ProRodeo Sports News -March 5, 2021

introduced to it when I was pretty young by some friends. It was happenstance that I wanted to ride bareback horses. That looked like the most fun event for me. I went toWayne’s school and got the basics and went on with it.” Fourteen years later and Pelton is headed to his inaugural RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., April 9-10. “I think it’s a great deal to get to go to (the RAMNCFR),” said Pelton, 30. “I’m excited for it. It’s a great opportunity to get some money won for the (PRCA | RAMWorld Standings). It has already been a good start and I want to keep it going. I’ve been to the winter rodeo in Kissimmee, but I’ve never had any luck there. I’m hoping to change that at the National Circuit Finals Rodeo.” HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE BEST Pelton knows and embraces the fact he will be competing against his share of National Finals Rodeo cowboys in Kissimmee. “There are only things to be gained by having a higher level of competition,” Pelton said. “It’s good to ride against the best and it helps everybody else elevate their game. It would be fantastic if I could win there. It would be a good leg up on trying to get to the NFR.”

since they live 15 minutes apart in Halliday, N.D. “Jordan is a great person, No. 1,” Herman said. “He kept working at bareback riding and he liked it. He’s gotten good at it, and it didn’t come easy for him. He earned it. I really like the way he rides, and he’s fun to watch. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him qualify for the NFR someday if he can stay healthy and get some breaks at the right places. “I think the beauty of our sport of rodeo is you can come from nothing and be somebody. Jordan is a prime example of that.” Having Herman a phone call away is especially meaningful to Pelton. “He will give me advice, and he’s such a good guy to have in your corner,” Pelton said. “He (Herman) knows bareback riding better than most.” When Pelton isn’t rodeoing, he runs cattle on his family’s ranch with his father, Ron. Pelton and his wife, Tessa, have a 4-month-old daughter, Stevie. “I enjoy ranching and spending time with my wife and daughter,” Pelton said. “That’s the plan after I’m all done rodeoing is ranching full time, and we are working into that. I don’t have a lot of time left in ProRodeo, I know that. I’m closer to the end than the start, but there are a few more things I would like to get done before I hang it up.”

Pelton clinched his bid to the RAMNCFR by winning the average at the RAMBadlands Circuit Finals Rodeo with

258 points on three head. Second place in the average went to Shane O’Connell, the same cowboy who led the world standings with $17,160 March 1. Pelton is 21st in the standings with $5,829. “I was lucky to draw really well and I was able to capitalize,” Pelton said. “My mindset was just to ride bareback horses. That sounds simple, but I wasn’t worried about anything else but trying to put together the best rides that I could, and it worked.” Pelton rodeoed in college for Dickinson (N.D.) State University. He competed in two College National Finals Rodeos before graduating in 2013 with an ag business degree. He bought his PRCA card in December 2014. Coming into the 2020 PELTON’S PROGRESSION

“It’s good to ride against the best and it helps everybody else elevate their game. It would be fantastic if I could win (in Kissimmee). It would be a good leg up on trying to get to the NFR.”

– JORDAN PELTON

season, Pelton had earned $78,810 in his ProRodeo career. His best year on the trail was 2016 when he earned $21,019. Pelton was slowed the last few years by injuries, including a neck injury that caused nerve damage in his right (free) arm, but he’s healthy now. “I’ve kind of dabbled in both, going full time and being just a circuit guy,” Pelton said. “If things continue to go well for me, I darn sure will hit it (the rodeo trail) hard. I’m playing it by ear right now and waiting to see what happens for rodeos this year during COVID time, but if I have an opportunity to go hard I will.” Pelton’s rodeo progression hasn’t gone unnoticed by Herman, who stays in touch with Pelton on a regular basis

Photo courtesy Jordan Pelton Jordan Pelton, his wife, Tessa, and 4-month-old daughter, Stevie, pose for a family photo. Pelton is headed to his first RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., April 9-10.

ProRodeo Sports News 3/5/2021

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