story by Kyle Eustice
Like many people who fall in love with rodeo, Siloam Springs, Arkansas native Rex Robrahn was drawn to the cowboy lifestyle as a child because of a close family member. Rex’s mother ran barrels when he was a young boy and he was immediately drawn to it.
“I entered bull riding at 14 years old at a Wing Ranch Rodeo Company rodeo for my first ride ever,” explained Rex. “From there, I was hooked. The danger of doing something most folks won’t or can’t do was appealing.”
As a member of the ACRA for the past two years and resident of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, Rex now works as a maintenance man, but is still deeply involved in the rodeo world as both a bullfighter and also as a contract act. In 2015, he “kissed the bull” for the third time, meaning his face was slammed into the back of the bull’s head, resulting in an injury that required two metal plates to be surgically implanted into his face. Although his bull riding days came to a halt, to stay close to the sport, he organizes events like Cowboy For Kids for special needs children to help raise funds for local non-profits, and picked up bullfighting along the way.
“I rode for a long time then had stomach trouble,” said Rex. “I got too fat to win and too poor to loose, so I still wanted the rush and I had been involved in every wreck imaginable, and could keep my cool.”
Despite all of his injuries, the 45-year-old father of two is adamant that the sometimes dangerous nature of the sport never really bothered him. “I don’t want to die, but I am in touch with God, so I’m prepared,” said Rex.
Although Rex’s wife Bonnie, son Trent and granddaughter Kambree aren’t rodeo contestants (yet), his brother and twin children ride bulls, and his daughter Breana run barrels. Rex was the World Senior Professional Bull Riding Rodeo champion in 2014 and is also a member of the CRRA.
“I still practice three times a week on the barrel or machine,” said Rex. “It works better than live animals at my age, but when I need the real thing, I live next to David Berry and the monster bull ranch. There’s not a better place in the world to build bull riders.”
When he’s not working or practicing, he’s fishing or building hot rods and, of course, spending time with his family. While he says the best part about competing is “winning,” there’s a sense giving back and helping the next generation of young riders is also something he thoroughly enjoys.
“I’m always taking my granddaughter to rodeos,” said Rex. “I may still ride a few. Go team Robrahn!”