Michael Otero won the Greeley Stampede with a 27.5-second average on three head, earning $11,851 and keeping his NFR hopes alive heading into the busiest ProRodeo run of the season.
Otero, who hasn’t made the NFR since 2019, entered Greeley sitting No. 35 in the world and determined to course-correct a summer that hadn’t gone his way—until now.
“I’ve been trying to stick to the basics and be aggressive at it,” Otero said. “I feel like if I could draw something that was just decent in the middle, I could start winning. And for the most part, when I’ve drawn a decent calf, I’ve capitalized.”
He did just that in Colorado, splitting $11,851 in earnings between his 10.1, 8.8 and 8.6-second runs on a strong set of calves. He rode his 18-year-old gelding Drifting Whirlwood—“D2”—a double-bred Sun Frost who’s been his go-to for a decade and helped him make the Finals in 2019.
The Run Breakdowns
Otero’s first-round calf ran hard, but D2 gave him a shot, and it worked in his favor, stopping the clock at 10.1.
“I got more compliments on that run than any of the others,” Otero said. “That calf was kind of an eliminator, but my horse gave me a chance.”
The second go? A clean 8.8 despite a slight bobble. Then came the short round—where strategy met grit.
“My horse told me, ‘That’s all I’m going to give you, better throw it,’” Otero laughed. “So I just launched it and figured I’d better hustle and clean it up best I could—and it worked.”
Barrel Husband of the Year
Though he’s built a strong career roping calves, Otero is just as known for supporting his wife Carlee Otero, a barrel racer currently sitting No. 13 in the WPRA world standings.
“I like watching my wife do good,” Otero said. “I feel like I’m competing when she is, too. It’s no different for me when I nod my head than when she steps in the arena. I’m right there riding with her.”
The pair have been traveling together most of the summer, with Michael handling the entering and doing his best to line up the routes.
The Rodeo Road
Next stops for Otero include Livingston, Oakley and St. Paul, followed by Carlee’s runs at Calgary.
“When we get to Calgary, we’ll get to stay there for three days,” Otero said. “We can finally get rested up. That’ll be nice.”
With Otero making his runs count and Carlee holding steady, 2025 could be the year they both ride into the Thomas & Mack.
