Many cowboys and cowgirls crisscross the U.S. during Cowboy Christmas, with great rodeos spread across the country. Montana and Wyoming are a hot bed for rodeo action over the Fourth of July and rodeo's top athletes banked big in the West.
Jess Pope earned another Cowboy Christmas win in the bareback riding in Belle Fourche, S.D., with an 88-point ride on Championship Pro Rodeo's Family Tradition for $4,759.
New team roping fast-time world record holders, Mason Appleton and Rance Doyal topped Round 1 and the Average for a solid payday.
Fresh off a College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) Championship, Acey Pinkston claimed a huge win at $3,811 with her 16.91-second run.
Another 2025 CNFR Champion, James Perrin, rode Brookman Rodeo's Rude Roomate for 87.5 points in the saddle bronc riding for a $3,514 win in Red Lodge, Mont.
McKenna Coronado earned another victory in the barrel racing, this time on Biddin On Fame. “Beau” formerly played a key role in Emily Beisel’s string and is back to his winning ways with Coronado. Their 17.25 banked $3,749 and added a second victory to her Cowboy Christmas.
Will Lummus and Don Payne split the win in the steer wrestling in Livingston, Mont., with 4.0-second runs, each earning $4,760.
Arizona cowboys, Wawa Ben Jr. and Brandon Ben topped the team roping with a 4.2-second run earning $5,622.
Eight-time World Champion Stetson Wright made an outstanding ride for 91.5 points on New West Rodeo Productions' Baller to win $6,119 in the bull riding and help him take the All-Around title.
Wyoming cowboy, Brody Cress, claimed the win in his home state at the Cody Stampede. Scoring 90 points on Frontier Rodeo's Ed Bishop, he earned $10,462 for the saddle bronc riding championship.
World Champion Tuf Cooper won the tie-down roping with a 7.8-second run for $9,377.
Bull rider Jordan Spears pocketed $10,744 with an 89-point ride on Frontier Rodeo's No. 500.
PC; Hillary Maybery