Destination Rodeo

Thank you Kendra.

Prayers to Alejandra’s family and her Tarleton State teammates.

Our rodeo family is hurting today after the sudden loss of Tarleton State University Rodeo Team cowgirl Alejandra Franco at the Sul Ross State University college rodeo in Alpine, Texas last night. Love to Alejandra’s family and friends at this impossibly sad time. She will be missed by many. ❤️💜

Game Changing action on display at the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup
Presented by Texas Precious Metals in Sioux Falls
SIOUX FALLS, SD (Sept 25, 2026) – All eyes in the rodeo industry are on the Cinch Playoffs
Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D., with $1.5 million on the line as the PRCA regular season
comes to a close. Some athletes are fighting to get in the top 15 while others are looking to
extend the lead on a shot at a gold buckle in Las Vegas in December.
Steer wrestler Dalton Massey entered the Governor’s Cup on the outside looking in ranked No.
18 but that changed quickly on Friday night inside the Denny Sanford Center. Massey of
Hermiston, Oregon, was the first gunner out and he set the bar high with a run of 3.4 seconds.
His closest competitor would be the final guy out and fellow cowboy from Oregon with Jesse
Brown turning in a 4.0-second run. With the round win Massey added $12,533 to move him
easily into the top 15 after night No. 1. He was only $2,908 out of 15 before the performance
tonight.
In the team roping it was world standings leaders Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira who took
the round win with a 3.8 second run. It was truly saving the best for last in that event, and they
knocked Lightning Aguilera and Ross Ashford off the top with their 4.1. Driggers and Nogueira
added $12,533.
“This is an amazing competition with the amount of money up and guys trying to get inside the
top 15,” stated Nogueira. “This is special and such a great payout for the cowboys.”
There are total of 12 contestants in each discipline – ba****ck riding, steer wrestling, team
roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing, and bull riding.
All 12 will compete in two rounds (Sept. 25 and 26) with the top 8 scores/times in the average
advancing to a clean slate semifinal round. The top four will then advance to the sudden death
final round with the winner taking home $34,000.
Ba****ck rider Cooper Cooke kicked off the night getting the win with an 88-point ride aboard
Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo’s Wanda’s Medicine. Garrett Shadbolt took second with an 86.5. Cooke
was ranked sixth coming into this weekend with Shadbolt ranked 12th
Brody Cress took advantage of the draw on opening night matching up with a familiar bronc
owned by Three Hills Rodeo known as Devil’s Advocate. It was the perfect matchup for the
night landing atop the leaderboard with an 87.25 edging Kade Bruno who rode Bailey Pro
Rodeo’s 87 points. Cress added $12,533, with Bruno cashing in for $9,400.
It was a tie atop the leaderboard in the women’s breakaway roping having two times just one-
tenth off the arena record. Josie Conner and Jordi Edens-Mitchell each stopped the clock in 1.7
seconds to get the win on opening night. Both ladies were already in the top 15 prior to this
weekend but they are looking to close the gap on standing leader Cheyanne McCartney, who
finished the night with a no time. Hali Williams was third with a 1.9 and bubble cowgirl Jill
Tanner took fourth in a time of 2.1 seconds. With a fourth place finish Tanner added $3,133
moving her at least for now inside the top 15. If Tanner is able to stay within the top 15 it would
be her first trip to the WPRA National Breakaway Finals.
Megan McLeod-Sprague landed atop a very competitive barrel race stopping the clock in 14.10
seconds aboard her horse Swoon that she has ridden since Red Bluff, California back in April.
Last year was McLeod-Sprague’s first trip to the NFR and she is eyeing a return trip having
entered this weekend ranked 11th. She added $12,533 to her earnings moving her up in the world
standings. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell and Piper were second with a time of 14.17 seconds. Gibson
Stillwell and Carlee Otero have been battling for the top spot over the last month and after the
first round in Sioux Falls, Gibson-Stillwell now has the edge adding $9,400, while Otero had
some rough luck with a downed first barrel finishing with a 19.34.
Opening night came to a close in Sioux Falls with one of the best rounds of bull riding fans have
ever seen at the Governor’s Cup. Qynn Andersen rose above them all with a 90-point ride aboard
Sankey ProRodeo’s and Phenom Genetics Humboldt. Rookie John Crimber was a close second
with an 89.75, followed by Lane Vaughan with an 89.5 and rounding out the top 4 was world
standings leader Noah Lee with an 89.25. Ten-time world champion Stetson Wright was out of
the money in fifth with an 88.75. Fans will not want to miss round two in Sioux Falls as that race
for the gold buckle continues to heat up.
All action from the richest South Dakota rodeo is being televised on The Cowboy Channel.
Results:
Ba****ck riding: 1. Cooper Cooke, Victor, ID, 88 points on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo’s Wanda’s
Medicine, $12,533; 2 . Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, NE, 86.5, $9,400; 3. Keenan Hayes, Hayden,
CO, 85.75, $6,266; 4. Jacob Lees, Caldwell, ID, 84.75, $3,133.
Steer wrestling: 1. Dalton Massey, Hermiston, OR, 3.4 seconds, $12,533; 2. Jesse Brown, Baker
City, OR, 4.0, $9,400; 3. (tie) Eli Lord, Sturgis, SD and Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, LA, 4.2, $4,700
each.
Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, GA/Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Brazil,
3.8 seconds, $12,533 each; 2. Lightning Aguilera, Athens, TX/Ross Ashford, Lott, TX, 4.1,
$9,400; 3. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, Wainwright, AB, 4.2, $6,266; 4. Tyler Tryan, Lipan,
TX/Nicky Northcott, Stephenville, TX, 4.3, $3,133.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, WY, 87.25 on Three Hills Rodeo’s Devil’s
Advocate, $12,533; 2. Kade Bruno, Challis, ID, 87, $9,400; 3. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, AB,
86.25, $6,266; 4. (tie) Statler Wright, Beaver, UT and Waitley Sharon, Ordway, CO, 85.75,
$1,566 each.
Tie-down roping: 1. Kincade Henry, Mount Pleasant, TX, 7.5 second, $12,533; 2. Joel Harris,
San Angelo, TX, 7.7, $9,400; 3. (tie) Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, LA and Haven Maged, Miles
City, MT, 8.0, $4,700 each.
Breakaway roping: 1. (tie) Jordi Eden-Mitchell, Stephenville, TX and Josie Conner, Iowa, La,
1.7 seconds, $10,966 each; 3. Hali Williams, Comanche, TX, 1.9, $6,266; 4. Jill Tanner,
Stephenville, TX, 2.1, $3,133.
Barrel racing: 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 14.10, $12,533; 2. Hayle Gibson-
Stillwell, Redcrest, CA, 14.17, $9,400, 3. Katelyn Scott, Odessa, TX, 14.37, $6,266; 4. Emily
Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 14.45, $3,133.
Bull riding: 1. Qynn Andersen, Koumala, Australia, 90 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s and
Phenom Genetics Humboldt, $12,533; 2. John Crimber, Decatur, TX, 89.75, $9,400; 3. Lane
Vaughan, Klamath Falls, OR, 89.5, $6,266; 4. Noah Lee, Mineral Wells, TX, 89.25, $3,133.

