Nashville, Tenn. (July 16, 2025) – Platinum-selling recording artist Cody Johnson is proud to announce the return of The COJO Championship Event, taking place October 7–12, 2025 in Belton, Texas at the Cadence Bank Center Arena. The multi-day event will once again bring together top-tier rodeo competition, music, and the community, all in the heart of Texas, where Cody and his wife Brandi’s love story began. This year’s event will also include new events, offering more opportunities for fans, families, and competitors alike. More information can be found at cojoteamroping.com.
“Team roping has always been a huge part of my life, it’s my refuge from the stage and the spotlight,” Cody said. “When I’m on horseback with a rope in hand, I’m not the guy on tour or in the studio, I’m just a cowboy, and that’s who I’ve always been at heart.”
– Cody Johnson
In a video shared on social media, Cody revealed several exciting additions to this year’s event, including a dedicated All Ladies Day featuring Breakaway Roping and Ladies Team Roping, followed by an entire day of Youth Junior Team Roping. He also announced that both the Breakaway Roping and the COJO Open are now officially recognized as American Contender Series Events. These new additions honor Cody’s commitment to honoring the sport’s legacy while continuing to grow its future. On Friday, October 10th, the Champs for Charity Cowboy Auction & Dinner will take place, once again benefitting the Texas FFA. This year’s charity auction and dinner will feature a more laid-back atmosphere with guests encouraged to don their favorite western attire. To top it all off, Cody himself is set to take the stage for a special acoustic performance.
Presented by Cody Johnson and produced by Ullman Peterson Events, the COJO Championship Event is a celebration of the values that define Western American lifestyle: grit, passion, and giving back. In keeping with that spirit, Cody and his wife Brandi are continuing their partnership with the Texas Future Farmers of America, an organization close to their hearts, as it was through the Texas FFA that they first met.
“George Strait is a hero of mine, and all I’ve heard since I started team roping is, ‘We miss The Strait.’ I wanted to respectfully pick up the torch.”
– CODY JOHNSON
Inspired by the legendary George Strait, who hosted his final George Strait Team Roping Classic in 2017, Cody launched The COJO Championship Event with the goal of bringing back a beloved team roping tradition and blessing his cowboy friends. Cody shared, “George Strait is a hero of mine, and all I’ve heard since I started team roping is, ‘We miss The Strait.’ I wanted to respectfully pick up the torch.”
Last year’s inaugural event saw the COJO Team Ropings award an impressive $845,000 in payouts, along with an additional half a million dollars in physical prizes. These included everything from Bill Fick Ford trucks and Bloomer Trailers to custom guitars, Gist buckles, Cactus saddles, Smarty trainers, Turtlebox speakers, Resistol hat packs and hats, Cactus Gear horse blankets, Blue Otter sunglasses, Henry Big Boy .44 Magnum rifles, and Clint Orms money clips.
In addition to the competition, last year’s Champs for Charity Cowboy Auction & Dinner made a significant impact off the arena floor with two impactful donations: $100,000 for the Texas FFA and $700,000 for the Different Day Foundation. The contribution to the Texas FFA directly benefited youth agricultural education, leadership programs across the state and helped fund scholarships, chapter resources, and leadership development initiatives. Meanwhile, the donation to the Different Day Foundation, a charity founded by Cody and his wife Brandi, supported the foundation’s initiatives to provide housing, trauma therapy, healthcare and empowering employment to survivors of sex trafficking.
Sponsors for this year’s event will include Bill Fick Ford, Bloomer Trailers, Wrangler, Justin, Resistol, Cactus Saddlery, Rather P Construction and many more, all joining Cody and the COJO team in making this year’s championship bigger and better than ever. More details on tickets, performances and programming will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans and rodeo enthusiasts are encouraged to mark their calendars and prepare for another unforgettable week in Belton.
For more information, visit www.cojoteamroping.com.
About Cody Johnson:
Cody Johnson has established a following of passionately loyal fans who regularly sell out shows across the country. The artist that media has touted “just might be the future of real country music” has skyrocketed success with numerous celebrated albums: Leather Deluxe Edition, Leather, Human The Double Album, A Cody Johnson Christmas, Cody Johnson & The Rockin’ CJB Live, and Ain’t Nothin’ To It plus an award-winning feature-length documentary “Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story.”
Cody’s #1 single “Dirt Cheap,” written by Josh Philips, was awarded as Storyteller of The Year at the “People’s Choice Country Awards” and Song of the Year at the 2025 ACM Awards. “The Painter” was awarded as the NSAI 2024 Song of The Year for writers Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins and Ryan Larkins.
His numerous industry honors include recognition as a CMT Artist of The Year, three CMT Music Awards wins, four CMA Awards including Album of The Year (2024) for Leather, and being named “Best New Country Artist” at the iHeart Music. His television appearances have entertained fans on the Today Show, the Kelly Clarkson Show and the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in addition to outstanding live tv performances at the iHeart Music Awards, the ACM Awards, CMA Awards, CMT Music Awards, CMT Giants honoring Vince Gill, and the CMT Artist of the Year Special and more.
About Texas FFA Association:
The Texas FFA is the nation’s largest state FFA association with a membership of more than 182,000 individuals. FFA gives students the opportunity to apply practical agriculture-based classroom knowledge to real world experiences through local, state, and national competitions and programs. For more information, please visit www.mytexasffa.org.
About The American:
Owned and produced by Teton Ridge, The American Rodeo is a defining force in Western sports. Entering its 13th year, it has grown into a year‑long series of open and regional qualifying events leading to The American Championship Weekend – the richest weekend in rodeo. Competitors from grassroots contenders to top professionals compete side by side on a national stage. Held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas and broadcast live on FOX, the weekend blends elite competition, world‑class entertainment, and national visibility, creating a one‑of‑a‑kind platform for the future of Western sports.
The COJO Championship Event 2025 Schedule
Tuesday, October 7
- Breakaway Roping with Youth Incentive
- All Girl Team Roping
Wednesday, October 8
- #10.5 Junior Roping
- Open Junior Roping
Thursday, October 9
- Long Round for the COJO with #16.5 Inc.
Friday, October 10
- #12.5 Limited with #11.5 Limited
- The Champs for Charity COJO Roping Cowboy Auction & Dinner
Saturday, October 11
- PRO AM Celebrity Roping
- Breakaway Short Round
- The COJO Short Round
Sunday, October 12
- Free breakfast and Church Service
- #10.5 Businessman’s Roping
PROVIDED COURTESY OF COJO CHAMPIONSHIP TO TENN TEXAS MEDIA
