Best in the Rodeo Business Lead Off 2026 Gold Buckle Buzz NFR World Champions Series with Exclusive Memories

In May 2026, each of the 2025 PRCA and WPRA World Champions gathered in Las Vegas for a 2026 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® promotional media event. The champions gathered at the VooDoo Lounge atop the Rio Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and shared memories from their recent world titles, along with exclusive stories. 

Here are the thoughts of Kassie Mowry, two-time World Champion Barrel Racer; Riley Webb, three-time Tie-Down Roping World Champion; and Stetson Wright, 10-time PRCA World Champion (Saddle Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, All-Around).

Each of these three legends are in perfect position to return to Las Vegas Dec. 3-12 for the Super Bowl of Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Kassie Mowry

Through June 16, Kassie Mowry was in her familiar spot atop the WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings and on track for another Wrangler National Finals Rodeo appearance. She had racked up $139,050 in earnings, nearly $40,000 more than her nearest competitor.

What made Mowry’s place in the standings even more impressive: she had competed in only eight rodeos, while many of her nearest competitors had entered more than 20.

“The year has been great so far,” Mowry said. “We got through the winter rodeos and reunited with Jarvis in Fort Worth, where he won. Then he won Austin and Houston. He’s come back with a vengeance, and I think he’s determined to make another run at the NFR.”

Once Mowry reaches Las Vegas, she and, most likely, Jarvis will be galloping for her third consecutive World Championship. She also hopes 2026 will be a little less hectic than 2025, when the Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) outbreak heavily impacted the lead-up to the Wrangler NFR.

“I was honestly surprised to win the world title in 2025,” Mowry said. “It was a very different year because of the outbreak and not being able to bring Jarvis, the horse I had planned to compete with. That really threw me for a loop. Fortunately, I had a great backup horse in Will and was able to find another horse to bring as well. In the end, everything worked out, but I truly didn’t think I’d be able to hold my ground without Jarvis.

“The EHV outbreak was terrifying. My horse Will actually tested positive during the outbreak where they believe it began. Thankfully, he never developed the neurological symptoms. My other horses, including Jarvis, were exposed, and while they never showed symptoms, I didn’t feel comfortable bringing Jarvis. Will met all of the testing requirements, had three negative tests, and enough time had passed that both my veterinarian and I felt confident it was safe to compete. He wasn’t in the shape I would’ve liked because he had been very sick leading up to the event, but I knew how hard he tries for me. He’s a big horse, it was a smaller pattern, and I believed he could handle it. He absolutely came through and even won the first round. I was incredibly proud of him.”

Mowry is a self-described “planner,” so dealing with the uncertainties of 2025 created a new kind of stress. But what made everything even more strenuous was her love for her horses.

“My horses are my world,” Mowry said. “They eat before we do, and they want for nothing. They’re my teammates, but they’re also family. I always have their best interests at heart, and they truly mean everything to me. Honestly, I don’t remember much of last year because I was in survival mode, just trying to get through it. I’m not a jump rider—I train all of my own horses—so competing on someone else’s accomplished horse brought a different kind of pressure. I wanted to do justice to the horse and its owner while performing on one of the biggest stages in the sport.”

Riley Webb

Much like Mowry, Webb is dominating his discipline and leading PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Standings with earnings of $166,694 through mid-June. He was about $40,000 ahead of his nearest competitor, Kincaide Henry.

“This year has started off well; we had a big win in Houston, and I’ve been consistently placing at nearly every rodeo,” Webb said. “Now we’re looking forward to the summer run and building momentum toward another trip back to Las Vegas in December.”

Webb is the three-time defending World Champion and is making a difficult sport look easy, even if it doesn’t feel that way.

“I don’t know if I make it look easy,” Webb said with a laugh. “It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of repetition, and countless practice runs. My horse has been really good, and I’m always trying as hard as I can. I wouldn’t say it’s easy, but I do my best every time I compete. This is such a split-second sport that consistency comes from preparation. It takes training, muscle memory, a great horse, and a lot of determination. When the moment comes, you rely on all the work you’ve put in.”

