Sul Ross State University and Reeves County officials have announced the first annual Sul Ross State University Pecos College Rodeo, scheduled for April 9–11, 2026, at Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos.
The three-day event will bring collegiate rodeo competition back to one of the most historic venues in the sport. Buck Jackson Arena, known as the home of the world’s first rodeo, will host nightly performances beginning at 7 p.m., with slack rounds scheduled for April 10 and 11 at 9 a.m.
The rodeo is sanctioned by the Lone Star Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and is expected to feature top student-athletes from colleges across the region. Competitions will include events such as bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing, team roping and steer wrestling.
University and county leaders said the event represents a partnership between two institutions with deep roots in rodeo history. Sul Ross State University played a key role in the early development of collegiate rodeo, while Pecos remains a nationally recognized symbol of the sport’s origins.
Organizers said the event is designed to celebrate West Texas heritage while providing opportunities for students to compete at a high level in a historic setting. The rodeo is also expected to draw visitors to Pecos and boost local tourism and business activity.
General admission tickets will be $10, with discounted admission of $5 for children 12 and under and seniors. The arena is located at 1556 S. Cedar St. in Pecos.
For fans unable to attend in person, nightly performances will be streamed on the Cowboy Channel, while Sul Ross State University will provide coverage of slack rounds.
Officials said the inaugural Pecos College Rodeo is intended to become an annual event, strengthening ties between the university, the community and the broader collegiate rodeo circuit.
