Rodeo Finals Come to Louisville This Week
The North American Championship Rodeo returns to Freedom Hall for the Great Lakes Circuit Finals, with top athletes competing for a spot at the National Finals.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Rodeo
The North American Championship Rodeo, the championship event for competitors from the Great Lakes region, returns to Freedom Hall in Louisville for the Great Lakes Circuit Finals. Events run Thursday through Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m. nightly.
Why it matters
Two competitors from the circuit will advance to the National Finals Rodeo, making the Louisville event a qualifying stage for the sport's highest level. The competition draws athletes from Ohio, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky to Louisville.
Only the top 12 athletes from each event qualify to compete in Louisville, and just two competitors from the circuit will advance to the National Finals Rodeo. Final standings and qualifiers have not yet been determined ahead of the event.
The players
Ben Kilburg
Ben Kilburg is a steer wrestler who has qualified for the Louisville finals for nine consecutive years and returned to competition after a serious 2023 injury.
The details
Steer wrestler Ben Kilburg has qualified for the Louisville finals for nine consecutive years since turning professional in 2016. In 2023, Kilburg fell from his horse during a rodeo and was struck by another horse, fracturing his skull and spending a week in a coma before returning to competition the following year.
Timeline
2016: Ben Kilburg turns professional.
2023: Kilburg is injured during a rodeo and spends a week in a coma.
Thursday through Saturday this weekend: Rodeo events run nightly beginning at 7 p.m. at Freedom Hall.
Season Trajectory
The Great Lakes Circuit Finals serve as a regional qualifying stage in which only two competitors advance to the National Finals Rodeo, shaping the season's championship path for athletes from Ohio, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky. The event's top-12 qualification structure concentrates the competitive field into a single high-stakes weekend in Louisville.
Fans attending Freedom Hall this weekend can see the top 12 athletes from each event compete nightly starting at 7 p.m. Those following fantasy or wagering interest should note that only two competitors from the circuit will advance to the National Finals Rodeo.
The takeaway
The Louisville finals are a narrow gateway, with only two qualifiers advancing from the circuit to the National Finals Rodeo. Watching the nightly rounds this weekend gives a clear view of which athletes are positioned for that spot.
Further reading
For more on the sport's competitive structure, explore Rodeo coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLKY.
