Grady Young Rides Momentum Into Calgary Stampede Amid Rising Bull-Riding Profile

Grady Young of Leader, Saskatchewan, enters the 2026 Calgary Stampede rodeo as the leading competitor in Canadian bull riding standings, following a series of significant wins and a surge in performance earlier this season. The 20-year-old rider approaches his sophomore appearance at the Stampede with the same relaxed attitude that characterized his breakout debut in 2025, when he scored an event-high 91 points on the bull Splash Tide and advanced to the four-man final. In that final, Young was bucked off by Splash Tide, resulting in a split for runner-up money.

Reflecting on his first Stampede experience, Young said, "I had no expectations whatsoever. I actually didn’t really care if I went there and got bucked off every single bull I got on. I mean, it would have sucked. I’m glad it didn’t happen, but I was just there to have fun. You’re going there to win it, but at the same time, it was my first Stampede. I was going to enjoy it, try my hardest each day, and if it didn’t go my way, it didn’t go my way."

The Calgary Stampede, which begins Friday and runs for 10 days until July 12, is considered one of the highest-profile rodeos internationally. The event offers $2.1 million in prize money across seven events, including bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and breakaway roping. Additionally, a one-day team roping event scheduled for Wednesday features an additional $310,000 in prize money. The rodeo, dating back to 1912, hosts 210 athletes representing Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Australia.

A prize purse of $300,000 per event places the Stampede among the best-funded competitions in the sport. Earnings in Calgary contribute to global rodeo rankings, with the top 15 in each event qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas in December. Young is currently ranked 30th in the world and aims to improve this standing during the Stampede.

Young’s recent performance trajectory has been marked by a strong spring season. He secured his first Professional Bull Riders Canada win in May in Brooks, Alberta. In the first three weeks of June, he added four more victories and two second-place finishes to his record, propelling him to the top of the national standings. On July 1, Young claimed another win at the Ponoka Stampede, scoring 90.25 points on All Gold Rolex.

Discussing his development, Young stated, "My riding matures bull by bull. Being down south all winter and going to the pro rodeos, got to try my hand at some pretty good bulls. The more you’re getting on good bulls, the closer you come to getting on the best ones. Little things that would get me bucked off before, I kind of have a grasp on and figured it out. You never get bull riding figured out 100 per cent, but if you can work on what you can, one thing at a time, eventually you’ll be able to ride most of them."

This maturation followed a winter spent competing in the United States, where Young participated in numerous rodeos but did not achieve significant results, despite facing quality competition. He described the period as one where he was "worrying too much about trying to make the gold bucking chutes and try to get up in the standings," which he said distracted from focusing on the fundamentals of riding.

His father, Blade Young, who was also a bull rider and introduced Grady to the sport, advised him that returning to Canada would be like "playing on home ice," predicting improvements in performance. Blade Young noted that his son's interest in bull riding was apparent from a young age, recalling, "When he was two years old, he was bucking bulls on the arm chair of the recliner."

At this year’s Stampede, bull riding is the only event without a defending champion present. The 2025 winner, Oklahoma’s Wacey Schalla, who also won at age 19, is absent due to recovery from a broken femur. Other returning champions in different events include Shelby Boisjoli-Meged of Langdon, Alberta (women’s breakaway roping), Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta (saddle bronc), Scott Guenther of Provost, Alberta (steer wrestling), Anita Ellis of Blackfoot, Idaho (barrel racing), Chad Mayfield of Clovis, New Mexico (tie down roping), and Cooper Cooke of Victor, Idaho (bareback).

The competitive structure at the Stampede places a premium on consistency, with money earned each day contributing to overall standings and offering the possibility of a $50,000 winner’s cheque in the finals. For Young, a strong performance could significantly boost his world ranking and improve his prospects for qualifying for the NFR. He has previously placed fourth and fifth at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) in Edmonton, which is scheduled for October, and is targeting a national title this year.

Young articulated his ambitions, stating, "An NFR qualification would be pretty awesome. A Canadian title would also be pretty awesome, but for the most part it’s getting to the gold bucking chutes. I already expect myself to already get there. It’s just trying to get in contention for a world title and keep working on my bull riding until I get there. A Canadian title, CFR, NFR world title, as big as you can go, I’m trying to go get it and do it as fun as possible and get the most out of it."

The path from Canadian rodeos to the NFR in Las Vegas is a primary goal for Canadian competitors due to the prestige and financial benefits associated with the world championship event. The Calgary Stampede serves as a major opportunity for competitors to advance in the standings, given the elevated prize money and the international scope of the field.

For Young, balancing competitive ambition with an enjoyment of the sport remains a focus. He described the Stampede as "one of the most fun and coolest rodeos all year," emphasizing the importance of maintaining perspective amid the pressures of high-level competition. His approach is informed by recent experiences, a family legacy in the sport, and a determination to continue progressing towards both Canadian and international rodeo milestones.