Only three cowboys remain, after outriding, outperforming and outfoxing some of the best cowboys in the nation; at sundown, host Trace Adkins and his expert judges determine which one of them will win a $50,000 herd and a lifetime of bragging rights.

The four remaining cowboys race to rope and load two steers without help, then they each ride a green horse through a challenging obstacle course.

Host Trace Adkins tests the cattle IQ of the remaining five cowboys with a trivia roping challenge and evaluates their communication skills as they work together to remove two rogue bulls from the herd.

The six remaining cowboys face off in a wild horse race over rough terrain, though tempers flare, they must work together to find stray cattle using a simple map.

Half of the fourteen original cowboys remain and they must work even harder to impress host Trace Adkins and his expert judges; a challenge goes awry, two yearlings escape through the fence, and Trace is forced to send another cowboy packing.

Eight remaining cowboys demonstrate their skills; the cowboys snatch flags off of running steers and corral a herd of cattle into three separate pens; with the help of expert judges, Trace Adkins decides which cowboy will be sent home.

In addition to showing off their roping and riding skills, the 10 remaining cowboys must demonstrate their business acumen by estimating the value of livestock; with the help of expert judges, host Trace Adkins decides who will be sent packing.

A six-stage relay race tests the horsemanship skills of the remaining 12 cowboys and determines who will be sent packing; in an unexpected twist, Trace Adkins and the judges decide to eliminate two cowboys.

The 13 remaining cowboys lock horns in a grueling series of challenges; barrel racing, calf roping and colt starting; with the help of expert judges, Trace Adkins decides which cowboy will be eliminated next.

Just hours after arriving at a sweltering Texas ranch, 14 cowboys lock horns in the first of many grueling challenges; along with two expert judges, host Trace Adkins evaluates their performances and decides which cowboy will be the first to go home.