North Platte, Ne – Some families get together for Thanksgiving dinner. Others get together to compete for world championships. And if your last name happens to be Wright, there’s a pretty good chance your family reunion involves a saddle bronc, a gold buckle and a trip to Las Vegas! This week on the Road to Vegas, we’re talking rodeo family dynasties, along with a South Dakota barrel racer who’s accomplishing something almost nobody in the sport has ever done.
In professional rodeo, some names carry a little extra weight, and there may be no better example than the Wright family of Utah.
As we continue our Road to Vegas series, we’re looking at family traditions and one remarkable milestone.
The Wright family of Utah has become one of the greatest dynasties in professional rodeo, and the 2026 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will mark another historic chapter. For the first time, all four sons of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Cody Wright will compete at the NFR in the same year. Rusty, Ryder, Stetson and Statler Wright have all qualified in saddle bronc riding, while Stetson will also compete in bull riding. Cody, a 13-time NFR qualifier and two-time saddle bronc world champion in 2008 and 2010, helped build a family tradition that has produced 16 world championships between himself and his four sons. Stetson leads the way with 10 world titles, including six all-around, three bull riding and one saddle bronc championship. Ryder has captured three saddle bronc world championships, most recently in 2024, while youngest brother Statler claimed his first world championship in 2025. Collectively, the father and four sons have earned 46 NFR qualifications, counting Stetson’s qualifications in two events separately.
Perhaps the most compelling storyline heading into Las Vegas belongs to oldest brother Rusty Wright, the only one of Cody’s four sons still chasing his first world championship. Rusty enters the 2026 NFR ranked No. 1 in saddle bronc riding, with Stetson third, Ryder fourth and defending world champion Statler 13th. Rusty’s sixth NFR appearance marks his first return since 2020, while Ryder makes his 11th appearance and Statler his third. Stetson, who has qualified 13 times across saddle bronc and bull riding, will again pursue multiple gold buckles. The family’s dominance extends beyond Cody and his sons, with Cody’s brothers Jesse and Spencer also owning world championships, bringing the extended Wright family’s total to 18. With all four sons competing against one another in December, the Wright family has a chance to add even more gold to an already remarkable legacy.
The Wright family of Utah has become one of the greatest dynasties in professional rodeo, and the 2026 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will mark another historic chapter. For the first time, all four sons of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Cody Wright will compete at the NFR in the same year. Rusty, Ryder, Stetson and Statler Wright have all qualified in saddle bronc riding, while Stetson will also compete in bull riding. Cody, a 13-time NFR qualifier and two-time saddle bronc world champion in 2008 and 2010, helped build a family tradition that has produced 16 world championships between himself and his four sons. Stetson leads the way with 10 world titles, including six all-around, three bull riding and one saddle bronc championship. Ryder has captured three saddle bronc world championships, most recently in 2024, while youngest brother Statler claimed his first world championship in 2025. Collectively, the father and four sons have earned 46 NFR qualifications, counting Stetson’s qualifications in two events separately.
South Dakota barrel racer Lisa Lockhart is headed to her 20th consecutive National Finals Rodeo. That’s right, twenty! Lockhart, from Oelrichs, South Dakota, has qualified every year since 2007.
She’s also won three NFR average championships and became the first barrel racer in Women’s Professional Rodeo Association history to surpass four million dollars in career earnings. And she’s not just showing up to collect another qualification. Lockhart finished the regular season ninth in the world standings, with more than 160 thousand dollars in earnings. Think about that. Twenty consecutive years of competing against the best barrel racers in the world, and she’s still among the elite. It’s an accomplishment that speaks to the horses, the preparation, and the consistency required to remain competitive at the highest level.
Whether it’s the Wright family’s saddle bronc tradition or Lisa Lockhart’s incredible longevity, this year’s National Finals Rodeo will feature plenty of history. And there’s still a whole lot more waiting to be written.
The Territorial Rodeo Update on Your Ag Network is sponsored by Sioux Steel company and Gingerich Structures.