story by Lillian Landreth
Thayne Elshere represented South Dakota and his family’s favorite event of saddle bronc riding at the 2022 NHSFR this summer, where he won reserve world champion. Only a handful of points separated him from first place, taken home by Statler Wright. “It was a pretty good week,” says the 17-year-old from Hereford, South Dakota. “I had a really good horse that first round and won with 82 points. The next two rounds I had weaker horses, and that’s all right too, but I wasn’t scored very many points. But it’s Nationals and I’ll take second place there any year.” All of his immediate family was there cheering him on, joined later by Thayne’s aunt and uncle Ryan and Chrissy Elshere, cousin Camri Elshere, and grandparents Jim and Lana Elshere and Marcia Anderson. His aunt and uncle Shawna and Bill Eastman, cousin Bree Elshere, and cousin Carter Elshere were also there. “I had a lot of support behind me.”
The son of retired PRCA saddle bronc rider J.J. Elshere and his wife, Lindsay, Thayne’s trip to Nationals put him a step closer to one of his main rodeo goals. “I like to keep putting in the effort because I’d like to make a big name for myself and follow in my dad’s footsteps. I have one major goal I really want to complete, and that’s competing in more national finals than my dad did. He has seven—that’s two times at high school nationals and five times at the NFR—and I’m going to try to beat that.”
Thayne has four of those under his belt already since he also competed in the NJHFR his seventh-grade year in bull riding and bareback steer riding, and went to the NHSFR in bull riding as a freshman and sophomore. He was also invited to the 20X High School Rodeo Showcase in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, Thayne competes in the SDHSRA in team roping with his cousin Rylen, but rodeo’s classic event is the firm favorite. “We have such a long line of bronc riders in our family, and I’d say bronc riding is more fun because of all the people who can help me out.” Thayne’s older brother, Talon (20), recently started pro rodeoing and is sitting in the top ten saddle bronc riders on the PRCA Montana Circuit. Their younger brothers Trik (13), Tel (12), and Trailon (10), also rodeo, competing in steer riding.
“My dad is at the top of the list of people helping me the most, and my uncle Ryan has helped me quite a bit too, as well as my cousin Cole, and Lewis Brunson,” says Thayne. “Since the little boys started riding steers, Dad’s been putting off chores around the house to buck steers for them and he’s making it to all of my rodeos.” Thayne helps his dad train outside horses, as well as take care of the family’s cattle. He spent his summer break working at Myers Training Stable—home of Frenchmans Guy—breaking colts and working around the ranch. “I’m thinking about going back to that, but I also want to buy my (PRCA) permit at the end of this year and go to as many of those rodeos as I can.”
A senior at Sturgis Brown High School, he is looking forward to the start of wrestling season. “Wrestling gets me in shape and gets me stronger, and I think that helps me out a lot during rodeo,” says Thayne. “I used to play football, but decided not to go out this year and focus more on rodeo.” He plans to college rodeo after graduating high school, and pursue his pro rodeo dreams. “I’d really like to win the world at some point. Some of my short-term goals would be winning a couple pro rodeos, and beating a few of those professional guys I’ve been around for a while.”
