Editor’s note: Tristan Martin was featured as the On the Trail in the 2022 July issue of Rodeo News Please see link below to read full article:
https://reader.mediawiremobile.com/RodeoNews/issues/207953/viewer
[ “Growing up in Louisiana, I didn’t know there was another kind of coffee,” said Tristan Martin, 2x NFR qualifier in steer wrestling. “Every breakfast table and store served Community Coffee.” The cowboy from Sulphur, Louis., won $170,981 last year steer wrestling. We caught up with him during the run in the Northwest. “I just put a big order In for more – these guys up here love it.” Tristan’s favorite is sweet tea. “When I saw them getting involved in rodeo, I reached out to them. It’s a Louisiana brand and you don’t see many of them coming in to help us out.” ]
Tristan hails from a long line of rodeo greats, including his uncle, Casey Martin, who made five trips to the NFR in steer wrestling. He is the oldest to 57 grandchildren in the Martin family, which gives him access to chute help, practice buddies, and a cheering section just one mile from his house. Tristan married Josee in 2020 and their son, Boudreaux was born right after the NFR in 2021. He went to his first rodeo six weeks after he was born and watched his dad win the 2022 Fort Worth Stock Show.
This is Tristan’s fifth year on the rodeo road, and he just bought a new horse, so he plans to continue for several years. “I feel like this is a talent God’s blessed me with and it’s a great way to meet people and do what I love.” The only downside is leaving his wife and son at home for long periods. Josee has a really good job as a nurse and that provides the family with health insurance. “There’s lots of family close by so she’s got help if she needs it.”
He has developed a network of places to stay and made friends in all corners of the country during his tenure on the rodeo road. “It takes years to figure out where to stay and make friends,” he said. “It’s really nice, we base our northwest run out of one place – we can wash clothes and have homemade meals.” He admits it’s hard to receive the notoriety along the way. “I got my name on the side of my truck, and people pull a $1 out of their pocket and have me sign it.”
Tristan has been giving back by doing clinics to help the upcoming steer wrestlers. “We’ve done one at home for four or five years.” His Uncle Casey, and Tom Carney help. He does a second clinic in North Dakota in the spring.
