The future of rodeo was on full display at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) as the Resistol Rookie Class of 2026 made its mark in Casper, Wyo. Held at the Ford Wyoming Center, the event brought together more than 400 of the nation’s top collegiate rodeo athletes, chasing the most prestigious title in college rodeo.
Among the standout performers were five Resistol Rookie contenders who not only battled for their first CNFR championships but also reinforced their status as rising forces in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Their success in Casper showcased the depth of the talent within this year’s rookie class and highlighted why each remains firmly in the race for Resistol Rookie of the Year honors as the 2026 PRORODEO season is past its halfway point.
Throughout all four rounds of the CNFR, the bareback riding field was stacked with talent. But as the final round began, Daxtyn Feild, Carson Hildre, and Kooper Heimburg were separated by just two points, setting up a battle for the national championship.
In the end, the competition couldn’t have been closer—the trio finished in a three-way tie, each totaling 326.5 points on four rides, sharing the CNFR title.
Hildre currently leads the Resistol Rookie race after earning $40,682.20 in season earnings. The Velva, N.D., native, who competes for Clarendon College, has been consistent throughout the season with strong performances at events including the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo stops, Guymon Pioneer Days, and Rodeo Corpus Christi.
CNFR championships run deep in the Feild family, with Kaycee Feild capturing his title in 2008. Now, his nephew Daxtyn is carving out his own legacy, making his mark both at the collegiate level and on the professional scene.
The youngest Feild in professional rodeo currently sits at No. 3 in the Resistol Rookie standings after earning $38,556 in season earnings. His wins this year include the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Rookie Rally, Rodeo Killeen, and the Dutton Ranch Darby Xtreme Bareback Qualifier.
After finishing as the reserve bareback champion in 2025 and qualifying for the CNFR for his fourth and final time, Heimburg left Casper sharing the national title while also holding a current No. 6 ranking in the Resistol Rookie standings with $21,264.03.
Homedale, Idaho native Sam Saunders made himself a rookie to watch as a header after he and partner Marcus Marriott clinched the title with 23.1 seconds on four head.
Hayden Welsh continues to build his name across three different facets of the sport—the Professional Bull Riders, college rodeo, and professional rodeo—where he currently sits second in the rookie race and no. 4 in the world standings with over $100,000 earned in 2026.
Welsh, the recent No. 1 draft pick in PBR Teams, is no stranger to the arena in Casper, having qualified for the CNFR last year, where he finished eighth. This year he covered three of his four bulls, featuring an 88.25-point ride on Who’s Your Daddy from Summit Pro Rodeo.
Many collegiate champs have gone on to win world titles, and this class of rookies and CNFR champions will be no different. They now set their sights on a summer of rodeoing and chasing their first trip to the Thomas & Mack as rookies.