STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Rodeo action returns to Lone Star Arena this Thursday-Saturday for the 59th annual Tarleton Stampede.
Nightly performances get underway at 7 p.m. with slack scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday mornings.
Once again, the Tarleton Stampede is the season finale for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s (NIRA) Southwest Region ahead of the 2025 College National Finals Rodeo June 15-21 in Casper, Wyo.
In all, 17 colleges and universities are set to compete in nine NIRA events, including bareback riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, goat tying, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding.
Coming into the three-night Stampede, Tarleton State tops the leaderboard on the men’s and women’s sides of the Southwest Region. With 4,425 points, the men lead second-place Western Texas College by more than 1,600 points. For the women, Tarleton has compiled 2,613 points to lead second-place Cisco College by more than 1,000 points.
Additionally, Tarleton State leads in three individual races. Jordan Driver sits in first in the women’s all-around, Bailey Small leads in saddle bronc riding and Roedy Farrell is at the top in bareback riding.
Award-winning rodeo announcer Ben Clements will call the action, with Penthouse Pro Rodeo and Rawhide Rodeo serving as the stock contractors.
Thursday is Senior Night and Friday is Team Sponsor Night. Hall of Fame and Tarleton Night are slated for Saturday.
Admission is $10 for adults, with children under 12 admitted free. Tarleton State faculty, staff and students are free with a Tarleton ID. Tickets may be purchased at the gate.
Lone Star Arena is located at 4696 U.S. Highway 377 N. in Stephenville.
Additional information, including results and live broadcasts of each event, can be viewed at www.tarleton.edu/stampede/.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.