ProRodeo Sports News - August 18, 2023

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TANNER BARTH

How’d you get your start in rodeo? Karson: I grew up on a cattle ranch, so I started cowboying from a pretty young age. I actually started team roping and figured out it was something more than what we did in the branding pen. Then I really fell in love with saddle bronc riding, while watching it at the NFR every year on the TV. That’s kind of how it sparked that fire for me in the sport of rodeo. When did you know you could make a career out of the sport of rodeo? Karson: There really wasn’t ever a win that made me think I could make it. I think it was more that the competitions along the way helped me build my confidence to where I am today. Obviously, the guys that I travel with we have always had the dream to do it for a living, but to kind of see it start to turn into reality is really special. Why did you decide to compete in saddle bronc riding? Karson: I love the beauty inside the chaos of it. It’s the classic event in our sport and the prettiest event in my opinion. I really fell in love with how great it looked when guys did it right. What’s this season been like for you so far? Karson: I’ve learned a lot this season. I didn’t realize how much my permit last year would influence the beginning of my rookie season. I didn’t get into a lot of rodeos this winter, so my year had a slow start. But then from the Fourth of July on things have really started going my way. I’m just hoping to keep it rocking and rolling the rest of the year. Why did you decide to buy your PRCA card this year? Karson Mebane, 22, put his ProRodeo career in motion in 2023, purchasing his PRCA card. The Bakersfield, Calif., saddle bronc rider is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career at the Owyhee County Rodeo in Homedale, Idaho, on Aug. 12. His 86-point ride on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Call Me Kindra earned him $2,019. As of Aug. 15, Mebane sits top 10 in the race for Resistol Rookie of the Year honor.

KARSON MEBANE

Karson: I did a lot of rodeoing on my permit and we traveled a lot last year. I really fell in love with it. I’ve been in school for the last four years at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. I thought about going back for my masters, but then I also thought about how great life would be if I just took the jump and went for it. This year has been tough, but I’ve grown so much as a person. I think either decision would’ve been great. Is there someone you look up to in the sport of rodeo? Karson: If I had to choose my true rodeo idol, it would probably have to be Zeke Thurston. He is a great dude outside the arena, and I think he’s just the classiest bronc rider there is. What’s one rodeo you want to win in your career? Karson: I think California Rodeo Salinas would be at the top of the list for me, I really do. Being from California, it’s been my dream to win it since we rodeoed at the fairgrounds in high school.

What’s your go-to restaurant when you’re out on the road? Karson: I would have to say Subway or a place that serves chicken teriyaki rice bowls. Those are definitely my go-to places when we are on the road. What’s your favorite movie or TV show? Karson: I would say one of my favorite movies is probably Hot Tub Time Machine . That’s probably my favorite comedy movie ever. What was the make and model of your first vehicle? Karson: I started out my career rodeoing in my single cab 2006 Chevy Silverado. It wasn’t in the best of shape, but it got the job done for me. When you’re not rodeoing, what do you enjoy doing for fun? Karson: I like to golf when I get the

chance. When we are out on the road, we also love to go cliff jumping or just find a body of water to hang out at during the summer.

What would be your favorite vacation? Karson: I’d love to win enough this year to take my girlfriend to Hawaii. We’ve both never been and that’s definitely on the bucket list for us. What type of music do you like listening to? Karson: I like to listen to a fair amount of country music, but while we’re rodeoing there’s quite a bit of 80’s rock ‘n’ roll on in the rig. It keeps the level of energy up for us.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/18/2023

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