Monthly Archives: April 2026

Tie-down roper Joel Harris dismounts his horse during Friday’s 9.4-second run to take the third-round and aggregate lead at his hometown event, the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. (PHOTO BY JENNINGS RODEO PHOTOGRAPHY)   SAN ANGELO, Texas – Joel Harris is a little biased toward his hometown event, the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. “It’s the best rodeo in the world in my opinion,” said Harris, 23, a two-time National Finals Rodeo tie-down roping qualifier from this city of 100,000 folks. “It definitely has the best rodeo fan. I’ve witnessed it firsthand, rodeo after rodeo. I know what the fans are about. “It’s not just me that says that San Angelo has the best fans in the world; a lot of cowboys think that. For it to be my hometown is pretty special. He brought the audience to its feet during Friday’s opening performance at the CRC Roofers Coliseum, taking the third-round lead with a 9.4-second run. He knows the chances of placing in the round are slim but has roped and tied three calves in 27.3 seconds. The cowboys with the top 12 three-run cumulative scores will advance to Championship Friday, where winners will be crowned April 17. He stopped the clock in 8.3 seconds the opening round, which took place this past Monday at Spur Arena. All tie-down ropers, team ropers and steer wrestlers competed in two go-rounds at the first of the week, and the top two-run cumulative times advanced to the progressive rounds, which take place over the 10 preliminary performances at the coliseum. “I think the new format is great,” said Harris, who placed in the opening round, pocketing $2,939 in San Angelo cash already. “It makes it a lot easier for the cowboys to be able to get around to other rodeo and gives everyone an opportunity to rope in a (performance) at San Angelo. “You have to earn it (by advancing), but it’s up to the ropers to get here. Hopefully once you get here, you perform well.” He has done that throughout his young career, especially the last two seasons. Harris, who is 18th in the world standings, finished 2025 at the No. 4 tie-down roper in the world standings with nearly $335,000 in earnings. Of that, $193,931 came during the NFR. He won $149,095 at the 2024 finale; his two combined trips to rodeo’s Super Bowl were worth more than $340,000. He averaged $17,151 per round he has roped inside the storied Thomas & Mack Center. Maybe his years of being inside the tiny confines of San Angelo’s coliseum have helped. What has spurred him on this week has been Django, a powerful bay he owns with his brother, Ty, a seven-time NFR qualifier. “We bought him a year and a half ago, and he’s just such a good horse,” Joel Harris said. “He gives me so many good opportunities to win. Anytime I’m having questions about what horse to ride, I know I can get on him, and he’s going to give me a really good chance every time.” He was certainly glad to have Django in a building he knows so well. “It was great,” he said. “I would have liked to have performed better, but there’s a good chance I’ll get to rope again the short round. That’s just another run I get to make in front of the home crowd.” San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo April 3-18 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Taylor Broussard, 84.5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Lonestar; 2. Ethan Mazurenko, 82; 3. Carson Hildre, 80; 4. Jade Taton, 79; 5. Clay Stone, 74; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Cimarron Thompson, 3.8 seconds, $4,794; 2. Colin Fox, 4.0, $4,169; 3. (tie) Cody Devers and Jude Leonards, 4.1, $3,231 each; 5. (tie) Riley Duvall, Don Payne and Seth Peterson, 4.2, $1,667 each; 8. Cade Goodman, 4.3, $417. Second round: 1. Chase Crane, 3.6 seconds, $4,794; 2. Colt Honey, 3.8, $4,169; 3. (tie) Jacob Daniell and Ty Erickson, 3.9, $3,231 each; 5. (tie) Quentin Branden and Peter Haas, 4.0, $1,980 each; 7. (tie) Jesse Brown and Kall Mayfield, 4.1, $730 each. Third round leaders: 1. Tristan Martin, 4.7 seconds; 2. Gavin Soileau, 5.2; 3. Tyke Kipp, 6.3; no other qualified runs. Average leaders: 1. Tyke Kipp, 21.0 seconds on three runs; 2. Colin Fox, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 3. Cody Devers, 8.4; 4. Cash Robb, 8.7; 5. Ty Allred, 9.0; 6. Tristan Martin, 9.1; 7. (tie) Grant Peterson and Rowdy Parrott, 9.2; 9. Jesse Brown, 9.3; 10. Nick Guy, 9.4; 11. Paul Melvin, 9.5; 12. Gavin Soileau, 9.6. Team roping: First round: 1. Stefan Ramone/Kelby Frizzell, 3.9 seconds, $3,842 each; 2. J.C. Yeahquo/Logan Moore, 4.3, $3,341; 3. Jayse Tettenhorst/Belden Cox, 4.5, $2,840; 4. (tie) Bridger Ketcham/Kaden Prince and Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.6, $2,088 each; 6. (tie) Lyvan Gonzalez/Daryan Gonzalez and Ketch Kelton/Paden Bray, 4.8, $1,086 each; 8. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 4.9, $334. Second round: 1. Stefan Ramone/Kelby Frizzell, 3.9 seconds, $3,842 each; 2. J.C. Yeahquo/Logan Moore, 4.3, $3,341; 3. Jayse Tettenhorst/Belden Cox, 4.5, $2,840; 4. (tie) Bridger Ketcham/Kaden Prince and Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.6, $2,088 each; 6. (tie) Lyvan Gonzalez/Daryan Gonzalez and Ketch Kelton/Paden Bray, 4.8, $1,086 each; 8. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 4.9, $334. Second round: 1. Conley Kleinhans/Kyler Kanady, 3.9 seconds, $3,842 each; 2. (tie) Kavis Drake/Denim Ross, Dustin Egusquiza/JC Flake, Tee McLeod/Trey Yates and Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.1, $2,589 each; 6. (tie) Jaxon Hill/Jessen James and Kolton Schmidt/Chase Tryan, 4.2, $1,086 each; 8. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 4.3, $167 each. Third round leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Coleby Payne, 3.7 seconds; 2. Riley Kittle/Cole Curry, 5.4; 3. Seth Hall/Nicky Northcott, 9.4; 4. Billy Bob Brown/Blaine Vick, 9.9; 5. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 18.4; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Riley Kittle/Cole Curry, 20.8 seconds on three runs; 2. Seth Hall/Nicky Northcott, 24.7; 3. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 4. Ketch Kelton/Paden Bray, 9.2; 5. Stefan Ramone/Kelby Frizzell, 9.3; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.5; 7. Clint Summers/Jade  Continue Reading »

The first rodeo in Estes Park, Colorado, took place in 1908, ties to the community’s Western heritage. Rooftop Rodeo will celebrate its 98th year this July but not without recognizing its history. In this image, Rooftop Rodeo Queen Suzanne Thompson poses in the arena in 1963. (PHOTO wm_2006.013.316 COURTESY OF ESTES PARK MUSEUM)   Rooftop will celebrate its 98th year during six-day festival in July ESTES PARK, Colo. – For most of Colorado’s existence, Rooftop Rodeo has been a fixture in Estes Park. The Centennial State celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2026. That’s 150 years of history, and much of it has involved cowboys. The heritage will be honored during the 98th year of Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 6-Saturday, July 11, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. Roping and riding expertise existed in this mountainous terrain long before that August 1876 day. Vaqueros once corralled stray livestock in what was then the Mexican Territory. Their handiwork was passed on to settlers who were making their way west as the country expanded from shore to shore. In fact, the first recognized rodeo took place in Deer Creek, Colorado, in 1869, seven years before statehood. By that time, cattle operations were growing. Colorado ranches were formed and transformed. Whether on the Plains toward the east or high in the Rocky Mountains, the cowboy way of life was integral in what has become modern day. The legacy remains, and the Western way of life is still important to that. “Estes Park is a vibrant community with a lot of diversity,” said Rob Hinkle, the Town’s Director of Events & Visitor Services. “The history of ranches in Estes Park goes back to the 1800s. Even as we have grown and become a major attraction for tourists, we have held on to that Western heritage. “Because of our history, Rooftop Rodeo is an important part of who we are as a town.” Rodeo first hit the Estes Valley in 1908, and Rooftop Rodeo made its debut two decades later. The early days featured a makeshift arena, where horse-drawn wagons, stagecoaches and vehicles formed in a circle to make the “pen.” That was a tale of the times; most roundups took place in temporary housing, of sorts. Granny May Arena, the existing home of Rooftop Rodeo, was built in the 