The 2026 Governor's Cup is an American professional rodeo competition sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). The event, held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, features top PRCA and WPRA contestants competing for the Governor's Cup title across multiple rodeo events. The four semifinals from the Puyallup Rodeo and the top eight contestants in the Cinch Playoff Series Standings qualified for the Governor's Cup.
Background Road to Sioux Falls The Cinch Playoff Series began in January, featuring 60 of the highest-paying professional rodeos in the United States. The Playoff Series is tracked via points instead of total money earned, with the top athletes competing for a spot in the Cinch Playoffs Wild Card in Puyallup, Washington. To qualify for the Puyallup Rodeo, contestants had to rank in the top 23 of their events standings or win the NFR Open that was held from July 14–18 at Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Puyallup Rodeo was held from September 10–13 at the Washington State Fair. From there, the top four semifinals and the remaining eight highest-ranked contestants qualified for the Governor's Cup at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Payout structure During Rounds 1 and 2, first place receives $12,533; second place receives $9,400; third place receives $6,266; and fourth place receives $3,133. During the Semifinals, fifth through eighth place is awarded $4,500 each. During the Finals, first place is awarded $34,000; second place is awarded $26,000; third place is awarded $17,000; and fourth place is awarded $9,000. The total purse for the event was over $1.5 million.
Bareback riding Qualifiers Puyallup qualifiers – top 4 Playoff Series qualifiers – next 8
Long Round 1 +Bareback Riding Long Round 1 results Rider Stock Score Payoff 1 Cooper Cooke 8119 Wanda's Medicine 88.00 $12,533 2 Garrett Shadbolt 497 Hot Mocha 86.50 $9,400 3 Keenan Hayes U14 Bald Eagle 85.75 $6,267 4 Jacob Lees 850 Wild Child 84.75 $3,133 5 Jayco Roper Q37 Peach Juice 84.00 — 6 R.C. Landingham 9738 Blue Blood 83.75 — 7 Clayton Biglow 414 Hell's Fire 83.50 — 8 Cole Reiner 350 Ranch & Co Time 83.25 — 9 Leighton Berry 617 Red Sunset 82.00 — 10 Jess Pope 831 Mudslide 81.25 — 11 Kade Sonnier 927 Maria Bartomoro 81.00 — 12 Bradlee Miller 702 Little Lunatic 80.50 —
Long Round 2 +Bareback Riding Long Round 2 results Rider Stock Score Payoff 1 Clayton Biglow 64 Sky Wars 86.50 $12,533 2 Jacob Lees 030 Pow Wow Nights 86.25 $9,400 3 Bradlee Miller 800 Sum Buck 86.00 $6,267 4 Jess Pope 828 Ready To Rock 85.75 $3,133 5 Cooper Cooke 62 All Eyes on A 84.75 — 6 Keenan Hayes 877 Drink Of Choice 83.75 — 7 R.C. Landingham 937 Monkey Wrench 83.75 — 8 Jayco Roper C5 Captain Hook 83.00 — 9 Kade Sonnier 107 Hooey Rocks 82.50 — 10 Garrett Shadbolt P49 Gander Goose 82.00 — 11 Cole Reiner 728 Visually Assault 58.50 — 12 Leighton Berry Did not compete
