FORT WORTH, Texas (KLTV) – Carthage bareback rider Tilden Hooper won his event at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, bringing home $27,400
This event was the first for Hooper in the 2026 rodeo season. Hooper joined East Texas Now on Thursday to talk about the ride.
“‘Trouble at the top’ was a young horse that nobody had heard of yet and had a really good day and I think has a pretty bright future. And then that horse disco party has been around for a couple of years, and I’ve been wanting to get on that horse for a while,” Hooper said. “When I got the draw for the finals, I kind of knew I had the best horse and just needed to show up and have some fun doing my job.”
Hooper has some advice for younger riders.
“Just don’t take it for granted. It could be over tomorrow. I am very thankful that my career has lasted as long as it has, but I wouldn’t say that’s super normal,” said Hooper. “It’s a fun thing we get to do now, but it’s also not your whole life. So find happiness somewhere else and don’t get too high over the highs or too low over the lows.”
In the first round of competition, the No. 5-ranked bareback rider finished in second place with a score of 86 points to win $1,900. In the second round, Hooper finished first with a score of 85.5 points on a horse named “Trouble At The Top”. Hooper won $2,500 and qualified for the semifinals. Hooper tied for first place in the semifinals with a score of 87 points to win $3,000 and advance to the finals. In the final round, Hooper scored 92 points on a horse named “Disco Party” to win $20,000, bringing his total at the event to $27,400.
Carthage’s Tilden Hooper wins his event at Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
Staying in Fort Worth, the No. 1-ranked tie-down roper in the world, Mount Pleasant’s Kincade Henry, won the finals of his event. In the fourth round, Henry finished in second place with a time of 8.5 seconds to win $3,000. In the finals, Henry finished first with a time of 7.5 seconds to win $20,000. The 24-year-old brings his season earnings to $43,772.
Mount Pleasant tie-down roper Kincade Henry wins his event at Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
Hallsville steer wrestler Justin Shaffer won a couple of rounds and brought home $16,000 in Fort Worth. Shaffer finished third in the first round with a time of 4.4 seconds to win $1,500. He won the second round with a time of 3.9 seconds to win $2,500. In the fourth round, Shaffer won again with a time of 3.8 seconds to win $4,000. In the finals, Shaffer finished third with a time of 3.9 seconds to win $8,000. The No. 4-ranked steer wrestler in the world brings his season earnings to $19,067.
Marshall team roper Will Woodfin continued his rodeo in Fort Worth. Woodfin and his teammate Jake Clay finished first in the fourth round with a time of 4.4 seconds to win $3,500. In the finals, the duo finished second with a time of 9.5 seconds to win $12,000. This season, the No. 4-ranked heeler in the world has earned $19,900.
Scroggins’ barrel racer Makenzie Mayes competed in Fort Worth. Mayes finished third in the first round with a time of 16.800 seconds to win $1,500. In the second round, she finished second with a time of 16.330 seconds to win $1,900. In the semifinals, Mayes finished second with a time of 16.310 seconds to win $3,000. In total, Mayes earned $6,400.
Eustace barrel racer Shelley Morgan won $3,725 in Fort Worth. Morgan won the first round with a time of 16.410 seconds, winning $2,500. In the second round, Morgan finished eighth with a time of 21.260 seconds to win $125. Morgan finished third in the Wild Card round with a time of 16.400 seconds to win $1,100.
Wills Point barrel racer Cassidy Deen also competed in Fort Worth. She finished seventh in round one with a time of 16.980 seconds to win $125. In the second round, she finished fourth with a time of 16.910 seconds to win $1,017.86, for a total of $1,142.86.
Jacksonville’s Kaden Profili and his teammate Brenten Hall finished fourth in the team-roping competition in Fort Worth. The duo ran a time of 5.0 seconds to win $1,000. The No. 9-ranked heeler in the world brings his season earnings to $13,158.
Malakoff saddle bronc rider Keene Justesen won $295 at the Southern Miss Coca-Cola Rodeo in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Justesen finished fourth on a horse named “Untouchable” with a score of 81 points. This season, Justesen has earned $2,488.
Back in Fort Worth, Athens’ team roper Lightning Aguilera and his teammate Wyatt Cox won $125. The duo finished fifth with a time of 14.0 seconds.
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