Young Cowboy Keenan Hayes Takes the Reins as 2024’s Rodeo Superstar

Keenan Hayes, a talented young cowboy from Hayden, Colo., has been making waves in the world of bareback riding. In 2023, he became the first-ever Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year to also win the world title in the same year. Hayes ended the season with an impressive $400,000 and secured his first world title at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) with a score of 90 points in Round 10.

In high school, Hayes was a standout competitor, winning the National High School Finals Rodeo World Championship in bareback riding in 2019. In 2021, he focused solely on bareback riding and continued his winning streak this year by starting off the 2024 PRCA season strongly. He won the New Year’s Eve Buck n’ Ball and placed at rodeos such as Rodeo Houston, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, and the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Most recently, he won the San Angelo title.

As of April 25, 2024, Hayes is currently sitting at No. 3 in the PRCA World Standings with $67,645 won. He is determined to defend his world championship title in 2024 and continue his success in bareback riding. The top two in the standings are three-time NFR qualifier Leighton Berry and 21-year-old Coop Cooke. As the season progresses, Hayes will continue to compete and work towards securing another world title in bareback riding.