It's hard to believe that ProRodeo fans learned the name Kaley Bass just over a year ago. The Florida cowgirl stormed on the scene as a rookie in 2011, winning over $51,000 to finish second in a highly competitive rookie race and 22nd in the final World standings.

With the near misses in her fabulous first season, Bass has tackled 2012 with a mission to end her year under the bright lights of Las Vegas. Riding her pair of great horses, Wonders Cowboy Dan and Girl Pal Wonder, Bass has had a solid season, knocking on the door of the top 15 all year.

She did more than knock on the door the first weekend in August. Bass dominated the races across the Prairie Circuit, taking home first place finishes in Dodge City and Abilene, Kan., as well as repeating her win at Sidney, Iowa. She added a third at Phillipsburg, Kan., and fourth at Hill City, Kan., for a total weekend haul of $12,881.

With the huge weekend, Bass moved up to 10th in the standings and has already earned as much as she did last year. She is in good standing as she chases her first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo berth.

Meanwhile in the mountains of Colorado, the Breckenridge Stables PRCA Rodeo kicked off its five week series of rodeo. Billed as the highest pro rodeo in the country at over 9,600 feet, the series features $1,000 added each week with two performances on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

"It was a good rodeo. It's got a lot of potential," says stock contractor and producer Jerry Honeycutt. Though Honeycutt says there are still bugs to work out, the first weekend played to a standing room only crowd and was a hit. "We had to order more bleachers for next week."

"We certainly appreciate the girls entering; we had more barrel racers than any event," Honeycutt continues. Along with regular rodeo action, the producer organize behind the scenes tours for spectators, bringing them into the arena and getting them up close with bucking horses and bulls. "They seemed to really like having that chance to get in the arena and see how things work."

Wendy McKee has already put together a solid season in the Mountain States Circuit, winning two rodeos in the Steamboat Springs series right down the road from her home in Craig and picking up checks in Estes Park, Evergreen and Grover. McKee is currently ranked fifth in the circuit, looking for a repeat visit to the Mountain States Circuit Finals this year.

Apparently the high altitude suits her horse, Snoop Dog. In Breckenridge, McKee piloted the 8-year old son of PESI stallion Smoke N Sparks to the victory with a time of 15.06. She added $555 to her year-end totals.

"I raised him and his mother," McKee says of the gelding who is registered as Little Snoop Dog. "He is kind of off and on; sometimes we have more run than turn. He is about having a good time!"

McKee was raised on a ranch and spent years running race horses and even chariot racing before coming to barrel racing. After time spent staying mostly in the futurities, she has ventured to the rodeos and found success.

The cowgirl was quick to praise the efforts of Honeycutt and the crew at Breckenridge.

"It was a super, super nice rodeo," she says. "The tractor driver was trying his guts out and we saw him get off the tractor and pick up rocks and everything else."

Due to a full schedule next week, McKee won't get to repeat next week but plans to return before the series concludes on Labor Day weekend.