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JD Struxness, a 3-time NFR Qualifier in Steer Wrestling, is interviewed by Chris Dawson and Russell Dilday.

Career earnings: $762,237
2020 world standings place: 51st
2020 earnings: $13,496
Education: Missouri Valley College (Marshall, Mo.) and Northwestern Oklahoma State University (Alva)

Wrangler NFR Qualifications: 3 (2016-17, 2019)

Professional
2021 Highlights
• Won the Days of the Old West Rodeo (Delta, Utah)
• Co-champion at the PPCLA PRCA Rodeo (Mineral Wells, Texas)
• Co-champion at the Flint Hills Rodeo (Strong City, Kan.)
Career Highlights
• 2020: Co-champion at the Sitting Bull Stampede (Mobridge, S.D.)
• 2019: Qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the third time in his career. He finished fifth in the world standings with $190,137 and 12th in the average at the Wrangler NFR. He earned $107,308 at the NFR. He placed in six rounds. Won the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo, the Tulsa (Okla.) State Fair PRCA Rodeo, the Woodward (Okla.) Elks Rodeo and the New Mexico (Albuquerque) State Fair & Rodeo. Co-champion at the Tri-State Rodeo Cinch Shoot-Out (Fort Madison, Iowa)
• 2018: Won the Walla Walla (Wash.) Frontier Days, the Lake County Round-up (Lakeview, Ore.), the Spokane (Wash.) Interstate Rodeo and the New Mexico (Albuquerque) State Fair & Rodeo. Co-champion at the Cassia County Fair & Rodeo (Burley, Idaho). Finished 27th in the world standings with $48,937
• 2017: Won the Beef Empire Days PRCA Rodeo (Garden City, Kan.). Finished seventh in the world standings with $185,921
• 2016: Won Rounds 4, 5, and 10, split the win in Round 3 and placed in six rounds of the Wrangler NFR to rank 12th in the average. Finished fourth in the world standings with $213,218. Won the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days, the Lewiston (Idaho) Roundup, the Lawton (Okla.) Rangers Rodeo, the Tri-State Rodeo (Fort Madison, Iowa) and the Hamel (Minn.) Rodeo & Bull Ridin Bonanza. Co-champion at the New Mexico (Albuquerque) State Fair & Rodeo and the Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo (Lovington, N.M.)
• 2015: Won the Justin Boots Playoffs (Puyallup, Wash.), the Santa Rosa Roundup (Vernon, Texas) and the Oregon Trail Rodeo (Hastings, Neb.). Co-champion at the XIT Rodeo & Reunion (Dalhart, Texas). Finished 19th in the world standings with $55,450
• 2014: Won the Crazy Horse (S.D.) Stampede, the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo (Vinita, Okla.) and the Longford (Kan.) Rodeo; earned $7,268 on his permit and qualified for the PRCA Permit Challenge in Las Vegas.

Amateur
Qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo four times as a tie-down roper and three times as a steer wrestler. Qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in 2013 while at Missouri Valley College

Personal
Daughter, Everlee Grace (11/10/19)... Father, Dan, is a feed mill manager; mother, Missy, works at the Johnson Memorial Healthcare Clinic (Dawson, Minn.); sisters, Kacey and Lauren, competed in college rodeo at Missouri Valley College … Given name is James Daniel Struxness, but has always gone by J.D … Graduated from Lac Qui Parle Valley High School (Madison, Minn.) in 2012, where he played fullback and middle linebacker in football and wrestled; he finished second in the state meet as a junior and senior, one spot better than his father had done during his high school career … Enjoys pheasant and goose hunting and hanging out with his friends … Favorite rodeo is the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days … Favorite kind of music is old-time country … Favorite meal is steak and potatoes