A crucial qualifying stage for the regional finals in Las Vegas Nevada will be hosted at the Kaonoulo Ranch this Saturday. These qualifiers culminate in the biggest stage in western sports at “The American Rodeo Championship Weekend”, where athletes compete for a $1 million bonus. Last year’s event paid out $4.6 million in total.

The American Rodeo features competitors in all eight rodeo disciplines: bareback riding, breakaway roping, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping (heading and healing), and tie down roping.

100 American Contender Qualifying Events across the country lead to three regional semifinals, then the American Contender Tournament Finals that end the long season in The American Rodeo 2025. The qualifying event for our area takes place Saturday at the Kaonoulo Ranch, and the public is welcome to attend.

Brother and sister are both competing, Elizabeth Miranda, 17, a junior in high school from Makawao and Daniel Miranda, 20, a junior in college at Cal Poly as a junior.

Elizabeth is an accomplished lifelong rider and rodeo competitor. She already competes on such a big stage. She professionally competes in barrels, breakaway, and team roping; however, somehow manages to compete in all seven events at the high school level.

“Riding gives me an adrenaline rush like no other,” said Elizabeth. “I feel like I am on top of the world.”

In her family, riding and rodeo is a birthright. Elizabeth remembers when she first got on a horse to learn how to rope a practice dummy. A fond memory is seeing how good her brother Daniel performed.

“As far back as I can remember, I was learning how to rope and wanted to do it just like my brother,” said Elizabeth.

Her brother, Daniel Miranda, is an amazing athlete as well. In competition, he specializes in calf roping and tie-down roping.

“I love the high pressure situations like ‘The American’ against the best in the world,” says Daniel. “Some ride skateboards, others ride big waves at jaws, but I get that feeling back in the box back in the box at Globe Life Stadium.”

Globe Life Stadium is the venue for the finals of these events in the Spring of 2025.

Daniel rides his horse, “Princess” in his events for over six years. He competes in rodeo events for Cal Poly as well.

The beginning of a bracket of all local Maui paniolos to make the next step toward the highly anticipated event: The American Rodeo 2025 takes place this Saturday. Come this weekend to see all of the Mirandas and the rest of the premier paniolos in Maui.