Click Thompson Photos

Enjoy the action from Sioux Falls on Cowboy Channel!

The Governor’s Cup starts tonight!

New teams. New combinations. One big weekend in Sioux Falls.

The Governor’s Cup will see Tanner Tomlinson and Coleby Payne, Lightning Aguilera and Ross Ashford, and Garrett Tonozzi and Trey Yates team up at the final stop of the 2026 season. These aren't their typical pairings, but as the season goes on sometimes only half of a duo will have enough points to compete for an NFR spot. With a massive payday and NFR invitation on the line, there’s no room for a slow start in Sioux Falls.

Watch In The Weeds, presented by Ragan & Massey on WSR:
https://bit.ly/4Attgop

Thank you to the WPRA…Looking forward to joining Garrett to see history made in December in Fort Worth!

𝐖𝐏𝐑𝐀 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐏𝐑𝐀 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬

The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association has selected their contract personnel to work the 2026 Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals slated for December 18-19 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

*𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬*

Courtesy of Ted Harbin and twistedrodeo.com

The CINCH JEANS CINCH Playoffs will help solidify who will advance to this year's NFR. There are some amazing bubble stories, like Damian Brennan, who edged Sage Newman into this weekend's field. This is a great chance to make big money. 📸 Mallory Beinborn

Link to the story in comments!

This is exciting. My second National Finals Steer Roping working alongside my buddy Kory Keeth and with Jesse Knutsen on the music. Come join us!

https://prorodeo.com/news/2026/9/22/general-contract-personnel-announced-for-wrangler-national-finals-rodeo-nfsr

Contract Personnel announced for Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, NFSR

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Sept 23, 2026) – The field is now set for the 2026 Governor’s Cup presented by Texas Precious Metals this weekend at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, SD. This culminating event of the CINCH Playoffs boasting $1.5 million in prize money will no doubt impact the Top 15 race as the ProRodeo regular season comes to a close.

