Vernon Texas is home to the Santa Rosa Roundup, where rookie breakaway roper Jaci Hammons continued her 2026 dominance.
One of the coolest stories of 2026 is the rookie class that is taking the PRCA/WPRA world by storm. One breakaway roper has really been on the radar this year.
Last year, we watched Haiden Thompson break every record as a rookie in the breakaway roping, now Jaci Hammons this year has raised the bar once again.
Thompson barely missed her first NFBR qualification, and Hammons is knocking on the door of not only a trip to the NFBR but also a gold buckle. She has been in the top of the World Standings since the winter rodeos. Her San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo win tremendously helped her cause.
The Santa Rosa Roundup just ended in Vernon, Texas and Jaci added another win to her résumé for 2026. Vernon is a different set up than a lot of the winter rodeos where we saw her dominate. A 2.2 is fast anywhere, but especially on a longer score with walking fresh calves like Vernon. Jaci did exactly that to take the win and add nearly $4,000 to her season earnings.
Hammons is looking to be the Second Lady in history to make the her first National Finals Breakaway Roping appearance the same year as a Resistol Rookie title. Josie Connor was the first, and since been the only to do so. She has been one of the top breakaway ropers ever since.
The Santa Rosa Roundup also helped may other cowboys and cowgirls gain some momentum. Bareback rider Ty Hawkes was 85.5 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Smooth Freckles for the win.
In the saddle bronc, Colt Gordon came out on top with 84.5 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Kawtiga. In the bull riding, there was a tie at the top, Noah Lee and Carson Watford both went 86 points.
By just over a tenth of a second, Alyssa Wade won the barrel race with a 17.25. JD Struxness got the Steer Wrestling win with a textbook 4.2 second run. In the team roping, there was another tie with a pair of 4.7’s by Jake Orman/Caleb Green and Tyler Tryan/Nicky Northcott.
The tie down roping is a 2 head average in Vernon. Chin KuyKendall got the win with 18.6 seconds in two head.
The Santa Rosa Roundup is a fun stop for cowboys and cowgirls, especially Texas Circuit contestants looking to surge halfway through the season.