ProRodeo Sports News - October 18, 2019

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TRACY RENCK

What was the 2019 season like for you? Payton: I was happy with how the season went, especially for just going to (Montana) Circuit rodeos. I didn’t really branch out. I mainly went to Montana Circuit rodeos and co-sanctioned rodeos, and I was pleased. How has your bull riding career come to this point? Payton: I didn’t really even high school rodeo until my senior year. I didn’t go to college; I just went to work. I took my time getting my (PRCA) card. I was on my (PRCA) permit in 2016 and was just shy of filling it, and I dislocated my right shoulder, my free arm, and that ruined my 2016 year. I had to get surgery on it. In 2017, I didn’t rodeo in the PRCA, and then in 2018, I filled my permit and finished second in the Montana Circuit. Did you have any family members involved in rodeo? Payton: My dad (Brett) and uncle (Zane Fitzpatrick) rodeoed in the Montana Circuit a little bit, and then I kind of baby stepped my bull riding career. How cool was it to qualify for the RAM NCFR last year? Payton Fitzpatrick, a 24-year-old bull rider from Polson, Mont., about an hour north of Missoula, had a solid rookie season. He earned $30,283, which placed him fourth in the PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings. After suffering a right shoulder injury in 2016, Fitzpatrick, 5-foot-11, 168 pounds, had a slow climb to his rookie year and is focusing on trying to qualify for his second trip to the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, April 2-4. Fitzpatrick leads the Montana Circuit with $24,229. The RAM Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo is Jan. 10-12 in Great Falls. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Katelynn, were married Sept. 14.

PAYTON FITZPATRICK

Payton: The stars aligned pretty much. I would not have been going if things would not have fallen perfectly. Parker Breding ran away with the Montana Circuit like he usually does. He won the circuit finals and year-end, and when that happens, they take the runner-up from the year-end, so I snuck in there. I had a poor RAM NCFR, and I’m really hoping I can go again because I didn’t get done what I wanted to down there. When you’re not rodeoing what are you doing? Payton: I jump jobs quite a bit, it just depends on the season. In the summer, I work construction in Bozeman. In the fall, I will pick up some day work at a few ranches, and we have a small ranch here at home we run. What’s your favorite restaurant? Payton: Applebee’s. I usually get a bacon cheeseburger with water to drink. What’s your favorite candy? Payton: A Snickers bar. What’s your favorite holiday? Payton: I would say Thanksgiving. That’s when all the family gets together. I have one brother, Grey, 22. What TV show do you love watching? Payton: That ’70s Show . What’s your favorite movie? Payton: Lonesome Dove . That movie stands alone, in my opinion. Do you prefer texting or calling people on your cellphone? Payton: I like to call people and get things taken care of. I don’t like to wait. How would your life be different if cellphones didn’t exist? Payton: As sad as it is, it would probably change my life quite a bit. That’s the one thing I asked my dad all the time, ‘How in the heck did you guys enter and travel and get around without a cellphone?’ He said they did just fine, and I know I would have had a heck of a time. What was your favorite cartoon growing up?

Payton: Looney Tunes . Do you hunt and fish? Payton: I love hunting elk the most, by far. I’ve been hunting forever. My go-to place to fish is below the house here at Flathead Lake. It has good bass fishing. You can catch them all day. Who is your favorite musician? Payton: I like red-dirt music. I would have to say Cody Jinks is my favorite singer.

ProRodeo Sports News 10/18/2019

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