Platinum-selling recording artist Cody Johnson announces the return of The COJO Championship Event, taking place October 7–12, in Belton, Texas, at the Cadence Bank Center Arena. The multi-day event will once again bring together top-tier rodeo competition, music, and the community, all in the heart of Texas, where Cody and his wife Brandi’s love story began. This year’s event will also include new events, offering more opportunities for fans, families, and competitors alike.
“Team roping has always been a huge part of my life. It’s my refuge from the stage and the spotlight,” Johnson says. “When I’m on horseback with a rope in hand, I’m not the guy on tour or in the studio, I’m just a cowboy, and that’s who I’ve always been at heart.”
In a video shared on social media, Cody revealed several exciting additions to this year’s event, including a dedicated All Ladies Day featuring Breakaway Roping and Ladies Team Roping, followed by an entire day of Youth Junior Team Roping. He also announced that both the Breakaway Roping and the COJO Open are now officially recognized as American Contender Series Events. These new additions honor Cody’s commitment to honoring the sport’s legacy while continuing to grow its future. On Friday, October 10th, the Champs for Charity Cowboy Auction & Dinner will take place, once again benefiting the Texas FFA. This year’s charity auction and dinner will feature a more laid-back atmosphere with guests encouraged to don their favorite western attire. To top it all off, Cody himself is set to take the stage for a special acoustic performance.
Presented by Cody Johnson and produced by Ullman Peterson Events, the COJO Championship Event celebrates the values that define Western American lifestyle: grit, passion, and giving back. In keeping with that spirit, Cody and his wife Brandi are continuing their partnership with the Texas Future Farmers of America, an organization close to their hearts, as it was through the Texas FFA that they first met.
Inspired by the legendary George Strait, who hosted his final George Strait Team Roping Classic in 2017, Cody launched The COJO Championship Event to bring back a beloved team roping tradition and bless his cowboy friends. Cody shares, “George Strait is a hero of mine, and all I’ve heard since I started team roping is, ‘We miss The Strait.’ I wanted to respectfully pick up the torch.”
Last year’s inaugural event saw the COJO Team Ropings award an impressive $845,000 in payouts, along with an additional half a million dollars in physical prizes. These included everything from Bill Fick Ford trucks and Bloomer Trailers to custom guitars, Gist buckles, Cactus saddles, Smarty trainers, Turtlebox speakers, Resistol hat packs and hats, Cactus Gear horse blankets, Blue Otter sunglasses, Henry Big Boy .44 Magnum rifles, and Clint Orms money clips.
In addition to the competition, last year’s Champs for Charity Cowboy Auction & Dinner made a significant impact off the arena floor with two impactful donations: $100,000 for the Texas FFA and $700,000 for the Different Day Foundation. The contribution to the Texas FFA directly benefited youth agricultural education, leadership programs across the state, and helped fund scholarships, chapter resources, and leadership development initiatives. Meanwhile, the donation to the Different Day Foundation, a charity founded by Cody and his wife Brandi, supported the foundation’s initiatives to provide housing, trauma therapy, healthcare and empowering employment to survivors of sex trafficking.
Sponsors for this year’s event will include Bill Fick Ford, Bloomer Trailers, Wrangler, Justin, Resistol, Cactus Saddlery, Rather P Construction and many more, all joining Cody and the COJO team in making this year’s championship bigger and better than ever. More details on tickets, performances and programming will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans and rodeo enthusiasts are encouraged to mark their calendars and prepare for another unforgettable week in Belton.
