The Hondo rodeo made its New Orleans Debut and the reining World Champion Tucker Allen won the Steer Wrestling.
The Hondo Rodeo Fest made it's New Orleans debut at Cesars Superdome this past weekend. Only the best of the best get the invite to compete at this prestigious, and growing event.
In the steer wrestling, the field was packed with the greatest guys. Last November, Ty Erickson came out as the Hondo Champion in Phoenix, Arizonia. He was back at them in New Orleans. He was joined by Dakota Eldridge, the 2024 Hondo Rodeo Champion.
Among the group of guys in the steer wrestling, no one was better than Tucker Allen, the reining World Champion. Allen has competed at the Hondo both years on Chase Field, but had yet to claim the title for himself.
Allen came out strong in Round 1 getting the round win and $12,000 with a 3.61 second run. Right behind him was the reining Hondo Champion Ty Erickson with a 3.82. Justin Shaeffer and Jesse Brown also got a piece of the round money.
In Round 2, it only got faster. Rowdy Parrott made a smokin 3.56 second run to take the round win. Dakota Eldridge and Erickson were 2nd and 3rd. Tucker Allen came in 4th to cash in $1,500 and stay strong in the average race.
After Round 2, Dakota and Tucker were neck and neck in the average; so much so, that it nearly came down to a one header. Tyler Waguespack got the round win with a 3.75, but not far behind with a 3.81 was Allen. Eldridge would finish 4th in the round behind Rowdy Parrott.
The average race was close. Ultimately Allen came out on top with 12.63 seconds on three head worth $20,000. Dakota took home $12,500 for second with 13.76 on three. Those two were the only two to get three steers down clean.
Throughout the three rounds, Tucker Allen picked up more than $40,000 while in New Orleans. That is a heck of a weekend for a rodeo cowboy.
Since the last Hondo Rodeo Fest, Tucker has accomplished a lot. In fact, just about a month after competing at the 2025 Phoenix event, Allen went to Las Vegas to his second NFR. He would end up not only winning the coveted average title, but also climbed the standings enough to break the single-season steer wrestling earnings record and come out as the PRCA World Champion.
In 2026, Allen has had a bit of a slow start to his winter. At many of the big building rodeos so far, Tucker has not had great luck. However, that may of turned around at the Hondo. Of course, these earnings do not count towards the PRCA standings, but the momentum he gained over those three rounds definitely can effect the rest of the year.
Allen, and the rest of the cowboys and cowgirls left NOLO with a since of pride in the direction rodeo is going. It is getting bigger, the payouts are stronger, the crowds are louder, and the opportunities are better.
For full results visit thehonerodeofest.com
