Meet the Member
Taylor Tupper
story by Lily Weinacht
Taylor Tupper at the 2014 SDHSRA Finals. He took first place in saddle bronc. – Photo by Rodeo News
“My family has been ranching and rodeoing for as long as I can remember, and I’ve wanted to rodeo ever since I was little,” says Taylor Tupper. The 17 year old from St. Onge, S.D., is the 2014 SDHSRA Saddle Bronc Riding Champion. He has been rodeoing since he was ten years old and is now a high school senior in the SDHSRA. He competes in saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, and team roping as a header with Cyler Dowling of Newell, S.D. But the saddle bronc riding is by far his favorite event. He was inspired by his dad, who rode saddle broncs in the PRCA for several years, and Taylor adds, “I think I also enjoy it because it’s one of the more dangerous sports.” He has been riding broncs since he was a sophomore and looks up to PRCA saddle bronc rider Troy Crowser who is sitting in the top 20 of the world standings. “Troy has helped me a lot with riding broncs, and he is a real good friend of my family.”
The Tupper family makes their home in the country between St. Onge and Belle Fourche. Taylor’s parents are Justin and Brooke, and he has twin sisters, Emily and Maggie (20), and a brother, Cody (16). Cody also competes in saddle bronc riding, as well as tie-down roping, and steer wrestling. All of the Tupper kids have pulled on their work boots and helped with the family cattle business over the years. “We have our feedlot near the house, where we’re running about 1,000 head of cattle. We run another 200 head of cows out in the pastures, and we’ve been moving them closer to home since the weather is starting to change. If we’re not working cattle, then we’re probably fencing!” says Taylor. He also works at his dad’s sale barn in St. Onge – St. Onge Livestock.
If Taylor’s not ranching, then he’s at Belle Fourche High School, where he is a senior. One of his favorite classes has been carpentry. Last year, the entire carpentry class spent the school year building a house, which they sold at an auction to raise money for the school. Taylor also plays football – wide receiver and defensive back – and wrestles. Outside of school, Taylor is in 4-H, doing both 4-H rodeo and showing cattle at fair over the summer. “My brother Cody and I also like working on projects together,” says Taylor. “He bought a boat, and we’re fixing it up. We like to go fishing at Orman Dam, and we do some hunting around our house.”
Following graduation next spring, Taylor plans to attend college rodeo in the South while working on a degree, most likely in Ag. Business. “I’d also like to become good enough to pro rodeo someday.” This year, Taylor went to compete at the NHSFR, which he says could have gone better. “I would really like to make it back to Nationals one more time and really show up with my competition.” His saddle bronc championship at the SDHSRA finals buoyed him up, however. “State finals is my favorite rodeo. I think it’s the most fun, and I get to see a lot of people that live on the other side of South Dakota that I only get to see if we all make state.”
Summing it all up, Taylor finishes, “If I were trying to convince a friend to rodeo, I would tell them that everybody who rodeos is real kind to you, especially when you are first starting out – they’ll help you be the best you can be. No one is going to be down on you in the sport of rodeo.”
