Age: 31
Hometown: Stephenville, Texas
Career Earnings: $2,246,996
Major Rodeos: Burley, Lovington, Nampa, Pecos, Moses Lake, Salinas, Ogden, Clovis, Logandale, Kennewick, Spanish Fork, San Angelo Roping Fiesta, Guymon, Pendleton, Stephenville, Mandan, Cheyenne, Filer, Fort Worth, Sikeston, Kansas City, Heber City, Walla Walla, Austin, St. Paul.
NFR Qualifications: 11 (2014-22, 2024-25)
Star Horsepower: SR Beefcake, “Snoop” and Cyndy
Marty Yates didn’t have to wonder what he’d be when he grew up—he was raised to rope.
The Stephenville, Texas, native comes from one of the most decorated rodeo families in the business. His father and uncle were Texas High School Rodeo state champions, his aunt J.J. Hampton is a 17-time WPRA world champion, and the Yates name has long been tied to success in the timed-event world.
A Decade at the Top
Yates made his first trip to the National Finals Rodeo in 2014, when his go-for-broke style turned heads inside the Thomas & Mack. That year, he won or split three rounds and finished sixth in the world with $141,268.
By 2015 and 2016, Yates was a fixture in the bright lights, stacking wins at Cheyenne, the RAM National Circuit Finals, Pecos, Logandale and Stephenville. He climbed as high as fourth in the ProRodeo world standings in 2016, chasing more than $194,000.
From 2017 through 2020, Yates hit his stride. He placed in round after round in Las Vegas, racked up six-figure NFR paydays and earned major rodeo titles from Austin to Pendleton. In 2019, he finished fifth in the world and won Fort Worth, Sikeston and Kansas City. The next year, he came within reach of a gold buckle, finishing second in the world after taking second in the average at the NFR with 90.4 seconds on 10 head.
Even as the sport’s next generation surged, Yates refused to fade. In 2021 and 2022, he added two more top ten finishes, captured Cheyenne again and won three NFR rounds in 2022 alone. By then, he had over $1.5 million in career earnings.
A Year on the Sidelines
Then came 2023—the first time in nine years that Yates watched the Finals from home. He soaked up life in Stephenville with his wife, Loni, and their then newborn daughter, Miley.
“I didn’t miss the Finals near as much as I thought I would,” Yates told CalfRoping.com in 2024. “But we had our new baby girl, so that was new and fun and kept us busy.”
Still, the absence lit something inside him.
“You get accustomed to the same thing every year and when a wrench gets thrown into it, it really makes you appreciate the good times,” Yates said.
The Comeback Run
That renewed fire showed up fast. In 2024, Yates stormed back, winning California Rodeo Salinas, Ogden Pioneer Days and Logandale, splitting round wins at the NFR and finishing 10th in the world with $210,151.
By 2025, he was back in full rhythm. He captured wins at Burley, Lovington, Nampa, Pecos and Moses Lake, plus all-around wins in Tremonton and Mesquite. He sits 7th in the world with $169,447 coming into his 11th NFR qualification.
Marty Yates’ Horsepower
Yates credits much of his recent consistency to the horses behind him and the program he and Loni have built from the ground up.
“I’ve always just been the one to go find a horse and try to fit it,” Yates told CalfRoping.com in 2025. “But now that these futurities have come along, there’s just that much more money to be won and you have to be in on these young horses.”
His 2025 string has been anchored by three standouts:
- SR Beefcake, “Snoop” – the six-year-old Hashtags-sired gelding from Jason Schaffer that carried him through the summer. “He’s a really strong stopper, but he also scores really well and lets me throw fast,” Yates said.
- Cyndy – the seven-year-old mare by Popular Resort Figure. “She’s just an easy horse, whatever you want to do on her, she’ll do it,” Yates said.
- TLC Stuntin Like Dad, “Tag” – a promising Hashtags-sired gelding brought along by Dakota Kirchenschlager.
Between futurities, breeding and good horsemanship, Yates has built a system for the long game.
“Strong foundations are the only thing that keeps these horses going,” Yates said. “You’ve got to start them right and put them in the right hands.”
Now 31 and back in the top 10 for the second year in a row, Yates heads to Las Vegas with Lane Livingston-owned gelding Barshoe Brute, aka Rock, to compete at his 11th NFR.