PRORODEO Sports News February Digital Edition

LEFTY HOLMAN WINS AVERAGE, BOOT BARN CALIFORNIA CIRCUIT FINALS YEAR-END TITLE By Kensie Darst-Todd, Special to PRORODEO Sports News L efty Holman didn’t arrive at the Boot Barn California Circuit Finals Rodeo Dec. 29-31 looking to protect a lead, he came to prove a point. With expectations outweighing the points advantage he carried into Red Bluff, Calif., the 27-year-old saddle bronc rider set his focus on separating himself from the field, a mindset that resulted in both the average championship and the California Circuit year-end title. Winning alone wasn’t enough. Holman wanted control, execution and dominance. That mindset paid off as he swept the Finals to close the season with authority on Dec. 31. “Going into the Finals, I really wanted to dominate this deal,” Holman said. “I feel like I’ve put in enough work and I’ve really dedicated my whole life to this craft.” Despite entering the Finals with a sizable lead, Holman refused to let standings dictate the outcome. He wanted the rides to speak for themselves. The opening round, however, didn’t reflect the performance he was chasing. “I was 77.5 points on my first one and I didn’t make the best ride,” he said. “I didn’t have the best dancing part ner, either.” Matched against Four Star Rodeo’s Betty, the 77.5-point ride kept him in contention, but left Holman frustrated, igniting the chip on his shoulder he often relies on for mo tivation. Knowing the average title was still within reach, Holman refocused, heading into Round 2, where he drew Rosser Rodeo’s California Dream. “The second round I (nearly) won,” Holman said. “I was 82.5 on a horse named California Dream, which I was

super excited about.” The round win pulled Holman back into contention, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy him. “I didn’t come here to win second,” he said. Entering the final round four points behind the average, Holman knew he needed a standout performance. He drew Flying U Rodeo’s Talk Derby to Me, a 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo horse with little margin for error. “It’s definitely not a horse you want stub your toe on,” Holman said. “But when I learned I drew that stock, I knew I had a shot to win it all.” Despite a challenging start, Holman stayed composed and aggressive, delivering when it mattered most. “I did my job, but kind of got a rough start. The horse posted me pretty bad,” he said. “But I was able to just keep going.” Holman’s 86.5-point ride secured both the average championship and the California Circuit year-end title. “We were 86.5 and won the average and won the year end, so we cleaned, and we swept them,” Holman said. “That was my goal coming into it, but I had to work for it a little more than I’d like to.” After finishing the 2025 season No. 12 in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings, Holman is determined to change his trajectory moving forward into the new season ahead. “I don’t want to be a bubble rider anymore,” Holman said. “I’m excited for the fresh start.” Other winners at the Boot Barn California Circuit Finals Rodeo were all-around cowboy Brushton Minton ($12,386, tie-down roping and team roping); bareback rider R.C. Landingham (250.5 points on three head); steer wrestler Casey Harmon (16.1 seconds on three head); team ropers Blake Hirdes/Jake Edwards (17.0 seconds on three head); tie-down roper Brushton Minton (26.4 seconds on three head); barrel racer Ann McGilchrist (40.91 seconds on three runs); and bull rider Aaron Williams (252 points on three head).

Saddle bronc rider Lefty Holman start ed the 2026 season strong winning the year-end title at the Boot Barn Califor nia Circuit Finals Rodeo. (PRCA photo by Crystal Amen)

FEBRUARY 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 43