With a rodeo career that has spanned four decades and earned him 10 Linderman Awards, Kyle Whitaker has paid his entry fees at rodeos across the United States.

“At my age, there is not a lot of rodeos I haven’t been to before,” said the 49-year-old cowboy.

Now Whitaker is adding another to his lengthy rodeo resume.

The head coach of the Montana State University rodeo program will be competing at his first NRA Finals presented by nuWest Builders, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell.

Whitaker will be competing in steer wrestling.

The NRA’s showcase event features the top 10 competitors from each event in the Mountain Health Co-op Tour and will determine the year-end champions.

“I heard they have a really good Finals,” said Whitaker. “And fun, too.”

Whitaker needed just three checks to qualify for his first Finals. And the father of five daughters – ages three to 21 – didn’t have to travel far.

He won at Big Timber, was second at Livingston and third at Ennis to qualify him 10th in the standings.

Justus Peterson of Dillon leads the 2025 steer wrestling standings but only $810 separates second through 10th place.

“This is my first time back. I was out the last two years with injuries,” said Whitaker. “This is my first summer in a while without surgery.

“I wanted to stay close to home. The NRA has a lot of good rodeos.”

His reasons for entering were also two-fold.

“It’s a chance to see the high school kids we’re recruiting,” Whitaker added.

His time of 4.2 seconds at Big Timber was the second-fastest on the Mountain Health Co-op Tour this summer.

“Honestly, it pushes me a little bit,” Whitaker said of matching skills against younger competitors. “It’s a cool challenge. It can be pretty satisfying.”

But Whitaker is no ordinary competitor.

Originally from Chambers, Nebraska, the multi-event cowboy has won the most Linderman Awards in professional rodeo history.

The Linderman Award, named for ProRodeo Hall of Fame member and Montana legend Bill Linderman of Red Lodge, is one of the most prestigious and difficult honors to earn. Linderman was a six-time world champion, earning world titles in the all-around (1950, 1953), saddle bronc (1945, 1950), bareback (1943) and steer wrestling (1950).

A competitor must win $1,000 in three events, including one rough stock and one timed event. Whitaker competed in steer wrestling, tie-down roping and saddle bronc riding. His first Linderman Award was in 1997 and last in 2018.

He last got on a saddle bronc horse in 2021. “I’m 49 and think my body is 29,” said Whitaker with a laugh.

Prior to Whitaker earning his fifth, the previous record was four, held by his father Chip.

“It’s a good way of the kids to know me,” he said of still entering. “What I did 10, 20 years ago doesn’t mean much to the kids now.”

Whitaker’s name is also all over the Great Lakes Circuit record book.

He has been the MSU head coach for five years. The Bobcat women won the College National Finals Rodeo team title in 2021.

“I try to be pretty hands-on,” Whitaker said. “I love working with the kids. I encourage them to find tough competition like they see at NRA rodeos.

At the Finals, Whitaker plans to ride Ace, a 15-year-old black horse used by his nephews during the Nebraska high school season. “He’s a little horse, fits me well,” he said.

Whitaker was aboard Flash during the summer, a gray horse previously owned by Nick Guy, a National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Wisconsin.

“My Finals plan is to make three good runs. That should be enough to be in the conversation,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s always fun to compete. It’s fun to show you can still do it.”

Just from a different perspective.

“I remember being the up-and-comer. Now I’m the veteran,” chuckled Whitaker. “I’m still going. I’m blessed to be able to do this for so long.”