CALDWELL, Idaho (Aug. 22, 2026) — Eighteen years old. A rookie season. More than $300,000 won.
Noah Lee is making his first season in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association one to remember.
The Mineral Wells, Texas, bull rider entered the 103rd Caldwell Night Rodeo leading the world standings with $294,550 in season earnings. He left Idaho with another championship, another $14,152 and a milestone that puts an exclamation point on one of professional rodeo’s most impressive rookie campaigns.
Lee’s winning ride came Wednesday night when he matched up with Powder River Rodeo’s Jackie Moon for 91 points. The score survived every challenger through Saturday night’s final performance, giving Lee the Caldwell championship and pushing his season earnings beyond $300,000.
And he’s far from finished.
Lee is positioned to arrive in Las Vegas this December with an opportunity to compete for both the PRCA Rookie of the Year title and a world championship at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
For a cowboy just beginning his professional career, the stakes — and possibilities — could hardly be bigger.
Ty Harris Cashes In at Caldwell
While Lee continued his remarkable rookie season, tie-down roper Ty Harris walked away as Caldwell’s biggest money winner.
The San Angelo, Texas, cowboy entered the rodeo ranked 10th in the world standings and made every run count.
Harris won the first round and followed it with an 8.0-second run in Saturday’s final round. His 15.2-second aggregate on two runs secured the championship and brought his total Caldwell earnings to $16,889.
With the regular season moving toward its late-September finish, a payday of that size can make a significant difference in the battle for NFR positioning.
Motherhood, an Arena Record and a Championship for Boisjoli-Meged
Shelby Boisjoli-Meged came to Caldwell with ground to make up in the world standings.
She left having made a major statement.
The Calgary, Alberta, breakaway roper is chasing an extraordinary seventh consecutive qualification to the National Finals Breakaway Roping. She is the only athlete to have qualified every year since the event’s inception in 2020.
This season, however, has brought a different journey.
Boisjoli-Meged stepped away from competition to grow her family with husband and tie-down roper Haven Meged. The couple welcomed their first child in May.
She entered Caldwell ranked 19th in the world standings with $64,577 in earnings — outside the coveted top 15.
Then she went to work.
Boisjoli-Meged tied the Caldwell arena record with a lightning-fast 2.2-second run in the opening round. When championship night arrived, she delivered again, stopping the clock in 2.3 seconds.
Her 4.5-second aggregate swept her to the championship and $13,245 in Caldwell earnings, providing a significant boost in her push toward the top 15.
From new motherhood to the pressure of an NFR race, Boisjoli-Meged showed that championship form hasn’t gone anywhere.
Pope and Struxness Do It Again
Some champions apparently like Caldwell so much they win it twice.
Bareback rider Jess Pope and steer wrestler J.D. Struxness both captured titles at the rodeo’s 100th anniversary in 2024.
Two years later, they’re Caldwell champions again.
Pope, of Waverly, Kansas, finished with 177.5 points on two bareback rides to claim the aggregate championship and $12,927.
Struxness arrived in Caldwell needing a strong performance as he battles for another NFR qualification. He took control earlier in the week with a blazing 3.5-second run.
On Saturday, the Milan, Minnesota, cowboy stopped the clock in 3.7 seconds. His 7.2-second aggregate earned the championship and $14,044.
The parallels to 2024 are hard to ignore.
Struxness won Caldwell that season before qualifying for the NFR and ultimately capturing the world championship.
Now he’s hoping history has another chapter to write.
Busby and Benny Finally Get Their Caldwell Championship
Andrea Busby had been close before.
This time, she and Jet’s Top Gun — better known as Benny — finished the job.
Busby, of Brock, Texas, tied Tricia Aldridge for Saturday night’s fastest barrel racing time at 16.76 seconds. Combined with her earlier run, Busby’s 33.74-second aggregate secured the Caldwell championship and $11,906.
For Benny, Caldwell’s winner’s circle isn’t unfamiliar territory.
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi rode the standout horse to the Caldwell championship in 2023. Benny later helped Tonozzi win a world title before teaming with Busby in 2024, when they posted the fastest aggregate time across 10 rounds at the NFR.
Busby is currently battling from outside the top 15 and looking to qualify for her third NFR.
The goal now is clear: take Benny back to Las Vegas.
