After battling it out through the progressive brackets, semi finals, and the final eight man round, champions were crowned in Dickies Arena.
Championship Saturday night at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo came down to one ride per event with no room to make anything up. Clean slate style, these cowboys had to give it their all in what would be the toughest round yet. The bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding titles were all decided on Saturday night inside Dickies Arena.
Bareback Riding
Bareback riding opened with Jacob Lees setting the pace early. He was first out and marked 91 points, putting pressure on the rest of the field.
Tilden Hooper followed later in the round and did so in style with a a huge 92 point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party to win the title. Hooper made his 10th career National Finals Rodeo appearance this past December. He also previously won Fort Worth in 2020.
“My faith in God, He put me on that horse and I knew that is exactly where I needed to be,” Hooper said. “When Bob Tallman is up on the mic for the last time in Fort Worth you rear back and send it.”
Hooper said the draw played a huge role in the outcome that turned in his favor.
“Really cool night,” he said. “I drew the best horse in the pen.”
Hooper earned $20,000 for the win and has a good start to his 2026 year.
Bareback Riding Final Results
1. Tilden Hooper 92 points $20,000
2. Jacob Lees 91 $12,000
3. Wacey Schalla 89 $8,000
4. Cole Reiner 87.5 $4,000
5/6/7. Jess Pope, Leighton Berry, and Sam Peterson 86.5
8. Rocker Steiner 81.5
Saddle Bronc Riding
Saddle bronc riding ended with a tie at the top. Rusty Wright marked 91 points on Calgary Stampede’s Dandy Delight and finished tied with Australian cowboy Darcy Radel, who also scored 90 points on J Bar J’s Shady Jacket.
Radel opened Fort Worth in Bracket 1, winning Round 2 and finishing first in his bracket. Wright swept Bracket 4, including a 91 point ride in Round 1. Both of these cowboys carried that consistency into the finals.
Wright and Radel split the saddle bronc riding title and earned $16,000 each.
Saddle Bronc Riding Finals Results
1. (tie) Darcy Radel and Rusty Wright 91 points, $16,000 each
3. Stetson Wright 90.5 $8,000
4/5/6. Damian Brennan, Kade Bruno and Ryder Wright 89 $1,333 each.
7/8. Ira Dickinson and Ryder Sanford 88
Bull Riding
Bull riding was decided by just two qualified rides in that final round. Trey Kimzey was first out and kept the lead. He covered Rafter G Rodeo’s Hermes for 88.5 points, which held up for the win.
Kimzey entered Fort Worth as a last minute walk up replacement and was not originally entered when the rodeo began. He had to make his way all the way through, and still came out the champ. The four-time NFR qualifier earned $26,000 for the finals ride and more than $33,000 total at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Kimzey is just shy of becoming a $1 million PRCA cowboy.
Lane Vaughan made the only other qualified ride of the night, scoring 86 points to finish second and earn $18,000 and second inside of Dickies.
Bull Riding Finals Results
1. Trey Kimzey 88.5 points $26,000
2. Lane Vaughan 86 $18,000
- no other qualified rides.
The rough stock titles at Fort Worth were decided one big ride at a time closing the book on the 2026 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.