Semifinals +Bareback Riding Semifinals results Rider Stock Score Payoff 1 Clayton Biglow U7 Bobby's Peaches 89.00 — 2 Jayco Roper 773 Candy Man 86.75 — 3 Jess Pope 488 Midnight Special 86.50 — 4 Keenan Hayes U10 Cosmic Stardust 86.50 — 5 Cooper Cooke 6 Sweet Tequila 85.00 $4,500 6 R.C. Landingham 9947 Bootch 84.50 $4,500 7 Garrett Shadbolt 16 Sippin Firewater 84.00 $4,500 8 Jacob Lees 908 Straight Guitar 74.50 $4,500
Finals +Bareback Riding Finals results Rider Stock Score Payoff 1 Clayton Biglow Q52 Ranch & Crow Interiors 90.75 $34,000 2 Jayco Roper H119 Watermelon Moonshine 89.25 $17,333 2 Jess Pope 871 Bottoms Up Chuck 89.25 $17,333 2 Keenan Hayes 152- Terry 89.25 $17,333
Steer wrestling Qualifiers Puyallup qualifiers – top 4 Playoff Series qualifiers – next 8
Long Round 1 +Steer Wrestling Long Round 1 results Wrestler Time Payoff 1 Dalton Massey 3.4 s $12,533 2 Jesse Brown 4.0 s $9,400 3 Eli Lord 4.2 s $4,700 3 Rowdy Parrott 4.2 s $4,700 5 J.D. Struxness 4.4 s — 6 Cash Robb 4.6 s — 6 Justin Shaffer 4.6 s — 8 Tristan Martin 4.9 s — 9 Bridger Anderson 5.0 s — 10 Seth Peterson 5.5 s — 11 Mike McGinn 0.0 s — 11 Tyler Waguespack 0.0 s —
Long Round 2 +Steer Wrestling Long Round 2 results Wrestler Time Payoff 1 Jesse Brown 3.6 s $12,533 2 Seth Peterson 3.7 s $9,400 3 Cash Robb 4.0 s $6,267 4 J.D. Struxness 4.3 s $3,133 5 Mike McGinn 4.5 s — 5 Dalton Massey 4.5 s — 7 Tristan Martin 4.7 s — 8 Tyler Waguespack 4.8 s — 8 Bridger Anderson 4.8 s — 8 Rowdy Parrott 4.8 s — 11 Justin Shaffer 5.0 s — 12 Eli Lord 0.0 s —
Semifinals +Steer Wrestling Semifinals results Wrestler Time Payoff 1 Rowdy Parrott 3.3 s — 2 Dalton Massey 3.7 s — 2 Jesse Brown 3.7 s — 4 Tristan Martin 3.9 s — 5 J.D. Struxness 4.0 s $4,500 6 Justin Shaffer 4.1 s $4,500 7 Seth Peterson 14.1 s $4,500 8 Cash Robb 0.0 s $4,500
Finals +Steer Wrestling Finals results Wrestler Time Payoff 1 Dalton Massey 3.7 s $34,000 2 Jesse Brown 3.9 s $21,500 2 Rowdy Parrott 3.9 s $21,500 4 Tristan Martin 5.4 s $9,000
Team roping Qualifiers Puyallup qualifiers – top 4 Playoff Series qualifiers – next 8
Long Round 1 +Team Roping Long Round 1 results Header Heeler Score Payoff 1 Kaleb Driggers Junior Nunes Nogueira 3.8 s $12,533 2 Lightning Aguilera Ross Ashford 4.1 s $9,400 3 Dawson Graham Dillon Graham 4.2 s $6,267 4 Tyler Tryan Nicky Northcott 4.3 s $3,133 5 James Arviso Levi Lord 4.5 s — 6 Andrew Ward Jake Long 4.8 s — 7 Jake Smith Douglas Rich 5.2 s — 8 Tanner Tomlinson Coleby Payne 9.7 s — 9 Garrett Tonozzi Trey Yates 22.8 s — 10 Luke Brown Hunter Koch 0.0 s — 10 Cory Kidd Carson Johnson 0.0 s — 10 Cody Snow Lane Mitchell 0.0 s —
Long Round 2 +Team Roping Long Round 2 results Header Heeler Score Payoff 1 James Arviso Levi Lord 4.0 s $12,533 2 Cory Kidd Carson Johnson 4.4 s $9,400 3 Kaleb Driggers Junior Nunes Nogueira 5.8 s $6,267 4 Tyler Tryan Nicky Northcott 10.4 s $3,133 5 Jake Smith Douglas Rich 16.4 s — 6 Luke Brown Hunter Koch 0.0 s — 6 Andrew Ward Jake Long 0.0 s — 6 Garrett Tonozzi Trey Yates 0.0 s — 6 Lightning Aguilera Ross Ashford 0.0 s — 6 Cody Snow Lane Mitchell 0.0 s — 6 Tanner Tomlinson Coleby Payne 0.0 s — 6 Dawson Graham Dillon Graham 0.0 s —
