The 2025 NFR hits its halfway mark tonight in Round 5, which means the calf ropers are facing the big pen of calves for the second time this week.
“This year is going to cure the debate that these guys can’t tie big calves,” Trent Walls said. “I told Ty [Harris], I said ‘I’m excited that y’all will have this in your repertoire to go, hey, this is what they weighed and this is what we tied ’em in. This is going to end up being the fastest NFR ever. These guys are blasting. They are badass.”
The top 15 first saw this set in Round 2 and will meet them again in Round 8. This pen weighs in the 265-pound range.
Watch the 2025 NFR Calf Break-in
Marty Yates: 33
Shane Hanchey was 8.6 in Round 2 on this calf.
Trent’s take: Marty has the one Shane ran and that’ll fit him well. She runs out of there and is strong.
Riley Pruitt: 36
Kyle Lucas two looped this calf in Round 2.
Trent’s take: Riley has a freaking great black baldy calf.
Dylan Hancock: 1
Riley Webb was 9.0 in Round 2 on this calf.
Trent’s take: Dylan should get a check tonight. That’s a great calf. Riley didn’t get him flanked the first time.
John Douch: 12
Ty Harris took a no-time on this calf in Round 2.
Trent’s take: John could win the day money if that calf gets out of there. If John rides Shad’s mare again, that calf will fit him great.
Kincade Henry: 31
Riley Pruitt was 12.1 on this calf in Round 2.
Trent’s take: The calf Kincade has can get up out of almost any tie. When Tyler Calhoun tied her after the rodeo the other night, he tied her pretty good and she just looked at us and did the Rubik’s Cube, kicked out and ran off with Tyler’s string. This b*tch is a magician. Kincade will either win something on her or she will get up.
Shad Mayfield: 61
Haven Meged drew this calf in Round 2. He fought the chute terrible, but was good otherwise.
Trent’s take: Shad is continuing to draw right up the same alley. This is the calf Haven was 7.9 on. She fights the chute like a tiger and then blasts out of there and is really good. If he hits the start, he will tie her in 7.4 or 7.5.
Riley Webb: 11
This calf strained pretty bad with Zack Jongbloed in Round 2.
Trent’s take: Riley has the weirdo yellow calf that kicked Zack Jongbloed when he was going to be fast. I don’t love that he has this calf. I want him and Shad to be running at ’em and blasting every night. It makes things fun.
Shane Hanchey: 53
Tom Crouse was an 8.1 on this calf in Round 2.
Trent’s take: Shane has my favorite calf. She runs a tick to the left. Shane should win no worse than third.
Kyle Lucas: 50
Brushton Minton was an 8.6 on this calf in Round 2.
Trent’s take: Kyle has the perfect calf for him. That’s 50 cent. He is the world’s best friend. He is so kind.
Ty Harris: 9
Dylan Hancock split Round 2 on this calf.
Trent’s take: Ty should win the round.
Haven Meged: 27
This calf got up with Kincade Henry in Round 2.
Trent’s take: Haven will be fast, but that’s the calf that got up on Kincade. I don’t think he will get up with Haven. I really think he could probably win second or third, he might even win the round as fast as that calf goes. Man, I love watching Haven rope.
Zack Jongbloed: 14
Marty Yates split Round 2 on this calf. This is the biggest calf in the pen.
Trent’s take: The strongest man in the world (Zack Jongbloed) has Big Black Bertha baby. The worlds strongest man has drawn the worlds fattest calf.
Brushton Minton: 18
Joel Harris was 8.5 on this calf in Round 2.
Trent’s take: This red calf really tries. Brushton is roping good, he can be eight. He is hitting the barrier good and has changed his game. He looks good.
Joel Harris: 23
John Douch was late on this calf in Round 2 to be 8.7
Trent’s take: Joel Harris has my favorite calf from the time we started this. John Douch had him the other night and was late. Joel likes to go with the barrier and could tie this one in six tonight.
Tom Crouse: 47
Shad Mayfield split Round 2 on this calf
Trent’s take: This is a great, great calf. This one is a bit heavy, which shouldn’t bother Tom at all. I root for Tom Crouse. I like him.