1950s and has been host to many festivities, from equestrian shows to horseraces to skijoring and rodeo. The grandstands were rebuilt in 2010, and the grounds and footing were redeveloped in 2017. “Estes Park has one of the best rodeo facilities in the state of Colorado,” said Cindy Schonholtz, the Rooftop Rodeo coordinator. “The Town of Estes Park has invested in making this a great venue for everyone. It’s great for contestants and offers amazing views for the fans. It’s absolutely beautiful.” For 98 years, rodeo history has been made in Larimer County, Colorado. It continues to thrive because of it, which is why the town is ready for picturesque summer nights at Granny May Arena.   Gates for Rooftop Rodeo open at 5 p.m. Monday, July 6-Saturday, July 11, with the preshow beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. For more information about Rooftop Rodeo, which is a Town of Estes Park signature event, or to order tickets online, log on to www.RooftopRodeo.com. Other ticket inquiries may be made by contacting the Town of Estes Park Events office at events@estes.org or (970) 586-6104.

Construction crews have begun the development of Chute Heavens, which is specialized seating above the bucking chutes at RCB Arena inside Stampede Park in Claremore. The seating will be for the biggest supporters of the Will Rogers Stampede. (COURTESY PHOTO)   CLAREMORE, Okla. – Construction crews have returned to Stampede Park. For the last several years, organizers have continued to make improvements on the infrastructure around RCB Bank Arena, home of the Will Rogers Stampede, which takes place at 8 p.m. Friday, May 22-Sunday, May 24; gates open at 6 p.m., with mutton bustin’ and other entertainment beginning at 7. “Our latest update is the construction of our ‘Chute Heavens,’ ” said David Petty, a longtime director of the rodeo. “In essence, this is sponsor and VIP seating for our biggest supporters. They will have private access, and it’s a chance for them to see the rodeo from a premier location. “It works out with the timing of this enhancement, because we expect everything to be ready for our 80th Will Rogers Stampede.” This is an opportunity to celebrate greatness. For more than a decade, Claremore’s rodeo has been recognized as one of the best in the PRCA. It’s been named Small Rodeo of the Year six times. It’s popularity has blossomed with that, and it’s grown in classification, now one of the medium-size ProRodeos. It’s more than “divine intervention.” Making renovations like this have been a community working together to make something that was great even better. “This is going to elevate the experience for our VIPs and sponsors,” Petty said. “We’ve got the ‘Chute Heavens’ set up a little set back but still over the bucking chutes, so everyone up there will get to see behind the scenes of what happens at our rodeo.” The area will feature 12 suites, with each providing seating for 15 people. Volunteers will offer finger foods and provide access for a cash bar. It’s an opportunity for the rodeo’s partners to enjoy their contributions to the rodeo’s success, and it serves as another sign of intentional growth through the Interlocal Rodeo Arena Cooperative. It’s another phase of ongoing improvements to the facility. “With the creation of the coop, we’ve been able to make significant infrastructure upgrades over the last five years,” Petty said. “We’ve also had other partnerships that have come through. Our hospitality barn, which is a 40-foot-by-60-foot pavilion, was made possible by the Cherokee Nation. We’ve had some amazing supporters, like Frank Robson. Of course, the coop isn’t what it is today without our chairman, Louie Gardner “There’s been a lot of work done over the years, from new parking lots, a new announcer’s stand, a new office for our rodeo secretary, new restrooms that have air conditioning, new RV plugs and new pens. It’s certainly brightened up this facility.” One of the keys to the rodeo’s success is in the community support. To pay that back, the upgrades that have been made are to improve the fan experience. The Will Rogers Stampede continues to give spectators the best bang for their bucks. “The community has really banded together, and they have a rodeo they can be very proud of,” said Scott Grover, the voice of the stampede since 2005.