Semifinals +Team Roping Semifinals results Header Heeler Score Payoff 1 Andrew Ward Jake Long 4.0 s — 2 Tyler Tryan Nicky Northcott 4.4 s — 3 Kaleb Driggers Junior Nunes Nogueira 4.6 s — 4 James Arviso Levi Lord 4.8 s — 5 Jake Smith Douglas Rich 5.1 s $4,500 6 Cory Kidd Carson Johnson 0.0 s $4,500 6 Lightning Aguilera Ross Ashford 0.0 s $4,500 6 Dawson Graham Dillon Graham 0.0 s $4,500
Finals +Team Roping Finals results Header Heeler Score Payoff 1 Tyler Tryan Nicky Northcott 4.4 s $34,000 2 Andrew Ward Jake Long 4.6 s $26,000 3 Kaleb Driggers Junior Nunes Nogueira 0.0 s $17,000 4 James Arviso Levi Lord 0.0 s $9,000
Saddle bronc riding Qualifiers Puyallup qualifiers – top 4 Playoff Series qualifiers – next 8
Long Round 1 +Saddle Bronc Riding Long Round 1 results Rider Stock Score Payoff 1 Brody Cress N20 Devil's Advocate 87.25 $12,533 2 Kade Bruno 7 Candy Coated 87.00 $9,400 3 Zeke Thurston 800 I'm A Dandy 86.25 $6,267 4 Statler Wright H361 Bugatti 85.75 $1,567 4 Waitley Sharon 527 Tom's Toddy 85.75 $1,567 6 Ryder Wright 652 Blue Northern 85.25 — 7 Wyatt Casper 708 Bravo Brunson 85.00 — 8 Stetson Wright 0303 Bronchitis 84.50 — 9 Rusty Wright 447 Capone 84.25 — 10 Damian Brennan -528 Peacemaker 83.00 — 11 Brody Wells 61 Blue Canyon 0.00 — 11 Zac Dallas 07 Hot & Hairy 0.00 —
Long Round 2 +Saddle Bronc Riding Long Round 2 results Rider Stock Score Payoff 1 Zeke Thurston 171 Heart Breaker 87.50 $12,533 2 Ryder Wright 922 Jukebox Johnny 87.00 $9,400 3 Rusty Wright 508 Painted Habitat 85.50 $4,700 3 Zac Dallas 2 Disco Inferno 85.50 $4,700 5 Brody Wells 111 All Jacked Up 85.00 — 6 Wyatt Casper L9 Bonafide 84.25 — 7 Kade Bruno 433 Midnight Deals 83.75 — 8 Stetson Wright 648 Moose 83.50 — 8 Waitley Sharon 635 Calico Color 83.50 — 10 Statler Wright S3 Bobby Shows 82.50 — 11 Damian Brennan 036 Harry Rocks 81.50 — 12 Brody Cress 08 Glacier 45 0.00 —
Semifinals +Saddle Bronc Riding Semifinals results Rider Stock Score Payoff 1 Stetson Wright 808 Twiggy 88.00 — 2 Statler Wright 156- Charlotte Johnson 86.75 — 3 Kade Bruno 637 Miss Chestnuts L 85.75 — 4 Zeke Thurston R8 Cotton Candy 85.50 — 5 Wyatt Casper 512 Tommy Boy 85.50 $4,500 6 Waitley Sharon 4361 Bugsy 85.25 $4,500 7 Ryder Wright R69 Mighty Mo 83.50 $4,500 8 Rusty Wright J43 Optiwize's Tickled Pink 83.25 $4,500
Finals +Saddle Bronc Riding Finals results Rider Stock Score Payoff 1 Statler Wright 026 Ozark 90.75 $34,000 2 Zeke Thurston 105 Resistol's Black 89.50 $26,000 3 Stetson Wright 606 Swanny 87.75 $17,000 4 Kade Bruno -42 Miss Valley 87.00 $9,000
Tie-down roping Qualifiers Puyallup qualifiers – top 4 Playoff Series qualifiers – next 8
