Joel Harris and Beau Peterson Named Utah’s Pioneer Week Top Hands for 2026

SALT LAKE CITY (August 25, 2026) – A month ago Utah’s Pioneer Week wrapped up with the conclusion of rodeos in Ogden, Salt Lake City and Spanish Fork. While the Fourth of July week in professional rodeo remains famous for its high-volume payouts, Utah’s Pioneer Week in mid-July has grown into an equally lucrative week.  

In 2023, the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo spearheaded Utah’s Pioneer Week Top Hand initiative to feature the three rodeos that are within 150-mile radius of each other offering a two-million-dollar week for professional rodeo athletes. They then collaborated with the State of Utah to recognize Utah’s Pioneer Week Top Hands by offering a $15,000 bonus for the top earning male and female athlete across these Utah rodeos.

The 2026 Utah Pioneer Week Top Hands are PRCA tie-down roper Joel Harris and WPRA breakaway roper Beau Peterson. Harris of San Angelo, Texas, made it to the pay window at all three Utah rodeos with his largest payout coming at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City with $17,641 thanks to a silver medal performance. He added another $10,990 in Spanish Fork where he took home the tie-down roping title and wrapped up the week with a sixth-place finish, good for $8,977 in Ogden for a grand total of $37,608. He edged Utah’s own Ryder Wright who finished with $28,871.

“Had the best week of my career winning just under $40,000,” Harris wrote on his Facebook after landing on the medal stand in Salt Lake City. With just a little over a month left in the regular season, he is currently fourth in the world having locked up his third consecutive Wrangler NFR qualification.

The Utah rodeos have always been special and important to Harris since he hit the rodeo trail.

“I have always loved that week of rodeos,” stated Harris. “I love the people in Utah and love the fans there. You get to go to some of the best rodeos during that week with limited travel.”

On the ladies’ side this marks the first year that a breakaway roper has been recognized with this award just showing how much the fastest event in professional rodeo has grown. Peterson of Council Grove, Kansas, stood atop the podium in Salt Lake capturing her first gold medal and checks totaling $20,697. She added another $1,176 for a sixth-place finish in the second round at Spanish Fork to push her to the top of the Pioneer Week earnings in the WPRA with $21,873. She edged barrel racing gold medalist KariAnn Cross with $21,147.

“I have never done any good at this rodeo,” stated Peterson after winning gold in Salt Lake. “This is a really unique and special rodeo, so I am thankful to be up on the podium. I have not had any luck the last two months so this will hopefully get the ball rolling in the right direction.”

Peterson also spoke highly about the Utah rodeos and bonus upon learning the news.

“That is awesome and huge to win another $15,000 on top of those rodeos,” stated Peterson. “That is a week of rodeos you look forward to, and I am shocked to have won it (Pioneer Bonus). I love those rodeos and will be back.”

Peterson is currently on the bubble to qualify for the Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, with just over a month left in the regular season.

Harris and Peterson will be officially honored and presented with their bonus during the Governor State of Sport Banquet at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City in April of 2027. Since its inception, new top hands have emerged each year, highlighting Utah’s growing influence on professional rodeo. Former winners include WPRA barrel racers Jordon Briggs (2023), Kassie Mowry (2024), and Carlee Otero (2025), along with PRCA team ropers Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp (2023), tie-down roper Marty Yates (2024) and all-around phenom Stetson Wright (2025).

The State of Utah celebrates Pioneer Week the third week of July in coordination with July 24, marking the day when Brigham Young and a determined company of Mormon pioneers realized their dreams upon entering the Great Salt Valley. Rodeo has long played a part during this celebration with the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo, the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Rodeo and the Ogden Pioneer Days all being contested during this time.

“Utah’s pioneer heritage is at the heart of our Western Lifestyle,” stated Tommy Joe Lucia, Executive Director of Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo. “Together with our Pioneer Week partners, we ensure this legacy remains vibrant today. It is a true privilege to celebrate our rodeo athletes on the same grand stage in the State of Utah as Olympic and professional sports icons.”

Created in 2012, the Governor’s State of Sport Awards celebrates Utah’s sports industry and honors excellence in high school, collegiate, adaptive, professional, Olympic and Paralympic sports. The Utah Sports Commission is the proud host of the Governor’s State of Sport Awards which has honored Utah’s finest athletes, teams, coaches, events, and numerous Utah sports icons.

Utah is known as the State of Sport — and for good reason! Through the years of appreciation for adventure, Utah has carved out a distinct reputation as the premier sport destination for Olympic, professional, amateur and action sporting events. By leveraging their world-class venues and awe-inspiring backdrops, Utah also has an established reputation as a top international sports destination. In July of 2024, they were officially awarded the 2034 Olympic Winter Games marking the second time Salt Lake City has been chosen to welcome the world for the Olympic Games.

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