Lanita Peirce Just Gave Rodeo the Kind of Story Sports Fans Remember
At 76 years old, Lanita Peirce won the Cody Stampede barrel racing title on Famous Wahini after 33 years away from the Wyoming rodeo. Rodeo does not just reward youth. It rewards timing, grit, horse power, and the people who keep showing up.
Lanita Peirce winning the 2026 Cody Stampede barrel racing title at 76 years yooung is the kind of rodeo story that should travel far beyond the arena.
Peirce won Cody on Famous Wahini with a 17.06-second run and earned $11,308. Even more remarkable, BarrelRacing.com reported that it had been 33 years since she last made a run at the Wyoming rodeo.
This isn’t just a good run, this is a full-circle western sports moment.
Rodeo often talks about grit, longevity, toughness, and staying power. Peirce’s win puts all of those words into one clean example. At an age when most athletes in most sports are decades removed from serious competition, she entered one of the most recognizable rodeos in the country and won.
Barrel racing is not a ceremonial event. It is fast, technical, physically demanding, and brutally unforgiving. The ride has to make decisions in fractions of a second. The horse has to stay honest, explosive, balanced, and locked in. One tipped barrel, one wide turn, one bad approach, and the run is gone.
This win also reminds people that the horse industry isn’t built only around youth and novelty. Experience matters. Timing matters. Horse sense matters. The relationship between rider and horse matters. A story like this gives rodeo fans something deeper than a result sheet. It gives them a champion to cheer for.
While on paper this might be a competitive rodeo result, it is also a story about horsemanship, patience, and what it means to keep showing up. It also gives marketing value to the sport. Rodeo needs stories that casual fans can understand quickly. “A 76 year-old barrel racer wins Cody Stampede” is immediately compelling. You don’t need to know the standings, bloodlines, or qualifying systems to recognize that this is special.
10 Rodeos For Your Summer 2023 Bucket List
These rodeos offer a great summer experience and a chance to see some of the top cowboys and cowgirls compete. Many of these events also offer additional activities such as concerts, parades, and other festivities that add to the overall experience. Again, it's always a good idea to research the event before attending to ensure that it meets your preferences and interests.
These rodeos offer a great summer experience and a chance to see some of the top cowboys and cowgirls compete. Many of these events also offer additional activities such as concerts, parades, and other festivities that add to the overall experience. Again, it's always a good idea to research the event before attending to ensure that it meets your preferences and interests.
Pendleton Round Up
pendleton, oregon
The Pendleton Round-Up is an annual rodeo event held in Pendleton, Oregon, USA. The event takes place over four days in mid-September and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.
Founded in 1910, the Pendleton Round-Up is one of the oldest rodeos in the United States and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Pendleton Round-Up also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.
Pendleton, Oregon is located in the heart of the Columbia River Plateau and is known for its western heritage and outdoor recreation opportunities. The Pendleton Round-Up is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Pendleton and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Cheyenne Frontier Days
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo is an annual rodeo event held in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It is one of the largest and most well-known rodeos in the world, attracting top rodeo athletes and thousands of visitors each year. The event typically takes place over ten days in July and features a variety of rodeo events, including bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, and barrel racing.
In addition to the rodeo events, the Cheyenne Frontier Days also offers a wide range of other activities and entertainment, including concerts, carnival rides, parades, western-themed exhibitions, and food and drink vendors. The event has a rich history dating back to 1897, and it has become a beloved tradition for many rodeo fans and Western enthusiasts.
Calgary Stampede
Calgary, Alberta, canada
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The event takes place for ten days in July and features a wide range of activities and attractions, including professional rodeo competitions, live music and entertainment, carnival rides and games, agricultural exhibitions, and a variety of food and drink vendors.
The Stampede is considered one of the largest rodeos in the world, attracting top rodeo athletes from around the globe who compete for a share of a significant prize money purse. The rodeo events include bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, and barrel racing, among others.
Beyond the rodeo events, the Calgary Stampede is also known for its unique western-style experiences, including the daily parade of floats, marching bands, and various performers dressed in cowboy attire. The event is a significant cultural and tourism attraction in Calgary and has become a beloved tradition for many Canadians and visitors from around the world.
