By Matt Gade

605 Sports

LETCHER — He’s now a world-class bull rider, but that doesn’t mean the 22-year-old Mason Moody gets to slack off on his duties back home.

“This is my dad's weekend, that he gets to go on vacation. And this is the weekend that I know I have to go home as soon as this is over to go do chores, so that dad can stay out here all weekend. And so, you know, it's kind of just instilled in us kids at a young age of, you know, you got to get back to what's given you your whole life, pretty much.”

Moody, fresh off his 11th-place ($255,364) finish in world standings and eighth in the average at his first-ever Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December, competed for the first time back in South Dakota, at the Rodeo Rapid City Xtreme Bulls event at The Monument in Rapid City, hosted by Sutton Rodeo.

Moody described his first, of what he hopes are many, NFR finals as the culmination of hard work since he was a little kid.

“At the rodeo, you kind of had to treat it like it was just another bull,” Moody said. “Walking down the tunnel every day, it was kind of a surreal feeling. And, the first day, the emotions were super crazy, super high. And then by the 10th day is like, ‘Oh my God, it's over with already.’

“I started riding calves when I was about six. And, you know, started working my way up, and now we're at the professional level. So this is all I've dreamed about. And to finally be where you dream about is something that most people will never get to achieve.”

After starting out in the Professional Bull Riding circuit when he was 18, Moody went over to the Pro Rodeo Circuit a couple of years later and has just continued to get better each year.

In 2024, Moody finished 23rd in the world standings with $96,663 in earnings. In 2023, Moody finished 36th ($39,164).

Heading into the 2026 season, Moody is setting his goals even higher than before.

“I want to make the NFR again. I set my goal this year to win $225,000 before the NFR this year, which is a lot of money to most people,” Moody said. “That's kind of the goal to enter the NFR in the world title race and get a shot, a chance at winning a world title. I mean, that's the goal at the end of the day, is when the world title, and, you know, it kind of is all in God's hands. I think it's a legitimate shot to be there, and that's what I'm shooting for.”

Moody said he’s felt blessed for the success that he’s had so far, and credits it to “God’s timing and God’s will,” keeping Moody relatively healthy in a sport known for causing injuries.

During the Jan. 30 night performance, Moody didn’t make the finals but did ride a complete eight seconds, recording a 79.5.

Moody said getting to compete in the South Dakota rodeos, such as Rodeo Rapid City, are especially fun for him. 

“This is where I grew up. A lot of the rodeos that I like, I rode in the 20X (SD High School showcase) when I was in high school. Belle Fourche had the high school finals a couple years ago when I was there, you know. So a lot of these rodeos have a lot of history for me as a kid,” he said. “I'm gone so much throughout the year, to get back and come home and I get to spend some time at home with my family. That's kind of what it's all about. We spend three months in a pickup and camper driving down the road, and to be able to come back once every month to see your family is something special.”

Mason Moody signals a clean ride after competing in the Xtreme Bulls during Rodeo Rapid City on Friday night at Summit Arena at The Monument. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

Moody said he put on more than 30,000 miles on his truck from June through September last year, and estimates close to 60,000 for the whole year.

Not only does Moody like to take part in the rodeos in South Dakota, he likes to give back when he can. 

At the Rodeo Rapid City 20X SD High School Showcase, Moody lent his practice bulls from Letcher for the contestants to perform on at the Sunday event.

“Growing up, we were raised that way. My dad (Perry) is a very big supporter of rodeo, and even though all of us kids have graduated and moved out of high school rodeo, he still does a lot for the high school rodeo,” Moody said ahead of his ride on Friday night.

Moody said he will be partnering up with another South Dakota bull rider, Jestyn Woodward.

Moody said he’s excited for the upcoming season and hopes he and Woodward stay healthy. 

“A lot of our sport deals with injuries. Me and Woody are best friends, and we're rodeoing together this year. And, I mean, that's our goal, to both make finals this year. For him, he's dealt with some injuries the last couple of years. And the year he finished 16th, he had to sit out for a while with some injuries. And not last year, but the year before, I had to sit out with an injury, and that kind of cost me my first NFR. So injuries play a big role in it. And you know, and then once you come back from injury, things don't always click right away. It kind of takes some time to get back. But, I mean, I think both of us have a legitimate shot to make finals again, and that's our approach, is to go at them as hard as we can.”

While Moody has chores to do back home this week, he said he doesn’t really consider what he does “work.”

“It's a way of life. I mean, we grew up ranching. We run a bunch of cows. And, you know, rodeo was kind of a hobby for us growing up, but now it has turned into a job for me. And it's not a job to me, but at the end of the day, it's how I make my living. So it's a job,” Moody said. “You know, it's the best job I could ever do.”