Two local riders competing at Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which began Thursday in Las Vegas, are in the top 15 bull riders in the country and have been chosen to be on the first Crown Royal Bull Rider Team.

Wesley Silcox, from Santaquin, and Steve Woolsey, who grew up in Benjamin and now calls Payson home, will both join the new charity program. For every 90-point performance by a member of the Crown Royal Riders, Crown Royal will donate $2,000 to the nonprofit Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, which provides financial assistance to professional rodeo athletes and their families in the event of catastrophic injuries.

“With the caliber of riders, 12 or more 90 point rides should be easy,” Silcox said.

Contestants in the National Finals Rodeo compete nightly through Saturday, with final awards being presented Saturday night. For more information about the rodeo, visit www.nfrexperience.com.

Silcox, the 2007 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider who is currently ranked No. 1 at WNRF, knows a little about season-ending injuries. He missed parts of two seasons because of injuries, but said he was lucky that he had enough savings to cover his time off. He said the Crown Royal team fundraising is “a pretty big deal; we might need it some time.”

The fund could receive anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 from Crown Royal Riders if Cindy Schonholtz, spokesperson for the JCCF, is right. “Between five to 10 cowboys make a 90 point ride during the WNRF.”

Neither of the cowboys knows the bulls they’ve drawn in the first two rounds, but Woolsey, a bull rider and saddle bronc rider currently ranked No. 3 in bull riding, said, “I’ll nod my head and let it go.”

Silcox predicted hitting 90 points on the two he’s drawn. He’s not overly worried about superstition and forecasting success.

Woolsey said he’s had a good year and is “looking forward to trying to make 90 points every time and make money for the crisis fund.”

“We take care of business. But when it’s time to have fun, we have fun,” Woolsey said.

Justin Boot Company formed a partnership with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association in 1989 to establish the JCCF. JCCF dedicates 100 percent of all contributions received for disbursement to eligible applicants.