Wessington Springs bull bash champion reflects on riding

Seventeen-year-old Trevor Easton has lived and breathed bull riding for most of his life and proved that in Wednesday night’s Miller Lite Bull Bash at Mitchell’s Horseman’s Sports Arena.

The Wessington Springs’ bull rider was the event’s champion with a score of 85, beating 34 other riders. Easton collected $1,856 in prize money from the ride.

Easton, who’s still in high school, has won many rodeos and hopes to be among some of the top riders in the world someday. He says it’s his background and determination that have him moving in the right direction.

After winning the event Wednesday, The Daily Republic contacted Easton to discuss the thrill of riding bulls, competing in rodeo and his future in the sport. Here are excerpts from the interview:

Q: How did you get into bull riding?

A: I always watched my older brother growing up and started when I was 9. Our family has 15 bulls and 15 cows. Most of the bulls are still young, but I ride some of them for practice.

Q: What is your earliest memory of bull riding?

A: My older brother, Tyler, took me to a bull riding school in Miller when I was younger. I got to work with Casey Gates and Ty Odden.

Q: Do you have family members who are involved in rodeo events?

A: Yes, my younger brother Tucker has been riding for three years now. My older brother Tyler rode bulls, too.

Q: How many rodeos do you participate in each year?

A: Our season goes from the end of April through March, and I usually go to 60 or 70 rodeos during that time. I’ll be able to enter into more once I graduate high school and turn 18, because I won’t have to worry about keeping my grades up, and I’ll have more time.

Q: What is your worst injury you’ve sustained during bull riding?

A: Earlier this summer, I cracked my sternum. A bull stepped back on me and broke it.

Q: Do you participate in other events besides bull riding?

A: I used to rope calves when younger, but I stopped when I was 12 years old because I didn’t like it as much as bull riding.

Q: What is your most memorable contest?

A: (Wednesday) night. Eighty-five is the highest score I’ve ever gotten, and it was 82 before that. It was a lot of fun being with some of the older guys. I’ve looked up to them for a long time, so it was fun riding with them.

Q: Do you have a favorite bull?

A: My favorite bull is Royal Flush. It’s one of mine that I named.

Q: What is your favorite rodeo to participate in?

A: My favorite rodeo I ride in is always my hometown rodeo in Wessington Springs.

Q: What is the biggest rodeo you’ve done bull riding in?

A: This was the first year we went to a rodeo in Gallup, N.M. There was a lot of money added and had a lot of big name guys.

Q: What is the total amount of prize money you’ve won from bull riding?

A: It’s got to be around $10,000.

Q: How long do you plan to bull ride?

A: I want to go for as long as I can, and maybe I’ll hang it up somewhere around 30 years old.

Q: What are your future goals?

A: I want to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and Professional Bull Riders (PBR). Another one of my goals is to be a world champion.

Tags: sports, updates, rodeo, trevor, easton