Scottie Knapp

Scottie Knapp – Albuquerque, N.M.
First-time WNFR qualifier
1-time RNCFR qualifier

There was never any question about what Scottie Knapp wanted to be when he grew up.

He posted pictures of he and his sister on Facebook as children posing with the legendary Ty Murray. He watched as his father Scott Knapp pursued his passion of riding bulls when he was 36 years old.

Nothing was going to stop Scottie. He joined the PRCA in 2011 as a 20-year-old. He had already been competing on the Professional Bull Rider’s tour and qualified for their World Finals at 19 but that wasn’t enough.

He wanted to get on more bulls and qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR). It took five long years that have included injuries, heartbreak and joy, for Scottie to accomplish that goal.

Scottie finished in 19th place in the world standings in 2013. Then in 2014, he was not in the top 50. Last year saw him close to the NFR once again, just outside of the top 20.

This year he got off to a great start tying for fourth at the largest regular-season Xtreme Bulls competition at San Antonio, Texas. He earned $11,703 there. Scottie continued to pick up checks through the spring and early summer.

But his big breakthrough for 2016 came in July when he was the only man to ride two bulls at the California Rodeo Salinas. That was a big confidence booster as he won the first round, the final round and the overall title earning nearly $10,000.

Scottie enters his first NFR in ninth place with $98,098 in regular season earnings. He is the first bull rider from New Mexico compete in the Thomas and Mack Center in seven years.