Tyler Milligan Has Plenty of Work While Rodeos Are on Hold

Tie-down roper Tyler Milligan is coming off a career-best season in 2019.

Milligan finished eighth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $196,884 after making his debut at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

Milligan, like all other PRCA cowboys, is dealing with life in the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and rodeos being at a standstill.

“I’ve been working a little bit, doing a little welding and building on the place and stuff,” said Milligan, 23.

Milligan lives in Stephenville, Texas, the home for countless cowboys.

“I live right next to Cimarron Boardman (a tie-down roper and team roping header),” Milligan said. “He’s building on a place, so we have more (work) than we want. We are building an arena and pens, and building on the barn.”

Milligan owns and rides Little Smart Leo “Big Time.” Big Time won the Purina Horse of the Year presented by the American Quarter Horse Association award in tie-down roping in 2018 and 2019. Big Time is 17.

Milligan is fourth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $36,962. His biggest win this season came at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, where he left Dickies Arena, Feb. 8 with $23,200.

The experience of competing in the Wrangler NFR in 2019 has Milligan craving a return to the Thomas & Mack Center.

“That was great, and it was a lot of fun,” Milligan said. “I’m pretty laid back, but it definitely got my blood pumping. The grand entry was wild. You have all those horses in there and all the people, and the first time it was a little crazy. I know I definitely want to go back.”

Courtesy of PRCA