Willow Wilson was triumphant at the 2024 Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City following a tie-breaker with fellow roper Rickie Fanning, earning a total of $12,500.

“My calf let up in the Gold Medal Round and I was trying to keep his feet out of it,” Wilson, of Baggs, Wyoming, said. “I was a little worried when [the calf] shut down but we got it done.”

Part of the reason the calf was likely letting up is because of the sheer noise inside the arena. Despite the challenge, Wilson managed to stop the clock in 2.5 seconds, thanks to the help of red mare “Lilly.”

“Lilly worked pretty good,” Wilson said. “After the Texas winter rodeos this year, it seems like she craves the loud environment, where the sound comes down on top of you.”

Willow Wilson’s 2024 ProRodeo season so far

Speaking of winter rodeos, Wilson has several of the ‘Texas Swing’ rodeos to thank for her No. 22 position in the World Standings. According to Wilson, she picked up a check nearly everywhere she went, with the Austin Rodeo, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and Rodeo Houston making up a bulk of her $43,658 in winnings.

After the winter rodeos, Wilson headed home to Wyoming. She endured a long dry spell in the breakaway, and continued heeling for her husband Todd.

“I hadn’t won anything in a while,” Wilson said. “Reno, Greeley and the NFR Open didn’t work out of me. I just haven’t been drawing very good [calves].”

Despite the lack of paydays, Wilson doesn’t seem bothered.

“It would be cool if Vegas works out, but I’m not going to push it,” Wilson said. “I want to make the circuit finals. I mainly want to be in the top 25 or 30 so I can enter the Texas swing rodeos.”

2024 Day’s of ’47 Rodeo Breakaway Results

First round: 1. (tie) Montana Brown and Eryn Maddock, 2.3 seconds, $2,956 each; 3. (tie) Lynn Smith and Macy Young, 2.4, $2,077 each; 5. Addy Hill, 2.5, $1,598; 6. (tie) Jackie Crawford, Maddy Deerman and Brooke Ladner, 2.6, $852 each; 9. (tie) Martha Angelone, MaryBeth Beam, Jacelyn Frost and Taylor Munsell, 2.8, $439 each. 

Second round: 1. Bailey Kieckbusch, 2.2 seconds, $3,196; 2. (tie) Josie Conner and Rickie Fanning, 2.3, $2,477 each; 4. Bailey Bates, 2.4, $1,918; 5. (tie) MaryBeth Beam, Shaya Biever and Bradi Good, 2.6, $1,172 each; 8. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, Maddy Deerman and Bailey Patterson, 2.7, $559 each; 11. Codi McPherson, 2.8, $400; 12. (tie) Martha Angelone, Jackie Crawford, Taylor Hanchey and Shelli Scrivner, 2.9, $80 each. 

First performance: 1. Shaya Biever, 2.9 seconds, $2,000; 2. Rickie Fanning, 3.1, $1,500; no other qualified runs.

Second performance: 1. Kendal Pierson, 2.9 seconds, $2,000; 2. Shayla Hall, 3.0, $1,500; 3. Jackie Crawford, 12.4, $1,000; no other qualified runs.

Third performance: 1. Bailey Bates, 2.0 seconds, $2,000; 2. Rylee George, 2.8, $1,500; 3. Zoie Bedke, 3.0, $1,000; 4. Shelli Scrivner, 14.7, $500.

Fourth performance: 1. Taylor Munsell, 2.8 seconds, $2,000; 2. Willow Wilson, 3.1, $1,500; 3. Jill Tanner, 3.3, $1,000; 4. Maddy Deerman, 4.1, $500.

Gold Medal Round qualifiers: Shaya Biever, Rickie Fanning, Kendal Pierson, Shayla Hall, Bailey Bates, Rylee George, Taylor Munsell and Willow Wilson.

Gold Medal Round: 1. (tie) Willow Wilson and Rickie Fanning, 2.5 seconds, $11,000 each; 3. Rylee George, 3.0, $5,000; 4. Kendal Pierson, 3.3, $2,750; 5. Bailey Bates, NT, $1,500; 6. Taylor Munsell, NT, $1,250; 7. Shaya Biever, NT, $750; 8. Shayla Hall, NT, $350.