LETCHER — Mason Moody is living out his childhood dream. 

Moody, a rising bull riding star, has qualified for his first-ever Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Dec. 4-13 in Las Vegas. The Letcher native qualified for the NFR after finishing the regular season 12th in the standings with $156,060. 

“Words don't describe it,” Moody said about qualifying for the NFR. “It’s something you dream about. It’s something you work for your whole life.”

Moody, 22, recalls idolizing several professional bull riders as a kid growing up on the family ranch. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s reached the pinnacle of his sport after dreaming about it. 

“When I was a kid I thought these guys were celebrities,” Moody said. “Now you are in these shoes and the last couple of years I have been close and haven’t quite got ‘er done. It’s hard on you but now looking back I am the celebrity my little self dreamed about. To be where I am at it’s something that very few people get and I am trying not to take it for granted.”

Moody turned professional in 2022, and slowly climbed up the NFR bull riding standings. In 2023, he finished 36th in the world standings after earning $52,713. In 2024, he finished 23rd in the world standings ($96,663). 

Moody began the 2025 season with an average win at the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo. He followed it up with first-place finishes at the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo, San Angelo Xtreme Bulls, and San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. 

“It started out really hot,” Moody said about his season. “I had a really good winter, Texas swing. Then in early spring I was riding really well. That makes it a lot easier on a guy. You kind of have some money in your pocket and you are riding well. You are healthy.”

Moody hit a rough patch in July, covering only six bulls in a month filled with big rodeos across the country. 

“That's rodoeing,” Moody said. “I had my highs. I had my lows. You have to put on your pants the same way you did the day before and just go at ‘em.”

Moody has never attended the NFR as a spectator. But he’s going to draw on his previous experiences at big rodeos to help with the NFR experience. 

“I kind of know the pressure and the scenarios,” Moody said. “I have been in high pressure moments. It definitely is going to help when we get down to it.”

Moody’s riding hand bothered him during the season, but he’s gotten healthy as the NFR draws closer. He’s recently hopped on some practice bulls and is ready to make his long-awaited NFR debut.

“In a sense, it’s just another rodeo, and everyone will tell you that,” Moody said. “But is it actually? No, probably not. But that’s how you’ve got to treat it. It’s just another big one header. Each day is a new one header and just go at it like that. Just try to win every day.” 

The NFR is at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas, and will be televised nightly on the Cowboy Channel.