Joey Sonnier III
Joey Sonnier III – New Iberia, La. ($79,114)
First-time WNFR qualifier
Joey Sonnier III admits to being a little superstitious. He won’t wear yellow or put his hat on the bed, but 13 just might be his lucky number.
That is the position he is headed to his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in with $79,114 won during the regular season. It’s a place he never really thought he would be.
Joey joined the PRCA 18 years ago, when he was 18. He had been raised right, had a solid foundation to build on and was excited for the next chapter in his life.
That chapter turned into a book. He got involved with drugs and alcohol, was doing lots of things he knew better than to do and his life was spiraling downward.
It took him 10 years to get his life back in order and for him to even consider getting on a bucking horse again. He had gained weight that had to come off and he had to get back in shape. Joey is not a person to do anything halfway. So, he lost the weight, tried some saddles, didn’t like them and decided to build his own.
He started at some amateur rodeos before trying his hand in the PRCA. In 2015, he was 56th in the world standings. The next year he had moved up to 33rd. Last year he finished a bit lower at 42nd, but he had learned that he could ride with the best and be competitive. And, he was roping calves and competing as a team roping heeler at the same time.
Today he is all in, making his rookie appearance in the yellow bucking chutes as a 39-year-old. His wife Michelle, son Kade and Daughters, Kenley and Kylie have a lot to be proud of in a husband and dad that has changed his life and pursued his dreams. He’s always ready to share his story hoping that it will help someone else and that has helped him grow a fan base. There will be a lot of people on Joey’s side, before during and after this year’s NFR.
