Tate Kirchenschlager

Tate Kirchenschlager – Yuma, Colo. ($75,738)
First-time WNFR qualifier

On Oct. 1st when the 2019 regular rodeo season was officially over, Tate Kirchenschlager posted on his Facebook wall, “What an unforgettable year it has been – I qualified for my first NFR.”

When Tate starts this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 12th place with $75,738 in earnings. Throughout the year he has roped with five different partners, and two of them got him big wins that were critical to his qualification.

Last year he finished 47th in the world standings. That got him into San Antonio where he roped with the reigning team roping rookie, Ross Ashford for the first time. They got the W there and collected $25,750. Just like that, the eight-year-member of the PRCA was at the top of the world standings.

He took the advice of other team ropers to not get too far ahead of himself thinking about the NFR, kept his nose to the grindstone and kept working. There were a lot of rodeos left in the season and talented ropers that had their eye on the same prize.

A sigh of relief came after winning the Ellensburg Rodeo with Buddy Hawkins II. Prior to earning the $9,417 in Washington, Tate was on the bubble at 15th. After Labor Day, he had moved up to 11th and felt pretty secure, but again kept working.

Growing up in the eastern plains of Colorado, Tate learned about hard work early. His parents both roped and Tate was soon swinging one of his own. He won the International Youth Finals Rodeo in Shawnee, Oklahoma three times. Then he moved to Weatherford, Texas to go to college.

He got a job riding horses for Gerald Hanning who lived near there. Gerald found a horse coming up for auction and he liked the bloodlines. He bought the horse sight unseen. That horse turned out to be the 2019 PRCA/AQHA heading horse of the year, Jewels Smoke Screen.

Gerald sold the horse to Brad Lands and Brad let Tate rodeo on the 12-year-old gelding. Both of his big wins this year came on “Smoke.” He will bring him and one other horse to the NFR. He has high hopes for Smoke there after the horse did well at San Antonio.

Tate’s qualification is made much more special because of his equine partner. Tate did all of the roping training on him and gave him rodeo experience last year to set them up for this year. That hard work and planning will see a Colorado contingent in Las Vegas cheering for their favorite header.