The ride to becoming rodeo royalty
Riding in rodeos at a collegiate level takes a certain kind of person, and competing in a national arena takes even more. However, Utah State University has two of the top college rodeo students in the country. Aggies Fallon Johnson and TJ Bowler competed in the College National Finals Rodeo from June 9-15, placing 7th and 4th respectively.
The CNFR takes place in Casper, WY, and invites over 400 contestants from over 100 universities. The CNFR website says it’s “where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying.”
To get the CNFR takes several steps. Cowboys and cowgirls compete in one of 11 NIRA regions throughout the year for a slot as one of the top 3 competitors in their event. Those top three and the top two men’s and women’s teams from each region get the opportunity to rope or ride in Casper. Utah State competes in the Rocky Mountain region of the NIRA.
“Nowhere else in the world can you find the most elite college athletes and animals going head to head in the dirt, competing to be crowned the best,” the CNFR website says. “More than a rodeo, CNFR is a celebration of our western tradition and athletic excellence that once you’ve experienced, you’ll never forget.”
The Aggie riders agreed with that sentiment, saying they loved their experience. It was the first time Johnson and Bowler could compete at the CNFR, with Johnson competing in breakaway roping and Bowler competing in tie-down roping and team roping with his brother.
“It was a super fun experience,” Johnson said. “It’s super cool to be surrounded by college students from all over the nation. It’s definitely different competing with people from all over.”
Competing at the CNFR is a different experience, according to Johnson and Bowler.
“It’s a tough setup; the cows were strong, and it was a tight arena,” Bowler said. “We’ve been fortunate to have this experience, and we’ll hopefully be back next year.”
Bowler also loved competing with his brother by his side. He said he and his brother, Blake, have been roping together for a long time. Even though Blake now attends Southern Utah University, they were excited about the opportunity to compete together and represent their different schools.
“It’s really fun to get to do it with my brother,” Bowler said. “We can push each other. There’s no drama. I mean, we’ve roped together since 4th or 5th grade.
Johnson and Bowler have been around horses their entire lives, and Bowler has been rodeoing for many years. Johnson, however, shared she started competing a bit later.
“I’ve always been around horses,” Johnson said. “But, I didn’t start competitively rodeoing until 15-16. When I got to USU, I wasn’t planning on rodeoing.”
Johnson decided to try out the team and said she loved being on it.
“I couldn’t do it without my coaches or teammates,” Johnson said. “In high school rodeo, you have your parents and family, but in college rodeo, it’s just you, your coaches, and your teammates. You build a pretty close bond.”
Johnson has competed for the USU Rodeo Club for the past four years, but Bowler is only in his first. He went to Southern Utah for a year before serving a two-year religious mission. Upon returning, he came to Utah State and joined the team. Even though he’s a newer Aggie, he said he loved having USU on his vest.
“It was really fun representing a school,” Bowler said. “We’re still competing individually, but it’s fun to represent Utah State.”
USU Rodeo head coach Colton Bair said they have been excellent additions to the team.
“They go above and beyond,” Bair said. “They are leaders for the team. They set the standards. They know where they want to go, and we try to set them up for that success.”
Bair and his wife Hillary coach the team. He shared doing rodeo at USU can be demanding. The club meets twice a week and has an average of 15-20 kids on the team competing in various rodeo events. Participants must have their own horses for practice and competition, which the students often have to care for while still attending school. They also have to find steers to practice on, and most team members practice a lot outside of scheduled practice times. However, Bair shared this is the perfect next step to take on the pros.
“We’re the next stepping stone to get them to the professional level,” Bair said. “High school is very family-oriented, but when they get to college, parents fade out. They are there by themselves. It’s also different competing as a team.”
Even though nationals are over, both riders shared they will continue rodeo. Bowler still has a few years left on the team, and he and his brother are training hard to get back to the CNFR and improve their score. Johnson shared that although this chapter of her career is closing, collegiate rodeo isn’t the end. Bowler echoed that statement.
“I think it’d be really fun to keep doing rodeo,” Bowler said. “[My brother and I]’ve done some open jackpots against some pros. We’re so excited to continue rodeoing and show what we’re made of.”