Cutter Carpenter moved into the tie-down roping lead at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo after posting a 7.4-second run Friday night.
(PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)

 

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Cutter Carpenter had a little advantage over the tie-down roping field at this week’s Waller County Fair and Rodeo.

He was inside the same arena last weekend during the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association Finals, which kicked off the rodeo-friendly exposition. He won a round, and that built a level of confidence in the calf roper who competed in intercollegiate rodeo at Trinity Valley Community College and East Texas A&M University.

It all came together with a 7.4-second run during Friday’s second performance of the ProRodeo, and Carpenter now owns the lead with one day remaining in Hempstead.

“I’ve got a great horse,” Carpenter said, referring to Twix, a 9-year-old sorrel mare he’s ridden three years. “I scored so good, I thought I broke the barrier. I had to throw within two swings, and everything was set up real fast.”

Yes, it was, especially for the Texas roper, who holds a lead of more than half a second over the second-place cowboy. Carpenter just wrapped his rookie season in the PRCA and is looking to capitalize on his sophomore season at the first event of the 2026 season. The winners in each event earn an automatic bid into RodeoHouston, which is one of the highest-paying rodeos in the sport that takes place each March.

He has big plans for the next 12 months of his life.

“I’m going to try to make the (National Finals Rodeo) this year,” he said. “Hopefully I get into Houston after this rodeo. I want to do good there and start my winter off good. I had a pretty good summer this year, so I hope I can get that ball rolling earlier this next season and get some money going.”

That’s the name of the game. Not only does the cash help cover expenses that come with the life and lifestyle, but dollars equal championship points. Only the top 15 on the money list when the regular season concludes Sept. 30 advance to the NFR, the sport’s 10-round grand finale that takes place each December in Las Vegas.

He plans to utilize Twix to make it all happen.

“I love the way she stands in the corner at full attention,” Carpenter said. “She leaves off my hand good, and if I need to pull (back to slow the horse) to get out of the barrier, I can, and she still drops and fires as hard as she can just like we leave normal.”

Horsepower is vital in rodeo, so Twix gives Carpenter a chance to build his resume.

Waller County Fair and Rodeo
Oct. 2-4
Hempstead, Texas
Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Matt McLanahan, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Betty Boop, and Andy Gingerich, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s River Monster, 80.5 points; 3. Colton Clemons, 80; 4. Wayne Warneke, 77.5; 5. (tie) Kash Martin and Brayze Schill, 77; 7. Blayn Hughston, 73; 8. Daxtyn Feild, 72.

Steer wrestling: 1. Cade Goodman, 5.2 seconds; 2. Wade Steffen, 5.7; 3. Shane Frey, 5.9; 4. Cody Harmon, 6.1; 5. Heath Thomas, 6.2; 6. Denell Henderson, 6.4; 7. Chase Pope, 6.6; 8. Justin Shaffer, 6.8; 9. Boyd Sawyer, 7.6; 10. Ty Allred.

Team roping: 1. Marcus Theriot/Chase Graves, 4.4 seconds; 2. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 4.7; 3. Riley Kittle/cory Petska, 4.8; 4. Zane Huffman/Bryce Bunting, 11.6; 5. Paul Tierney/Kollin VonAhn, 14.3; 6. Casper Ringelstein/Joel Galvan, 15.2; 7. Gabe Williams/Gus Mosley, 19.6; no other qualified runs.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Darcy Wockner, 83 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s; 2. (tie) Rig Smith and Talon Elshere, 81; 4. Spur Montag, 79; 5. (tie) Kaden Horrocks and Carson Bingham, 78; 7. Waitley Sharon, 77.5; 8. Logan Nunn, 75.5.

Tie-down roping: 1. Cutter Carpenter, 7.4 seconds; 2. Dalton Porch, 8.0; 3. Cole Eiguren, 8.6; 4. (tie) Bryson Sechrist and Kyan Wilhite, 8.7; 6. (tie) Guy Raasch and Marty Yates, 9.1; 8. Jesse Clifton and Cody McCartney, 9.2; 10. (tie) Max Mathis and Jarvis Demery, 9.3.

Breakaway roping: 1. Jade Mitchell, 1.6 seconds; 2. (tie) McKenna Hickson and Hali Williams, 1.7; 4. Abby Cox, 1.9; 5. Shayla Smith, 2.0; 6. (tie) Jacelyn Frost, Jordi Edens Mitchell and Whitney Profili, 2.1; 9. Mattie Hodges, Montana Brown, Hannah Phillips and TiAda Gray, 2.2.

Barrel racing: 1. Tiany Schuster, 15.27 seconds; 2. Morgan Bagnell, 15.32; 3. 9 Wimberley, 15.44; 4. Stormie Wisnoski, 15.51; 5. (tie) Tara Carr, Jodee Miller and Lanita Peirce, 15.52; 8. Brooke Krolczyuk, 15.54; 9. Kristin Dunn, 10.55; 10. (tie) Taylor Baize and Dena Kirkpatrick, 15.56; 12. Kristi Cole, 15.57; 13. Gracen Harman, 15.59; 14. Jordan Driver, 15.61; 15. (tie) Rainey Skelton and Abbie Crews, 15.65.

Bull riding: 1. Bryce Jensen, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Ringo; 2. Cooper James, 83; 3. Dylan Rice, 77.5; no other qualified rides.