Shad Mayfield Overcomes Adversity to Win First Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
FORT WORTH, Texas – The sport of rodeo presents challenges at every turn in a contestant’s quest to be crowned a PRCA World Champion. Tie-down roper Shad Mayfield reached ProRodeo’s mountain top in 2020, capturing his first gold buckle in Arlington, Texas.
His mission for a second world title in 2024 nearly came to an end before it even got started. At the conclusion of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December, Mayfield met with the Justin Sportsmedicine team and Dr. Tandy Freeman to discuss lingering hip pain that had been hampering him for a few years. The diagnosis would’ve ended the season for most cowboys, but Mayfield has other plans.
“The last couple of years I’ve had a lot of problems with my hips, just being tight all the time and getting sore,” said Mayfield, 23. “I went to see (Dr.) Tandy Freeman at the first of the year. After the Finals it was really affecting me and I was really hurting, especially tying those calves.
“Tandy told me that I had a torn Labrum in both hips and Femoral Impingement, where there’s just not enough flexibility there. They told me that I needed to have surgery to prevent having hip replacements. That has kind of been on my mind as I was planning to do that, but honestly with the year I’m having and the lead I have, it’s not going to slow me down too much. I like battling adversity, so that’s what I’m going to do this year.”
It didn’t seem to slow down the five-time Wrangler NFR qualifier one bit at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo on Feb. 3. Mayfield walked away with his first win at the PRCA Playoff Series stop after clocking a 7.8-second run in the finals, besting Tyler Milligan’s time of 8.1 seconds.
“I love this rodeo and I love this setup. You know I came over here and won a round in my set. Then in the semifinals, I felt really comfortable in getting the win there,” Mayfield said. “Being second out tonight was tough with the set of guys coming behind me. I had to hold my breath and wait for the rest of the guys to go. Honestly, it was probably good to be second out because I kind of got to set the pace for everyone else.”
Mayfield’s trip to Fort Worth was worth $26,500, adding to his already sizeable early season lead in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. With the lingering injury now on the back burner, he’s chasing his spot back atop the mountain in ProRodeo.
“It’s still early in the season and having as much money as I do now is awesome. Everyone has the goal to have as much money won as they can going into the Finals,” Mayfield said. “Riley (Webb) took my regular season earnings record last year and I’m here to get that back this year. I’m trying to win as much money as I can. We go to San Antonio and Houston next. So, I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Other winners in Fort Worth were bareback rider Rocker Steiner (92.5 points on J Bar J’s Straight Stick); steers wrestler Dalton Massey and Tanner Brunner (3.7 seconds each); team ropers Clay Smith/Coleby Payne (4.5 seconds); saddle bronc rider Damian Brennan (91.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin); breakaway roper Danielle Lowman (1.8 seconds); barrel racer Sara Winkelman (16.4 seconds); and bull rider Cody Teel (87 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Goin Brandon).
Courtesy of PRCA