Champions Crowned: Celebrating the 2025 PRCA World & NFR Aggregate Champions
The 2025 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) season reached its thrilling conclusion at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, where ten nights of elite competition decided the sport’s biggest honors. Inside the Thomas & Mack Center, rodeo’s top athletes from around the country battled grit, precision, and pressure—all for the chance to claim world championships, aggregate titles, and lifelong achievement.
At Western Sports Foundation, we celebrate not only the titles but the perseverance and community impact of these athletes. Here’s a closer look at the 2025 PRCA World Champions and NFR Aggregate Championsincluding their stories, memorable performances, and the moments that made this season unforgettable.
Bareback Riding
2025 PRCA World Champion: Rocker Steiner
21-year-old Rocker Steiner’s 2025 season culminated in his first PRCA World Championship in bareback riding. Entering the final round of the NFR with more than a $100,000 lead, Steiner sealed the title with a big 90.5-point ride in the 10th round—a performance that underscored his mental toughness and elite ability under pressure. His rise through the standings and consistent go-round finishes all week showcased a rider ready to follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps to claim his place among the next generation of rodeo stars.
2025 NFR Aggregate Champion: Sam Petersen
Consistency is what wins the NFR average, and Sam Petersen proved it over ten rounds in Las Vegas. The Helena, Montana bareback rider stayed in the mix night after night and finished the Finals with an aggregate score of 854 points, edging out Jess Pope by a razor-thin 0.25 to claim the 2025 Wrangler NFR Bareback Average title. On the final night, Petersen’s 88.5-point ride aboard Pickett Pro Rodeo Co.’s Night Flight proved Petersen could do his job under pressure and reap the rewards of consistent performance.
Steer Wrestling
2025 PRCA World Champion & NFR Aggregate Champion: Tucker Allen
Tucker Allen’s 2025 season was built on consistency. The Ventura, California, competitor clinched both the World Championship and the NFR Average title in steer wrestling, culminating in a season total that set a new single-season earnings mark in the event. Allen’s calm precision during all ten rounds turned pressure into dollars in the standings, giving this cowboy a chance to prove he’s got what it takes to play in the big leagues during his second trip to the Finals.
Team Roping
2025 PRCA World Champions & NFR Aggregate Champions: Andrew Ward & Jake Long
Team roping fans witnessed a dramatic season-long battle that came down to tight runs on the final night. Header Andrew Ward and heeler Jake Long have forged a partnership defined by timing and trust, earning both World Championships and the NFR Average titles for their respective roles. By climbing the standings against a deep field of qualifiers and delivering when it mattered most, Ward and Long secured their places atop one of rodeo’s most strategic events.
Saddle Bronc Riding
2025 PRCA World Champion & NFR Aggregate Champion: Statler Wright
The Wright name is always prominent in Las Vegas, and this year Statler Wright took home his first-ever gold buckle, saddle bronc riding. Through a mix of power and finesse, Wright rode consistently across ten rounds to capture both the World Championship and the Aggregate Title. His performance exemplified adaptability and endurance, especially against a field packed with seasoned bronc riders—including two of Statler’s brothers—vying for every point and penny.
Tie-Down Roping
2025 PRCA World Champion & NFR Aggregate Champion: Riley Webb
For the third consecutive year, Riley Webb dominated the tie-down roping, making him the first cowboy since the legendary Roy Cooper to clinch the title three years in a row. Webb’s season was defined by methodical excellence and peak performance at precisely the right moments. Through a combination of strategic positioning in the PRCA standings and impactful NFR runs, Webb walked away with both the World Title and Average Championship—a testament to his relentless preparation and ability to deliver under pressure.
Barrel Racing
2025 World Champion: Kassie Mowry
In a season packed with fierce rivalries, Kassie Mowry stood out in the WPRA barrel racing ranks with powerful runs and steady finishes across the year. Her performance at the NFR solidified a world title—a testament to her skill as a horsewoman and her precision in a sport where hundredths of a second matter most.
2025 NFR Aggregate Champion: Julie Plourde
Julie Plourde’s barrel racing at the Thomas & Mack Center was a showcase in consistency. Athough Plourde ended the season number 16 in the world, she had the opportunity to compete after qualified rider Anita Ellis was medically released from the NFR due to a freak accident in November. Over ten rounds in Las Vegas, Plourde produced run after run that kept her near the top of the average standings, ultimately earning her the NFR Aggregate Title. Amid dramatic round winners like Tricia Aldridge and Carlee Otero throughout the week, Plourde’s weeklong steadiness proved to be championship-caliber.
Bull Riding
2025 PRCA World Champion & All-Around Cowboy: Stetson Wright
Few athletes in any sport define dominance like Stetson Wright. Now a ten-time PRCA World Champion, Wright clinched the World Bull Riding title and emerged as the All-Around World Champion, combining elite performances across bull riding and saddle bronc into one legendary campaign. His impact on the sport and purse earnings this season reflected elite execution at rodeo’s highest levels.
2025 NFR Aggregate Champion and Top Gun Award Recipient: T.J. Gray
Bull riding at the NFR always delivers excitement, and T.J. Gray rode that momentum to the top of the aggregate standings. With strong NFR go-round scores, two round wins, and earnings across ten nights, Gray secured the Bull Riding Average title and the Top Gun Award for earning the most money of all NFR athletes in a single event. T.J.’s perseverance and grit spotlight the depth and talent at the core of pro rodeo bull riding.
Cocktails for Cowboys
While champions were crowned inside the arena, the impact of the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo extended well beyond competition. Throughout the NFR, Western Sports Foundation hosted a series of Cocktails for Cowboys activations at YETI’s Cowboy Christmas booth, bringing together athletes, fans, and industry partners in support of rodeo competitors.
Hosted in partnership with YETI, these midday gatherings created space for meaningful connection and conversation, all centered around supporting athletes beyond the arena. Strong attendance and enthusiastic participation made Cocktails for Cowboys one of the most successful activations of the NFR, reinforcing the power of community within western sports.
Funds raised through Cocktails for Cowboys directly support WSF programs that provide mental health resources and long-term care for Western sports athletes. These activations remind us that while rodeo celebrates toughness and grit, it also thrives on showing up for one another—especially when the lights fade and the season ends.
Supporting Athletes Beyond the Gold Buckle
Every qualifier at the 2025 Wrangler NFR represents a career marked by resilience, sacrifice, and extraordinary skill. Whether they reached the top of the leaderboard or laid the groundwork for future success, these athletes are the heart of professional rodeo.
At Western Sports Foundation, we’re proud to celebrate both the accomplishments and the communities that elevate this sport. From gold buckles to grassroots support, we remain dedicated to furthering the well-being and longevity of western sports athletes, inside and outside the arena.
Learn more about how you can support WSF’s mission and our athletes at wsf.org.