DeShon Makes First Prescott Trip Memorable
by Justin Shaw | Jul 05, 2015
PRESCOTT, Ariz. – Bull rider Kody DeShon will not soon forget his inaugural trip to the World’s Oldest Rodeo.
The 29-year-old Helena, Mont., cowboy had an 89-point ride on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Lil Tex to capture the coveted title at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds (June 29-July 5).
“I’ve never even entered this rodeo before,” DeShon said. “This is a good deal to win it. That’s probably one of the top 5 coveted buckles in ProRodeo and it feels good to get a big win like this under my belt. It’s really cool.”
Actually, not only had DeShon never competed at the World’s Oldest Rodeo, but he also was getting on a bull he knew nothing about.
“I had never seen (Lil Tex) or even heard of him before,” said DeShon, who made his ride June 29. “When I found out I had him I asked my buddy (fellow bull rider) Dallee Mason how he was. He said he was good and he would go both ways. He was right there to the left and he came back around to the right, and he was just a very good bull.”
DeShon was 16th in the June 29 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, and collected a $6,386 check for his performance.
“I had to wait all week to see if I won it, and I checked it once and awhile to see where I was at, and it was worth the wait,” DeShon said.
The victory came at a much-needed time for DeShon, as he found out July 5 he will be out around 10 days with bruised kidneys. DeShon was injured July 2 when he was bucked off Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Big Cool.
“I’ve never made the NFR, and I always wanted to, so I want to come back as soon as I can,” DeShon said. “I’m just going to play it by ear and hopefully I will be ready for Nampa (Idaho, Snake River Stampede, July 14-18). Getting that big check in Prescott definitely helps ease the pain of being out with an injury.”
Other winners at the $258,951 rodeo were all-around cowboy Brent Lewis ($3,244 in tie-down roping and steer roping), bareback rider Winn Ratliff (87 points on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Excalibur), steer wrestler Trevor Knowles (9.4 seconds on two head), team ropers Brady Tryan and B.J. Campbell (11.8 seconds on two head), saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston (85 points on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Cactus Flower), tie-down roper Marcos Costa (18.4 seconds on two head), barrel racer Sherrylynn Johnson (34.75 seconds on two runs) and steer roper Vin Fisher Jr. (44.0 seconds on three head).
Courtesy of PRCA