Buddy Hawkins’ career earnings hit the $1-million mark after Round 2 of the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, solidifying his place in the elite club of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association’s top earners.
Hawkins, 36, has been a PRCA member since 2011. He made his first NFR in 2013 with Drew Horner, and he’s roped with Tate Kirchenschlager, Cale Markham, Coleman Proctor, Matt Sherwood, Jesse Stipes and Lane Ivy.
Ward & Hawkins
“I haven’t done the math, but it wouldn’t surprise me if I’ve won half my money with Andrew,” Hawkins said of his current partner and brother-in-law Andrew Ward. “Over the last three years, we’re probably pretty close to [having won] $500,000, and 90% of that money has been on X.”
In 2022, Ward and Hawkins won $100,000 a man at The American, $130,000 at the The Lone Star Shootout and $100,000 at the Resistol Reno Open—all money that did not count toward the PRCA world standings or Hawkins’ career earnings.
Standings Rank
He’s been to five Wrangler National Finals Rodeos and, after six rounds at the 2022 NFR, has $52,437.85 won in the Thomas & Mack and $175,514.18 won in the world standings. He and Ward are sixth in the aggregate with 20.60 on four head and he is currently third in the PRCA world standings—behind Junior Nogueira and Patrick Smith.
The Competition
“When I’m watching Kaleb (Driggers) and Junior (Nogueira), they’re the Clay and Jade of this time,” Hawkins said. “If they don’t win, I don’t know what to do: Don’t practice? Buy terrible horses? I’m cheering for them. Junior and I have made a point to visit every Finals we’ve both made, and we always cheer for each other. That’s a whole different story line.
“I wear two different hats to say I think they’re going to win it and that I think I am. I think they’re going for it and I don’t think they are. We’re doing the same stuff: Working hard, having good horses and keeping the right perspective. It’s been that way all year. They were in every short round at every major we won, and we were in the short round when they won. We’re all finishing, and it’s neat to see where you measure up.”