Long Round 1 +Tie-Down Roping Long Round 1 results Roper Time Payoff 1 Kincade Henry 7.5 s $12,533 2 Joel Harris 7.7 s $9,400 3 Shane Hanchey 8.0 s $4,700 3 Haven Meged 8.0 s $4,700 5 Shad Mayfield 8.7 s — 6 Trevor Hale 8.8 s — 7 Buck Calhoun 9.6 s — 7 John Douch 9.6 s — 9 Riley Webb 9.8 s — 10 Cory Solomon 10.9 s — 11 Dylan Hancock 0.0 s — 11 Ty Harris 0.0 s —
Long Round 2 +Tie-Down Roping Long Round 2 results Roper Time Payoff 1 Riley Webb 7.2 s $12,533 2 Buck Calhoun 7.5 s $9,400 3 Trevor Hale 8.3 s $6,267 4 Joel Harris 8.4 s $3,133 5 Cory Solomon 8.8 s — 6 Haven Meged 8.9 s — 7 Shad Mayfield 9.7 s — 8 Shane Hanchey 9.9 s — 9 Kincade Henry 12.6 s — 10 John Douch 17.0 s — 11 Dylan Hancock 18.7 s — 12 Ty Harris 0.0 s —
Semifinals +Tie-Down Roping Semifinals results Roper Time Payoff 1 Riley Webb 6.6 s — 2 Cory Solomon 7.4 s — 2 Buck Calhoun 7.4 s — 2 Haven Meged 7.4 s — 5 Shad Mayfield 7.5 s $4,500 6 Trevor Hale 7.7 s $4,500 7 Shane Hanchey 10.7 s $4,500 8 Joel Harris 0.0 s $4,500
Finals +Tie-Down Roping Finals results Roper Time Payoff 1 Haven Meged 7.7 s $34,000 2 Cory Solomon 8.8 s $26,000 3 Buck Calhoun 9.3 s $17,000 4 Riley Webb 0.0 s $9,000
Steer roping Qualifiers Puyallup qualifiers – top 4 Playoff Series qualifiers – next 8
Long Round 1 +Steer Roping Long Round 1 results Roper Time Payoff 1 Cody Lee 10.9 s $4,800 2 Riley O'Rourke 11.2 s $3,600 3 Cole Patterson 11.5 s $2,400 4 Roger Nonella 12.2 s $1,200 5 Chet Herren 12.3 s — 6 Tanner Stec 12.4 s — 7 Vin Fisher 20.2 s — 8 Scott Snedecor 0.0 s — 8 Troy Tillard 0.0 s — 8 Wade Shoemaker 0.0 s — 8 Tony Reina 0.0 s — 8 Taylor Santos 0.0 s —
Long Round 2 +Steer Roping Long Round 2 results Roper Time Payoff 1 Cole Patterson 8.8 s $4,800 2 Riley O'Rourke 9.6 s $3,600 3 Chet Herren 9.7 s $2,400 4 Vin Fisher 10.1 s $1,200 5 Roger Nonella 11.2 s — 6 Tanner Stec 11.4 s — 7 Taylor Santos 12.6 s — 8 Tony Reina 14.8 s — 9 Scott Snedecor 0.0 s — 9 Troy Tillard 0.0 s — 9 Wade Shoemaker 0.0 s — 9 Cody Lee 0.0 s —
Semifinals +Steer Roping Semifinals results Roper Time Payoff 1 Cole Patterson 9.8 s — 2 Taylor Santos 10.3 s — 3 Roger Nonella 10.7 s — 4 Tanner Stec 12.2 s — 5 Cody Lee 14.3 s $1,500 6 Vin Fisher 17.7 s $1,500 7 Riley O'Rourke 19.1 s $1,500 8 Chet Herren 0.0 s $1,500
Finals +Steer Roping Finals results Roper Time Payoff 1 Cole Patterson 8.8 s $12,000 2 Roger Nonella 9.8 s $9,000 3 Tanner Stec 10.1 s $6,000 4 Taylor Santos 0.0 s $3,000
Breakaway roping Qualifiers Puyallup qualifiers – top 4 Playoff Series qualifiers – next 8
Long Round 1 +Breakaway Roping Long Round 1 results Roper Time Payoff 1 Jordi Edens-Mitchell 1.7 s $10,967 1 Josie Conner 1.7 s $10,967 3 Hali Williams 1.9 s $6,266 4 Jill Tanner 2.1 s $3,133 5 Jordan Hollabaugh 2.2 s — 6 Danielle Lowman 2.3 s — 7 Martha Angelo 2.5 s — 8 Bradi Good 2.7 s — 9 Jackie Crawford 3.0 s — 10 Rylee George 0.0 s — 10 Cheyanne McCartney 0.0 s — 10 Haiden Thompson 0.0 s —
Long Round 2