The 98th Edition of the Pendleton Round-Up is off and rolling this week as nearly 700 contestants compete for more than $400,000 is prize money. With the regular season coming to a close at the end of the month, Pendleton is an important stop for the cowboys.

Trevor Brazile, the sport’s five-time and reining world champion is one of the favorites to capture this year’s coveted all around title. “It’s a good rodeo. It’s the last big rodeo up here before we head south,” he said. “It’s the tradition and there’s a lot of stuff to like about Pendleton, not to mention the money.” Brazile has had good late-summer surge to pull away from the pack in the all around standings.

Local favorite, Mike Beers of Powell Butte has five round-Up titles to his credit. “Shoot, everybody knows that Pendleton Round-Up is my favorite rodeo. I went to college there, was married there, I won the all round there three times, I won the steer roping and calf roping.” Beers has competed at Pendleton since 1977 and he says there is nothing like the victory lap at Pendleton. “If you win Pendleton, you’re somebody,” Beers said. “Taking that lap at around that track is unbelievable—it’s second to none.” With those three all around titles, Beers retired the East Oregonian’s “Let’er Buck Trophy”. “Winning that bronze is special. It’s like winning a world championship.”

Three-time world champion bareback rider Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas, will be looking for his second title at the Round-Up. He loves competing here. “Pendleton’s one that you just don’t miss ever,” Lowe said. “I just love coming to it and we’re excited to be here.”

Team roper Jake Stanley of Hermiston has been coming to Pendleton ever since he can remember. “I love Pendleton. I can’t remember not going to Tuesday slack ever. From the time I was too young to realize what Pendleton was my Dad has always taken me there,” he said. “I like that rodeo no matter if I have won it or not. I’ve had everything happen there from my horse falling down to winning it. It’s one I look forward to every year.”

The high fuel prices haven’t much affect on this year’s contestant entries. This year’s roster is down slightly according to Round-Up Director Joe Talbot. “We’re down some, but not much,” he said.

Cash Myers is the defending all around champ at Pendleton. The Athens, Texas cowboy says the high cost of fuel this year has made some changes in the way they rodeo. “It’s not just us cowboys, it’s probably tough on everybody,” he said. “We just have to pick and choose a little bit more and more guys are traveling together and the bottom line is a guy has just gotta win.”

A win at Pendleton could make or break a cowboy’s season.