PRORODEO Sports News - June 1, 2026

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA DAY W hen a PRORODEO contestant wins a coveted world cham pionship it comes with many BY TRACY RENCK before the NFR (during the North west run), and I got hot in Ellensburg

roping heeler); Statler Wright (saddle bronc riding); Riley Webb (tie-down roping); and Kassie Mowry (barrel racing) – were all in attendance and spent time reflecting on their memo rable seasons. “Winning last year was really cool,” said Webb, who won his third world championship in a row. “I had a lot of eyes on me since I won it the two previous years, and Shad (Mayfield) had a good year, and we were going to battle it out. I just knew I needed to do my job. I put in a lot of hard work

(Wash.) and started placing every where and winning everywhere and rolled into the NFR with that momen tum. It felt really good.” Allen came to the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo fifth in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Stand ings, but he was an underwhelming underdog to capture a gold buckle. That only inspired the California native. “Not that I needed to get excited, but that lit a fire under

perks. One of those perks is attending the world championship media day. That day came May 19, 2026, at the Voodoo Lounge at the Rio. The 2025 PRORODEO World Champions – Stetson Wright (all around, bull riding); Rocker Steiner (bareback riding); Tucker Allen (steer wrestling); Andrew Ward (team roping header); Jake Long (team

me,” Allen said. “When it was over I won the average and the world champion ship, it was a dream come true. Ever since then (after Round 10 on Dec. 13) it has been a whirlwind for me. I’ve done a lot more interviews and we (the world champions) got to meet President Donald Trump (at the Oval Office) earlier this year. It has just been incredible. It is a great time to be a world champion, and I love the responsibility of promoting the sport (of rodeo).” Like Allen, Ward/Long were also first-time PRCA World Champions in Ward’s sixth trip to the NFR and Long’s 15th.

World Champions Riley Webb and Stetson Wright interviewed at PRORODEO World Championship Media Day.

6 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE JUNE 1, 2026