The Ellensburg Rodeo is a Labor Day tradition that dates back to 1923 and based on where it falls on the calendar annually, it can be a launching pad for NFR dreams and a reliable end-of-season payday that impacts a World Title race.

BAREBACK RIDING

Stat to Know: The last four Short Rounds have been won on either Disco Party or Zulu Warrior of The Calgary Stampede.

What Happened Last Year: Jess Pope won the Average with 173.5 points on two after splitting Round 1 with Orin Larsen and winning the Finals outright with 88 points on Calgary’s Disco Party. Pope and Larsen are both coming off Playoff Series wins entering the weekend.

Athletes to Watch: Pope and Larsen of course, because they enter hot and had success last year. Additionally, World No. 1 Rocker Steiner won the rodeo in 2022 and also made the Finals in 2023.

STEER WRESTLING

Stat to Know: The fastest round-winning time in the last three years is 3.8 seconds.

What Happened Last Year: Dakota Eldridge was 13.3 on three, finish with a 4 flat in Round 2 and 4.6 in the Finals to win both.

Athletes to Watch: World No. 5 Tyler Waguespack has finished second and third the last two years, reigning World Champion JD Struxness won in 2022 and 2023.

TEAM ROPING 

Stat to Know: Clay Smith/Jake Long have the fastest aggregate time in the last 10 years with 14.9 seconds on three. The second-fastest time in that timeframe is a full second slower at 15.9.

What Happened Last Year: Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili edged out Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord with an aggregate time of 16.6 to their 16.7.

Athletes to Watch: Driggers/Noguiera won in 2023 and followed it up with their second-place finish in 2024. On the head side specifically, Tyler Wade, Clay Smith, and Andrew Ward have all made the Finals multiple times in the last three years.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

Stat to Know: In the last five Ellensburg Rodeos, there have been only four 90+ Point Rides and they have all come in either 2023 or 2019.

What Happened Last Year: Wyatt Casper won the Long Round and split the Finals with Sage Newman with rides of 88 and 89 points. Both Casper and Newman rode great Calgary horses, Xena Warrior and Tokyo Bubbles.

Athletes to Watch: Stetson Wright won in 2022 and 2023, winning three of the four rounds along the way. Brody Cress split the win with Chase Brooks in 2021 and also made the Finals in 2022 and 2024.

TIE-DOWN ROPING

Stat to Know: Riley Webb’s 7.5 to win Round 2 in 2025 and Haven Meged’s 7.8 to win Round 1 are the two of three fastest times in Ellensburg in the last three years.

What Happened Last Year: Hunter Herrin won with a 26.4 seconds on three by making three runs between 8.5 and 9.1 seconds.

Athletes to Watch: Before his breakout season in 2025, World No. 23 Seth Hall finished second in Ellensburg in 2024. He will need a similar performance to keep his NFR hopes alive. Coming off a Playoff win of his own last weekend, Kincade Henry has made the Finals here each of the last two years.

BARREL RACING

Stat to Know: Two of the last three Ellensburg winners went on to win the World Championship, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi in 2023 and Hailey Kinsel in 2022.

What Happened Last Year: Jodee Miller won with an aggregate time of 51.54 seconds on three. Emily Beisel, Lindsay Sears, and Jordon Briggs were the rest of the Top 4.

Athletes to Watch: In addition to Pozzi Tonozzi and Kinsel, who are ranked 2 and 3 in the WPRA World Standings, No. 4 Emily Beisel has made the Finals each of the last two years.

BULL RIDING

Stat to Know: There has not been a 90+ Point Ride since 2019.

What Happened Last Year: Maverick Smith split Round 1 and was the only one to make the whistle in the Finals. He was 174.5 points on two and won $12,590.

Athletes to Watch: As is true for a lot of places, Stetson Wright has had a ton of success in Ellensburg in his career. In 2023, the last year he was healthy, he finished second in the rodeo and first in the Xtreme Bulls. In 2021, he also made the Finals in both the rodeo and the X Bulls.