BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
In 2018, the Team Roping Journal published a story where they tracked down team roper Colter Todd, whose name had become synonymous with giving up rodeo and never coming back.
At the time of that story, Todd hadn’t been to the NFR or competed professionally in about a decade after three trips to Las Vegas in a row from 2006-2008.
Now, five years after that story asked the question “Who is Colter Todd?” The answer is he’s a four-time NFR qualifier. And by the end of the year, it could be that he’s a World Champion. Todd isn’t just back at the NFR for the first time in 15 years, he’s back at the NFR for the first time in 15 years as the No. 3 heeler in the World - less than $20,000 behind No. 1 Wesley Thorp.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
NFR Open, $19,918
Roping with Josh Siggins, who was not his usual partner, Todd thrived at the NFR Open by winning four separate checks of $3,000 or more. The biggest one was $6,868 for a win in the Semifinals. Siggins/Todd ended up No. 2 in the Finals behind Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley.
Pendleton Round-Up (Oregon), $16,932
Roping with his good friend Derrick Begay for a majority of the year outside the NFR Open, Todd had his second best finish near the season’s end on Sept. 17. In Pendelton, they placed in all three rounds, including second in Round 2 and third in the Finals. Their aggregate time of 17.6 seconds was good enough for the win, which provided more than $8,700 of that big payday.
Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup (South Dakota), $12,500
Begay/Todd placed in two rounds at the season finale in Sioux Falls, collecting $2,500 for fourth in Round 1 and $7,500 for second in Round 2. They earned an additional $2,500 for making, but not advancing, out of the Semifinals.
Greeley Stampede (Colorado), $7,332
Begay/Todd charted their course to an NFR berth together at the end of June in Greeley. They were 16.9 seconds on three in Greeley to sew up an Average win that paid $5,868. That win, along with two paydays of $4,000+ over the Fourth of July, helped move Todd from No. 12 to No. 16 in the world in a two-week stretch.
FASTEST RUNS
Magic Valley Stampede (Idaho), 3.9 Seconds
Begay/Todd won the Magic Valley Stampede in Filer as part of a stretch of three runs in a row that paid them $1,000 or more near the end . The one-head PRCA Playoff Series Rodeo netted them more than $4,000.
NOTABLE WINS
Clark County Fair and Rodeo (Nevada), 8.8 Seconds on Two
At one of the early season PRCA Playoff Series Rodeos, Begay and Todd made a quick move with a Round 1, which allowed their 13th place finish in Round 2 to be good enough to get them the Average win. They won more than $6,600 at the April rodeo.
Colorado State Fair and Rodeo, 10.2 Seconds on Two
The pair won Round 2 after finishing seventh in Round 1 to claim victory in Pueblo on Aug. 28. They won $4,343 and went on win the Magic Valley Stampede the next weekend.
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