With the 2025 PRCA season officially in the books and athletes already shifting their sights to 2026 campaigns, a few pieces of business remain unfinished — the circuit finals and the National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
The PRCA Circuit system, first established in 1975, was designed to give athletes more opportunities to compete while staying closer to home. Thirteen geographic regions make up the circuits, with each PRCA member designating one as their “home circuit.” The system allows athletes to compete regionally while chasing circuit titles.
Athletes may compete in rodeos both inside and outside their circuit throughout the season. However, only money earned at rodeos within their home circuit counts toward circuit standings. Each circuit hosts its own finals, with the top two athletes in each event advancing to the NFR Open in July.
Previously held in Kissimmee, Fla., and formerly titled the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, the event is now known as the NFR Open and takes place in Colorado Springs, Colo. The NFR Open invites the top circuit athletes to compete for prestigious national titles.
With circuit titles, NFR berths, and offseason preparation underway, the fall air signals one thing — it’s officially circuit finals season.
While the Texas Circuit Finals have already crowned their champions and paid out more than $300,000, there’s still plenty of competition ahead. The Columbia River Circuit Finals recently concluded in Redmond, Ore., with the Turquoise and Wilderness Circuit Finals on deck in the coming weeks.
Columbia River Circuit Finals Recap
Nestled in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia River Circuit Finals drew some of rodeo’s brightest stars to Redmond, Ore. Among them were NFR-bound cowboys and Northwest natives Kade Bruno and Jesse Brown, who claimed titles in saddle bronc riding and steer wrestling, respectively. Both athletes will look to keep their momentum rolling as they prepare for their fourth and seventh NFR qualifications, respectively.
All-around cowboy Jett Stewart took home top honors, earning $5,848 in team roping and steer roping. The 21-year-old also made waves throughout the regular season, capturing key wins including the Owyhee County Rodeo in Homedale, Idaho.
Bareback rider Mason Stuller claimed the circuit aggregate title with 243.5 points on three head, while team ropers Cole Eiguren and Breck Ward won the aggregate with a time of 18.0 seconds on three steers.
Occasionally, athletes compete in circuits outside their home region — such as Kansas native Lucas Potter, who claimed the Columbia River Circuit as home in 2025. The standout tie-down roper earned the aggregate title in Redmond with a time of 26.0 seconds on three runs.
In steer roping, Roger Nonella took home top honors with an aggregate time of 27.6 seconds on two head, while bull rider Cole Hill marked 227 points on three rides. Breakaway roper Millie Greenwood took home the top breakaway roping honors.
With the Columbia River Circuit Finals wrapped up and athletes’ 2025 campaigns officially coming to a close, competitors now celebrate the highs and lessons of the rodeo road — and shift their focus toward 2026, which is already well underway.
Fans can catch all the circuit finals action streaming live on The Cowboy Channel Plus app.