ProRodeo Sports News - June 21, 2024

PRORODEO TOUR

J.C. Yeahquo (left) talks with Buddy Hawkins before their go in team roping at the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo in Vernal, Utah. PRCA ProRodeo photo

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I’m going to be in. My wife is a super mom. She makes it way easier for me than I would have ever imagined.” THE LEGEND OF “POLLO” Yeahquo roped with his brother L.J. for the last two years, but when he linked with Hawkins, he needed a new travel partner to pass the time in the rig and split up the driving. Thankfully, Yeahquo didn’t need to look too far to find his new co captain. “I’ve got a good friend that’s going to help me out this summer driving a little bit,” Yeahquo said of his friend Johnathan Garza, affectionately known as Pollo. “Buddy and I will go in the rig to a couple of places, too. So, it’ll be pretty nice. It wouldn’t be as fun if I was going alone.” Two years ago, Pollo – an amateur team roper – needed stalls for his horses during the Bob Feist Invitational in Phoenix. A friend of his knew Yeahquo, and they stayed at his house for what

Tori grew up around rodeo and hopes to compete in breakaway and mixed team roping (with Buddy) at amateur rodeos this summer. She said it’s special to raise a family with her husband in an RV and at rodeo grounds across the country, surrounded by the support of the rodeo community. “In the team roping world specifically, there are a lot of families,” Tori said. “Our kids are going to grow up with so many kids. It’s pretty special that we get to have that many of the same like-minded people traveling.” As far as routine is concerned, regular naps, fruit and TV are the top priorities for the kiddos in the RV. Things get a little more complicated in the truck, so they play games to pass the time. The family sometimes hangs back on more difficult trips requiring night travel or a drive into the big city. But if the kids can travel, Buddy and Tori will make it happen. “I will not rodeo without my family at 80 percent of the events that I go to,” Buddy said. “Whatever circle they’re happy to make, that’s the circle

PRCA ProRodeo photo

J.C. Yeahquo (middle) and Buddy Hawkins compete in team roping at the Earl Anderson Memorial Rodeo in Grover, Colo.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/21/2024

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