Calgary Stampede rodeo champions have won their respective events in one of the largest rodeos in the world; the rodeo is the heart of the Calgary Stampede. With a prize of $50,000 to the winner of each major discipline, it offers one of the richest payouts in rodeo competition. In the United States, the Calgary Stampede rodeo is televised live on The Cowboy Channel and live-streamed on the subscription-based The Cowboy Channel Plus application. In Canada, the rodeo is televised live on The Cowboy Channel's Canadian counterpart, The Cowboy Channel Canada.
There are six major professional events – bull riding, ladies' barrel racing, steer wrestling, tie down roping, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding – and four novice events – junior steer riding, novice bareback, novice saddle bronc and wild pony racing. Each professional event is organized as its own tournament, and the cowboys and cowgirls are divided into two pools with 10 contestants per event. The first pool competes the first four days, then the second pool competes the following four days. The top four in each pool (four fastest combined times in tie-down roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing, and four highest combined scores in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding) advance to Championship Sunday. The remaining contestants then compete on Wild Card Saturday, where the top two in each event also advance to Championship Sunday. All contestants that made it to the final day then compete, and the top four in each event then advance to the showdown round, where all previous results are wiped clean. The contestant with the fastest time or highest score in each event wins the trophy bronze and accompanying $50,000. Team roping was added in 2022. However, unlike the other rodeo events, it is limited to one day and the competition is called the Rocky Mountain Cup. It takes place at the Nutrien Western Event Centre and there are 30 teams at the event who compete in the first two rounds. The eight fastest teams then return for the semifinals, and the top four then advance to the clean-slate showdown round where the fastest team wins the trophy bronze and $12,500 per member. Ladies' breakaway roping was added to the Rocky Mountain Cup in 2023. Just like in team roping, 30 ropers compete in the first two rounds, followed by the eight fastest ropers in the semifinals, then the top four compete in the clean-slate showdown round where the fastest breakaway roper wins the trophy bronze and $12,500.
All livestock for the rodeo events come from the 22,000-acre (89 km2) Stampede Ranch located near the town of Hanna. The ranch was created in 1961 as a means of improving the quality of bucking horses and bulls and to guarantee supply. The first of its kind in North America, the Stampede Ranch operates a breeding program that produces some of the top rodeo stock in the world and supplies rodeos throughout southern Alberta, and as far south as Las Vegas, Nevada, for the National Finals Rodeo.
Past champions
Tie-down roping
2023 - Beau Cooper; Stettler, Alberta, Canada
2022 - Caleb Smidt; Bellville, Texas, United States
2021 - Cory Solomon; Prairie View, Texas, United States
2019 - Caleb Smidt; Bellville, Texas, United States
2018 - Tuf Cooper; Weatherford, TX, United States
2017 - Cory Solomon; Prairie View, Texas, United States
2016 - Shane Hanchey; Sulphur, Louisiana, United States
2015 - Timber Moore; Aubrey, Texas, United States
2014 - Morgan Grant; Granton, Ontario, Canada
2013 - Bradley Bynum; Sterling City, Texas, United States
2012 - Cory Solomon; Prairieview, Texas, United States
2011 - Tuf Cooper; Decatur, Texas, United States
2010 - Matt Shiozawa; Chubbuck, Idaho, United States
2009 - Ryan Jarrett; Summerville, Georgia, United States
2008 - Jeff Chapman; Athens, Texas, United States
2007 - Fred Whitfield; Hockley, Texas, United States
2006 - Jerome Schneeberger; Ponca City, Oklahoma, United States
2005 - Alwin Bouchard; Scandia, Alberta, Canada
