The white bucking chutes and the energy inside Dickies Arena have become synonymous with the beginning of the PRCA’s Texas Swing, a gauntlet of five high-paying rodeos in the Lone Star State that go a long way in shaping how the World Standings look at season’s end.

The beginning of that run fittingly begins in Cowtown for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, where more than $1 million will be doled out over the next 2+ weeks.

Here are some things to take note of before the action begins Thursday night.

BAREBACK RIDING

What to Know: The six 90+ Point Rides in 2025 were the most this decade.

What Happened Last Year: Nick Pelke was 91.5 points on J Bar J’s Straight Stick to win a Short Round that featured six rides of 88.5 points or better.

Athletes to Watch: Rocker Steiner won Fort Worth back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024, Jacek Frost has been to the Finals back-to-back years, Cole Franks has finished in the Top 4 twice in the last four years.

STEER WRESTLING

What to Know: Jesse Brown’s 3.6 in the Short Round was the fastest since Justin Shaffer’s 3.1 in Will Rogers Coliseum in 2019.

What Happened Last Year: Jesse Brown was 3.6 to get his third career Texas Swing win, while Don Payne won the First Semifinal and took second to win more than $18,000.

Athletes to Watch: Don Payne made the Finals in 2024 and 2025 and the Semifinals in 2023, Will Lummus won in 2023 and made the Finals in 2024, Jesse Brown finished Top 6 in the World for the fifth straight year following 2025 victory.

TEAM ROPING 

What to Know: There were eight times in the 3s in 2025 compared to one in 2024.

What Happened Last Year: Early on in their partnership, Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves were 4.9 to get the win. After both finishing fifth in 2025, Tomlinson will rope with Coleby Payne and Graves will rope with Coleman Proctor this season.

Athletes to Watch: As mentioned above, Tomlinson and Payne are partners in 2026 after each won Fort Worth with a different partner the last two years. Reigning World Champion Header Andrew Ward has made the Finals twice in the last three years, including a win in 2022 with Buddy Hawkins. He will rope with his 2025 partner and fellow World Champion Jake Long.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

What to Know: Every Finals winning ride since 2020 has been 90.5 points or better.

What Happened Last Year: Kade Bruno rode J Bar J’s Straight Moonshine for 92 points to edge eventual World Champion Statler Wright by half of a point.

Athletes to Watch: Zeke Thurston has made the Finals three straight years, Ryder Wright made it in 2023 and 2024, and Statler Wright made it in 2024 and 2025.

TIE-DOWN ROPING

What to Know: The two-time reigning champion Shad Mayfield is out while recovering from hip surgery.

What Happened Last Year: Shad Mayfield won the Second Semifinal and was 7.6 to beat out Kyle Lucas, the First Semifinal winner, by one tenth in the Finals.

Athletes to Watch: Tom Crouse has made the Finals two straight years, Riley Webb finished third in 2025 and won two rounds in his Bracket in 2023.

BARREL RACING

What to Know: The last three champions in Fort Worth have not gone to the NFR, the longest drought of any event.

What Happened Last Year: Andrea Busby won three of the four rounds she competed in, including the First Semifinal and Finals with runs of 16.20 and 16.16 seconds.

Athletes to Watch: Hailey Kinsel finished second in 2024 and third in 2023 while Sissy Winn finished third in 2023 and second in 2024. Busby made the Finals in 2024 in addition to her 2025 victory.

BULL RIDING

What to Know: The bull riders covered an average of 2.73 bulls per round across 15 performances in 2025.

What Happened Last Year: Maverick Potter and T Parker were the only two to make the whistle in the Finals. Potter was 89.5 points to complete a 4-for-4 showing and Parker was 84. Parker also went 90 to win the Second Semifinal.

Athletes to Watch: Parker has finished second back-to-back years, Jestyn Woodward has made the Finas three straight years, reigning NFR Average Champion TJ Gray was 92 Rafter G’s Rank Frank in 2025.