It’s been eight years since Junior Nogueira picked up the 2016 All-Around World Title but, in 2024, he’s back in contention sitting third in the all-around world standings.
Nogueira, who has two heeling world titles as well, has $3,536 in calf roping earnings this year to officially put him in the race. Paired with his $149,336 in the heeling world standings, Nogueira, 34, has $152,872 won on the year in the all-around.
Nogueira entered the all-around conversation after pocketing $1,737 for fourth in the first round of Washington’s Walla Walla Frontier Days Aug. 27. It’s been “7 or 8 years” since Nogueira last competitively ran a calf, and he picked back up this year in early August at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston, Oregon. Nogueira won $953 for sixth in the first round, followed by $846 at the Kitsap Stampede in Bremerton, Washington.
The last time a roper won the All-Around Championship was in 2018, when Trevor Brazile captured his 14th All-Around title. Since then, icon Stetson Wright has garnered the title 5 years in a row, only for his 2024 chances to be sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
That open door has seen leading calf roper Shad Mayfield and eight-time NFR qualifier Coleman Proctor—who finished No. 5 in the All-Round race in 2023—compete in steer roping for a chance at the title, earning $6,128 and $28,372, respectively.
To put himself in the mix, Nogueira had less than 2 months to round up the $3,000 required in another event. Fortunately for Nogueira, he’s had lot of horsepower waiting in the wings for him to mount up on.
Nogueira’s catch rides
Shad Mayfield’s Rampage: Mayfield bought 15-year-old Rampage in 2020 from Wyatt Imus, the same year he won his The American Rodeo and his World Championship. Rampage was out of commission for more than a year after contracting EHV-1, but has rejoined Mayfield on the rodeo road this summer.
Kincade Henry’s CD: Henry won his second CNFR Championship with the help of CD in 2022, after owning him for only a few weeks. Henry described the gelding as “Not as flashy as maybe I’d hoped, but he doesn’t cost me anywhere and he is letting me win.”
Gio Piloto’s Hollywood: Resistol Rookie candidate and Brazilian Piloto bought Hollywood from “Big brother” Marcos Costa in 2023 after he made the Texas Circuit Finals on the horse. The 9-year-old gelding is “Tough and super honest,” according to Piloto.
