At the 2023 Badlands Circuit Finals in Minot, North Dakota, Oct. 13-15, Sawyer Gilbert took home the aggregate win with a time of 7.7 seconds on three head for a $3,341 payday.

The effort will see the 2021 World Champion advance to the 2024 NFR Open in Colorado Springs in July 2024—a valuable opportunity to set herself up for her 2024 goal: Return to the NFBR. 

Gilbert roped in 2.6, 2.3 and 2.8 seconds to secure the championship.

“I knew the way the calves were, I had to draw good ones,” Gilbert said. “But I wanted to do my job regardless of how I drew. After the first round, I got my nerves out of the way and I had to make up some time. Round 2, I drew a really good calf, won the round and earned $2,228. Going into Round 3, I was controlling my own destiny.”

She did it on seasoned tobiano gelding “Roger” (Strait Gunsmokensugar x Woods Gay Echo x Doctor Wood), who she says thrives on softer calves and smaller setups.

Gilbert took a lot of 2023 off from rodeoing, after a No. 18 world finish in 2022 left her feeling burned out.

“I was dreading rodeo,” Gilbert said. “I didn’t enjoy any of the process; I didn’t want to be there. So I spent a big portion of the summer at home with my family, and it was a refreshing change. I had a lot of fun.”

She spent her time home training the next generation of horses, which includes gelding “Cartel.”

“He’s really nice,” Gilbert said of JRS Genuine Cat. “I’m excited for his future. He doesn’t have the weird quirks that my two crazy horses have. Don’t get me wrong though, my two older horses aren’t going anywhere.”

Looking forward, Gilbert’s big goal is to advance to the NFBR in less than 45 rodeos. A successful NFR Open can help make that possible, and she’s excited about the opportunity.

Badlands Circuit Finals Results

First round: 1. Rickie Fanning, 2.3 seconds, $2,228; 2. Danielle Wray, 2.4, $1,671; 3. (tie) Jessica Holmes and Tanegai Zilverberg, 2.5, $835 each.

Second round: 1. Sawyer Gilbert, 2.3 seconds, $2,228; 2. (tie) Jessica Holmes and Brooke Howell, 3.1, $1,392 each; 4. Danielle Wray, 3.3, $557.

Third round: 1. Taylor Engesser, 2.0 seconds, $2,228; 2. Danielle Wray, 2.2, $1,671; 3. Kayla Olson, 2.6, $1,114; 4. Sawyer Gilbert, 2.8, $557.

Average: 1. Sawyer Gilbert, 7.7 seconds on three head, $3,341; 2. Danielle Wray, 7.9, $2,506; 3. Brooke Howell, 9.4, $1,671; 4. Jessica Holmes, 18.2, $835.