by Kim Redo-Thacker
Photos courtesy of Chance and Kelsey Howard and Shea Christine Photography
The Cowboy Christmas run kicks off with the Reno Rodeo in June and lasts about three weeks, featuring some of the largest rodeos and purses of the season. From Reno through September, rodeo fans sit on the edge of their seats, waiting to see who qualifies for a coveted spot in the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas. For contestants chasing the top 15 spots, September — the official end of the professional rodeo year — comes with wins or heartbreaking near misses to the pay window. This year has been especially exciting for one of Oklahoma’s own, 34-year-old Chance Howard, qualifying at the final showdown for his first NFR.
For those who qualify, the Governor’s Cup Rodeo in South Dakota can be the last-ditch effort to make the mark. This show, held the final weekend of September with over $1 million added money, can make or break a run for the finals. For Sallisaw cowboy Chance Howard, his runs pushed him into NFR qualification as his grandparents, Danny and Kay Jackson, watched from the stands.
Kelsey, his wife, was at an International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) rodeo warming up her horse when Chance was running at the Governor’s Cup. “I was sick to my stomach watching,” she says. “To say it was gut-wrenching is an understatement. It was so close.” After all was said and done, Chance landed in the 13th spot with only $62 standing between the 14th and 15th spots.
Kelsey is a professional barrel racer whose latest big accomplishment was winning the Challenger Barrel Racing title at the 2025 Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC) in Fort Worth in May, along with making the semifinals at the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) event in Corpus Christi. She has also been a contender at the American Rodeo.
When not chasing down the rodeo trail, Kelsey runs her own chiropractic and acupuncture clinic, treating both humans and animals, and is mom to 7-year-old Luke. Her work schedule revolves around her rodeo calendar.
Chance joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 2010 at the age of 19. His year-end standings read like a rollercoaster: after placing 182nd in his first pro year, he moved up and down in the rankings, getting as close as 16th in 2021. During a practice in 2023, a steer ran into his horse, causing it to trip and go end over end. Chance landed in the hospital with a concussion and a severely damaged shoulder, and surgery was imminent.
He finished 316th for the 2023 season. In 2024, his wins included Kansas, Florida, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, California, Louisiana and Arkansas, according to Kelsey. He ended the year ranked 33rd. He started the 2025 professional year (October 2024) by making the semifinals at all of the winter rodeos.
The road was not always smooth, but Chance never gave up. He competed in 79 official pro rodeos this year, over 90 total. Big wins include the Days of ‘47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City and co-champion at the Goliad (Texas) County Fair and Rodeo.
“Chance started off strong making,” says Kelsey. “His horses stayed strong and worked well. There were no injuries. I really thought this would be his year. He worked so hard for this. It has been a long time coming.”
One future goal he would like to reach is for both he and his wife to qualify for the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR). But conflicting rodeo schedules haven’t allowed for that … yet. Chance hails from Cherokee blood, Kelsey from Choctaw. “We are working to get there together,” Chance says.
His two main horses, Train (an 11-year-old gelding) and Momba (a 13-year-old mare), were able to hold up well under his care and schedule. The horses he rides are owned by Travis Burgett, former steer wrestler, who hazes for him when his work schedule allows. Occasionally, Chance has to ride horses he is not familiar with.
“Every horse is a challenge,” he admits. “But they are all pretty seasoned, so I don’t worry too much about riding them. Steer wrestling is the best event there is. Everybody out there helps me.”
At the time of this interview Chance was at home trying to catch up on the myriad of chores left undone during his travels. He practices two to three times each week at the Burgett ranch just inside the Arkansas border (Rudy). The 6-foot-6 cowboy loves cheeseburgers and hopes to hit the gym to toughen up a bit before the finals.
Kelsey says, “I think all of western Arkansas plans to come out and watch Chance.” A native of Cedarville, Arkansas, Chance will certainly have family in the stands — his grandfather, Danny Jackson, and his son Andy, both former steer wrestlers, will be there to cheer him on.
“He has had so many people reach out in support that it is overwhelming. I really don’t think it has set in yet … that he is going to the finals,” she adds.
Well, Chance, you are going — and you have a huge fan base!
