LAS VEGAS – There’s a new No. 1 in the world of steer wrestling, and he’s from Minnesota.

J.D. Struxness knocked his steer to the ground in 4.4 seconds Thursday night to finish third in the eighth round, earning his seventh payday in eight nights of the National Finals Rodeo. It was worth $15,654. More importantly, it pushed his NFR earnings to $107,308 and bumped his 2019 salary to $190,137.

“This pen of steers keeps getting stronger as the week goes on,” said Struxness, 25, of Milan, Minnesota, now living in Alva, Oklahoma. “I thought my steer was middle of the herd, but I was 4.4 and still...