"It means the best time of the year is here," said 2026 Reno Rodeo bareback riding champion Kade Sonnier.

With Cowboy Christmas in full swing, Team Resistol athletes are crisscrossing the country in pursuit of successful 2026 PRCA campaigns. For many, the journey began in Reno, Nevada, at the legendary Reno Rodeo.

Known as "The Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West," the Reno Rodeo marks the unofficial start of Cowboy Christmas and sets the tone for the Fourth of July run. Now in its 107th year, the iconic event offers more than $600,000 in added money and the opportunity to earn one of rodeo's most coveted prizes — the famed silver spurs.

Set beneath the Sierra Nevada Mountains and just miles from Lake Tahoe, Reno has long been a cornerstone of Western sports. For more than a century, the rodeo has served as a launching point for National Finals Rodeo (NFR) campaigns and remains one of the sport's premier summer stops.

As the official hat of the Reno Rodeo, Resistol proudly celebrates the event's rich tradition and enduring impact on professional rodeo.

The 2026 edition once again featured Team Resistol athletes standing in the winner’s circle, collecting silver spurs and some of the summer's richest payouts.

Leading the way was bareback rider Kade Sonnier. The two-time NFR qualifier delivered consistent rides throughout the week, placing second in the first round, second round and championship round to secure the aggregate title and his first Reno Rodeo championship.

"Reno has always been special. My Resistol rookie year, it was one of the first big rodeos I got to compete at, and it kicked off a heater for me. It seems like every year I've made the finals, I've had success in Reno," Sonnier said.

That success continued in 2026. Sonnier earned more than $20,000 during the week, vaulting himself into the top 15 of the PRCA bareback riding world standings as Cowboy Christmas began.

"It's so special to step onto that platform and look out into the crowd in Reno," Sonnier said. "This time of year and Cowboy Christmas is my favorite time to rodeo. I feel like the more horses I get on, the better I ride. Getting the win is really special. I didn't have the best winter, so to get a big win in Reno means a lot."

Several other Team Resistol athletes also captured titles, building momentum for the thrilling Fourth of July run.

Reigning Resistol Rookie of the Year header James Arviso teamed with veteran heeler Levi Lord to claim the team roping title, one of the biggest victories of Arviso's young professional career. Ranked No. 5 and No. 4 in the PRCA world standings, respectively, the pair has its sights set on Las Vegas, where Arviso is pursuing his first National Finals Rodeo qualification and Lord his sixth.

Three-time world champion Ryder Wright also opened Cowboy Christmas in dominant fashion, earning more than $12,000 while claiming the saddle bronc riding title. Wright currently sits seventh in the PRCA world standings.

Bull rider Hayden Welsh continued his breakout 2026 campaign with a Reno championship of his own. The 20-year-old, currently ranked fourth in the world standings, is chasing his first NFR qualification after a standout first half of the season.

In the breakaway roping, Madison Outhier added another championship for Team Resistol, taking her place in the winner's circle while gaining valuable momentum in her pursuit of a National Breakaway Roping Finals qualification.

With the Reno Rodeo in the books, Team Resistol athletes now turn their attention to the heart of Cowboy Christmas, as they continue their pursuit of major paydays and historic titles across the sport's biggest Fourth of July rodeos.