Competing in NFR ‘awesome’ for home-grown Eldridge

Qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is a major accomplishment for any of the 120 competitors riding and roping throughout the 10-day event at the Thomas &Mack Center.

This year is even a little more special, as the NFR marks its 30th anniversary in Las Vegas.

As if those two elements aren’t enough, the NFR is always bigger for those who hail from the Silver State and get the chance to compete for a gold buckle. This year, that’s the case for Dakota Eldridge, a steer wrestler from Elko who made the NFR for the first time last year and is back for another go-round this year.

“Shoot, it’s awesome, to be from Nevada and for the biggest rodeo in the world to be held in Nevada,” said Eldridge, who has earned $63,015 in 2014. “There’s not too many people from Nevada who qualify, so it’s a privilege to qualify and compete here in my home state.”

And he entered this year’s NFR in better shape than last year. Eldridge grabbed the 15th and final qualifying spot in 2013. This year, he started the 10-day run ninth in the world standings, less than $30,000 out of first place, which might sound like quite a bit, but money can be made up in a big hurry at the NFR.

“It was a long way all the way up to the end last year,” Eldridge said. “This year, I had it made earlier. It sure was a relief when the audit came out and they said, ‘You’re in.’ This year, I was fortunate enough to win more money, so now I feel like I have a better chance going in there.”

That said, he wouldn’t mind duplicating some of his 2013 NFR.

“The first two rounds went good for me. I placed in both and won the second round,” he said. “The third round, I didn’t get the start I wanted. It’s so fast down there, you’ve got to go for first place every night. You can’t be thinking about anything else except to blow the barrier back and go for first.

“It’s sure a lot easier if you just keep making good runs. Keeping your confidence for 10 days is not easy. Giving yourself a chance to keep your confidence is a big deal.”

The 23-year-old, who was PRCA rookie of the year in steer wrestling and in all-around in 2012, still ended up placing in four rounds last year and took second in the average — his combined time for all 10 rounds. That helped him earn a hefty $91,000 in just 10 days, as he jumped from 15th all the way to fifth in the final world standings, finishing the season with $141,927.

“Last year, I went in being an NFR rookie. But I knew, to make the year pencil out (financially), I set a goal to win $100,000 at the NFR,” Eldridge said. “A couple people said, ‘Shoot, you’ll be happy if you win $50,000.’ I ended up winning $91,000.”

And he got some great experience to carry over into this year’s NFR.

“I think the biggest thing is to see what steer you’ve got, and just make the best run you can — knowing that steer might not be the best one, but just do as best as you can. You can’t beat yourself,” Eldridge said. “This year, I might raise the bar a little bit and shoot a little higher. Last year, your goal is just to make it into the top 15 and make the NFR. But I think a guy sets goals higher after that. You expect to make the NFR; you’re not gonna settle for anything else.”

He doesn’t expect to have any jitters this year — not that he had any last year.

“Last year, I thought I’d get nervous, but I didn’t,” he said. “But it’s crazy to think you’re out there competing with the best in the world. I had to tell myself, ‘This is the best you can do right here. Now just shoot to win the whole thing.’ ”

With a better starting point this time around, Eldridge might do just that.

“If I have a good Finals like last year, if I don’t drop the ball at all, use all the steers I’ve got, I might have a gold buckle.”