ProRodeo Sports News - January 26, 2018

Early Start At 18, Swearingen preps for his future BY SCOTT KANIEWSKI D aylon Swearingen has grown up around the rodeo world and Western lifestyle. With his father, Sam, owning and operating the stock contracting company All American Rodeo, there was little question in what field Daylon would find a career. But Sam thought Daylon would lean more toward the livestock side of things. Those initial thoughts have changed over the last couple years. Daylon was crowned all-around cowboy at the RAM First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo in Harrisburg, Pa., and added a bull riding circuit year-end title. That title qualified Daylon Swearingen for the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., in April at the ripe old age of 18 and still on his permit. “As he was growing up I thought he would be good at riding,” said Sam Swearingen, who won the RAM First Frontier Circuit Finals all-around in 1988 and saddle bronc riding in 1986, 1988 and 1990. He also won a circuit year-end title in ’88. “But I thought it (Daylon’s career) would be more at the livestock end because he likes working with animals. But as he got going … it took me a while to realize how much talent he really had.” Last year, Daylon competed at the

Daylon Swearingen scored 82 points on Rawhide ProRodeo Company’s Tea Time at the RAM First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo on Jan. 11. Swearingen, 18, won the all- around cowboy buckle. Casey Martin photo

“It’s pretty cool to be able to go and ride with guys I’ve been looking up to my whole life,” he said. PLANNING BEYOND RODEO He is also now a partial owner in his father’s stock contracting company, renamed Rawhide ProRodeo Company, as Daylon, his brother, Colton, and two other young cowboys were offered a portion of ownership in the company. The boys asked to rename it and Sam Swearingen complied. Daylon, who is switching to the Southeastern Circuit for the 2018 season with his family’s move to Georgia, said he plans on staying on his permit this season. He’s also using winnings to add to his collection of livestock. “I have about 50 head of bucking stock,” Daylon said, adding that at least 15 are bucking bulls.

National High School Finals Rodeo before competing in the First Frontier Circuit on his permit. Not starting in circuit rodeos until July left a short window for him to reach the mandated 15 circuit rodeos to be eligible to make the RNCFR. “I just kept going,” he said. “This is what I love to do. I’m just blessed to do it. If you keep it simple, it’s simple.” He took full advantage, leading the bull riding heading into the RFFCFR. He maintained that position by winning the first round of the finals and taking fourth in the second round to take second in the average. In bareback riding, he finished second in the average by placing second in the first round, fourth in the second and third in the third. All told, Daylon took home $9,754 at the RFFCFR.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/26/18

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