Sisters Rodeo
Sisters, oregon
The Sisters Rodeo is an annual rodeo event held in Sisters, Oregon, USA. The event takes place over four days in June and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, barrel racing, steer roping, and team roping, among others.
Founded in 1940, the Sisters Rodeo has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Sisters Rodeo also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, a kids rodeo, and food and drink vendors.
The Sisters Rodeo prides itself on being a family-friendly event that celebrates the unique heritage and culture of the American West. It is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Greeley Stampede
Greeley, Colorado
Greeley, Colorado is a city located in Weld County in northern Colorado, USA. It is known for its rich agricultural history, as well as its vibrant arts and culture scene.
One of Greeley's biggest events is the annual Greeley Stampede, a ten-day festival that takes place in late June and early July. The Greeley Stampede features a range of activities and entertainment, including professional rodeo competitions, live music, carnival rides and games, food and drink vendors, and western-themed exhibitions.
In addition to the Greeley Stampede, the city of Greeley offers a range of other attractions and amenities, including several parks and nature areas, a thriving downtown district, and a variety of museums and cultural institutions. Greeley is also home to the University of Northern Colorado, a public research university that offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
Cody Stampede Rodeo
Cody, Wyoming
The Cody Stampede is an annual rodeo event held in Cody, Wyoming, USA. The event takes place over four days in early July and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.
Founded in 1919, the Cody Stampede has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Cody Stampede also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.
Cody, Wyoming is known as the "Rodeo Capital of the World," and the Cody Stampede is one of the city's biggest events. It is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. In addition to the rodeo, Cody offers a range of other attractions and amenities, including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West museum, the Yellowstone Regional Airport, and access to nearby outdoor recreation areas such as Yellowstone National Park and the Shoshone National Forest.
Snake River Stampede
Nampa, Idaho
The Snake River Stampede is an annual rodeo event held in Nampa, Idaho, USA. The event takes place over five days in mid-July and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.
Founded in 1913, the Snake River Stampede is one of the oldest rodeos in the United States and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Snake River Stampede also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.
Nampa, Idaho is located in the heart of the Treasure Valley and is known for its rich agricultural history and outdoor recreation opportunities. The Snake River Stampede is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Nampa and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
California Rodeo Salinas
Salinas, california
The California Rodeo Salinas is an annual rodeo event held in Salinas, California, USA. The event takes place over four days in mid-July and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, and barrel racing, among others.
Founded in 1911, the California Rodeo Salinas is one of the largest rodeos in California and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the California Rodeo Salinas also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.
Salinas, California is located in the heart of the fertile Salinas Valley and is known for its agricultural heritage and scenic beauty. The California Rodeo Salinas is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Salinas and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Sheridan WYO Rodeo
Sheridan, wyoming
The Sheridan WYO Rodeo is an annual rodeo event held in Sheridan, Wyoming, USA. The event takes place over four days in mid-July and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.
Founded in 1931, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo is one of the largest rodeos in Wyoming and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.
Sheridan, Wyoming is located in the heart of the scenic Bighorn Mountains and is known for its western heritage and outdoor recreation opportunities. The Sheridan WYO Rodeo is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Sheridan and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Ellensburg Rodeo
Ellensburg, washington
The Ellensburg Rodeo is an annual rodeo event held in Ellensburg, Washington, USA. The event takes place over four days in early September and features a range of professional rodeo competitions, including bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, among others.
Founded in 1923, the Ellensburg Rodeo is one of the oldest and most historic rodeos in the United States and has a long history of showcasing top rodeo talent and preserving the western way of life. In addition to the rodeo events, the Ellensburg Rodeo also features a variety of other activities and entertainment, including live music, a parade, a western-themed art show, and food and drink vendors.
Ellensburg, Washington is located in the heart of the Kittitas Valley and is known for its western heritage and scenic beauty. The Ellensburg Rodeo is a major cultural and tourism attraction in Ellensburg and is known for its small-town charm and warm hospitality, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.