In a sea of cowboy hats, sequins and suede, the crowd at the opening night of the inaugural Santa Barbara Rodeo Days at Earl Warren Showgrounds filed into the large arena to the sound of country-music classics.
The rodeo brought high-flying action, dusty thrills and family-friendly excitement to Fiesta week in Santa Barbara, with a packed lineup of Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) events along with the 2025 Miss Rodeo California, Janae Wallace, and Paige Stehly, the reigning queen of the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo.
From mutton bustin’ to saddle-bronc riding, crowds filled the stands to cheer on a mix of local and national talent as they tested their skills and nerves in the arena.
Now operating independently from Old Spanish Days, Earl Warren Showgrounds’ Santa Barbara Rodeo Days marks a new chapter in Fiesta-week history.
The spectacle included a free carnival, local food vendors and live music to make the day an all-in-one entertainment package.
With a professional production, packed stands and a showcase of world-class talent, the rodeo delivered on its promise to honor California’s rich cowboy and vaquero heritage.
A rider makes an impressive dive from his horse to the steer during his run of steer wrestling. Credit: Sydney Hlavaty / Noozhawk photo 
A young rider holds on tight during his mutton bustin’ ride. Credit: Sydney Hlavaty / Noozhawk photo 
At the finale of the rodeo, a rider hangs on tight during their bull riding event. Credit: Sydney Hlavaty / Noozhawk photo 
Brinson James riling up the crowds during the final runs of the evening. Credit: Sydney Hlavaty / Noozhawk photo 
A rider quickly tackles a steer, aiming to bring it to the ground as quickly as possible. Credit: Sydney Hlavaty / Noozhawk photo 
A successful lasso around the horns during tie-down roping. Credit: Sydney Hlavaty / Noozhawk photo 
2025 Miss Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, Paige Stehly, riding by with the flag of Wrangler, one of the major sponsors of the rodeo. Credit: Sydney Hlavaty / Noozhawk photo
The show opened with a fan favorite: mutton bustin’, where pint-sized riders, some as young as 4 years old, gripped tightly to sprinting sheep and aimed to hold on the longest.
Steer wrestling delivered adrenaline-fueled moments as cowboys launched themselves from galloping horses to tackle sprinting steers; tie-down and breakaway roping events followed, showcasing split-second precision as riders looped their lassos with expert aim.
Barrel racing brought speed and finesse, with riders racing around tightly spaced barrels in a test of control and quick turns. Whether roping calves or stopping the clock in under 10 seconds, these athletes demonstrated the focus and agility that define rodeo competition.
The intensity peaked during the saddle-bronc riding, where riders held on as broncos bucked across the dirt arena.
Among the standout competitors was Lefty Hollman, a third-generation cowboy from Visalia and a four-time National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier. The crowd roared with each high-flying ride, celebrating the balance, grit and control these athletes and animals bring to one of rodeo’s most iconic events.
Between events, rodeo clown Brinson James, a longtime Professional Bull Riders (PBR) rodeo entertainer, kept spirits high.
With crowd games, sing-a-longs and even backflips, James captured the audience with humor and showmanship, and even demonstrated his own lasso tricks to keep the fun rolling between runs.
Bull riding closed the show with powerful, edge-of-your-seat excitement. Riders showed impressive composure as they faced off against massive, bucking bulls, holding on tight through the chaos in pursuit of the 8-second ride.
Under the night sky, Rodeo Days at Earl Warren Showgrounds came to a close with thunderous applause for the evening’s athletes — human, equine and bovine alike.
