by Naomi Loomis,
WSRRA Association Representative
You can’t miss this cowboy from “The Cowboy State” Burlington, Wyoming. He is a very aggressive ranch bronc rider and his smile is contagious. In fact, he is in the top 15 WSRRA ranch bronc riders in the association and is currently number one in the Western States Ranch Rodeo Association rookie race.
TJ, a forty-seven year old cowboy who has his eyes on a WSRRA Finals buckle is hoping to become the 2018 WSRRA Rookie of the Year and 2018 WSRRA Rookie of the Finals. He says, “My goals this year are pretty simple. Make Rookie of the Year, make the top 15 in the WSRRA Ranch Bronc Riders for a trip to the finals, and make Rookie of the Finals.”
TJ was raised on the rodeo trail and is no stranger to being a cowboy. His family has raised Quarter horses for over 100 years in Wyoming. “I have cowboyed most of my life,” he states. “Little Levi, High School Rodeo, College Rodeo, PRCA.. I have about done it all. But I have also done other things to keep money coming in. I have been married and have six kids, Heather- 29, Tessie -27, Cheyanne- 22, Dalton -11, Wyatt- 8 and Cassidy -6. That said, I always wanted to come back to the cowboy thing; ranch jobs, day work, ride and train colts. I am back to the lifestyle I know best and love,” TJ says.
Wyomingites, like TJ, often hang their hats on the “The Cowboy State”reputation because cowboys and ranching are such an indelible part of their lives. While fur trading, railroad construction and mining are intertwined with their state’s history, ranching, cowboys and rodeos tend to take center stage. Wyomingites also never lose their cowboy spirit and after twenty four years of doing “other jobs”, TJ climbed on a ranch bronc. “I went to an open ranch rodeo and a team needed a ranch bronc rider so I volunteered and that is all that it took. I was hooked again after 24 years of not riding a bronc. I won second!”
In TJ’s opinion, riding a ranch bronc requires legs and hands. “Ranch bronc riding is different than riding saddle broncs. There is a complete different style. Saddle broncs, your feet are the main thing going. Ranch broncs are harder to ride in my opinion. I’m still trying not to mix the two up. But, honestly, to me. it’s a 50/50 split. Both have to work together to make things right,” states TJ. But I am up to the challenge and I see gold buckles at the end.”
TJ doesn’t have a favorite ranch bronc yet, but I can assure you that he will when the WSRRA ranch rodeo season comes to an end this year. “I haven’t been to enough to really know the horses and all I’ve been on have been colts. But if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the one that bucks!”
TJ and I both agree that ranch bronc riding is taking off like a wild fire. This classic rodeo event started during the early days of the Old West when cowboys tried to decide who had the best style when riding an untrained horse. Today’s ranch bronc riders begin each ride in a regular working saddle. They ride for eight seconds. Scoring is based on the cowboy’s control throughout the ride and how hard the horse bucks. “You are seeing more and more ranch bronc events. I believe it is partly because you don’t need a whole new setup to get in one, like saddle broncs. Also a lot of cowboys in it are every day working cowboys. When I rode saddle broncs ,there was no such thing as ranch bronc riding. I do wish there had been though.”The WSRRA ranch bronc riding events are definitely crowd pleasers.
The WSRRA is all about traditions and family. TJ sees it and shares his thoughts about it: “I learned about the WSRRA through my sister’s rodeo, the Wyo Wild Ridein, Wright, Wyoming. As for what I like most about it, it’s a family. Not just the guys and gals going, but you see more families at these events than others. You see mom’s and dad’s competing, while the kids run around with the other kids. Everyone watches out for each other.”
What does being a “Rookie” mean? Well to TJ it basically means that someone is new to the event. “A rookie is quite typically a younger guy but for me that wouldn’t fit. Age wise and rodeo experience I fit that. In the ranch broncs, I am very new to it.” Is it hard being the rookie? TJ says, “No. These guys that have been going awhile treat me really good. Makes it easy to be a part of it. Yes. Some ribbing goes on. But there’s not a one I’ve met that won’t help a guy out.”
On behalf of the WSRRA, I want to wish you all the luck this season. We hope to see you at the 2018 WSRRA National Finals, November 1-4, 2018!