2004 - Mike Johnson; Henryetta, Oklahoma, United States
2003 - Rickey Canton; Cleveland, Texas, United States
2002 - Marty Becker; Manyberries, Alberta, Canada
2001 - Fred Whitfield; Cypress, Texas, United States
2000 - Blair Burk; Durant, Oklahoma, United States
1999 - Cliff Williamson; Madden, Alberta, Canada
1998 - Cody Ohl; Orchard, Texas, United States
1997 - Jeff Chapman; Athens, Texas, United States
1996 - Roy Cooper; Childress, Texas, United States
1995 - Shawn McMullan; Iraan, Texas, United States
1994 - Joe Beaver; Huntsville, Texas, United States
1993 - Fred Whitfield; Cypress, Texas, United States
1992 - Kyle Kosoff; Ogden, Utah, United States
1991 - Mark Simon; Florence, Arizona, United States
1990 - Tod Slone; Canyon Lake, Texas, United States
Source:
Bareback riding
2023 - Kade Sonnier; Carencro, Louisiana, United States
2022 - Rocker Steiner; Weatherford, Texas, United States
2021 - Tim O’Connell; Zwingle, Iowa, United States
2019 - Tanner Aus; Granite Falls, Minnesota, United States
2018 - Richie Champion; Dublin, Texas, United States
2017 - Richie Champion; Dublin, Texas, United States
2016 - Steven Peebles; Redmond, Oregon, United States
2015 - Clint Laye; Cadogan, Alberta, Canada
2014 - Kaycee Feild; Elk Ridge, Utah, United States
2013 - Caleb Bennet; Morgan, Utah, United States
2012 - Kaycee Feild; Elk Ridge, Utah, United States
2011 - Clint Cannon; Waller, Texas, United States
2010 - Will Lowe; Canyon, Texas, United States
2009 - Will Lowe; Canyon, Texas, United States
2008 - Will Lowe; Canyon, Texas, United States
2007 - Davey Shields Jr.; Bashaw, Alberta, Canada
2006 - Davey Shields Jr.; Bashaw, Alberta, Canada
2005 - Davey Shields Jr.; Bashaw, Alberta, Canada
2004 - Cody DeMers; Boulder, Montana, United States
2003 - Jason Delguercio; Strathmore, Alberta, Canada
2002 - Cody Jessee; John Day, Oregon, United States
2001 - Chuck Logue; New Braunfels, Texas, United States
2000 - James Boudreaux; Cuero, Texas, United States
1999 - Chris Harris; Arlington, Texas, United States
1998 - Roger Lacasse; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1997 - Shawn Vant; Millet, Alberta, Canada
1996 - Davey Shields Jr.; Hanna, Alberta, Canada
1995 - Darrell Cholach; Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
1994 - Brian Hawk; Azle, Texas, United States
1993 - Marvin Garrett; Belle Fourche, South Dakota, United States
1992 - Bob Logue; Cumby, Texas, United States
1991 - Billy Laye; Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada
1990 - Deb Greenough; Fromberg, Montana, United States
Source:
Steer wrestling
2023 - Scott Guenthner; Consort, Alberta, Canada
2022 - Will Lummus; Byhalia, Mississippi, United States
2021 - Stetson Jorgensen; Blackfoot, Idaho, United States
2019 - Kyle Irwin; Robertsdale, Alabama, United States
2018 - Matt Reeves; Cross Plains, Texas, United States
2017 - Tyler Waguespack; Gonzales, Louisiana, United States
2016 - Seth Brockman; Wheatland, Wyoming, United States
2015 - Trevor Knowles; Mt. Vernon, Oregon, United States
2014 - Trevor Knowles; Mt. Vernon, Oregon, United States
2013 - Wade Sumpter; Fowler, Colorado, United States
2012 - Trevor Knowles; Mt. Vernon, Oregon, United States
2011 - Straws Milan; Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
2010 - Lee Graves; Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2009 - Trevor Knowles; Mt. Vernon, Oregon, United States
2008 - Wade Sumpter; Fowler, Colorado, United States
2007 - Shawn Greenfield; Lakeview, Oregon, United States
2006 - Curtis Cassidy; Donalda, Alberta, Canada
2005 - Beau Franzen; Goodwell, Oklahoma, United States
2004 - Bryan Fields; Conroe, Texas, United States
2003 - Jeff Corbello; Iowa, Louisiana, United States
2002 - Bill Pace; Stephenville, Texas, United States
2001 - Greg Cassidy; Donalda, Alberta, Canada
2000 - Daryl Fisher; Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada
1999 - Mickey Gee; Wichita Falls, Texas, United States
1998 - Jesse Peterson; Dillon, Montana, United States