the sport.

“Just to get rolling that like in your rookie year and even if you had a few problems, you still obtained the goal of making the NFR your first year,” he said. “I think making the NFR again the next year was an even bigger accomplishment because it’s hard to make it back especially in back-to-back season. So, to be able to have that success my first few years of rodeoing I’m very fortunate.”

You can follow this year’s Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo on The Cowboy Channel and the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App, Aug. 10-13.

Courtesy of PRCA