Winnfield cowboy Kayson Lasyone has earned one of youth rodeo’s most prestigious titles, claiming the 2026 International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR) Team Roping Championship alongside partner Jacob Stansbury of Santa Fe, Texas.

The championship was won during the 34th Annual International Finals Youth Rodeo, held July 12-17 at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The IFYR is recognized as one of the world’s richest and most prestigious youth rodeo events, attracting nearly 1,000 competitors from across the United States and several other countries to compete for championship titles and more than $250,000 in prize money.

Lasyone and Stansbury entered the championship round tied for second place after posting qualifying runs of 5.7 seconds and 6.2 seconds. When the pressure was at its highest, the duo delivered a 5.60-second run in the championship round, finishing with a three-head aggregate time of 17.5 seconds to secure the IFYR Team Roping Championship.

The victory places Lasyone among an elite group of youth rodeo champions and highlights the strength of Louisiana’s rodeo talent on the national stage.

The International Finals Youth Rodeo has served as a proving ground for future professional rodeo competitors for more than three decades, bringing together many of the top young athletes in events including team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and more.

For Winn Parish, Lasyone’s championship is another source of local pride, as the young cowboy has demonstrated the dedication, skill, and composure needed to succeed against some of the nation’s best youth rodeo competitors.

The championship buckle and title mark a significant milestone in Lasyone’s rodeo career and add an international championship to his growing list of accomplishments.