Webb has been “making it look easy” in Las Vegas for nearly a decade, dating back to when he competed in the YETI Junior World Finals. His parents, Dirk and Jennifer, organize junior roping events in Las Vegas and other competitions throughout the year.

“Las Vegas is very special to me,” Webb said. “I’ve been coming here since I was about eight years old, first for trick roping and then for junior rodeo events. Later it became the Junior NFR, and eventually I qualified for the Wrangler NFR itself. It’s become a home away from home. Every December, this is where we come, and it’s a tradition for my family. It’s pretty cool to think about how much time I’ve spent here over the years.”

Webb shared that each of his three world titles carried a unique feeling.

“Each world title has been different,” Webb said. “The first year, I came in with a lead and just needed to hold my position. The second year, I was behind and had to make a move early, which I was able to do. Last year, it was a close race all the way through, and Shad (Mayfield) and I both had good weeks. Winning the average again was a big part of earning that third title.

“Overall, being a world champion has changed my life. It’s pretty amazing when people recognize you or reach out because they’ve followed your career. But the best part is being able to make a living doing something I love. That’s what means the most to me.”

Stetson Wright

As with Mowry and Webb, Wright is also leading the PRCA World Standings as this article is being written.

But he one-ups the Barrel Racing queen and the Tie-Down Roping star because Wright not only leads the All-Around standings but also the Saddle Bronc Riding standings.

And, oh by the way, he is second in the Bull Riding standings, trailing Tristen Hutchings by about $20,000.

Look out, rodeo world: the PRCA Triple Crown watch for Stetson Wright is on high alert for 2026.

He won two of the three Triple Crown disciplines in 2025 (Bull Riding and All-Around) after a miraculous recovery from injury, and now his sights are set on accomplishing the elusive triple, something that has never been achieved in rodeo history.

“When I think about the Triple Crown, it feels achievable,” Wright said. “Last year proved that to me. I put myself in position and learned just how close I could get. That experience gave me confidence. It’s definitely something I’m focused on and working toward every day.”

Wright’s motivation in 2025 was to prove to people that he could come back from the serious right hamstring injury he sustained during the 2023 NFR. He also suffered broken ribs, a punctured lung, and pelvis injuries at the CINCH Playoffs in September 2025. Wright felt he was counted out.

“The road back was incredibly difficult,” Wright said. “It took two surgeries and 14 months of rehabilitation for the hamstring. I’d dealt with injuries before, but usually it was four to six months of recovery. Fourteen months is a different challenge mentally, especially when you’re not even sure if you’ll ever get back to where you were. Looking back, I’m thankful I stayed committed and kept working.”

Wright said he feels like he is riding better than ever physically, but he also believes his mental outlook was forever changed by that fateful night in 2024.

“The injury changed my perspective,” Wright said. “Before, I worked hard, but after there was talk that I might never return, I started pushing myself harder than ever. I tested my body, challenged myself, and made sure I would be completely ready if I got another chance. When I came back to Vegas last year, I wanted to make a statement. I wanted people to see that I could still be the same world champion they remembered. Winning early and competing at a high level all week gave me confidence that all the hard work had been worth it.

“The biggest thing was surrounding myself with the right people. I spent time with my brothers, my mom, and my dad—people who have a winning mindset. The toughest moments were always when I was by myself. Going from the top of the world to feeling like everything had been taken away was hard. But in the end, I had to do the work. Nobody could do the rehab for me. Looking back, I’m grateful for the experience because it taught me a lot about myself and what I’m capable of overcoming.”

Wright nearly accomplished the unthinkable and won the Triple Crown in 2025, but another Wright—his brother Statler—edged him by a mere $346.06 for the Saddle Bronc Riding world title. Stetson was disappointed and thrilled, all at the same time.

“I was incredibly proud of Statler because, in a lot of ways, he came into Vegas in a similar position to where I had been before—without a lot of people talking about him as a contender,” Stetson said. “Then he went out and delivered every round. I’ve always said that if I don’t win, I hope one of my brothers does. Seeing him earn that championship was really special.”