ProRodeo Sports News - Sept.15, 2023

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TANNER BARTH

Maverick Smith, 19, jumped into his ProRodeo career headfirst in 2023. The Mountain Grove, Mo., bull rider is coming off the biggest payday of his Resistol Rookie season in early September. Smith finished third at the Tri-State Rodeo in Fort Madison, Iowa, and earned $3,615 after his 84-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Gangster Rock. He currently sits in the top 15 in the race for the Resistol Rookie of the Year award with $28,025 won this season.

MAVERICK SMITH

How’d you get your start in rodeo? Maverick: Rodeo wasn’t really a whole family deal for me like it is for some people. But my dad rodeoed for a while, so it was something that I grew into. When did you know you could make a career out of the sport of rodeo? Maverick: I would say it was probably when I was 18 years old that I thought I could do it for a living. I started having some success. Why did you decide bull riding would be your event? Maverick: I think it just came down to how fun it was, the people involved in the sport and getting to travel the world as well. My family thought I was a little crazy there for a while. Who’s someone you look up to in the sport of rodeo? Maverick: I’d probably have to go with Jim Sharp. How consistent he was in his career has always stuck out to me. What’s one rodeo you want to win before your career is over? Maverick: I think it would be really cool to win Pendleton (Ore.) someday. I actually get to ride there this year and it would be sweet to win it. What have you learned during your rookie season? Maverick: I think one of the things I’ve learned is to never get down because there’s so much money to be won out here. I think you have to learn to lose before you can learn to win in rodeo. Why did you decide to buy your PRCA card at this point in your career? Maverick: I graduated high school last year and really just wanted to go for it. So, I thought why not get started. What’s your most memorable moment this season? Maverick: I think getting on Chad Berger’s bull Bubba G in Clear Lake, S.D., is up there for me. I don’t even remember how many points I was, but I know I rode him. What’s your favorite restaurant? Maverick: I’d probably have to go with Buffalo Wild Wings, I think. My go-to there is the chicken wrap. Do you have a favorite sports team? Maverick: My favorite sports team would have to be the (Kansas City) Chiefs. Do you have a favorite candy? Maverick: I don’t eat a ton of candy, so I don’t think I have a favorite one. What was the make and model of the first vehicle you drove? Maverick: I drove a 2012 Chevy Malibu. I put quite a few miles on that thing. What’s your favorite TV show or series? Maverick: Two and Half Men is definitely my favorite, it’s pretty funny. What’s your favorite holiday? Maverick: I’d probably have to say Christmas because of the meaning of the holiday and all our family gets to come together.

What type of music do you like listening to? Maverick: I’m a big fan of old country music. What do you enjoy doing in your downtime from rodeo? Maverick: I like playing golf quite a bit. I’m getting pretty decent at it. We play pretty often when we’re on the road. It’s pretty fun that’s for sure.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/15/2023

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