NFR header Spencer Mitchell will come out of his semi-retirement to head for childhood friend Justin Davis, making this their first time roping together since narrowly missing a Finals qualification together in 2016.

Davis is 35 and last made the NFR in 2009, but he’s currently No.4 in the PRCA world standings with $51,777.39 after finishing 26th in the 2022 standings. He won a round at the Columbia River Circuit Finals with Garrett Rogers, and he bounced between partners at the winter rodeos in 2023, roping with Nelson Wyatt to split second at San Antonio and win second outright at RodeoHouston. He won the first round at Oakdale with Matt Sherwood, and he heeled for old friend Brandon Beers at Redding to win money in a go-round and in the average there. He heeled for Jaxson Tucker at Santa Maria, and he’ll finish the Fourth-of-July run with Tucker.

Mitchell, also 35, has been home raising his son—Broc, 5, named after Mitchell’s late best friend and former NFR partner Broc Cresta—and hasn’t rodeoed full-time since 2019. Mitchell, of Orange Grove, California, has $7,639 won on the year from the circuit rodeos, after finishing 2022 in 185th place in the PRCA world standings with $5,978 won.

“We start at Big Fork July 6,” Mitchell, who’s NFR qualifications came in 2011 and 2012, said. “I’m excited to go, and I want to get myself a chance to get into the winter rodeos and get stuff set up for when my nephew Trigger gets old enough. I have more head horses now than I ever had, and I’m excited to go again. My son Broc is happy as long as he has dinosaurs and a swimming pool, so we’ll see how he enjoys the road in July.”

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