RODEOHOUSTON

RODEOHOUSTON Sees Familiar Faces in Winner’s Circle

By Ann Bleiker

RODEOHOUSTON is a bucket list rodeo that every WPRA member would love to win at least once in their career. The majority never have that chance which makes it quite feat for the two WPRA members who captured the 2026 title for their second and third time respectively.

Hali Williams took home her second RODEOHOUSTON breakaway roping title, the first coming in 2023, and reigning world champion Kassie Mowry picked up her third but second consecutive aboard the great Force The Goodbye “Jarvis.”

Both Williams and Mowry easily took over the top spot in the world standings after collecting $69,735 and $71,250 respectively, in total Houston earnings for each. While one rodeo does not guarantee a gold buckle a big win like this in March puts them in the driver’s seat for 2026 world title discussions.

The last time Williams took home the RODEOHOUSTON saddle was in 2023, the same year she qualified for her first National Finals Breakaway Roping where she finished as the reserve world champion. Since 2023, Williams has grown a lot in her faith, mental game and the sport overall, so she is hoping to turn this victory into her first gold buckle to add to her Hall of Fame father, Speed Williams’ eight gold buckles.

“My relationship with God,” stated Williams when asked what the biggest difference was in her 2023 and now 2026 victory. “My faith in 2023 was tested a lot and realized I didn’t know him as good as I needed to, so he made me bear now and get to know him. This win is all his as I wouldn’t be here without him.”

It was a tough set of ropers in the Final Four in Houston with Williams, 2025 NFBR Average Champion Rylee George, reigning world champion Taylor Munsell and three-time NFBR qualifier Macy Young. Williams was the first gunner, setting the bar high with a 2.6 second run. George would take her shot next stopping the clock in 4.4 seconds. Reigning world champion and RodeoHouston champion Munsell was the next to back into the box but came up short stopping the clock in 3.8 seconds.

Williams just had to sweat out one more in Young, who had already picked up the guitar for winning her Super Series. In the Shootout round, she stopped the clock in 2.4 seconds but then got the dreaded news she had broken the barrier to end with a 12.4.

“I knew with Taylor being behind me, Rylee has been on a heater, and you never want Macy Young behind you in Houston because you know she is rank, that I had to take the shot,” noted Williams. “It was a very ugly loop but knew if I didn’t throw and put the pressure on the ladies behind me, I wouldn’t have a chance. We had a great group of girls in the Finals, and it was really fun as we were down there supporting each other. It was cool to experience it with these girls.”

For Mowry this was her third RODEOHOUSTON title having won her first in 2017. It was a little déjà vu for two former WPRA world champions – Mowry and Hailey Kinsel. A year ago, both made it to the Final Four and just like in 2025 Kinsel and Sister set the bar in the shootout round as the first one out this time stopping the clock in 14.22 seconds. Mowry and Jarvis took to the cloverleaf pattern next laying down a 14.19-second run to once again bump Kinsel and Sister to second place. Summer Kosel and LaTricia Duke would try to best these two champions but would fall short in their quest.

“Jarvis is pretty consistent and has been pretty good on his second run with these back-to-back championship rounds,” noted Mowry in the winner’s circle. “I knew with the tough set I had to cut some corners, or I wasn’t going to be fast enough. Every time I think that horse can’t get any better, he continues to wow me. He is incredible.”

Winning RODEOHOUSTON has proven very beneficial for Mowry, who splits her time between the professional rodeo circuit and the barrel futurity circuit where she also excels at a high level. Winning over $71,000 in March makes it easier for Mowry to focus on her futurity colts in the coming months before heading out for the summer run of rodeos in a quest for world title No. 3.

“This is huge,” Mowry said. “This really helps me as I can’t spend a lot of time on the road with all my futurity colts, so this big win makes a huge difference for me. It is good to win this big chunk of money without having to burn up the road as much. I am so thankful.”

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