Local cowboy Jake Gardner sits No. 1 in the world
Jake Gardner is currently sitting at the top of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) standings for bull riding, making the North Peace proud through boots, grit, and glory.
Gardner wasn’t originally scheduled to compete at RodeoHouston but got the call to be a replacement rider and turned it into the biggest win of his career. Gardner was the only cowboy to make it eight seconds in the bull riding Showdown, putting up an 86-point ride aboard Cervi’s Bandalero to take the title according to the PRCA website.
The win came with a $65,000 payday, adding to money he had already picked up earlier in the event and raising his season earnings to $84,789. These recent wins have made him the man to beat, sitting currently as the number one bull rider in the world according to the PRCA, with Tristen Hutchings in second and Hayden Welsh in third.
“Just want to say thanks to everyone that has reached out and said congratulations it means a lot to me I really appreciate it. Saturday was a dream come true for me and I am so grateful to be the 2026 RodeoHouston bull riding champion,” wrote Gardner on his Facebook. “Thanks to the people in my corner that have been there for me and always pushed me to be better I am so grateful for you all. Feeling good and ready to keep rolling on with the season!”
He’s been on the grind for a while now, with career earnings pushing past $248,000 as he banked wins across both Canada and the U.S. over the past few seasons. A member of the PRCA since 2019, Gardner stands 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds and comes from a rodeo background, while spending his time outside the arena hunting, fishing and riding horses.
The season is still young as Spring has barely shown her face, but the Peace region will continue to support Gardner as he rides for glory and continues to make us proud.
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