Anderson does hometown proud

Steer wrestler Bridger Anderson of Carrington always dreamed of bringing home a big shiny check from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

And, for 10 days worth of rounds, Anderson cashed in for a big payday of $120,939 at this year's NFR, held at the Thomas & Mack Center December 7-16.

In the year-end standings, the 25-year-old local bulldogger and son of Glenn and Robin Anderson finished seventh worldwide, with season earnings of $206,540. That's seven spots up from where he was sitting going into the NFR.

"It was a great week, and we had a lot of fun," Anderson said in an interview with TwisTed Media. "It's awesome to have family here the whole time, and I'm very thankful for the time we got to spend together and live the dream."

After two no-times in his opening two rounds, he posted a 4.7 second run to finish fourth place in the third go round on December 10, and earn $12,877.

That taste of success was nothing compared to what Anderson had in store for the Vegas crowd for the following round.

A collegiate national champion in 2019 at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Okla., Anderson returned to the top with a winning time of 3.5 seconds in the fourth round, earning $30,706, a special go-round buckle from Montana Silversmiths, and a bottle of Pendleton whiskey at the South Point Casino and Resort later that evening.

It was a special moment for Anderson, as he bested fellow NOSU alumnus and mentor J.D. Struxness for the round victory.

"When I first got down there to Alva, I lived with J.D., practiced and rodeoed with him," he said. "It's cool to be able to compete against a lot of the Northwestern bulldoggers that went down there, too; they were the ones I used to get beat by."

Anderson credits the work of his longtime horse, Whiskers, and his hazer, NFR veteran Clayton Hass, on his horse, Metallica.

"We executed the plan the way we wanted, and I knew we had a good shot at it," Anderson said after the fourth round. "Whiskers is firing, feeling great, and Clayton is doing a great job. We couldn't ask for anything better."

In round eight, everything came together for the Carrington cowboy.

He flew off Whiskers and took his steer to the ground in 3.3 seconds, earning another round victory and finishing just 0.3 seconds off the NFR record, set in 1986 by Steve Duhon and tied in 2001 by Bryan Fields.

At that point in the rodeo, Anderson had doubled his annual salary in a little more than a week. Even though he had finished in the money in just four out of eight rounds.

"When we hit, I figured we were going to be quick, but I didn't know we were going to be that quick," he said.

One challenge Anderson faces as a professional steer wrestler comes from his approach, along with the time management that comes with it.

While other cowboys hire outside helpers to care for their stock, Anderson takes care of Whiskers on his own, with help from family and friends, of course.

"I'm going to hire someone the next time I come out," he chuckled. "We're signing [autographs] and running all over the place... I came out here by myself, and it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day. I need about eight hours a night [of sleep] if possible, and there's no way I've even come close this week."

He's also gotten a bit of pharmaceutical assistance in the form of the "Jesus Shot", from Next Level Health & Wellness, which sponsors cowboys during the NFR.

His chiropractor also made an appearance in Vegas, helping to assist Anderson with neuromuscular balance and spinal alignment.

In the 10th and final round, Anderson and Whiskers placed third in 3.9 seconds.

"He was definitely feeling good and running hard this week," he said of his bay gelding horse, who has been his mainstay mount since his collegiate days. "He'll definitely get all the hay he can ask for, and he's going to get a little break now. He did a great job, and he's ready to go home and get a little 'R and R'."

At the 2023 NFR, Anderson's final results came out to two firsts, five total round placings, and a lifetime of memories.

He knows the hard road it takes to get to Vegas, as only the top 15 doggers in the world standings at the conclusion of the regular season earn qualification to the NFR.

"You've got to go out there and take it just one run at a time if you want to make it back," he said. "There are a lot of good rodeos, and we'll go to the best rodeos in the world.

"We're hoping we start off by just having a good winter and let that stack up before we head out for the summer."

(Editor's Note: The Independent wishes to acknowledge Ted Harbin of TwisTed Rodeo for the press releases on Anderson's NFR trip, from which this article was produced.)