When Brenten Hall and Kaden Profili took their Ellensburg Rodeo victory lap Monday, Sept. 2, they also took one huge step toward sealing the deal on their 2024 NFR qualifications.
Hall and Profili pocketed $9,113 in Ellensburg, Washington, after solidifying the win with a 16.6 on three steers. Ellensburg is often looked at as a fourth-quarter marker for an NFR qualification, and the win pushed them to No. 8 in the world standings with $106,912.75 won on the year for Hall, 25, and $108,085.81 for Profili, 23.
“We’ve just been nickel and diming the heck out of ’em, which, it’s always a blessing just to win, but stepping up to the plate and actually getting some bigger checks is always good for your money situation,” said three-time NFR header Hall. “But it’s always a blessing when you’re close to making the NFR and you really need a good last-minute push.”
Reigning Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year Profili is only in his second PRCA season, which makes the prestigious Ellensburg victory even sweeter.
“It means a lot,” said Profili, a Jacksonville, Texas, native. “A lot of these guys have been out here rodeoing a long time, and I feel like being able to win this my second year out here, I mean, I think that’s pretty awesome.”
Ellensburg play-by-play
Hall and Profili kicked off Ellensburg in the slack Aug. 29. The pen of steers had been roped at Kennewick, the WestStar Best of the Best Roping and at the Minors’ place, but there were no notes on their first-round steer.
“I did know, for the most part, the smaller end were better, and he was on the smaller end,” Hall recalled. “I just tried to play him as good, and he was good. He was a step left and just good speed. We were pretty early on that day—I think we were eighth- or ninth-out in the slack that morning—so I didn’t try to do anything special. I just tried to get a good start and turn the steer.”
With a 5.5-second run, they ended up in a five-way tie for fifth place in the first round for $857 a man. In Round 2, they focused on just making a good run to lock them in for Monday’s short round. This time, they split fifth with a 5.6. for $1,565 each.
Monday, Hall and Profili came back to the short round splitting high call three ways. Their short round steer was supposed to be a little bit stronger, but he ended up being exactly what they needed.
“The steer kind of went a little left the first couple times, and I didn’t want to just get up there and push him left,” Profiliexplained. “If they go too far left over in that arena, I mean, you’re screwed—you can’t get a good finish, and then you’re too slow. I was a little bit behind at first, and then Brenten got it on him. I kind of hit the gas and got where I needed to be.”
Another 5.5-second run sealed the deal on the Ellensburg title with a 16.6 on three head, and the team finished second in the round for $1,008 a man.
The horses that won Ellensburg
Hall rode his sister-in-law’s horse, a 7-year-old gelding they call “B1.” While Hall’s main mounts have been solid all year, but as they get older, being able to give them time off is where B1 came in clutch. Registered as Cowboy Sangria, the sorrel is still a little rodeo green, but Hall broke him out for Dodge City week. B1 has since stepped up to the plate well and allows Hall to pick and choose what he rides where.
“He’s been really, really good, and I’ve gained a lot of confidence in him,” Hall said. “And I haven’t taken him to a lot of the faster stuff—I rode my roan mare at Filer (Idaho) and rode her at Lewiston (Idaho). So, I’ve tried to just pick and choose, but I’ve never had the opportunity to have enough horses in the rig that I could kind of do that. It’s been a game changer.”
Profili, on the other hand, rode his No. 1 mount: “Grace.” He rides the 7-year-old mare registered as Gunnabeanangel everywhere, and she showed the world her worth by winning the 2024 NIRA AQHA Horse of the Year title in June.
Profili’s rookie year reflection
A year ago, Profili clinched the Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year title with an impressive $51,048.09. This year, he’s more than doubled his rookie earnings.
“I think last year we didn’t do very good,” Profili admitted. “This year, the worst week I’ve had being out here I’ve won $1,000, and every other week it’s been pretty good. Last year it was kind of a struggle; I feel like we had maybe two or three weeks where we didn’t do good and then we’d finally win something good. I think it’s just been a whole different ball game this year.”
Now on the brink of his first NFR qualification, Profili is trying not to think too much about the outcome just yet.
“I don’t really think it has set in yet,” Profili said. “We’re still out here, and we aren’t done yet. We’ve got 10 or 11 rodeos left, so I don’t think it’s really just kicked in.”
Keep it moving
Hall and Profili are also sitting first at the Lewiston Roundup in Idaho with a 3.7. Lewiston wraps up Saturday, Sept. 7, and the 2023 winners won $3,553 a man when they tied for first. If Hall and Profili can hold their lead, the win would help put them over $110,000 in the world standings, an often safe marker in the NFR race.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling,” Hall said of their inaugural NRF potential. “I don’t know, it goes away fast. I think it goes away the same way with losing. It’s a really cool feeling for a few minutes, and then it’s onto another one. You just kind of have to forget about it, but it’s been good.”
Hall’s 2024 mental game is an approach he developed after missing the NFR in 2022 and 2023.
“Last year was really a revenge year in a way,,” Hall said. “I was going to come back and show that I could do it, and then when I didn’t [qualify], then it turned to more of I was just wanting to enjoy rodeoing and think of it as the 15-year-old version of myself that wanted to get to just go rodeo and hang out, be a part of it. So, I tried to approach this year with that mentality.”
Hall and Profili rope in the second set at the PRCA Playoff Series Finale in Puyallup, Washington, Saturday, Sept. 7
