4-2-21 Digital PSN - Hi Res

SURVIVING COVID-19

Shifting Gears

For the past year, cowboys have coped with change Photo courtesy Adam Gray Veteran National Finals Rodeo tie-down roper Adam Gray had to find another source of income when the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown rodeos last year. Gray started dispatching saltwater trucks March 16, 2020, and still holds the job.

BY TRACY RENCK A ll AdamGray has ever known is rodeo. PRCA in 2008. On March 11, 2020, Gray was traveling to RodeoHouston when the world turned upside down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. RodeoHouston was canceled and the PRCA schedule was put on hold for the next two months. Gray, like many cowboys, was left searching for answers. Topping Gray’s list was how to make a living. “One of my friends (ColtonWilliams) is the (supervisor) of the company 10 Services in Mansfield, Texas, and one of my friends (Erick Richey) owns the company,” said Gray, 37. “They asked what I was going to do, and I said, ‘I don’t know, I’m not going to do much of anything.’ They said they needed a truck dispatcher and told me the job was mine until rodeo started back. I said, ‘Why not? I’m not doing anything else.’” Gray started his job March 16, 2020, dispatching saltwater trucks. “I work from anywhere I have my phone, my laptop and I have It’s the way Gray has made a living since he joined the

Internet,” Gray said. “That’s what makes it so good. I make a load list out for drivers every day and then I group them all up. It’s like rodeo, you group the wells how close they are because the more loads you can get in a shift the better. You want the logistics to work out in your favor.” Gray is on call for his job. “This helps because I’ve never had a consistent paycheck my entire life,” Gray said. “Getting paid every week has sure been nice. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would be dispatching saltwater trucks. I’ve learned a lot about the industry, and it fits my lifestyle.” Gray won the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in February and is fifth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $21,605. “For me there’s no point of even rodeoing if I’m not trying to get to the NFR,” said Gray, a six-time qualifier for the Finals. “I thought this job was just going to be temporary and I would do it for a month or two. Now, I’m going to keep doing it. I like the people who I work with and it’s enjoyable. By keeping this job, I don’t have to worry about paying my bills as much and I can try for first more (roping) instead of safety-ing up and trying to get paid.”

ProRodeo Sports News 4/2/2021

ProRodeo.com

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