Huge Payouts on the Line As Mandan’s Rough Rider Cup Kicks Off

With just days remaining in the 2026 professional rodeo season, athletes near the bubble are chasing every dollar. Only the top 15 money earners from the past year will qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and many of these races are incredibly tight.

In the final weeks of the season, there are several key rodeos that can change everything.

The Rough Rider Cup in Mandan, N.D., offers huge payouts and is limited to qualifying athletes. The top 32 competitors in the World Standings are joined by qualifiers who won specific rodeos to clinch their spot.

This exclusive, lucrative rodeo kicked off on September 18. The current leaders put on an impressive performance on Friday night to set the bar high for the cowboys and cowgirls to follow in the next two days.

Current Leaders

Bareback riding leaders: 1. Tristan Hansen, 83 points on Dakota Rodeo's Buckle Bunny; 2. Nick Pelke, 79; 3. Cian Daly, 74; no other qualified rides

Steer wrestling leaders:1. Tyler Waguespack, 3.5 seconds; 2. Marc Joiner, 3.8; 3. Jesse Brown, 4.5; 4. Ryan Shuckburgh, 4.9; 5. Tyke Kipp, 13.6; 6. Bridger Anderson, 14.0

Team roping leaders:1. (tie) Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman and Tyler Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 4.3 seconds each; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.7; 4. Jhett Trenary/Braylon Tryan, 7.4; no other qualified runs

Saddle bronc riding leaders:1. Rusty Wright, 89 points on Dakota Rodeo's Funny Face; 2. Sage Newman, 88.5; 3. Kolby Wanchuk, 88; 4. Zeke Thurston, 85.5; 5. Kole Ashbacher, 85; 6. Damian Brennan, 84.5

Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Cory Solomon, 7.1 seconds; 2. Brodey Clemons, 7.4; 3. (tie) Trevor Hale and Zack Jongbloed, 7.8 each; 5. Kincade Henry, 8.3; 6. Shane Hanchey, 8.8

Barrel racing leaders: 1. Tayla Moeykens, 17.00 seconds; 2. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 17.16; 3. Andrea Busby, 17.39; 4. Piper Cordes, 17.45; 5. Emma Smith, 17.48; 6. LaTricia Duke, 17.53

Bull riding leaders: 1. Thayne Elshere, 87.5 points on Dakota Rodeo's Puckered Up; 2. Kobie Olson, 85.5; 3. Cooper James, 82.5; no other qualified rides

September 19 Performance

Bareback Riding

Keenan Hayes
Kash Loyd
Orin Larsen
Kody Lamb
Jacob Lees
Jess Pope
Lane McGehee
Leighton Berry
Jayco Roper
Donny Proffit
Clayton Biglow
R.C. Landingham

Steer Wrestling

Talon Roseland
Logan Kenline
Mike McGinn
Scott Guenthner
Gavin Soileau
Garrett Oates
Eli Lord
Travis Munro
Cody Devers
Mason Couch
Riley Duvall
Colin Fox

Team Roping

Jake Long / Andrew Ward
Trent Vaught / Cash Duty
Kolton Schmidt / Paden Bray
Wesley Thorp / Tanner Tomlinson
Colter Todd / Derrick Begay
Dustin Egusquiza / JC Flake
Lightning Aguilera / Kaden Profili
Brye Crites / Ross Ashford
Clay Smith / Coleby Payne
Jake Edwards / Tee McLeod
Logan Medlin / Coy Rahlmann
Luke Brown / Hunter Koch

Saddle Bronc Riding

Cash Wilson
Darcy Radel
Zac Dallas
Ryder Wright
Shorty Garrett
Brody Cress
Wyatt Casper
Weston Patterson
Waitley Sharon
Mitchie Story
Tyrel Roberts
Kyle Wanchuk
Kade Bruno

Tie-Down Roping

Max Mathis
Macon Murphy
Chase Webster
John Douch
Bryce Derrer
Tom Crouse
Haven Meged
Marcos Costa
J.T. Adamson
Luke Potter
Brushton Minton
Riley Webb

Barrel Racing

Sydney Graham
Anita Ellis
Kathy Grimes
Blake Molle
Austyn Tobey
Jana Bean
Kara Kreder
Jordan Driver
Makenzie Mayes
Sara Winkelman
Hailey Kinsel
Emma Parr
Emily Beisel

Bull Riding

Jeff Bertus
Tyler Kippes
Stran Smith
Tell Jacobs
Clayton Sellars
Parker Breding
Riley Shippy
Colton Coffman
Roscoe Jarboe
Izaak Boekelman
Colten Fritzlan
Cullen Telfer
Noah Lee
Dylan Rice

September 20 Performance