ProRodeo Sports News - Sept. 7, 2018

GRILLE COWBOY

Rookie PRCA tie-down roper Cody Craig, 20, is making a splash this year, as he’s 21st in the Sept. 4 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. He also is in a tight battle with Ty Harris to see who wins the PRCA | Resistol tie-down roping rookie of the year. Craig leads the race by $2,357 and is making a push for the coveted Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

WITH TRACY RENCK PSN

How did you get involved with rodeo? Cody: Rodeo is all I have ever done my entire life. My dad (Jerimy) ropes a little bit, but the whole family on my dad’s side rodeoed, raised horses and ranched. How much pride do you take in being a roper from Idaho? Cody: I love it. There are not as many ropers (in Idaho), but there are still some good ones, and it is cool to be competing at this level and be from that part of the country. When I was growing up, I team roped as a heeler and tie-down roped. I just loved tie-down roping more because it is on yourself, you don’t have to worry about anybody else. What has been the best part of this season? Cody: Just getting experience and being able to rope around all these good guys. The coolest place I’ve been so far is when I got to rope in Colorado Springs (Colo., at the Pikes Peak Or Bust Rodeo in July). I’ve never traveled like this before, and it has been pretty crazy. What has been the most trying part of the season? Cody: Just remembering to stay positive and keep moving forward. You have ups and downs, and you have to overcome them. The mental aspect is one of the main parts of rodeo. I hate losing more than I like winning. You have to forget about it and go to the next one.” What horse are you using? Cody: I have a little roan horse who I have had for a few years, her name is Reba, and she is 12. She’s pretty green, but this year she’s really come along. She has been awesome. I have been really surprised about how well she has done, and she is just really tough.

Are you going to college or are you just competing in the PRCA full-time? Cody: I’m just rodeoing full time. This has been my dream since I was little.

When did you realize you might be able to make a living as a tie-down roper? Cody: My junior year of high school. I went down to Texas during the winter, and I realized I could compete pretty well against some top ropers. How did your PRCA career progress to this point? Cody: I went two years on my (PRCA) permit and that dang sure helped me a lot. I got to go to the RAM

Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo on my permit, and then I also was able to rope against a bunch of good guys at all the big rodeos up there in that circuit. It was cool. Now, it is awesome that I’m buddies with a lot of these PRCA stars, and I get to know them, and I get to try and beat them. Who have been the biggest influences and supporters of your rodeo career? Cody: My dad (Jerimy) and my mom (Sandi) and (fellow tie-down roper) Jake Pratt. Jake is going to make his first Finals this year. He has showed me the ropes and helped me out a lot. (Pratt was sixth in the Sept. 4 world standings.) Do you have any brothers or sisters? Cody: I have a brother, Blake, who is 17. He is a team roping heeler and a senior in high school. Where is your favorite restaurant to eat? Cody: Texas Roadhouse. I get the ribeye with iced tea and salad. Who is your favorite non-rodeo athlete? Cody: (Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and former Baltimore Raven) Ray Lewis. He’s straight up and self-confident, which I like. Did you play other sports growing up? Cody: I played football until my freshman year of high school. I played linebacker and then I just started rodeoing all of the time. When you are not rodeoing, what do you do for fun? Cody: I like to go hunting (in Idaho). I hunt for about everything - deer, elk and coyotes. I have been hunting ever since I was little. What’s your go-to movie to watch? Cody: Young Guns . That’s a good Western with “Billy the Kid,” (played by Emilio Estevez).

Would you rather bungee jump or ride a roller coaster? Cody: Ride a roller coaster. The coolest roller coaster I’ve been on was the one in Las Vegas at New York New York. That was a blast.

CODY CRAIG

ProRodeo Sports News 9/7/2018

ProRodeo.com

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