RODEO NEWS

Gold Medals Awarded in Salt Lake City

By Ann Bleiker

In front of the sold-out crowd gold medals were awarded to close out the 2026 edition of the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo presented by Zions Bank.

Beau Peterson of Council Grove, Kansas, was all smiles standing atop the medal stand in the breakaway roping taking home her first gold medal from the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo.

“This was a great pen of calves, and I had a great one,” noted Peterson, who stopped the clock in 2.2 seconds. “There were lots of great ropers in the finals so I couldn’t afford to back off.”

She edged 2023 world champion Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, who welcomed her first child in May. Boisjoli-Meged stopped the clock in 2.6 seconds and Maddy Jacobs was hot on her heels with a 2.7 for bronze.

“It felt great standing atop the medal stand,” said Peterson. “I have never done any good at this rodeo. This is a really unique and special rodeo, so I am thankful to be up on the podium.

“I have not had any luck the last two months so this will hopefully get the ball rolling in the right direction.”

Peterson was outside the top 15 prior to Salt Lake City but after picking up over $20,000 she will move into that coveted top 15 with two months left in the regular season. She is looking for her third trip to the National Breakaway Finals, this time at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 18-19.

While top of the ground is preferred in the barrel race it was bottom of the ground that landed atop the medal stand. KariAnn Cross of Blackfoot, Idaho stopped the clock in 16.96 as the last lady out edging Hayle Gibson Stillwell and Piper by the narrowest of margins having stopped the clock in 16.97 seconds. Taking bronze was McKenna Coronado of Kanarraville, Utah.

“I was shaking,” stated Cross when asked how she felt standing on the medal stand. “That is our fastest time ever. I always thought Star had it but never had put it all together until tonight.”

Cross earned a spot at the 2026 Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo through the qualifying rodeo held in 2025 in Eagle Mountain, Utah and she took full advantage of her opportunity on her homegrown horse she calls Star.

“This is the biggest rodeo I have ever won,” stated Cross. “Star loved the big crowd even though it scared me a bit. She loves it here, having placed twice here last year.

“This gold medal is something I will cherish forever.”

Cross was part of bracket two that she won to advance to the finals in a time of 17.22 seconds edging out NFR qualifiers Emily Beisel and Katelyn Scott.

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