Louis Wedgworth, a 14-year-old cowboy from Livingston and the son of a Hale County native, has added another world title to his rodeo résumé, winning the 2026 Goat Tying World Championship at the National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals in Oklahoma City. The finals concluded Saturday, July 4.
The championship marks Wedgworth’s third world title. He previously won two world titles as a Little Wrangler in 2021, including the Little Wrangler All-Around World Championship and the Little Wrangler Flag Racing World Championship. This year’s title is his first as a Junior Boy, a more advanced division with tougher competition.
Wedgworth delivered a strong performance throughout the goat tying finals. He was named reserve champion in the first round, came back to win the second round, and ultimately won the average to secure the world championship.
In addition to goat tying, Wedgworth competed in four other events at the national finals: ribbon roping, breakaway roping, team roping and flag racing. He finished in the top 25 in the world standings in all five events and placed ninth in the Junior Boy All-Around World Standings. All-around standings recognize athletes who succeed across multiple events.
Wedgworth competes on several horses that have played an important role in his success. He rides Fastback, a bay gelding, in flag racing and team roping; Tik Tok, a bay roan gelding, in goat tying and ribbon roping; and Kenny, a sorrel gelding, in breakaway roping.
For Wedgworth, the championship represents not only talent in the arena but years of dedication in the practice pen. Balancing rodeo with football and baseball, he has put in late nights and long hours working to improve across multiple events.
Wedgworth is the son of Evan and J.J. Wedgworth of Livingston and the grandson of Bruce and Cindy Cook of Livingston and Donnie and Karen Wedgworth of Greensboro. Outside of rodeo, he enjoys playing baseball, football and golf and spending time with his family, friends and dogs, Spur and Shine.
