The Sunday performance of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo ended with a bull riding round that two young cowboys will never forget.
Both Shane Proctor and Ky Hamilton were out in Round 2 of Bracket 6 with arm or shoulder injuries. As a result, Jax Mills, the 19-year-old from Montgomery, Texas, and Wacey Schalla, the 18-year-old from Arapaho, Okla., got the opportunity to be the walk-ups to fill the eight cowboy roster for the round at the Fort Worth Rodeo.
Mills would be in the spot for Proctor. Riding Grey Goose of United Pro Rodeo, Mills was able to register one of only three qualified rides in the round. Mills and Grey Goose combined for a score of 76. Grey Goose had an 89% buck-off rate in 2023. The 19-year-old would hang on and make a statement on a Sunday afternoon in Cowtown.
In Ky Hamilton’s position, riding last would be his friend Wacey Schalla. Schalla was in North Carolina on Saturday at noon. To his delight, 24 hours later, he would be a walk-up at a rodeo that is known to make legends. Schalla would face off against Happy Days. Happy Days is another United Pro Rodeo bucking bull that had an almost 89% buck-off rate in 2023. This would be Happy Days’ first ride of the 2024 season. Schalla would have a “happy day” as he rode for a round-winning score of 85.5.