Brushton Minton dominated the 2024 California Circuit Finals in Red Bluff, California, held December 29-31, 2024, with five-second lead to claim the average title, while Colton Farquer secured a round win and his third year-end title.
Minton picked up a win in Round 1 and placed second in Round 3 at the circuit finals, securing the average title with a time of 28.0 on three head and $7,583.
Farquer snagged a win in Round 2 of the finals, securing $2,333 en route to the year-end title.
Focused Goals for Farquer
Farquer, 30, set a goal early in the season to win another circuit title, though it became a primary focus only by late August.
“My plan going into the finals was to win as much as possible,” Farquer said. “I knew I had a lead, but everyone there roped really, really well, and Brushton was right behind me. Winning the second round was a big sigh of relief.”
The Oakdale, California, native also aimed to start the 2025 season on a strong note.
“My first run, I was a little nervous and rusty since the finals are at the end of the year, but I made a solid run,” Farquer said. “In the second round, I had a good calf and roped strong, winning the round. In the third round, I had a calf that they had trouble with in earlier rounds. I took a bad throw, got a back leg, and lost the calf, so I got a no-time, which was frustrating.”
Despite the third-round setback, Farquer’s second-round win allowed him to finish the season with $25,834 in earnings, winning the circuit aboard his brother Caden’s horse, Hot Litle Wifi.
“My brother has let me rodeo on him for the last two years,” Farquer said. “Caden just started circuit rodeoing this year and ended up second in the average at the finals. It’s really his horse—he started him, and I helped finish and season him. Seeing my brother do so well made it all even better, but it was cool to do it on a horse we trained.”
Farquer has been to Colorado Springs for the NFR Open once before, but he is even more excited this go-round.
“That was a big goal ending last year’s season and starting this year,” Farquer said. “It’s so important to be there for your whole season. You’re either trying to make the NFR or just have a good season. I’m really looking forward to getting back there. I’ve been to the NFR Open once since it’s been at Colorado Springs and it’s a cool venue. I like being out there at that time of year, all the rodeos are going on and it’s good to be there competing for a lot of money.”
As for his 2025 rodeo plans, Farquer has a clear plan.
“I kind of break it up in little chunks all year long,” Farquer said. “My next rodeo is Fort Worth. My plans are to try and rodeo hard enough to make the NFR. Depending on how things go throughout the season, if making the NFR isn’t in the cards, I’ll come back home and focus on the circuit. After I know I have the circuit finals made, I’ll plan out the rest of the year, be as competitive as possible and try to put myself in a position to be in the top 15.”
Minton’s Confidence and Determination
Minton, 26, heads into the 2025 season with momentum from his fourth consecutive circuit average title.
“Winning the average four times, it gives you a lot of confidence,” Minton said. “It feels good and gives me some confidence going into the winter run. I think it’s pretty cool to win it four times in a row.”
Coming into the circuit finals, Minton had $16,203 won on the season but when he flew into Red Bluff for the finals, he didn’t have a saddle, pad or bridle.
“I left my good horse at home to give him some time off and I went to Texas this fall,” Minton said. “I flew home for the circuit finals, and I had a borrow a saddle, bridle—everything, but it felt good just to ride my main horse. He got hurt a lot this summer, so I didn’t get to ride him much. I have a lot of confidence on that horse and in that arena.”
The Witter Springs, California native rode “Gunny,” the same 17-year-old gelding who helped him qualify for his first National Finals Rodeo in 2023.
“We had a good, even set of calves at the finals,” Minton said. “They were Jersey cross calves that took the tie, so I wasn’t worried about the draw. I just needed to get out of the barrier and go do my job. In the first round, I had a good calf and hit the barrier, made a good run and won the round.”
After winning the first round, Minton had quite a bit of confidence going into the second round knowing he drew a good calf, but his borrowed tack stood in the way of a second round win.
“In the second round, I had a better calf than I did in the first round,” Minton said. “I didn’t realize that I had a chain curb strap on my horse, and he needs a leather curb strap. I needed to score less on that calf because he was slower, so when I went to pull on my horse, he sucked back in the corner, and I was a mile late. I ended up with a 10.8 but I was out of the round money. After the first two rounds, I was still winning the average by a second, so on my third-round calf, I just had to go tie one down to win the average again. Thankfully, I drew another good calf, and we capitalized. I was 8.9 and won second in the round and won the average.”
Minton, a 2025 Cinch Timed Event Championship invitee is a true all-around hand, competing in calf roping, steer wrestling and team roping on the heel side. Minton not only won the calf roping average at the circuit finals, but walked away as the circuit’s All-Around Champion, as well. Looking ahead, he plans to capitalize on opportunities at the NFR Open and pursue another NFR Qualification.
“I’m planning on rodeoing hard this year,” Minton said. “I have my good horse back sound, and I just bought another horse. I’d like to make it back to the Finals this year.”