WSTR News

Empty Saddles

Danny Cardoza - 1949-2026

Apr 30, 2026

Cardoza was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2002. He learned to rope as a child even before he learned to race ride, and in addition to his professional career, in his free time Cardoza was always a talented team roper and loved to compete on second-career racehorses. Cardoza is survived by his wife, Debbie, and children Tiffany Bohland, Shane Cardoza and Kaelie Cardoza, as well as grandchildren, additional family and countless friends.

Empty Saddles

John Paboojian - 1937-2026

Apr 30, 2026

“John Paboojian was a fierce competitor. He had no fear. One year, I think in 1969 when we roped on the grass in the football stadium at Livermore, John was roping with Billy Darnell and riding his great horse King. The steer slipped on the grass, and John somehow roped him by two feet when his legs were out of the arena. When he dallied, he brought that steer’s feet back inside that panel fence. I was standing in the arena with Leonard Ferreira watching the rest of slack, and when Leonard saw that he swore he’d never enter another rodeo. And he didn’t. Billy and Paboojian had been kicking our ass, and he’d seen enough.”

Team Roping Journal News

Getting Used to This: Mitch Copps, Taylor Mitchell Continue Their Winning Ways in the #11.5 Key Card Advantage World Series Qualifier at Cinch USTRC Finals 

Apr 24, 2026

The Texas team—already qualified for the Ariat World Series of Team Roping Finale—added another $45,500 win after a strong stretch of…

Team Roping Journal News

Inside the $120 Million Team Roping Economy: Where the Money Is—and Where It’s Going

Apr 3, 2026

Team roping has officially crossed into a $120 million industry—and most ropers still don’t realize how much opportunity is out there.

Team Roping Journal News

What You NEED to Know About the National Rope Horse Rewards’ $500K Program

Mar 17, 2026

Inside the National Rope Horse Rewards Program—and What It Could Mean for Team Roping.

Team Roping Journal News

Title Fights XVI: Full Results, Schedule and How to Watch

Feb 12, 2026

The second-largest Ariat World Series of Team Roping qualifier of the year will stream LIVE from The Team Roping Capital of the World.

WSTR News

Cowtown Super Qualifier

Feb 11, 2026

Join us for this Super Qualifier in Cowtown! All CHECKS Qualify for 20th WSTR FInale in Vegas! Beginning February 18th

Empty Saddles

D'Aun B. Lucero - 1939-2026

Feb 10, 2026

Later in life, D’Aun met and married Fred Lucero, enjoying almost 40 years blending their lives together. D’Aun was a simple woman, who loved her family, and enjoyed all the simple things in life. She never met a stranger. D’Aun was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Empty Saddles

Stormy Mullins - 1954-2026

Feb 10, 2026

Stormy dedicated 26 years to education as a high school Agricultural Science teacher in Azle, Texas, shaping generations of students through mentorship, high expectations, and genuine care. After retiring from the classroom, he continued to devote his life to the work he loved. He spent several years coaching the rodeo team at Weatherford College, where his leadership and horsemanship influenced countless student-athletes. He later worked for Chris Cox overseeing facility operations, assisting with clinics, and supporting operations. For the past 16 years, he worked for various nonprofit organizations producing mustang training competitions, becoming a trusted and steady presence behind the scenes. He was also a cornerstone of event production at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo for more than 30 years, where his professionalism and leadership were widely respected.

Empty Saddles

Larry Michael Duggan - 1947-2026

Feb 10, 2026

Larry competed in youth, college and professional rodeo as a bull rider before turning his attention to the single steer roping event where he earned a qualification to the 1980 National Finals Steer Roping in Laramie, Wyoming. Larry actively competed in single steer roping and team roping into his early 70s. What started as an idea for a hobby – learning the art of saddle making at night school at the Texas State Technical Institute in Amarillo – turned into a five-decade career of building custom saddles for clients that ranged from the casual roper to world champions to the Shiek of Dubai. He returned to TSTI as an instructor for a year and taught several of the top saddle makers currently working in the industry today. He opened Cowboy Saddle Shop in 1972 and since then, he created 773 works of art – all unique to each customer’s specifications and all crafted by him alone. Many of his customers were repeat buyers and along the way became close friends.

Empty Saddles

Curtis Lynn McKnight - 1947-2026

Feb 10, 2026

Curtis owned and operated Wells Siding Company/McKnight Construction, but ranching was his passion and something he did his entire life. Curtis loved his family, his beloved wife, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, but most of all he loved the Lord and was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Wells. He and his wife put on Crossfire Team Ropings where he made many friends.

Team Roping Journal News

Title Fights Round 16 Streaming Exclusively on Roping.com

Feb 9, 2026

The second-largest Ariat World Series of Team Roping qualifier of the year will stream LIVE from The Team Roping Capital of the World.