Jayco Roper wins average title at Boot Barn Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo
For decades, the Boot Barn Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo has brought together the top cowboys from Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas, uniting three states under one arena roof to compete for circuit season-ending paychecks and championship hardware.
That tradition continued at the Osage County Fairgrounds in Pawhuska, Okla., where the region’s best matched up once again. Among them was 24-year-old Jayco Roper, who yet again proved difficult to beat, claiming the aggregate championship for the third time in his career after an 87.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Sundance Kid.
The Oktaha, Okla., bareback rider set the pace early, tying Colt Eck for the opening-round win after both cowboys posted matching 84-point rides. Roper’s first-round score came aboard McCoy Rodeo’s Indigo, a horse he knew little about statistically but felt confident drawing after reviewing video ahead of the round.
“The one I had during the first night was a McCoy horse,” Roper said. “There weren’t very many stats on him, but I’d seen a video of him at the Hondo Rodeo, and he looked really good. I was pretty excited to get on him.”
With the average standings tight heading into the final round, Roper knew another solid ride would be required to separate himself from the field. While the final-round draw presented a stronger test, his approach remained unchanged.
“I really didn’t change anything from last night to tonight,” Roper said. “I just knew the horse I had tonight was going to be definitely stronger than the one I had from last night, so I just gritted my teeth a little harder and did what I know how.”
That approach paid off when Roper matched up with Sundance Kid in the final round to secure the aggregate title. The victory marked Roper’s third Prairie Circuit Finals average championship after also claiming the aggregate in 2022 and 2023.
Roper currently sits No. 30 in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings in bareback riding. The Prairie Circuit Finals victory adds to a résumé that includes two qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, most recently coming off the 2025 season, where he finished the year ranked No. 14 in the world.
Adding to the significance of the win was the support Roper carried with him into the arena.
“Splitting first with my buddy Colt was awesome,” Roper said. “I got to come here with my wife and my babies, and that’s always awesome when they get to come. There was a lot of motivation
While the championship hardware and the winners’ circle have become familiar territory for Roper, the achievement still carries weight.
“This is my third time winning the Prairie Circuit Finals average, and it’s just as exciting as the first time,” Roper said. “I love this deal. They always put on a good rodeo.”
For Roper, the Prairie Circuit continues to stand out for more than just results.
“I know all the guys, and they’re all friends,” he said. “You get to go compete against your friends, and that makes it cool.”
-PRCA
