“It means the best time of the year is here,” said 2026 Reno Rodeo bareback riding champion Kade Sonnier.
With Cowboy Christmas in full swing, top PRCA athletes are crisscrossing the country in pursuit of successful 2026 campaigns. For many, the journey began in Reno, Nevada, at the legendary Reno Rodeo.
Known as “The Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West,” the Reno Rodeo marks the unofficial start of Cowboy Christmas and sets the tone for the Fourth of July run. Now in its 107th year, the iconic event offers more than $600,000 in added money and the opportunity to earn one of rodeo’s most coveted prizes — the famed silver spurs.
Set beneath the Sierra Nevada and just miles from Lake Tahoe, Reno has long been a cornerstone of Western sports. For more than a century, the rodeo has served as a launching point for National Finals Rodeo campaigns and remains one of the sport’s premier summer stops.
Leading the way was bareback rider Kade Sonnier. The two-time NFR qualifier delivered consistent rides throughout the week, placing second in the first round, second round and championship round to secure the aggregate title and his first Reno Rodeo championship.
“Reno has always been special. My Resistol rookie year, it was one of the first big rodeos I got to compete at, and it kicked off a heater for me. It seems like every year I’ve made the finals, I’ve had success in Reno,” Sonnier said.
That success continued in 2026. Sonnier earned more than $20,000 during the week, vaulting into the top 15 of the PRCA bareback riding world standings as Cowboy Christmas began.
“It’s so special to step onto that platform and look out into the crowd in Reno,” Sonnier said. “This time of year and Cowboy Christmas is my favorite time to rodeo. I feel like the more horses I get on, the better I ride. Getting the win is really special. I didn’t have the best winter, so to get a big win in Reno means a lot.”
Sonnier was joined in the winner’s circle by several other champions, each looking to carry their momentum into the famed Fourth of July run.
In a tie for the steer wrestling title, Tristan Martin and Dalton Massey shared the silver spurs after each totaled 13.2 seconds on three runs. Both earned $9,830. The payday moved Martin, a two-time NFR qualifier, to eighth in the PRCA world standings and Massey, also a two-time NFR qualifier, to fourth entering Cowboy Christmas.
Reigning Resistol Rookie of the Year header James Arviso teamed with veteran heeler Levi Lord to capture the team roping title. The victory marks one of the biggest accomplishments of Arviso’s sophomore PRCA season. Both cowboys currently rank inside the top five of their respective world standings as Arviso pursues his first NFR qualification and Lord his sixth.
Three-time world champion Ryder Wright continued his dominance in saddle bronc riding, posting 264.5 points on three rides to earn the aggregate championship and a $9,606 payday. The win moved Wright to seventh in the PRCA saddle bronc riding world standings.
Calf roper Bryce Derrer celebrated one of the biggest victories of his professional career in the Biggest Little City. He stopped the clock in 26.5 seconds on three head to claim the aggregate title, earn $10,924 and take home the silver spurs. Currently eighth in the world standings, the New Mexico cowboy is chasing his first NFR qualification.
After several close finishes in previous years, barrel racer Emily Beisel finally captured her elusive silver spurs. She posted a three-run time of 50.74 seconds to earn $7,844 in aggregate winnings as she opened her Cowboy Christmas campaign.
Breakaway roper Madison Outhier also found success in Reno, capturing the coveted title and kickstarting her Cowboy Christmas run.
Closing out the 2026 Reno Rodeo was 20-year-old bull rider Hayden Welsh, who claimed the championship with 177.5 points on two head. Welsh earned $11,249 in aggregate winnings and currently ranks fourth in the PRCA world standings as he looks to secure his first NFR qualification by season’s end.
With the Reno Rodeo officially launching Cowboy Christmas and the summer run, athletes are now chasing white lines from rodeo to rodeo, hoping to write the next chapter of their 2026 seasons.
