Cadee, Joey, Hali, and Summer Williams all stopped the clock in 2.1 seconds to split one of the biggest titles of Cowboy Christmas.
Sometimes rodeo gives you a story you simply couldn't script. That was exactly the case at the Cody Stampede. When it was all said and done in the breakaway roping, four ladies stood at the top of the leaderboard after each stopping the clock in a 2.1. A four way tie at the top is not totally uncommon in the breakaway roping.
The craziest part of this story is that every one of those four breakaway ropers carry the last name Williams. And the only catch? None of them are related.
Cadee Williams, Joey Williams, Hali Williams and Summer Williams each earned a share of one of Cowboy Christmas's most coveted titles. This win gave each of them nearly $7,500 to add to their season.
For Hali Williams, the timing couldn't have been much better.
Already sitting No. 1 in the WPRA World Standings, the Cody championship check helped strengthen her hold as the season's busiest stretch continues. Every dollar matters during Cowboy Christmas. Another big win is no surprise for Hali Williams fans; it only adds to what has already been an outstanding year for the young lady.
Danielle Lowman just came off of a big win at the Greeley Stampede. She headed North to Cody as well and finished behind the Williams tie with a 2.3.
The breakaway roping was not the only event with story-worthy finishes. In bareback riding, no one was better than Leighton Berry, with 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo's Breaking News. Steer wrestling was extremely fast, with Cash Robb taking the win at 3.6.
In the team roping, no surprise that World Champions Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira came out on top with a 4.1 second run. A 7.5 by tie down roper Stran Dunham also topped the leaderboard.
In the saddle bronc and bull riding, we saw three 91-point rides. That is not an everyday occurrence, but when you have the best cowboys in the world and the best stock, some great things are destined to happen. Saddle bronc rider Shorty Garrett rode Double J Rodeo Company's Talkin Smack for 91 points and the win. There was a tie at the top in the bull riding, also at 91 points. World number one-ranked Tristen Hutchings tied paired up with Frontier Rodeo's Frontier Coffee. 2026 Rookie standout Noah Lee tied Hutchings on Frontier Rodeo's Carmen.
In the barrel race, there was another big storyline. A 17.06 by Lanita Peirce took the win. Peirce is 76 years old and still in her prime, winning against the best in the world. The longevity in a career like that is something worth celebrating. Only the best can still stay at the top of their game for that long.
The Cody Stampede has long time been one of the biggest Fourth of July rodeos, and 2026 was no different. These huge payouts really change the trajectory of the entire year for the cowboys and cowgirls. The sold out crowds and big performances this year was the perfect way to celebrate America's 250th birthday!
