Olin Hannum Continues Strong Season with Dodge City, Kan. Win
By: Brady Renck
Sports remain the world’s greatest reality show. They are not scripted, capable of dropping hearts into our stomachs and bringing tears to our eyes. There’s nothing like goosebumps. You know when you feel them. And Olin Hannum experienced them this weekend at the Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup Rodeo.
The 45-year-old steer wrestler continued turning what was supposed to be a normal season into a remarkable push for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo berth since 2017. Not only did Hannum win the event with a 12.8-second time on three head, but his six-year-old son Jackson reached the finals in the mutton busting competition.
“We flew back together for the finals. He said, ‘Dad I will come with you (to the rodeo) as long as I get to ride a sheep.’ They let him in the competition and we both made the short round,” Hannum said. “I called my wife (Natalie), and said I’d like for both of us to fly back out there, and what did she think? It’s not cheap to fly. But she was like, ‘Heck yeah!’ She was totally on board.”
The father and son weekend will not be topped anytime soon. Jackson had to return home for school. His dad, meanwhile, is busy challenging for a trip to Las Vegas, his latest victory inching him closer to the top 20 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with seven weeks left in the season. The NFR is firmly on the radar.
“It didn’t start out being that way, but it is now. I was hoping to maybe win the (Wilderness) circuit,” said Hannum, who won previously at Dodge City in 2010. “But after Reno (where he delivered multiple big paydays) and we won good out there, I talked to my wife and business partner about what we could do. I got support from a lot of people, and we decided to make a go of it, and started entering up in events.”
Dodge City required a strong finish. Hannum wanted to place. He exceeded his expectations, much like his season.
“You know I had a middle of the road steer. I just wanted a really good start to give myself a chance to place if I got a 4.6 or 4.7. Things worked out better than that,” Hannum said. “It was an awesome environment. The committee did a fantastic job. They added money. They took care of the contractors and the spectators. It was really well done.”
Now, after his latest breathtaking showing, so much seems possible. More rodeos. More money. And potentially another NFR appearance.
“It really is hard to believe. I think it’s something everybody wishes for and dreams of,” Hannum said. “I honesty felt like I might be able to make it if I won the circuit. I have had that consistency and I will be venturing out a little more. It’s all possible because of a great support staff of family (Natalie, daughters Cheznie and Kennedy and son Jackson) and friends.”
Other winners at the $422,846 rodeo were all-around cowboy Paul David Tierney ($11,119, tie-down roping and team roping); bareback rider Cole Franks (174.5 points on two head); team ropers Pedro Egurrola/JC Flake and Curry Kirchner/Billie Jack Saebens (18.6 seconds on three head); saddle bronc rider Brody Cress (175.5 points on two head); tie-down roper Paul David Tierney (26.8 seconds on three head); breakaway roper Shelby Boisjoli (8.2 seconds on three head); barrel racer Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (51.32 seconds on three runs); steer roper Cody Lee (35.6 seconds on three head); and bull rider Deklan Garland (173.5 points on two head).
Courtesy of PRCA