FRIENDSHIP HELPS STEER BRANQUINHO TO REPEAT AT NFR

Traveling together on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit, steer wrestlers Luke Branquinho and Les Shepperson have become close friends.

That friendship never was more evident than in the 10th and final round of the 54th National Finals Rodeo on Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 17,867 at the Thomas & Mack Center.