ProRodeo Sports News - November 2, 2018

GRILLE COWBOY

Steer wrestler Brendan Laye, 28, of Consort, Alberta, had a solid season in 2018, winning Steer Wrestling PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year, thanks to earning $30,767. His biggest win came at the Fallon County Fair & Rodeo in Baker, Mont., in August when he earned $7,948. Laye, who stands 6-foot and weighs 200 pounds, is a cousin to Clint Laye, a bareback rider who qualified for the 2015 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

WITH TRACY RENCK PSN

You’re headed to your third Canadian Finals Rodeo (Oct. 30-Nov. 4). What led you to rodeo more in the PRCA this year? Brendan: I have been around guys like Curtis Cassidy, Scott Guenthner and Tanner Milan, guys like that. I had not been able to make it work to go down to any (in the United States), and this year I wanted to go with those guys and go to some other rodeos down there (in the U.S.). I was happy to be able to do it. It was neat to be able to see some other parts of the States and new places and go to good rodeos. Who was your primary horse during the 2018 season? Brendan : I mainly used Curtis Cassidy’s Tyson, the horse that got horse of the year in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. It makes it easier when you can ride a good one like that. It seems like anybody can win on that horse, and it makes your job easier. I have traveled with Curtis the last three years, and he’s helped me. Being around all those guys taught me how to rodeo and how to win and to have the right mindset to have success. What was your rookie PRCA season like? Brendan: This season was a good learning experience for me competing against the best guys in the world, and I gained a lot of confidence. To get the experience and have a little bit of success was good. I was happy to win rookie of the year, that was a bonus. I’ve never been to the Thomas & Mack Center (in Las Vegas). I’m excited to go accept my buckle there during the NFR and see what it is like. What led you down the steer wrestling path?

Brendan: There were so many people in our area and in our family who steer wrestled, like my dad, Mark, and grandpa, Alex. My grandpa was a multi-event cowboy. He won the steer wrestling CPRA world title in 1964, and I looked up to him. I grew up around rodeo. There were also a lot of my friends and family who were steer wrestling when I was growing up, and I practiced with them and learned from them. Did you do any other events besides steer wrestling? Brendan: I started out riding saddle bronc horses in high school, but growing up around so many other steer

wrestlers and having it in my family, I always knew I wanted to eventually be a steer wrestler. What was it like to have that nearly $8,000 payday this past season in Baker, Mont.? Brendan: That was a great rodeo. I rode Hunter Cure’s Zoom horse there. It was nice to finally feel like I did good against all those other talented guys. It gave me a lot of confidence, and it was a good payday.

Where’s your favorite place to go to get a cup of coffee? Brendan: You always have to get your Tim Hortons coffee every once in a while. What’s your favorite type of food to eat? Brendan: Probably a steak sandwich. When you’re not rodeoing, what are you doing? Brendan: I work on the family ranch at home. We have a cow-calf operation. Did you play hockey growing up?

Brendan: Yes. I played hockey since I was little. That was the main thing I did other than rodeo. I played right wing. I enjoyed hockey because it was fast-paced, had lots of excitement and I got to play with my buddies. I stopped playing hockey at the end of high school and got into rodeo more. Who was your favorite hockey team? Brendan: I didn’t really have a favorite team necessarily, but for some reason I liked the Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames. What’s your favorite thing to watch on TV? Brendan: I enjoy watching the hockey playoffs and Major League Baseball playoffs. What is the make of truck you are driving down the road? Brendan: I have a Dodge RAM 3500 dually.

Do you do any hunting, fishing, anything like that? Brendan: More hunting than fishing. We mostly do a lot of whitetail and mule deer hunting, and we also hunt for elk and moose.

LAYE

ProRodeo Sports News 11/2/2018

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