A bronc rider hangs on as his horse bucks across the arena during the Marysville Stampede. Photos by Chris Pedigo

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - This year’s Marysville Stampede festivities brought the Old West back to life across Yuba-Sutter, as residents were treated to a week of hoof-pounding events that mixed rodeo tradition with community support.

Festivities kicked off Tuesday, Sept. 8, with the inaugural Golden Circle of Champions fundraiser, where donors lined up at Geweke Ford in Yuba City to receive barbecue dinners courtesy of Cool Hand Luke’s while wishing 4-year-old David Harvey well as he continues his fight against cancer.

Harvey appeared in good spirits, waving to the crowd, riding a mule and dressed in his finest cowboy attire. Prior to his appearance, Stampede organizers arranged a proper cowboy shopping spree at Cotton’s Cowboy Corral to help Harvey look and feel his best for his big week.

Four-year-old David Harvey blows a kiss to supporters during the Golden Circle of Champions fundraiser on Sept. 8 in Yuba City. Photos by Chris Pedigo

“This was about more than just clothes; it was about showering David with the strength, love, and community spirit of the rodeo world,” Marysville Stampede organizers said in a statement.

Harvey was named the Marysville Stampede’s 2026 Golden Circle Champion as part of the newly launched local Golden Circle of Champions program, which supports children and families facing pediatric cancer. Organizers said funds raised through the local program remain in the community to help families with expenses associated with treatment.

Two days later, on Sept. 10, the annual cattle drive encountered a slight detour. Instead of following its traditional route through downtown Marysville, the procession traveled down F Street toward Biz Johnson Drive to avoid road closures associated with a structure fire on D Street.

While the roads were different, the feeling remained the same, with residents lining the streets to welcome a procession of longhorn cattle, cowboys and cowgirls, Stampede royalty and other participants as they made their way toward Riverfront Park.

Participants aboard a colorful “DollyWood” entry wave to spectators during the Sept. 10 Marysville Stampede Cattle Drive. Photos by Chris Pedigo

By the weekend, attention turned toward the Cotton Rosser Arena for the 92nd annual Marysville Stampede, held Sept. 12 and 13. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association-sanctioned competition brought riders and ropers to Marysville for two days of steer wrestling, roping, barrel racing and roughstock events.

Several competitors from the surrounding region made their presence known. Wheatland’s Hayden Webb delivered one of the weekend’s most commanding performances, taking first place in steer wrestling with a time of 6.0 seconds. The run put Webb well ahead of the rest of the field and gave the Yuba-Sutter area a hometown victory.

Lincoln’s Hunter Morgan added another nearby win, taking the barrel racing title in 15.97 seconds. Morgan finished a full half-second ahead of second-place Kaillee Hamre at 16.47 seconds, while Jennifer Haile finished third at 16.75 seconds. Morgan entered the weekend ranked among the California Circuit’s top barrel racers.

Rodeo royalty rides through downtown Marysville during the annual Stampede Cattle Drive on Sept. 10. Photos by Chris Pedigo

Tie-down roping produced one of the more unusual finishes of the Stampede, with three competitors ending the rodeo tied for first place. The Frost family of Browns Valley also returned to the Marysville arena. Jasper Frost finished seventh in the roughstock competition, while his brother, Jacek Frost, was disqualified from his ride this year. The result marked a change of fortune from last year’s Stampede, when Jacek Frost thrilled his hometown crowd with an 84-point winning bareback ride. That victory became one of several key performances that helped propel the Browns Valley cowboy into the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Top 15 and ultimately to his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo appearance in Las Vegas.

A cowboy races after a calf during tie-down roping competition at the Marysville Stampede. Photos by Chris Pedigo

Marysville Stampede Total payoff 51,571.40

All-around cowboy: Dane Browning, $1,428, tie-down roping and steer wrestling.

Bareback riding: 1. Kade Sonnier, 87.5 points on Rosser Rodeo's Colt 45, $2,152; 2. Colton Clemens, 85, $1,650; 3. Tim O'Connell, 84.5, $1,219; 4. Clayton Biglow, 82, $789; 5. Owen Brouillette, 77, $502; no other qualified rides.

Steer wrestling: 1. Hayden Webb, 6.0 seconds, $1,220; 2. Zane George, 10.2, $1,010; 3. Dane Browning, 11.0, $799; 4. Andy Schantz, 12.2, $589; 5. Levi Rudd, 13.2, $379; 6. James Banister, 14.7, $210.

Team roping: 1. Blake Teixeira/Logan Anseth, 5.9 seconds, $1,649 each; 2. Ryan Bettencourt/Mason Hicks, 6.3, $1,365; 3. Chase Helton/Wyatt Hansen, 6.8, $1,081; 4. Tanner Kent/Monty Joe Petska, 7.0, $796; 5. Blake Hirdes/Cody Cowden, 8.0, $512; 6. Doyle Hoskins/Will Cowden, 12.2, $284.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ira Dickinson, 88 points on Rosser Rodeo's Whoa Nellie, $2,329; 2. Tanner Butner, 87.5, $1,786; 3. Warwick Southern, 82.5, $1,320; 4. Bailey Small, 82, $854; 5. Traylin Martin, 81, $544; 6. Chase Brooks, 79.5, $388; 7. Jasper Frost, 75, $311; no other qualified rides.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Colton Farquer, Doyle Hoskins and Colton Suther, 9.3 seconds, $1,077 each; 4. Dane Browning, 9.6, $628; 5. J. Cody Jones, 9.7, $404; 6. Brandt Ross, 10.9, $224.

Barrel racing: 1. Hunter Morgan, 15.97 seconds, $882; 2. Mylee Modlin, 16.04, $756; 3. Madison Camozzi, 16.23, $630; 4. Lynn Green, 16.38, $546; 5. Kaillee Hamre, 16.47, $420; 6. Maren Powers, 16.48, $336; 7. Brittany Richards, 16.58, $252; 8. Jennifer Haile, 16.75, $168; 9. Amie Grohl, 17.01, $126; 10. Carly Rudd, 17.83, $84.

Bull riding:  1. Colby Demo, 86 points on Rosser Rodeo's Cat Nap, $4,073; 2. Levi Quillan, 83.5, $3,541; no other qualified rides. (all totals include ground money).