Idaho Bull Rider Claims Lead at St. Paul Rodeo
by Jim Bainbridge | Jul 04, 2016
By Ruth Nicolaus/for the St. Paul Rodeo committee
ST. PAUL, Ore. – Out of 14 bull riders, only three made a qualified ride at the third night of the St. Paul Rodeo.
And one of those rides jumped to the top of the leader board for the rodeo.
Garrett Smith, of Rexburg, Idaho, scored 86.5 points on Corey and Lange Rodeo’s Short Bus.
Smith had been anxious to get to the St. Paul Rodeo.
“I’ve only seen that bull one time, but they said he was really good,” he said. “I’ve been excited all week. Out of all these rodeos, this is the one I was looking forward to.”
The 21-year-old cowboy has suffered some groin injuries, due to the normal wear and tear that comes with riding bulls.
“I’ve had a bit of a rough year,” he said. “This is good to get the ball rolling. (The bull) felt good, and went away from my hand, and I guess I felt like my old self again.”
Smith’s talents go farther than just riding bulls. Last year, he competed in the steer wrestling, and in high school, competed in every boys’ event: bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, cutting, and bull riding. He won the all-around title at the National High School Finals Rodeo three years (2011-2013), but bull riding was his favorite.
“My whole family rodeoed,” he said, including his older brother Wyatt, also a ProRodeo contestant. Wyatt did every event in high school, except bull riding.
“Bull riding was kind of my deal,” Garrett said, “and that’s why I liked it.”
This was the second time Smith competed in St. Paul, and his first time wasn’t so successful. “I made it three seconds,” he said with a grin. “To win your second year here, would be a dream come true.”
Other fast times and high scores posted at the St. Paul Rodeo on July 3: bareback rider Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas (82 points), steer wrestler Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas (4.7 seconds), tie-down roper Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas (8.7); saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. (84.5); team ropers Taylor White, Prosser, Wash. and Jason Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. (5.3) and barrel racer Pamela Capper, Cheney, Wash. (17.78).
Independence Day festivities at the St. Paul Rodeo include two rodeo performances at 1:30 and 7:30 pm, the parade at 10 am, the Great Western Barbecue Cook-off at 11 am (with food available for purchase), the carnival at 11 am, and the Wild West Art Show from 11 am to 11 pm. Tickets are available and can be purchased online at StPaulRodeo.com and from the ticket office, located on the rodeo grounds.
Courtesy of PRCA