ProRodeo Sports News - May 31, 2019

helps a lot of guys out.”

“Right now, I have my degree as a back-up plan,” Farquer said. “My degree has a long title, but the quick way to explain it is what I want to do is mechanical engineering around ag systems. To be more specific, I would like to keep it connected to rodeo where I could do some engineering with horse trailers and work for a horse trailer company.” For the rest of the season, Farquer plans on rodeoing full time and has set short-term goals for himself. “I would like to get in the top 30 in the world

“I like the individual part of (tie-down roping) and the physicality of tie- down roping. Once you nod your head, you are just maxed out the whole time, and that’s something I really enjoy and find appealing .” – COLTON FARQUER

A year ago, Farquer finished seventh in the PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year standings in tie-down roping with $22,027. This season, Farquer won the Industry Hills (Calif.) Charity Pro Rodeo in October and in May placed third in the average at the highly competitive Redding (Calif.) Rodeo, a ProRodeo Tour event. “With ProRodeo, the competition is very tough,” Farquer said. “You have to learn not to beat yourself and try and make your best run every time.” Before joining the PRCA, Farquer had plenty of success at the college level competing for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for four years. He qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo four times, finishing fourth in tie-down roping in 2017. “That was a good experience,” Farquer said. “You STEPPING STONE

standings and make sure I do well at the circuit finals and get to the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla.,” Farquer said. “That would be a good career stepping stone for me.” Farquer is campaigning two horses –Woody, 15, and Huey, 11. He has hadWoody for 10 years and Huey for seven. “My horses have been good this year, and they both fit different situations,” Farquer said. Farquer said his rodeo skills have improved since practicing with his traveling partner, Ryle Smith. Smith, who also calls Oakdale home, has qualified for the Wrangler NFR three times – twice in tie-down roping (2016 and 2018) and once in steer wrestling (2017). “Ryle is a veteran and brings a lot of knowledge to the sport,” Farquer said. “It is a lot of fun to practice with him.”

get to compete at the College National Finals Rodeo against people from all over the nation. It was a lot of fun.” Farquer also graduated fromCal Poly with a degree in bio resource and agricultural engineering.

Smith believes Farquer has a high rodeo ceiling. “Colton has a lot of talent,” said Smith, 32. “He has had success at every level. He and I kind of have similar styles in a way. I see some of myself when I was that age. He got on the ProRodeo scene the last couple of years and was doing good and was dedicated. We practiced together last fall and got to be good friends, and he helped me at the NFR last year. “He took care of my horse and helped me the whole time. Colton is smart and has a lot of desire and a great attitude. Once he gets one or two big wins under his belt, he’s going to realize he can do it, and then it will come to him. I think he has an outstanding future ahead of him.” Farquer’s parents – father, Byron, and mother, Dardalee – are veterinarians. Farquer has been around horses his entire life. “I learned to ride horses when I was a little kid, and I did the junior rodeos, high school rodeos and college rodeoed,” Farquer said. “Through all that, I got more passionate about it and wanted to compete full time and make this a career.” Through high school and college, Farquer tie-down roped and team roped as a heeler. “I like the individual part of (tie-down roping) and the physicality of tie-down roping,” Farquer said. “Once you nod your head, you are just maxed out the whole time, and that’s something I really enjoy and find appealing. The best part of being a PRCA cowboy is the travel and the competition. The one rodeo I want to go to this year that I didn’t go to last year is the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up.” Farquer has a brother, Caden, 22, who is rodeoing on his PRCA permit. When Colton isn’t rodeoing, he enjoys golfing and bass fishing. “In college, I actually competed in some bass fishing tournaments,” Farquer said. RODEO JOURNEY

Photo courtesy Colton Farquer Tie-down roper Colton Farquer, far right, shares a moment with his family, from left, his brother, Caden, father, Byron, and mother, Dardalee.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/31/2019

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