Recorded onsite at Festival Western de St-Tite, this episode goes inside The American Rodeo with Competition Manager Lane Peterson (Teton Ridge)—from breeding buckers and judging worldwide to building a modern, TV-ready tournament that truly opens doors for athletes. Lane explains the pathway: super qualifiers (St-Tite, Denver, San Francisco, Liberty College Shootout, Brazil) → local qualifier side-pots → three regionals (Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Lexington, KY) → Friday at Globe Life Field (top 15) → Saturday versus the top five in the world for big money, a $100K event win, and that iconic million-dollar bonus round.

IPRA General Manager Dale Yerigan joins to detail how the IPRA–American collaboration helps contestants in the East, why complete results matter for qualifiers, and what to expect at Lexington’s fan-favorite stop. We also swap stories on historic bucking horses (hello, High Chaparral), production value, and how the American has evolved into a fast-moving, underdog-friendly show built for live crowds and network TV.

If you’ve ever wondered how do I get from my local rodeo to The American?—this is your roadmap.

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