Fort St. John bull rider named as finalist for Calgary Stampede

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Already having a phenomenal season on the bull riding circuit, Fort St. John bull rider Jake Gardner has added another feather in his cap in 2026.

Gardner, who now lives in Alberta, was named a finalist in the bull riding competition at the Calgary Stampede, which begins on Friday, July 3rd.

Gardner has had quite a successful campaign so far in 2026, with several notable performances pushing him to the upper echelon of the bull riding world.

It includes a victory at Rodeo Houston in March, where he came in as a late replacement and won.

He followed that up with a second-place showing in Del Rio, Texas, at the George Paul Memorial Xtreme bull riding event at the end of April, and another victory back on Canadian soil, at the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair near Surrey in May.

Gardner’s season has seen him earn $101,604.05 in prize money, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) standings, good enough for sixth overall globally.

Known as the ‘greatest outdoor show on earth’, the Calgary Stampede will have a grand total of $2.17 million in prizes for rodeo competitions, held over ten days from Friday, July 3rd, until Sunday, July 12th, 2026, in Calgary, Alberta.

Energeticcity.ca has reached out to Gardner for additional comment.