STRUXNESS TURNS BACK THE CLOCK AT CALDWELL NIGHT RODEO

CALDWELL, Idaho (Aug. 19, 2026) J.D. Struxness knows what a win at the Caldwell Night Rodeo can lead to.

Two years ago, the Milan, Minnesota, steer wrestler left Caldwell with a championship. He followed it with a qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and, ultimately, the first world championship of his career.

Wednesday night, Struxness put himself in position to do it all over again.

With the pressure of the NFR race intensifying and every tenth of a second carrying postseason implications, Struxness stopped the clock in a blistering 3.5 seconds to take the overall steer wrestling lead at the Caldwell Night Rodeo.

The run moved him two-tenths ahead of Traver Johnson of Eltopia, Washington, whose 3.7-second effort had set the pace.

For Struxness, the timing could hardly be better.

He arrived in Caldwell ranked 12th in the world standings, squarely in the battle for one of the coveted 15 positions that earn a trip to Las Vegas for the NFR. With the regular season ending in late September, the former world champion is chasing his eighth NFR qualification — and trying to climb as high as possible before the championship chase begins.

His 3.5-second run guarantees him a place in Saturday night’s championship round. If Struxness can finish with the fastest aggregate time on two runs, he’ll leave Caldwell with his second title at the iconic Idaho rodeo.

At this point in the season, rodeo becomes a high-speed numbers game. Contestants aren’t just chasing checks — they’re chasing standings points, NFR berths and, ultimately, gold buckles.

On Wednesday, Struxness made his move count.

Hayes Returns to Championship Form

Bareback rider Keenan Hayes also made a statement Wednesday night.

The Hayden, Colorado, cowboy matched up with Burch Rodeo‘s Little Lunatic for 85.5 points, taking the overall bareback riding lead and adding another strong performance to a comeback season.

Hayes enters the stretch run ranked sixth in the world standings and appears well positioned for a third NFR qualification.

His rise has already included a historic chapter. In 2023, Hayes became the first rookie bareback rider to win a world championship. He returned to Las Vegas the following year and finished third in the world.

Then came adversity.

Groin injuries, surgery and rehabilitation forced Hayes to miss the 2025 season. Now healthy and back among the sport’s elite, he’s again riding like a championship contender.

A Caldwell Night Rodeo title would add another significant victory to a comeback season that continues to gain momentum.

Lee Lights Up Caldwell With 91-Point Ride

The bull riding delivered some of Wednesday night’s biggest fireworks, with five cowboys reaching the whistle.

None shined brighter than Noah Lee.

The Mineral Wells, Texas, cowboy — currently leading the world standings — teamed with Powder River Rodeo’s Jackie Moon for a spectacular 91-point ride, taking over the Caldwell lead.

Lee’s ride came only moments after Idaho’s Tristen Hutchings electrified the arena with a 90-point effort.

Hutchings had barely taken command before Lee answered.

One ride. Ninety-one points. New leader.

Behind them, Colton Young of Randlett, Utah, turned in an impressive 89-point ride, giving Wednesday’s bull riding a trio of scores at 89 points or better.

Angelone, Andersen, Henry and Aldridge Set Wednesday Pace

The fast times and big scores weren’t limited to the three marquee leaders.

In breakaway roping, Martha Angelone of Stephenville, Texas, stopped the clock in 2.4 seconds, winning Wednesday’s performance and moving into second overall behind Shelby Boisjoli-Meged‘s 2.2.

Canadian saddle bronc rider Ben Andersen delivered one of the night’s strongest rides, scoring 87.5 points aboard Burch Rodeo’s Fire Iron. That moved Andersen into a tie for second overall with Stetson Wright, just 1.5 points behind leader Ryder Wright.

The tie-down roping turned into a race measured by tenths. Kincade Henry of Mount Pleasant, Texas, won Wednesday’s performance in 8.3 seconds, edging Cash Hooper’s 8.4.

In barrel racing, Tricia Aldridge of Sanger, Texas, raced home in 17.03 seconds, just seven-hundredths ahead of McKenna Coronado. Aldridge’s run also moved her into a tie for fifth in the overall standings.

Team ropers Cole Eiguren of Fruitland, Idaho, and Heath Hammerstrom of Rush Valley, Utah, won Wednesday’s performance with a 5.1-second run.

With two performances remaining before Saturday’s championship round, Caldwell’s leaderboard is tightening — and so is the race toward Las Vegas.

Rodeo action continues Thursday at the D&B Supply Arena, beginning at 8 p.m.

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Unofficial Results

Caldwell Night Rodeo — Second Performance

Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026

Bareback Riding: 1, Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 85.5 points on Burch Rodeo’s Little Lunatic; 2, Carson Hildre, Velva, N.D., 84.5; 3, Roedy Farrell, Thermopolis, Wyo., 83; 4, Bodee Lammers, Tolar, Texas, 81.

Steer Wrestling: 1, J.D. Struxness, Milan, Minn., 3.5 seconds; 2, Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., 4.6; 3, Chase Black, Coalville, Utah, 5.3; 4, Colten Leech, Bowie, Texas, 6.0.

