Athletes are crisscrossing the Pacific Northwest and Canada, looking to make the most of the final quarter of the 2025 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) season. Recently, two major rodeos — the Horse Heaven Roundup and the Rocky Mountain Cup — concluded in Kennewick, Wash., and Calgary, Alberta, shaking up the world standings and providing a glimpse into the fourth quarter headliners.
In Kennewick, Canadian cowboys headlined the roughstock events. Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston and bareback rider Orin Larsen claimed the top honors. Thurston continued his winning ways with an aggregate score of 176.5 points on two head, worth $3,424. Larsen pocketed $3,427 with 174.5 points, positioning himself within striking distance of the world’s top 15.
In tie-down roping, Kincade Henry turned in an aggregate time of 25.8 seconds on three runs. The Mount Pleasant, Texas, cowboy boosted his standings and secured his 2025 National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualification.
Breakaway roper Josie Conner continued her dominant season, taking the Kennewick title with a 4.2-second aggregate on two runs. Entering the short round in fourth, Conner roped sharp to claim the win, padding her position inside the world’s top five.
Steer wrestler Will Lummus kept his summer streak alive, winning the Horse Heaven Roundup in 11.8 seconds on three head, worth $5,624, to strengthen his lead in the world standings.
The team roping leaderboard saw two powerhouse teams tie for the title. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Clay Smith/Nicky Northcott each stopped the clock at 15.9 seconds on three runs, splitting the win for $4,640 apiece. While Driggers, Nogueira and Smith have already punched their tickets to Las Vegas, Northcott remains on the cusp of his first NFR qualification, making each check critical.
Rookie barrel racer Makenzie Mayes impressed again, winning the title with a 34.17-second aggregate on two runs, worth $4,092, and continuing her Resistol Rookie of the Year campaign.
In bull riding, Oregon cowboy Lane Vaughan posted 171.5 points on two head to earn $3,779. At just 20 years old, Vaughan finds himself on the bubble of his first NFR qualification.
Northwest Team Roping Runs North to Rocky Mountain Cup
North of the 49th parallel, the Rocky Mountain Cup showcased one of the richest team roping events in Canada. Recently expanded by the Calgary Stampede, the PRCA-sanctioned event grew to two days, Aug. 23–24, at Stampede Park, featuring youth and amateur roping alongside the top 30 teams in the world standings. The weekend’s finale put $200,000 on the line.
Veterans Andrew Ward and Jake Long capitalized on one of the season’s biggest opportunities, each earning nearly $30,000. Just weeks ago, they sat on the edge of the top 15, but a crucial Farm-City Pro Rodeo win followed by Calgary’s title has secured their 2025 NFR spots. Their 5.0-second final-round run not only sealed the Cup but vaulted them into the world’s top 10.
Reserve champions Clint Summers and Jade Corkill clocked a 5.7-second run worth $15,000. Shay Dixon Carroll/Levi Lord finished third in 9.6 seconds for $10,000, while Luke Brown/Trey Yates placed fourth, each taking home $5,000.
With the Northwest run in full swing and the Sept. 30 cutoff approaching, athletes are leaving it all in the arena. For veterans, it’s about momentum. For rookies, it’s about opportunity. And for those on the bubble, every ride and every dollar could mean the difference between Las Vegas and staying home.