World Youth Team Roping Championships Continue to Grow Next Generation of Talent

The World Youth Team Roping Championships 2026 just wrapped up in Stephenville, Texas. World Champion Team Ropers Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp had a vision years ago and now that vision comes to life every spring in 377 arena. 

The future of rodeo was on full display this past weekend as kids from all over came together to rope against and with the best in the world. The WYTRC continues to build into one of the most impactful youth events in the sport. 

Since the beginning, the event has expanded to include breakaway roping, with an open and youth divisions, along with sled breakaway. It was a natural addition and one that brought even more young talent into the arena. The competition all across the board has only picked up year after year. 

Sled team ropings this year drew a large number of entries, with young competitors getting their first taste of pressure in a format that still demands all the timing, skill, and execution, just at their pace and level. That’s exactly the point.

The mission behind the entire event is to give young ropers the opportunity to compete under real stakes, in an atmosphere that prepares them for what’s next.

As the event moved into the main team ropings this year, the level of competition only got tougher. With Pro-Am formats, young ropers had the chance to compete alongside and learn directly from some of the best in the world.

We talked with Rylan Richmann, who entered the team ropings here for the first time in 2026. He is 16 years old, and came from Colorado for the WYTRC. 

"I have always watched all these guys every year at the NFR and at all the big rodeos. Then I got to come down and rope against them and with them. It makes you better. Not everyday you get to enter a roping with your idols," Richmann said. 

Wade and Thorp don't just host the event, they were in the arena roping with the kids, competing in the open, and fully investing into what the event is all about. That is what makes this one different. It’s not just another jackpot or youth roping, it’s a true opportunity. 

An opportunity for young competitors to step up, win money, win prizes, and most importantly, gain experience in a setting that mirrors the next level of the sport with the best of the best. 

Across the board, the kids put on a show. The event this year brought in more than 2,000 entries from 32 states and four countries. The future of the sport is shining bright. Tyler and Wesley are doing something never done before with this event. 

Tons of cool prizes and huge cash awards were given out. One of the most coveted and presitious of the awards is the Top Horseman. Cade Russo and Stetson Pearson won this award that was voted on by a panel. 

The panel included Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp. They selected these kids for their horsemanship and their sportsmanship throughout the entire weekend. They watched every roper and picked two young men who stood out not in their roping talent alone, but how they treated others and their equine partners. Both ropers received $5,000 from Las Tunas Performance Horses. 

Many of the winners left Stephenville with over $10,000 in their pocket. This is one of the best paying youth team ropings out there. Tyler and Wesley have poured a lot into making this a great event, even in the midst of their rodeo season. 

For full results and more info visit the World Youth Team Roping Championships pages on Facebook and Instagram.