Team Roping: 1, Cole Eiguren, Fruitland, Idaho, and Heath Hammerstrom, Rush Valley, Utah, 5.1 seconds; 2, Cash Duty, Weimar, Texas, and Trent Vaught, Mena, Ark., 5.3; 3, Kellan Johnston, Casper, Wyo., and Trae Smith, Georgetown, Idaho, 6.2; 4, Casey Thomas, Cedar City, Utah, and Caleb Hendrix, Fallon, Nev., 9.8.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 2.4 seconds; 2, Maddy Jacobs, Hope, N.M., 11.9; 3, Ryland Pintar, Menan, Idaho, 12.1; 4, Haiden Thompson, Yoder, Wyo., 12.2.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ben Andersen, Eckville, Alberta, 87.5 points on Burch Rodeo’s Fire Iron; 2, Kyle Wanchuk, Stettler, Alberta, 87; 3, (tie) Mitchie Story, Bayfield, Colo., and Mitch Pollock, Twin Falls, Idaho, 86 each.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Kincade Henry, Mount Pleasant, Texas, 8.3 seconds; 2, Cash Hooper, Pampa, Texas, 8.4; 3, Trevor Hale, Perryton, Texas, 10.0; 4, Cole Eiguren, Fruitland, Idaho, 17.8.

Barrel Racing: 1, Tricia Aldridge, Sanger, Texas, 17.03 seconds; 2, McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 17.10; 3, Alyssa Niecko, Eagle, Idaho, 17.32; 4, Gracie Ludlow, Spanish Fork, Utah, 17.60.

Bull Riding: 1, Noah Lee, Mineral Wells, Texas, 91 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Jackie Moon; 2, Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho, 90; 3, Colton Young, Randlett, Utah, 89; 4, Brayden Kilcrease, Council Hill, Okla., 84.5.

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Current Leaders

Bareback Riding: 1, Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 85.5 points on Burch Rodeo’s Little Lunatic; 2, (tie) Cole Franks, Tremonton, Utah, and Carson Hildre, Velva, N.D., 84.5 each; 4, (tie) Mason Stuller, Veneta, Ore.; Tristan Hansen, Dillon, Mont.; and Roedy Farrell, Thermopolis, Wyo., 83 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, J.D. Struxness, Milan, Minn., 3.5 seconds; 2, Traver Johnson, Eltopia, Wash., 3.7; 3, Seth Peterson, Minot, N.D., 3.8; 4, Ty Allred, Tooele, Utah, 4.0; 5, (tie) Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho, and Landris White, Angleton, Texas, 4.4 each.

Team Roping — Second Round: 1, Dawson and Dillon Graham, Wainwright, Alberta, 3.9 seconds; 2, (tie) Jaxon Hill, Antlers, Okla., and Jessen James, Moyers, Okla.; and Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.3; 4, (tie) Clayton Van Aken, Yoder, Wyo., and Jaydon Warner, Tropic, Utah; and Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.5; 6, Jr. Dees, Orange, Texas, and Landen Glenn, McAlester, Okla., 4.6.

Team Roping — Aggregate on Two: 1, Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala., and Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla., 10.0 seconds; 2, Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, 10.3; 3, Clint Summer, Lake City, Fla., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 10.4; 4, Cash Duty, Weimar, Texas, and Trent Vaught, Mena, Ark., 10.8; 5, Tyler Tryan, Lipan, Texas, and Nicky Northcott, Stephenville, Texas, 11.0; 6, (tie) Jake Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Douglas Rich, Herrick, Ill.; and Hagen Peterson, Delta, Utah, and Dylin Ahlstrom, Hooper, Utah, 11.1.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2.2 seconds; 2, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 2.4; 3, (tie) Kinlie Brennise, Craig, Colo., and Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 2.5; 5, (tie) Shalee Oftedahl, Kaysville, Utah; Millie Greenwood, Caldwell, Idaho; Josey Murphy, Keachi, La.; Rickie Engesser, Spearfish, S.D.; and Taylor Enesser, Spearfish, S.D., 2.6 each.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah, 89 points on Big Stone Rodeo’s Rubels; 2, (tie) Stetson Wright, Beaver, Utah, and Ben Andersen, Eckville, Alberta, 87.5 each; 4, Kyle Wanchuk, Stettler, Alberta, 87; 5, (tie) Statler Wright, Beaver, Utah; Bryett Larsen, Park Valley, Utah; and Mitch Pollock, Twin Falls, Idaho, 86 each.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas, 7.2 seconds; 2, Bryce Derrer, Portales, N.M., 7.5; 3, Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas, 7.9; 4, Semaj Collins, Cleveland, Texas, 8.1; 5, (tie) Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., and Max Mathis, Ben Wheeler, Texas, 8.2.

Barrel Racing: 1, Makenzie Mayes, Scroggins, Texas, 16.90 seconds; 2, Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 16.98; 3, Emma Smith, Pleasanton, Texas, 17.00; 4, Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 17.02; 5, (tie) Gracen Harman, Hempstead, Texas, and Tricia Aldridge, Sanger, Texas, 17.03.

Bull Riding: 1, Noah Lee, Mineral Wells, Texas, 91 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Jackie Moon; 2, Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho, 90; 3, Colton Young, Randlett, Utah, 89; 4, Colorado Kid Mackey, Ignacio, Colo., 86.5; 5, Brayden Kilcrease, Council Hill, Okla., 84.5; 6, Jake Gardner, Fort St. John, British Columbia, 80.

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ABOUT SUSAN KANODE:

Susan Kanode is a respected Western journalist, photographer and public relations professional with deep roots in ranching and rodeo. Through Cowgirl Imaging, she has dedicated her career to telling the stories of the athletes, events and people who define the Western way of life. Tenn Texas Media is proud and grateful for Susan’s press collaboration and her passion for creating stories that celebrate, connect and strengthen the Western lifestyle industry.

ABOUT HAILEY RAE:

Hailey Rae is a PRCA photographer with a passion for capturing the heart, action and people of the Western industry. She began photographing livestock shows while attending Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, on a livestock judging scholarship before turning her love of rodeo storytelling into a full-time career. Today, she travels across 10+ states covering nearly 100 rodeo performances each year. Hailey has been selected twice to photograph the National Finals Rodeo and has earned recognition as a Top 5 nominee for PRCA Photographer of the Year.