As the summer run heats up in Canada, Nanton, Alberta’s Logan Bird continues to ignite fires in the Maple Leaf Circuit standings.
As of July 23, 2024, Bird dominates the Maple Leaf Circuit with a $9,608 lead in the Maple Leaf Circuit. In all, he has more than $34,000 won in season earnings heading into the final months of Pro Rodeo’s regular season.
“This season I’ve won the most money that I’ve had won at this point of the year,” said Bird, 30, who trains horses and works for his family’s cattle business. “I’ve placed at over 50 percent of the rodeos, and I think I won five of the 30 we’ve had so far.”
Logan Bird’s Maple Leaf Circuit Rodeo Success
- Moose Mountain Pro Rodeo, Kennedy, Saskatchewan: 2nd (tie), 8.2-second run, worth $1,409 each
- Bowden Days Rodeo, Bowden, Alberta: 2nd, 8.8-second run, worth $1,589
- Benalto Stampede, Benalto, Alberta: 1st, 8.0-second run, worth $2,757
- Raymond Stampede, Raymond, Alberta, 10th 9.5-second run, worth $447.
- Midnight Days Pro Rodeo, Fort MacLeod, Alberta: 1st, 8.0-second run, worth $2,303
- Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo, Innisfail, Alberta: 5th, 8.2-second run, worth $1,550
- Newell Pro Rodeo, Brooks, Alberta: 4th, 9.2-second run, worth $1,481
- Bonnyville Pro Rodeo, Bonnyville, Alberta: 4th, 10.4-second run, worth $1,382
Friendly Competition
While Bird has a significant lead in the Maple Leaf Circuit, that lead comes hand in hand with some friendly rivalry. His fellow competitor and friend, Kyle Lucas, is one of the few Canadian calf ropers that keeps Bird on his toes.
“He’s the guy that you have to beat up here,” Bird said of Lucas. “It’s not a cake walk. I’ve known he’s the other best roper of our age group since I was a little kid. Every year except for one year I’ve made the (Canadian) finals, he’s been there. It’s how it’s been my whole life. It seems like if you can stay with him or stay ahead of him, you’re usually in a good spot.”
Another twist to the competition is that at a majority of the rodeos, Bird and Lucas are riding Bird’s calf roping phenomenon horse “Peso.”
“Kyle rides my horse most of the time, too, so that helps. Kyle is a great roper. I truly believe he’s an NFR-quality roper. He hasn’t made it yet, but in my eyes he’s good enough to make it.”
Counting Peso(s)
Beyond the success of Bird himself, his 13-year-old buckskin gelding, Daddys Shiner Cat, better known as “Peso,” the 2021 and 2022 Canadian Tie-Down Roping Horse of the Year, continues to line Bird’s pockets with cash.
“Calf roping for me is a horsepower game,” Bird said. “When you have the best horse, or for sure one of the best horses, it makes it a lot easier. I have an NFR-quality horse and that makes a difference a lot of the time.”
Bird isn’t kidding when he says “NFR-quality.” He has mounted out five NFR calf ropers over the last three years to compete inside the Thomas & Mack’s little yellow building in Las Vegas on “Peso”: Shane Hanchey, Westyn Hughes, Tuf Cooper, Ty Harris (for one round) and Brushton Minton.
“He scores really good,” Bird said of ‘Peso.’ “He’s the fastest horse I’ve ever rode. Shane Hanchey, a really good roper, said he’s the fastest horse he’s ever rode. He stops straight and pulls every time. He’s an advantage every time you nod your head because he doesn’t make very many mistakes. It’s hard to find horses as good as him, especially in Canada.”
Looking Forward with Momentum
Bird is focused on keeping his winning momentum rolling as he knows the benefits that come from finishing the season strong in the circuit standings, like qualifying to compete at the NFR Open in Colorado Springs.
“I’ve qualified for Colorado Springs a couple times a couple times, but I only went once,” the 2017 Canadian Calf Roping Champion said. “It’s nice to get into Colorado Springs, especially if you have a good year and you get into Houston and Calgary, then you have a chance if you want to rodeo down south.”
With his standings within the Maple Leaf Circuit and his three-time Canadian season leader titles under his belt, Bird has his goals set to finish the year.
“I would like to win season leader in Canada and season leader in the circuit,” Bird said. “Those are my main goals every year. I’m first in the circuit and second in Canada right now, so I’m on
track to be able to do that if I finish out the season strong. I’m definitely in a good place to reach my goals right now.”
Bird is sitting second in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association standings with $31,821, unofficially, and 33rd in the PRCA world standings with $38,979 in season earnings.
Maple Leaf Circuit Standings (as of July 23)
- Logan Bird, Nanton, Alberta, $34,513
- Kyle Lucas, Carstairs, Alberta, $24,904
- Shane Smith, Wimborne, Alberta, $19,426
- Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Nebraska, $16,451
- Ben Robinson, Red Deer County, Alberta, $13,524
- Tyler Popescul, Medicine Hat, Alberta, $11,159
- Walker Warkentin, Calmar, Alberta, $11,100
- Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta, $10,288
- Jesse Popescul, Glentworth, Saskatchewan, $8,953
- Austin Hines, Marwayne, Alberta, $8,005