Wyatt and Torres Finish What They Started
Nelson Wyatt of Clanton, Alabama, and Jonathan Torres of Ocala, Florida, entered Saturday night’s championship round atop the team roping standings.
They never gave up the position.
Caldwell’s team roping featured two preliminary rounds before the finals, making consistency across three runs essential.
Wyatt and Torres delivered.
A 5.4-second run in the final round gave them a 15.4-second aggregate on three and the Caldwell championship. Each roper earned $12,495.
Dallas Goes 92 for the Saddle Bronc Championship
When the championship was on the line, Zac Dallas delivered one of Saturday night’s biggest rides.
The Las Cruces, New Mexico, saddle bronc rider matched up with C5 Rodeo‘s Hangover Face for a spectacular 92-point performance.
The ride pushed Dallas to 182 points on two head, earning him the Caldwell championship and $13,658.
Sage Newman finished the final round with 91 points, while Rusty Wright, Ben Andersen and Kade Bruno each posted 90.5-point rides in a championship round loaded with talent.
Johnson Claims Legacy All-Around and $10,000 Bonus
Traver Johnson of Eltopia, Washington, demonstrated the value of versatility by competing in both steer wrestling and tie-down roping.
His performance in Caldwell earned him the Legacy All-Around championship.
Johnson finished second in the steer wrestling aggregate at 7.8 seconds, helping secure the all-around honor and its $10,000 bonus. His total Caldwell earnings were $11,790.
Champions Crowned, Road to Las Vegas Continues
Caldwell may be over, but the pressure is only increasing.
For athletes such as Lee, Harris, Struxness, Boisjoli-Meged and Busby, the money won in Idaho carries consequences far beyond one championship night.
The PRCA regular season is entering its decisive stretch. Every dollar can change a world standings position. Every run can determine an NFR qualification. Every championship can alter the road to Las Vegas.
And for Noah Lee, Caldwell added another remarkable accomplishment to a rookie season that’s becoming increasingly difficult to describe as anything but extraordinary.
The Caldwell Night Rodeo will return to D&B Supply Arena Aug. 17–21, 2027, for its 104th edition.
103rd Caldwell Night Rodeo Champions
Bareback Riding — Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan., 177.5 points, $12,927
Steer Wrestling — J.D. Struxness, Milan, Minn., 7.2 seconds, $14,044
Team Roping — Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala., and Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla., 15.4 seconds, $12,495 each
Breakaway Roping — Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, Calgary, Alberta, 4.5 seconds, $13,245
Saddle Bronc Riding — Zac Dallas, Las Cruces, N.M., 182 points, $13,658
Tie-Down Roping — Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas, 15.2 seconds, $16,889
Barrel Racing — Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, $11,906
Bull Riding — Noah Lee, Mineral Wells, Texas, 91 points, $14,152
Legacy All-Around — Traver Johnson, Eltopia, Wash., $11,790
Saturday Championship Highlights
Bareback Riding — Jacek Frost won the final round with 90.5 points on C5 Rodeo‘s Great News. Jess Pope won the two-head aggregate with 177.5 points.
Steer Wrestling — Tyler Waguespack won the final round in 3.4 seconds. J.D. Struxness’ 7.2 seconds on two earned the championship.
Team Roping — Jake Smith and Douglas Rich won the final round in 5.3 seconds. Nelson Wyatt and Jonathan Torres took the championship with 15.4 seconds on three.
Breakaway Roping — Shelby Boisjoli-Meged won the final round in 2.3 seconds and the aggregate in 4.5 seconds.
Saddle Bronc Riding — Zac Dallas won the final round with 92 points on C5 Rodeo‘s Hangover Face and finished with 182 points on two.
Tie-Down Roping — Trenton Smith and Cash Hooper tied for the final-round win at 7.7 seconds. Ty Harris won the aggregate in 15.2 seconds.
Barrel Racing — Andrea Busby and Tricia Aldridge tied for the final-round win at 16.76 seconds. Busby earned the championship with a 33.74-second aggregate.
Bull Riding — Noah Lee‘s 91-point ride on Powder River Rodeo‘s Jackie Moon held for the championship.
DETAILS IN OUR PRESS RELEASE PROVIDED BY SUSAN KANODE TO TENN TEXAS MEDIA.
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 KATHERINE COLEMAN
Kathryn Coleman is a PRCA & Western Lifestyle Photographer and a NFR Photographer.
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