| |

Elshere Wins at Fort Worth’s Rookie Rally

ByRoberta Johnston

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 22, 2026) — The 129th edition of the Fort Worth Livestock Show & Rodeo (FWSSR) introduced an exciting new event this year with the debut of the FWSSR Rookie Rally, showcasing the top first-year members of professional rodeo.

The Rookie Rally featured elite rookie contestants across all eight professional rodeo events, competing for nearly $100,000 in total prize money. Winners in events sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) also earned coveted qualification spots in the $1.6 million FWSSR Pro Rodeo Tournament, which runs January 23 through February 7 at Dickies Arena.

Because tournament qualification standards typically exclude rookies, the Rookie Rally provided a rare and valuable opportunity for first-year competitors to advance to one of rodeo’s most prestigious stages.

Elshere Capitalizes on the Opportunity

Thayne Elshere of Sturgis, South Dakota, was the biggest money winner at the $100,000 FWSSR Rookie Rally at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
Thayne Elshere was the biggest money winner at the $100,000 FWSSR Rookie Rally at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Elshere won the saddle bronc riding with an 87.5-point ride on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Painted Habitat. FWSSR Photo by James Phifer.

Thayne Elshere, Sturgis, South Dakota, made the most of that opportunity, earning a combined $8,000 in prize money.

The 21-year-old saddle bronc rider, and son of National Finals Rodeo veteran JJ Elshere, captured first place in saddle bronc riding with an 87.5-point ride aboard Painted Habitat from Penthouse Pro Rodeo, earning $4,275.

Elshere also competed in bull riding, where he scored 80 points on Darth Vader from Rafter G Rodeo to place second, adding $3,700 to his total. Already qualified for the tournament in bull riding, Elshere now has the opportunity to compete in two events and pursue an all-around title while vying for a share of the $1.6 million purse.

Additional Rookie Rally Champions

  • Bull Riding: Braxton Whitesell (Walker, Louisiana) earned the championship after an 85-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Jelly Roll, winning $4,700 and securing a tournament berth.
  • Bareback Riding: Daxtyn Feild (Roosevelt, Utah)
  • Breakaway Roping: Lucy Richards (Hereford, Texas)
  • Tie-Down Roping: Ace Reece (Aquilla, Texas)
  • Team Roping: Jet Toberer (Lipan, Texas) & Cody Egusquiza (Uvalde, Texas)
  • Barrel Racing: Jaylan Neatherlin (Brock, Texas)

Thursday night also served as Texas A&M Night, featuring special appearances by the Aggie yell leaders and rodeo team. Richards, a current member of the Texas A&M rodeo team, gave the crowd an extra reason to cheer with her breakaway roping victory.

The FWSSR Pro Rodeo Tournament begins Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Dickies Arena with Round One of Bracket One. Visit www.fwssr.com for more results, schedules and coverage.

Unofficial Results – FWSSR Rookie Rally

January 22, 2026

Bareback Riding

  1. Daxtyn Feild, Roosevelt, Utah — 86.5, The Patch (Penthouse Pro Rodeo), $4,000
  2. Kooper Heimberg, Marshall, Mo. — 86, $3,000
  3. Carson Hildre, Velva, N.D. — 83, $2,000
  4. Tuker Carricato, Saratoga, Wyo. — 81, $1,000
  5. Mason Yancy, Fruitland, Idaho — 78, $275
  6. Roedy Farrell, Thermopolis, Wyo. — 76, $275
  7. Isaac Ingram, Eunice, La. — 70, $275

Steer Wrestling

  1. Colin Fox, Manvel, Texas — 4.0 sec, $4,092
  2. Jace Mayfield, Midwest, Wyo. — 4.3, $3,092
  3. Sam Shofner, Jasper, Texas — 4.8, $2,092
  4. Clayton Culligan, Okeechobee, Fla. — 5.1, $1,092
  5. Clay Tom Hurt, Dilley, Texas — 5.3, $367
  6. Wyatt Fields, Silsbee, Texas — 14.5, $367

Breakaway Roping

  1. Lucy Richards, Hereford, Texas — 2.7 sec, $4,700
  2. Simone Park, Lipan, Texas — 3.4, $3,700
  3. Kirby Rawlinson, Waller, Texas — 3.5, $2,700

Saddle Bronc Riding

  1. Thayne Elshere, Sturgis, S.D. — 87.5, Painted Habitat (Penthouse Pro Rodeo), $4,275
  2. Regan Lyons, Snyder, Texas — 82, $2,775 (tie)
  3. Blake Steuck, Hume, Mo. — 82, $2,775 (tie)
  4. Logan Nunn, Lovell, Wyo. — 78, $1,275

Tie-Down Roping

  1. Ace Reece, Aquilla, Texas — 8.7 sec, $4,092
  2. Kyan Wilhite, Clovis, N.M. — 10.4, $3,092
  3. Brodey Clemons, Weatherford, Texas — 11.4, $2,092
  4. Colton Suther, Palo Cedro, Calif. — 12.2, $1,092
  5. Jayden Broussard, Broussard, La. — 13.0, $367
  6. Dalton Porch, Kodoka, S.D. — 14.3, $367

Team Roping

  1. Jet Toberer, Lipan, Texas & Cody Egusquiza, Uvalde, Texas — 4.8 sec, $4,165 each
  2. Roan Oldfield, Lovington, N.M. & Creed West, Fort Sumner, N.M. — 9.4, $2,665 each (tie)
  3. Denton Parish, Perrin, Texas & Trey White, Los Osos, Calif. — 9.4, $2,665 each (tie)
  4. Cole Smith, Stephenville, Texas & Blake Walker II, Forest City, N.C. — 10.7, $1,165 each
  5. Conley Kleinhans, Montague, Texas & Kyler Kanady, Breckenridge, Texas — 15.0, $440 each

Barrel Racing

  1. Jaylan Neatherlin, Brock, Texas — 16.65, $4,000
  2. Emma Smith, Pleasanton, Texas — 16.90, $3,000
  3. Morgan Bagnell, Heath, Texas — 16.93, $2,000
  4. Hailey Thompson, Columbia, Miss. — 16.94, $1,000
  5. Brooke Krolcayk, Cypress, Texas — 16.96, $275
  6. Brooke Henry, Waller, Texas — 17.79, $275
  7. Catherine Asmussen, Laredo, Texas — 17.95, $275
  8. Parker Asam, Murrieta, Calif. — 21.92, $275

Bull Riding

  1. Braxton Whitesell, Walker, La. — 85, Jelly Roll (Rafter G Rodeo), $4,700
  2. Thayne Elshere, Sturgis, S.D. — 80, $3,700
  3. Hayden Welsh, Gillette, Wyo. — 79, $2,700

Similar Posts