While last year’s National Finals Rodeo (NFR) didn’t end the way 24-year-old bareback rider Jayco Roper had envisioned, the 2026 season has offered a clean slate and a chance to get back to work.
Sitting No. 25 in the world standings, Roper, who missed two NFR rounds with injury last year, has steadily pieced checks together as this season unfolds. On June 10, the cowboy put together a ride that not only boosted his confidence but gave him momentum going into the busiest part of the year.
Before heading north for the summer run, Roper made a stop at the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Frontier Days and PRCA Rodeo, where he matched up with Chrome Molly from Pete Carr Pro Rodeo.
“He looked kind of like a handful, and he was,” Roper said. “But I bore down, and it must have been good because they [judges] liked it.”
The duo set the early pace on the leaderboard with an 85-point ride, a score that could hold strong as the rest of the week progresses.
As for Roper, he’s headed to Woodward, Okla., to compete in the Woodward Elks Rodeo, where he’s eager about what can unfold there.
“I have a good one from Beutler & Son’s called Happy Hour,” he shared. “I’m super excited to come off a good ride and go put another good ride on in Woodward.”