All eyes in the rodeo industry will be on this event as this will be the final full weekend of the 2026 rodeo season and there will be a mix of contestants looking to make their way into the top 15 to earn a spot in Las Vegas at the National Finals Rodeo in December, while others will be looking to add more money on their quest for a world title.

There will be a total of 12 contestants in each discipline – ba****ck riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. The field is comprised of the top four competitors in each event from the CINCH Playoffs in Puyallup, WA, earlier this month and the top eight athletes in each event not already qualified from the Playoffs Series Standings as of September 21. All 12 will compete in two rounds (Sept. 25 and 26) with the top 8 scores/times in the average advancing to a clean slate semifinal round. The top four will then advance to the sudden death final round with the winner taking home $34,000.

All action from the richest South Dakota rodeo will be televised on The Cowboy Channel.

South Dakota Governor’s Cup Steer Roping will be held September 26 at 10 a.m. at the Denny Sanford Premier Center featuring 12 contestants that include the top four from the National Steer Roping Circuit Finals in Torrington, WY and the top eight in the Playoff Series Standings. The format is the same as the other events with the prize money totaling $60,000.



Current list of qualifiers for the 2026 Governor’s Cup

Ba****ck riding:

1. Keenan Hayes
2. Jess Pope
3. Garrett Shadbolt
4. Bradlee Miller
5. Kade Sonnier
6. Jayco Roper
7. Leighton Bery
8. Jacob Lees
9. Cole Reiner
10. RC Landingham
11. Clayton Biglow
12. Cooper Cooke

Steer wrestling:

1. Jesse Brown
2. Bridger Anderson
3. Seth Peterson
4. Justin Shaffer
5. Tyler Waguespack
6. Rowdy Parrott
7. Tristan Martin
8. Cash Robb
9. Eli Lord
10. J.D. Struxness
11. Mike McGinn
12. Dalton Massey

Team roping headers:

1. James Arviso
2. Kaleb Driggers
3. Luke Brown
4. Garrett Tonozzi
5. Tyler Tryan
6. Tanner Tomlinson
7. Andrew Ward
8. Cody Snow
9. Jake Smith
10. Lightning Aguilera
11. Cory Kidd
12. Dawson Graham

Team roping heelers:

1. Levi Lord
2. Junior Nogueira
3. Hunter Koch
4. Trey Yates
5. Coleby Payne
6. Jake Long
7. Carson Johnson
8. Dillon Graham
9. Lane Mitchell
10. Douglas Rich
11. Ross Ashford
12. Nicky Northcott

Saddle bronc riding:

1. Ryder Wright
2. Zach Dallas
3. Statler Wright
4. Waitley Sharon
5. Stetson Wright
6. Kade Bruno
7. Rusty Wright
8. Wyatt Casper
9. Brody Wells
10. Zeke Thurston
11. Brody Cress
12. Damian Brennan

Tie-down roping:

1. Riley Webb
2. Trevor Hale
3. Ty Harris
4. Shad Mayfield
5. Kincade Henry
6. Joel Harris
7. Dylan Hancock
8. Haven Meged
9. Shane Hanchey
10. John Douch
11. Tyler Calhoun
12. Cory Solomon

Breakaway roping:

1. Josie Conner
2. Jackie Crawford
3. Jill Tanner
4. Haiden Thompson
5. Hali Williams
6. Jordi Edens-Mitchell
7. Danielle Lowman
8. Rylee George
9. Martha Angelone
10. Cheyanne McCartney
11. Bradi Good
12. Jordan Jo Hollabaugh

Barrel racing:

1. Carlee Otero
2. Michelle Alley
3. Lisa Lockhart
4. Megan McLeod-Sprague
5. Emily Beisel
6. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell
7. Tayla Moeykens
8. Sydney Graham
9. Makenzie Mayes
10. Tricia Aldridge
11. Andrea Busby
12. Katelyn Scott

Bull riding:

1. John Crimber
2. Colten Fritzlan
3. Dakota Hill
4. Jace Trosclair
5. Tristen Hutchings
6. Luke Mackey
7. Stetson Wright
8. Noah Lee
9. TJ Gray
10. Hayden Welsh
11. Qynn Anderson
12. Lane Vaughan


Steer roping:

1. Cody Lee
2. Cole Patterson
3. Taylor Santos
4. Tony Reina
5. Chet Herren
6. Rodger Nonella
7. Vin Fisher
8. Tanner Stec
9. Riley O’Rourke
10. Wade Shoemaker
11. Troy Tillard
12. Scott Snedecor