In a changing world of limited-entry events and sudden-death tournament-style formats, the traditions at Salinas make it the undisputed ultimate team roping rodeo in our sport. It’s the only five-header we have, and that 35-foot team roping scoreline is the longest in professional rodeo. Pair that with the old-school twist of both partners coming from the left side of the steer, and the prestige of winning some of the most cowboy-coveted buckles in existence, and you start to understand the magic that makes the California Rodeo truly one of a kind.
There will be some team roping-related changes at Salinas this year. Just wanted to let you all know what they are, and the “why” behind them.
First, Salinas will take 20 more teams than last year in the PRCA Team Roping to bring it up to 120. Last year, 134 entered and only 100 got in. So taking 20 more teams will give more people a shot at roping at the cowboy-coolest team roping rodeo of them all. I know because they’re friends of mine that one of the teams that didn’t get to rope in the cool coastal breezes of Salinas last year was 1974 World Champion Team Roper HP Evetts and Trey Camarillo, second son of the legendary Lion. How cool would it be to see a team like that rope together at Leo’s all-time favorite rodeo?
The cherry on top in the 2026 PRCA Team Roping at Salinas is more added money—$52,500 per side, up from $47,500 per partner last year. So between the additional added money and extra entry fees, we can look forward to the champs’ checks being bigger. The “why” on this is obvious, and that’s raising the ro-day-o bar (that’s how they say it in Salinas).
The PRCA Gold Card team roping has been a cherished tradition at Salinas since late area rancher and longtime California Rodeo Arena Director Allan Wallace helped make it happen with help from the likes of local cowboy legend Jack Roddy. Though it’s not yet set in stone as a permanent change, it was just determined that this year’s preliminary Gold Card roping rounds will be held at the nearby Monterey County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds. The top 10 in the PRCA Gold Card Team Roping will again rope during Sunday’s short round after the PRCA Team Roping.
Running out of room in the cowboy parking lot has a lot to do with the “why” on this decision, I’m told, and “get” the early reactions to this news from every angle. Salinas has been a lifelong rodeo reunion for my family, too. But since adding breakaway roping to the roster in 2022—it started with half the contestants and half the added money as the others—it’s now boomed to 90 breakaway ropers (same as the tie-down roping) and equal money in 2026. It’d be hard for me not to be happy about that for them.
Between the addition of all those extra contestants and the fact that when I was a kid the rigs were less than half the size they are now, cowboy parking lots everywhere are simply out of space. Here’s hoping we can work together on solutions that can continue to welcome generations of rodeo families to the Salinas experience, which is truly one of a kind.
Seven-time World Champion Team Ropers Jake Barnes and Clay Cooper have long loved roping at Salinas. They entered both ropings last year, and plan to do the same again this July 16-19. Jake and Clay won the PRCA Gold Card Team Roping together in 2025, and won the PRCA Team Roping there almost 40 years ago, in 1988.
“Salinas has always been my favorite rodeo,” Jake said. “We only get to rope under those conditions once a year, and it’s an average, not a drawing contest. Salinas is a horse and horsemanship contest, and everybody’s in a good mood there. It’s pretty cool to wear a sweatshirt anywhere in July, and the hospitality at Salinas is wonderful for families. My hat’s off to Salinas. All I ask is that that rodeo never change.”
The Martins and Happy families have been gracious longtime PRCA Gold Card Team Roping supporters. Kearney and Leslie Martins, and Cliff and Marguerite Happy have carried on the generous gesture started by their parents, Jim and Sally Martins, and are to be thanked for being behind this beloved Salinas tradition that gives our living legends a reason to keep saddling up and roping for many years.
Jake and Clay are certainly grateful for the buckles this legacy family awarded them last year. Champ’s collection of Salinas buckles is now five strong. In addition to the 2025 PRCA Gold Card Team Roping, he won the rodeo with Bret Beach in 1981, Mark “Pickles” Arnold in 1983 and Jake in 1988. Thanks in large part to that 1988 team roping title, Clay also won that year’s Salinas all-around buckle.
“Besides being the only five-header we have, you get to go out there and spend four days in the most beautiful weather in the whole country in the summertime,” Clay said. “The tradition of the arena, the long score, both guys coming from one side like they did back in the day—there’s just so much nostalgia and tradition to Salinas. For me, it brings back 38 years of great memories.”
I feel a bigger Salinas story brewing in the current rodeo climate, but will let our winningest rodeo cowboy of all time Trevor Brazile and five-time Salinas team roping titlist Clay Tryan have the final say here.
“I know how much pressure there is to change with the times,” said 26-time Champ of the World Brazile. “And I’ve seen some rodeos I thought would never change change. My hat’s off to rodeos where the history means as much as the future. And Salinas makes a very short list of what I’m talking about here.”
“I’ve always said Salinas is the true team roping rodeo,” said three-time World Champion Header and 20-time National Finalist Tryan. “It’s the one. From the first time I went to the last, Salinas is team roping. When you go, you know. Salinas is the most special win I’ve had rodeoing, because it’s just a true cowboy contest.”
