Parachutes, pink shirts, and rain highlight Day 2 of Pendleton Round-Up
By Griffin Beach on Thursday, September 17th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
PENDLETON – Gloomy skies met attendees for Thursday’s Round-Up performance, but the rain wasn’t the only thing falling from the sky, as the U.S. Navy’s “Leap Frogs” parachute team made a grand entrance into the stadium as part of opening ceremonies.
Eventually the rain stopped and the sun came out roughly midway through Thursday’s action. Highlights at the end of the second day include Hermiston’s Michael Pederson sitting 8th in the average of Tie-Down Roping, while current World All-Around leader Stetson Wright is second in Saddle Bronc Riding.
Steer Wrestler Jesse Brown of Baker City, who’s currently second in world standings, is 58th in the average with a time of 20.4 seconds.
In Barrel Racing defending Round-Up champion Tayla Moeykens will not repeat this year after waving the white flag and taking a slow trip around the arena for her run. Stanfield’s Lacy Diefenbach had a run of 30.19 seconds. The current leader is 2024 Round-Up champion Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, South Dakota, with a time of 28.92.
The grandstands Thursday had a pink hue to them for Tough Enough To Wear Pink Day. The annual event during the Round-Up has raised nearly $500,000 for local cancer support groups during its 20-year existence.
