Navajo Rookies of the Year Take 2026 Paving the Way Award in Window Rock

I just watched every minute of every perf at the 2026 Home of the Navajo PRCA Rodeo in Window Rock, Arizona, and there were just too many memorable moments to let get away. I’m going to start sharing them with you one at a time, as I can gather images to illustrate them. The first and a real fan favorite at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena was the presentation of the Paving the Way Award to two talented Navajo cowboys who took PRCA Rookie Header of the Year honors 30 years apart. Leonard Williams Sr. was the winningest rookie header in all of professional rodeo in 1995, and James Arviso earned that same prestigious team roping title in 2025.

Williams Sr. is an absolute Navajo Nation trailblazer, and he paved the way for the likes of cowboy sensations Aaron Tsinigine, Derrick Begay and Erich Rogers. Leonard’s been great friends with Victor Begay—who’s Derrick’s dad and Arviso’s granddad, and served as the tractor driver at this year’s rodeo—since the start. Williams is one of the guys who inspired Begay, Rogers and Tsinigine to believe their wildest dreams were within reach if they were willing to work hard enough. Which they obviously were.

Seba Dalkai, Arizona’s Arviso, who’s the son of Begay’s big sister, Jamie, and her husband, Jon, split the win at this year’s rodeo with Wawa Ben Jr. and Brandon Ben. More on that sooner than later, but the short version is that James got this win with Chris Young, who’s the husband of National Finals Breakaway Roper Macy Young. But Arviso, who’s currently ranked 15^th in the world heading standings, is roping with Levi Lord this summer.

I’ll take you on another rodeo-related spin around the Navajo Nation tomorrow. But for now, big congrats to Leonard and James, and thanks for paving the way for all the young Navajo cowboys and cowgirls coming up behind you.