Ty Harris was ProRodeo’s version of the Energizer Bunny over the 2024 Cowboy Christmas run, rounding up $49,551 across 12 rodeos to smash his previous Cowboy Christmas earnings of $40,000.

After roping in 12 rodeos in eight states and two Canadian provinces in just over a week, what did Harris do on his first day off on Sunday, July 7?

He got in a good practice session and prepped to teach a 5:00 a.m. roping clinic the next day, of course.

“I’m running on adrenaline still,” Harris, 26, said. “I’m tired but I’m still so excited. The last 24 hours or so, seeing what I got done in Prescott and how it was adding up . . . I’m still rolling off of that.”

Harris has good reason for the high—he just set and achieved a big goal during Cowboy Christmas 2024 — the run of rodeos encompassing the week of the Fourth of July—to break his own record of $40,561, the most money won by any cowboy, in any event or combination of events. Harris set the mark a year ago.

Goal set, goal achieved, no problem. New record? $49,551.

Harris rodeoed with his brother Joel, also currently inside the top 15 of the PRCA World Standings, fellow tie-down roper Nick Achille along with good buddy Keary Hines, who was along to help out. It started in Greeley, Colorado, and ended in Prescott, Arizona, with a ton of time behind the donut in between.

Ty Harris’ Cowboy Christmas Winnings:

*NFR Playoff Series Rodeos

• June 25—Greeley*, 8.8 seconds, 6th 1st Go, $1,531
• June 26—Reno, Nevada, 12.4 & 8.7 — no $$
• June 28—Ponoka, Alberta, 11.4 & 10.7 seconds, 17th, no $$
• June 29—Williams Lake, British Columbia, 8.6 seconds, split of 4th, $3,027
• June 30—Greeley, 9.4 seconds
• July 1—Mandan, North Dakota, 7.7 seconds, 1st, $4,829
• July 2—St. Paul*, Oregon, 8.6 seconds, split 4th 1st go, $2,442, 17.3 seconds on 2 head, 2nd average, $5,862
• July 3 AM slack—Oakley*, Utah, 7.4 seconds, 1st, $6,275
• July 3 PM perf—Greeley Short Round, 9.0 seconds, 2nd, $1,248; 27.2 on 2 head, 2nd in average, $5,312
• July 4—Cody*, Wyoming, 8.2 seconds, split 4th, $5,245
• July 4—Livingston*, Montana, 12.3 seconds, no $$
• July 5 AM slack—Basin City*, Washington, 7.9 seconds, 1st, $4,954
• July 5 PM perf—Eugene, Oregon, 8.4 seconds, 1st, $3,180
• July 6—Prescott*, 8.8 seconds, split 1st 2nd go, $2,482; 19.9 seconds on 2 head, 3rd in average, $3,164

“We drove all of it until the last, after Eugene. I got up at 5:00 a.m. that next morning and caught a flight to Phoenix and drove up to Prescott,” Harris noted, adding he split time between his good horses Mo and Sally and mounted out for Prescott.

The $5,646 won in Prescott was an little unexpected icing on the cake.

“I had entered for the sixth but didn’t get it and was drawn out,” Harris said. He made use of the walk-up replacement policy, taking a spot left vacant due to another competitor’s turn out.

“It was pretty crazy to get back in there,” Harris said.

Prior to last year’s Harris-induced fireworks, the San Angelo, Texas, roper had never experienced a great Fourth of July but, just about 370 days later, he lays claim to the two best and an eye-popping $90,112 in two years.

It’s all red, white, blue and green for the five-time NFR roper who was already ranked second in the PRCA World Standings after claiming his first RodeoHouston win this winter. He’s now pushing hard on World leader Shad Mayfield, who looked invincible right up until Harris’ torrid Fourth.

“Just being older and being more ready,” Harris said of what flipped the switch for him last year and carried over in to 2024. “In the past, I didn’t really get warmed up until late July so I think just being ready sooner in the year.”

Beyond that, it’s really just a matter of attitude and passion for the game.

“Honestly, I just love all these rodeos, I love getting to run one every day,” he explained. “When you’re happy to be where you’re at and you’re mentally in a good place, it helps a lot.”

Harris gives credit to his hauling group, particularly Hines.

“He’s a good guy and he gives me a few hours [of rest] here and there, taking care of horses and everything,” he said. “It’s a blessing to have him with us; he’s awesome.”

Harris also credits good draws and mental toughness.

“I had a lot of really good calves and, in the past, sometimes I’ve backed off on those or pushed too hard,” Harris explained. “The ball definitely rolled my way as far as drawing but I’m really excited and proud of myself for going and doing my job and not making those mistakes.”

The blur of rodeos and roping—and winning runs—left little to stand out, but Harris did mention his run at the Cody Stampede, the biggest one header of the week.

“I really felt good about that run. It was a bigger, stronger calf,” he said. “But really, every one of them stood out and for a lot of different reasons.”

After teaching his craft to a group of students on Monday, July 8, he’s got more time to pause and reflect before heading to his next rodeo, the Calgary Stampede, beginning July 11.

“It feels so surreal,” he laughed of winning so much so quickly, “but it definitely makes you want to go harder.”

“I’ve been lucky to do a lot of cool things [in rodeo] but to battle out with Kaleb [Driggers] and Junior [Nogueira] who are two of the best to do this . . . I know they’re in a different event but they were winning so much and I was trying to win more than them and it came down to the wire,” he said.

The two-time World Champion team ropers broke their own record for Fourth of July earnings in their event with $47,275 won but came up just short of Harris’ winnings.

“It doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things but making those short term goals like that sure gives you the motivation and the confidence to keep going,” Harris said. “I’m ready for Calgary.”

Elsewhere In the Standings

While Harris stole the headlines on the final weekend push, World Champions Shane Hanchey and Haven Meged provided the early fireworks.

Hanchey finished his run with $36,185 won while Meged went for $34,160. Both cowboys won big in Ponoka and placed deep in St. Paul and Oakley, while Meged won Williams Lake and picked up the All Around win in St. Paul, too.

Kincade Henry won the Greeley Stampede, part of a $21,182 week for him, and John Douch used a share of the win in Livingston to run his total to $16,456.

Tuf Cooper didn’t score first at any big rodeos but did win plenty in Ponoka, Livingston and Oakley to bank better than $17,000. Jake Pratt kept within striking distance thanks to $18,734 won between Greeley, Cody, Killdeer and Red Lodge.

Playing for Playoff Points

Cowboy Christmas brought eight NFR Playoff Series rodeos and a chance to make a move toward the NFR Playoff rodeos in Puyallup, Washington and Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the final weeks of the 2024 ProRodeo season.

Harris won two: Oakley (Utah) and Basin City (Washington). Other winners were Henry (Greeley, Colorado), Luke Potter (Prescott, Arizona), Quade Hiatt (St. Paul, Oregon), Chance Thiessen (Cody, Wyoming), Douch and Cash Enderli (Livingston, Montana) and Seth Hall (Red Lodge, Montana).

What’s Next

The Calgary Stampede rushes to its conclusion this weekend and will have the biggest impact on standings though there are plenty of other big money opportunities.

The NFR Open happens this week in conjunction with Pikes Peak or Bust in Colorado Springs and will give some circuit competitors a chance to make a big Cinderella play for an NFR berth.

There are also three NFR Playoff Rodeos on tap: the Sheridan WYO Rodeo, Central Wyoming Fair & PRCA Rodeo in Casper and the Silver State Stampede in Elko, Nevada along with more than two dozen other rodeos.

PRCA World Standings as of July 8, 2024

*Courtesy ProRodeo.com, does not include all Fourth of July earnings