PRORODEO Sports News February Digital Edition

SANDHILLS

BOUDREAUX CAMPBELL BEGINS 2026 SEASON WITH TWO BIG WINS By Kensie Darst-Todd, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

T he 2026 season has been The 27-year-old Crockett, Texas, bull rider clinched the SandHills Stock Show & Rodeo title with a 90-point ride on Jan. 8. The score held up until the 17th, when the one-header came to an end. Just a week after claiming the SandHills buckle, he won yet again. This time in Alabama for the Bulls Bash X-Bulls event in Rainsville. “Going up to Odessa, I knew I had a really great bull,” Campbell said. “I knew that bull and I fit together well, and if I could just do the dance for eight seconds, I’d have a good shot to win it. I stayed focused on the task at hand, crawled over in the chute, got on a good bull, did my job, and the bull did his.” The ride in Odessa, Texas, was a reminder of the level Campbell expects from himself. While the 90-point mark stood out statistically, he viewed it as part of the standard he’s held throughout his career. “That ride was just awesome. I’m very blessed and thankful for God’s grace in that win,” he said. “I’ve been riding the PBR the last five years, so I’ve been over 90 every year, so it was nothing different. I’m thankful and very blessed for the opportunity, and that’s just doing my job.” Campbell, a five-time Wrangler Na tional Finals Rodeo qualifier (2017 21), says his motivation has evolved, though the competitive fire remains unchanged. “When I was younger, the motiva- friendly thus far to Boudreaux Campbell.

tion was wanting to make the NFR and be the best in the world,” he said. “Now that I’m married, I do it for my wife, my family and myself, and it’s a good way to make a living.

You’re on the road all the time, but you only have a few years to do it, and you might as well make as much money as you can before you get too old.” The win in Odessa gave Campbell valuable ear

ly-season confidence, which he took with him to Alabama. He continued to build early-sea son momentum with an 88.5-point ride on Korkow Rodeos’ Mr. Manson for the title and a $15,837 paycheck. But the win in Alabama came with challenges. It was the first time Camp bell had stepped into the Northeast Alabama Ag Business Center. He also dealt with challenging winter weather. But he felt comfortable in the bucking chutes. “I knew I had a good bull,” Campbell said. “The buddy I enter and travel with, (2025 Resistol Rookie Bull Rider of the Year) Bryce Jensen, rode that bull in Indianapolis, so I knew he was going to be good.” The matchup with Mr. Manson proved to be a test of timing and com posure. After a harder-than-expect ed start, he stayed patient, matched the bull jump for jump and spurred through the whistle to post the night’s high score of 88.5 points, edging out Robbie Taylor’s 84-point ride.

Boudreaux Campbell has started the 2026 PRORODEO season strong with two big wins in bull riding. PRCA photo by Robbie Freeman

“When I nodded my head, he bucked a little harder than what I expected, and he was really good,” Campbell said. “We just danced it out for 88.5. He was a good pairing for me, and I was very lucky to get the win there.” The Bull Bash X-Bulls event, now sanctioned by the PRCA on the Rank 45 Xtreme Bulls Tour, delivered a strong atmosphere and a quality pen of bulls. “I’ve never competed over there, but it’s always been good bull riding,” Campbell said. “Rickey West puts it on. It was a great crowd. They sure did love their bull riding. It was a good set of bulls, and I definitely will be back next year for it.”

FEBRUARY 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 21