Baker City's Jesse Brown off to fast start at National Finals Rodeo

Jayson Jacoby, Baker City Herald, Ore.
·2 min read

Dec. 2—Jesse Brown revels in the glaring spotlight that is Las Vegas.

But not in the casinos lining The Strip.

Brown, 30, of Baker City, is a world class steer wrestler, and for the second straight year he started the biggest event in rodeo with one of his best performances.

Brown brought down his steer in 4.0 seconds in the first go-round at the National Finals Rodeo Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Brown, who posted the second-fastest time, earned $22,851.

"I feel really good about where I'm at," Brown said in a phone interview on Friday morning, Dec. 2. "Stuff can change every night, but I think I'm in a good position."

Nick Guy, from Sparta, Wisconsin, was first, at 3.8 seconds, to win $28,914.

At the 2021 National Finals Rodeo, Brown tied for fifth place in the first round to win $5,661.

That was Brown's second year competing in the NFR, but the first in Las Vegas, the event's traditional home.

The 2020 event took place in Texas due to the pandemic. Brown had a fast start there, as well, with a first-place tie in the first round.

"I've been glad to start off pretty good all three years," Brown said.

His second-place run Thursday moved him up to sixth in the world standings for 2022, with total earnings of $125,564.

The National Finals Rodeo runs for 10 straight nights, through Dec. 10.

That schedule, so unlike most rodeos that last one or two days, requires a different sort of preparation, Brown said.

"It's sort of like Groundhog Day in Vegas," he said. "There's a lot going on, with signings and interviews. You just have to find your own routine. It's unlike anything else."

Brown said it's always a relief to finish the first round — especially with a second-place run.

"On that first run everyone's got some jitters," he said. "It's nice to get it out of the way."

Brown said he didn't feel quite as nervous this year compared with 2021 when he made his debut in the NFR's usual venue at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"It's always a great atmosphere," he said. "It gets your blood flowing."