ProRodeo Sports News - September 20, 2024

MANAGER’S MESSAGE TRACY RENCK

Gold buckle dreams fuel cowboys like Eldridge T he frantic push to make the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge is in full swing. Depending on their respective plights – cowboys and won the average twice in 2015 and 2017. Back in 2015, Eldridge finished a career-best second in the world standings to Hunter Cure and he’s fueled more than ever to complete his gold buckle mission. “A gold buckle would mean everything to me,” said Eldridge, 33. “We all strive for it. I have also treated this like a business Clay Guardipee photo Dakota Eldridge has made 10 trips to the National Finals Rodeo and is looking for his first PRCA World Championship in 2024.

are crisscrossing the United States, traveling thousands of miles, catching red-eye flights to chase paydays at rodeos and doing everything possible to try and make it into the Top 15 to have the ultimate opportunity in PRORODEO to compete for a coveted gold buckle. There are countless talented cowboys who have had outstanding rodeo careers, but never were able to win a gold buckle. That doesn’t mean they weren’t one of the best going down the road. As an example, look at all the great NBA players like Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller, and Patrick Ewing just to name a few who never won a world championship. The problem was they could never dethrone Michael Jordan, who was powering the Chicago Bulls to six world championships. Back to rodeo, consider how many people were denied PRCA Steer Roping World Championships because of Guy Allen, who won a PRCA single-event record 18 gold buckles. Trevor Brazile captured a PRCA-record 14 All-Around World Championships, squelching dreams of countless cowboys aiming for that ultimate prize. Some cowboys are at peace not winning a gold buckle in their careers. However, steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge isn’t one of those cowboys. Eldridge has had an amazing PRORODEO career, he has qualified for 10 National Finals Rodeos in 2013-17, 2019-23

and made some good money along the way. I had a good buddy, it was years ago, he said ‘Either way it is not all about a gold buckle if I made a good living doing this.’ I called bullsh*t on that. “The only reason we do this is for a gold buckle. I have fed my family and made good money but at the end of the day, the blood, sweat and tears I want a gold buckle out of this. “I’m not going to chase it forever by any means, but I feel like this is my year.” As of Sept. 19, Eldridge was second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings and will have another chance, Dec. 5-14 to fulfill his gold buckle dream at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Eldridge doesn’t speak for all cowboys, but you could hear in his voice what that gold buckle means. Achieving gold buckle success is not easy. There’s no secret formula. Everything has to fall into place. Cowboys have to perform well. Draw well. Seize opportunities and of course have a little bit of luck sprinkled in along the way. That’s what makes the NFR so special. It is not about one night or one moment. It is the cumulation of a 10-night roller-coaster ride and when it is all said and done if all goes well the gold buckle is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Tracy Renck is the Manager of Communications and Media. He previously served three years as the editor of the ProRodeo Sports News , and before that he spent seven years as a media coordinator at the

PRCA. He has three decades of experience in sports journalism.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/20/2024

ProRodeo.com

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