UPRA Trail: San Augustine Hands Out Big Payouts

The United Professional Rodeo Association trail rolled into San Augustine, Texas, and there was plenty of money waiting on the other side of a winning run or ride. With the season moving deeper into September, San Augustine sent several competitors home with four-figure checks and another boost to their season earnings.

Rocking-M / Hat Brand Rodeo provided the stock as UPRA contestants competed across eight events.

The biggest checks of the rodeo came from the team roping. McCray Profili and Hayden Sanders teamed up for the win, each collecting $1,493.03. That made their individual payouts the largest listed among San Augustine’s event champions.

The bull riding produced another sizeable payday. Braden Richardson topped the event and earned $1,316.80, putting more than $1,300 in his pocket for his work in San Augustine.

Over in the steer wrestling, Savion Elias earned the win and $1,114.08. Sayana Waller also crossed the four-figure mark after taking the breakaway roping title and collecting $1,102.14.

The roughstock contestants had money to chase as well. Bryer Prince took care of business in the bareback riding, leaving San Augustine with $1,034.20. In the saddle bronc riding, Rylan Cherry came away with the victory and a $634.85 check.

Just shy of the four-figure mark, Cindy Smith raced to the barrel racing title and earned $978.40. Riley Istre rounded out the list of champions with the calf roping victory, good for $951.76.

Altogether, San Augustine proved to be a profitable stop for its champions. Six of the eight winning categories produced individual payouts of more than $1,000, while another two came within striking distance of that mark.

Those dollars become increasingly important as the regular season reaches its final stretch. A summer spent traveling the UPRA rodeo trail comes down to the final opportunities of September, and contestants are running out of chances to add money before attention turns fully toward the Finals.

With the San Augustine results officially in the books, another group of cowboys and cowgirls can add a rodeo win to their 2026 season. The sizeable payouts made this Texas stop an especially worthwhile one, rewarding eight event champions for the runs and rides that put them at the top of the results.

Now, the regular-season miles have been traveled and the final checks have been earned. The countless runs, rides and long hauls across the UPRA trail have all led to this point. With the 2026 regular season officially closed, attention now turns toward the UPRA Finals, where the year’s work will culminate on the association’s biggest stage.