Bull rider Kanin Asay's cell phone doesn't have a normal ringtone. Instead, when people call, they hear lyrics from "Seventeen," a Chris LeDoux song.

"And in his mind he's riding bulls down in Las Vegas. Soon he'll be on a train that leads to Santa Fe."

While Asay isn't on a train headed to Santa Fe, the image of riding bulls in Las Vegas became a reality earlier this month when he qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo.

Asay appropriately switched his ringtone before the NFR.

"All I've ever thought about, since as long as I can remember, was wanting to ride bulls in Las Vegas," Asay said. "And now it really happened."

Asay, who is from Powell, placed third in the average at the NFR and finished second in the world standings with $218,597. Wesley Silcox won the world standings with $228,942.

"It was a lot of fun," Asay said about his first NFR experience. "Being able to get on that many fun bulls 10 days in a row. That was really fun. We look forward to that all throughout the year."

Asay rode with a brace on his left (riding) arm after hyperextending his elbow at the Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale in late October in Indianapolis. He said the NFR was rough because his elbow was sore and he got tired quicker because of the injury.

"I'm not mad about any of it," Asay said. "It was all good. I would have liked to ride a few more bulls, but what I didn't get accomplished was meant to be."

Qualifying for the NFR was one of Asay's many highlights in 2007.

One of his favorite moments of the year came early when he scored a 95.5 on Taylor Made Bucking Bulls' War Dance on Jan. 16 in Fort Worth, Texas. Another highlight, Asay said, was being the high-money winner at the Xtreme Bulls event in Cody on the Fourth of July. Asay went on to win the Xtreme Bulls standings with $72,125.77.

Asay's profile on the PRCA's Web site says he has $76,794 in career earnings. He almost tripled that this past year.

The key to Asay's success this year is that this was the first year he's been healthy since turning pro.

"It helped me out with being able to go to more rodeos," he said. "Being able to be healthy, it helps you to ride more consistent. When you ride more consistent you are going to win more money."

Competing in more rodeos and making more money has also taken a some pressure off Asay in terms of paying bills.

"It was a blessing to be where I was at this year financial-wise," Asay said. "In the past I fought with that to go down the road. Now I picked up some good sponsors."

After a successful 2007, Asay is now eyeing an even better 2008.

"I want to win worlds," he said. "That is going to be my goal this year, and Lord providing, it will happen. If it's in God's will it will happen."

Kanin Asay isn't the only person in his family who had a successful year in rodeo. His younger brother, Kaleb, also had big results in 2007.

Kaleb Asay was the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association saddle-bronc champion. He failed to repeat as National High School Finals Rodeo saddle-bronc champion, but he did place fifth in the average.

In addition, Kaleb Asay won the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Okla. He specified that title as one of his favorites of the year.

"It was neat because I could look and see who had won it and I was the first guy from Wyoming to win the bronc riding there," he said.

The younger Asay also excelled against older competition. He qualified for the Mountain States Circuit Finals on his permit and finished 14th in the circuit standings. In November, he won the saddle bronc ride competition at A Tribute to Chris LeDoux rodeo in Casper.

Kaleb Asay is now at Casper College and is looking to qualify for his first NFR in 2008.

"Everything is looking up and I want to keep moving forward," he said.

ASAY TRACKER

WHO: Kanin and Kaleb Asay of Powell

WHAT THEY DO: Kanin is a pro bull rider, while Kaleb is an up-and-coming saddle bronc rider.

2007 RECAP: Kanin won the Xtreme Bulls standings, was second in the world standings with $218,597, and third in the average at his first National Finals Rodeo. Kaleb won the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association saddle bronc competition, was fifth in the average at the National High School Finals Rodeo, and made the Mountain States Circuit Finals on his permit.

2008 LOOKAHEAD: Kanin says his goal is to win the world standings. Kaleb will compete for Casper College and hopes to qualify for his first NFR.