NFR celebrates 60th anniversary in Las Vegas — PHOTO ARCHIVE
John W. Jones, Morro Bay, CA, at NFR on December 7, 1985. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cliff Williamson competes in Calf Roping at the NFR on December 10, 1985. (Scott Henry/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Clown dodges a bull at the National Finals Rodeo in 1985. (File Photo/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Ty Murray rides bareback, November 4, 1990. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
J.C. Trujillo competes in Bareback Riding at NFR on December 10, 1985. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Marty Melvin competes in Steer Wrestling at NFR on December 16, 1985. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Ted Nuce reacts to a victory during the NFR on December 16, 1985. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mickey Young competes in Bareback Riding during the NFR, December 12, 1985. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mel Coleman competes in Saddle Bronc during the NFR, December 14, 1985. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
John Farris, Addingtron, OK, Fred Dorencamp, Holly, CO, John Walter, Kirksville MO. at NFR on December 4, 1985. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A clown flies over a bull at the NFR in Las Vegas in 1992. (File photo/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Roy Cooper ties up a calf at NFR in Las Vegas on December 15, 1985. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Thomas Mack Ctr. prepares for the NFR in Las Vegas, December 3, 1985. (Scott Henry/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Bobby del Vecchio, the Bronx Bull Rider at NFR in Las Vegas on December 10, 1985. (Wayne Kodey/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cody Hancock of Taylor, Ariz. gets bucked off Speckled Bird in the first go-around of the 2004 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center Friday, Dec. 3, 2004. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cody Buller of Glendive, Mont., rides Roan Wolf to a score of 72 to take fourth in the first go-around of the 2004 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center Friday, Dec. 3, 2004. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cimmaron Gerke of Brighton, Colo., rides Dippin Wise Guy to a score of 90.5 to win the sixth go-around of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., wrestles a steer in a time of 3.3 seconds to win the fifth go-around of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Paulo Crimber of Haltom City, Texas, rides Werewolf Snuff in the fifth go-around of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004. Crimber scored a 59.5 with an option of a re-ride that he declined to take, placing him fourth for the night. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Casey McMillen takes down a steer in the Steer Wrestling event during the second night of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. (John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cowboys file into the Thomas & Mack Center during the opening ceremonies of the fourth go-round of National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007. (Issac Brekkan/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A trick roper performs before the start of the 9th performance at the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Friday, Dec. 14, 2012. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Matt Shiozawa, left, shakes he hand of former presidential candidate Mitt Romney after competing in the 8th go-round of the tie-down roping event at the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012. (David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Starting ceremony of round 5 of the 2010 Wranglers National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas and Mack Center, December 6, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Duane Prokop/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Saddle Bronc rider Jesse Wright of Milford, Utah rides Frontier Rodeo stock contractor's Let Er Rip to a score of 87.00 during the saddle bronc competition during the third round of the 54th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas and Mack center in Las Vegas Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. (Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review Journal)
Steer wrestler Matt Reeves of Cross Plains, Texas wrestles a steer to a three way tie sixth place time of 4.30 seconds during the steer wrestling competition of the seventh go-round of the 54th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. (Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review Journal)
Tim O'Connell of Zwingle, Iowa rides Mucho Dinero in the bareback riding competition in the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal @vegasphotograph
Ty Wallace of Collbran, Colorado rides Hard Knox in the bull riding competition in the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal @vegasphotograph
Ryder Wright of Milford, Utah rides Prom Night during the saddle bronc riding competition in the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal @vegasphotograph
A performer is surrounded by fireworks during the start of the fifth night of the 59th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (Joel Angel Juarez/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Tim Bingham of Honeyville, Utah is bucked from Red Bandana in the bull riding competition in the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal @vegasphotograph
Marcos Costa of Childress, Texas points to the shy after taking part in the tie-down roping competition in the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal @vegasphotograph
Tuf Cooper of Weatherford, Texas chases down a steer in the tie-down roping event during the fifth night of the 59th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Ty Breuer of Mandan, North Dakota takes part in the bareback riding competition in the sixth go-round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal @vegasphotograph
Stevi Hillman of Weatherford, Texas turns a corner in the barrel racing event during the fifth night of the 59th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Miss Rodeo America 2007, 21-year-old Ashley Andrew waves to the crowd while racing around the arena during the opening ceremony for round four of the 48th annual National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006. The 10 day event runs through Saturday, Dec. 9. (Jane Kalinowsky/Las Vegas Review-Journal(
The National Finals Rodeo kicks off in Las Vegas on Thursday, December 6. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the NFR, and the competition has been held in Las Vegas since 1985.
In celebration of the rodeo, we took a look through our archives at some of the most eye-catching moments from past competitions.
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