It’s kind of like that whole “if a tree falls in the forest” bit. If a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo takes place, and Sage Kimzey isn’t in it, did it really happen?

The answer, of course, is yes. This Super Bowl of Rodeo stops for no one, and there’s never a shortage of great cowboys and cowgirls who ply their trade for 10 days each December in Las Vegas.

But it certainly has felt different this week without Kimzey, who reached the Wrangler NFR from 2014-21 — each of his first eight seasons — and won seven bull riding world championships.

Being honest, though, Kimzey is surprised it took this long to miss out, as a shoulder injury suffered years ago finally caught up to the 28-year-old.