World champions crowned at 2025 WNFR

Every December, rodeo fans and elite contestants from around the globe gather under the bright lights of Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR).

Nicknamed “The Super Bowl of Rodeo,” the event is the premier championship rodeo of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). 

Following 10 rounds of top-tier competition from Dec. 4-13, eight athletes took home coveted gold buckles representing their world champion status from the 2025 WNFR.

World champions

Stetson Wright of Beaver, Utah posted impressive performances in the saddle bronc riding and bull riding to take home buckles in the all-around and bull riding competitions. The nine-time WNFR qualifier racked up an impressive $817,088 in season earnings across both events to take home the all-around title.

In the bareback riding, Weatherford, Texas Cowboy Rocker Steiner finished first in the world with $507,533 in season earnings. Steiner’s first-place finish is a continuation of a legacy started by his father Sid and grandfather Bobby, who also hold world champion bareback riding titles from 2002 and 1973, respectively. 

Tucker Allen of Ventura, Calif. dominated the steer wrestling, earning both the world title and the 2025 WNFR average wins with season earnings amounting to $398,913.

Team roping partners Andrew Ward of Edmond, Okla. and Jake Long of Coffeyville, Kan. took home two gold buckles apiece at the end of the WNFR. Ward and Long won the world with respective season earnings of $373,838 and $372,092, as well as the 2025 WNFR average with a total time of 44 seconds at the end of 10 rounds.

Statler Wright of Beaver, Utah was crowned the World Champion Saddle bronc Rider, finishing just ahead of his brothers Ryder and Stetson with $455,940 in season earnings.

In the tie-down roping, Riley Webb of Denton, Texas won the world with $555,544 in earnings and a first-place finish in the WNFR average.

In the barrel racing, Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas became a back-to-back world champion following her performance at the 2025 WNFR, which earned her a gold buckle and $403,882 in season earnings. 

Bareback riding

Helena, Mont. Cowboy Sam Petersen finished the season sitting second in the world behind Steiner, followed by Waverly, Kan. Cowboy Jess Pope in third.

Petersen took first in the average, finishing his first-ever WNFR with 854 points on 10 head and $94,036 earned throughout the rodeo.

Pope placed second in the average with 853.75 points on 10 head, earning $76,293 during his 2025 WNFR run.

Kade Sonnier of Carencro, La. took third in the bareback riding average with a total score of 850.25 points and $60,325 won throughout 10 rounds.

Steer wrestling

In the big man’s event, eight-time WNFR qualifier Will Lummus of Byahlia, Miss. finished second in the world behind Allen, followed by Jesse Brown of Baker City, Ore. in third. 

In the event average, Allen also finished first with 46.4 seconds on 10 head, winning $94,036 across all rounds. 

Rowdy Parrott of Mamou, La. finished second in the average, racking up $76,293 and a time of 56.8 seconds on 10 head. 

J.D. Struxness of Milan, Minn. finished third in the average with a time of 63.1 seconds on 10 head, bringing home checks amounting to $60,325.

Team roping

On the header side, Kaleb Driggers of Hoboken, Ga. and Clint Summers of Lake City, Fla. finished the season in second and third place in the world standings, respectively.

Junior Nogueira of Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil and Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nev. ended their seasons sitting second and third respectively in the world standings on the heeler side.

In the WNFR average, duo Summers and Corkill placed second behind Ward and Long, earning $76,293 throughout their 10-day run.

Driggers and Nogueira rounded out the WNFR team roping average in third, earning a total of $60,325 at the close of the final round.

Saddle bronc riding

All hailing from Beaver, Utah, the Wright brothers proved a triple threat in the saddle bronc riding.

Ryder and Stetson finished second and third in the world, rounding out their seasons with $455,594 and $394,457 in earnings, respectively.

All-Around Champion Statler added to his buckle collection with a first-place finish in the saddle bronc average, securing 864.25 points and $94,036 across 10 standout bronc rides.

Lefty Holman of Visalia, Calif. placed second in the saddle bronc average, followed by Zachary Dallas of Mesilla Park, N.M. in third.

Tie-down roping

In the calf roping world standings, Shad Mayfield of Clovis, N.M. came in second behind Webb, while Mount Pleasant, Texas Cowboy Kincade Henry finished third. 

Mayfield and Henry logged season earnings of $388,931 and $342,799 respectively throughout the 2025 season.

Webb also took first in the calf roping average with 82.3 seconds on 10 head, bringing in checks amounting to $94,036 across all rounds.

Witter Springs, Calif. Cowboy Brushton Minton finished second in the average, earning $76,293 with a total time of 84.1 seconds on 10 head.

Haven Meged of Miles City, Mont. finished third in the average with a total time of 90 seconds flat, taking home $60,325 throughout 10 solid runs.

Barrel racing

Cowgirls from the Lone Star State dominated the barrel racing at the 2025 WNFR. 

Sanger, Texas Cowgirl Tricia Aldridge finished second in the world behind Mowry, while Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi of Lampasas, Texas finished third overall.

Julie Plourde of Krum, Texas took first place in the barrel racing average with a total time of 139.67 seconds across 10 rounds, earning $94,036.

Pozzi Tonozzi finished second in the average, taking home $76,293 with a time of 140.36 throughout 10 rounds, and Aldridge rounded out the top-placing cowgirls with a total time of 141.40 seconds on 10 runs with her fan-favorite five-year-old stallion Adios Pantalones.

Bull riding

In the bull riding, T.J. Gray of Dairy, Ore. finished second in the world behind Stetson Wright. 

Gray also took home the bull riding average title and the RAM Top Gun Award, racking up 610.50 points and $94,036 on seven bulls.

Ky Hamilton, who hails from Mackay, Queensland, Australia, finished second in both the world standings and the average, with six qualified rides amounting to 522 points and $76,293 earned across 10 rounds.

Ignacio, Colo. Cowboy Luke Mackey rounded out the top three placings in the bull riding average with 513.25 points, taking home checks amounting to $60,325 in WNFR earnings.

Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.