story by Terry Rhodes
Austin Allred is a fourth generation bull rider so it’s no surprise that the 18-year-old high school senior has been riding bulls for some time. “I have been surrounded by bull riding all my life. My great-grand-father was a bull rider and a stock contractor. My grandfather and my dad rode bulls and I have six uncles that all rode bulls. So I picked it up when I was 7 years old. I started with calves, then moved up to steers, then to junior bulls, and on up.”
He’s been in the Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo Association for the last three years and has made the Finals two of those years. “Last year I finished fourth so I feel like I’m getting there. I like traveling to different towns across Utah and Idaho. I’d like to give a shout out to Ben German and his crew and Stacey and Casey Mascaro for all their work. And everyone in the Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo Association for putting on these rodeos for us cowboys.”
Austin says that he looks to family members to find his inspiration. “Of course my dad has helped a lot. He’s been there at every rodeo to pull my rope or giving me a hand anywhere I need it. My uncle, Casey Allred rode professionally and did really well; he’s been a big part of it for me. My cousins, Wacey Allred, and Ty Young have helped me out a lot.” He says that both his parents, Cody and Melissa Allred have been the biggest influences to him.
He believes in the adage, “Champions aren’t born; they’re made”. His dedication and work ethic are the foundation that his success is built around. “I do a lot of core workouts and running. Running is the biggest part of it. I do a lot of leg strengthening exercises. And I use balance balls to improve my balance.”
Getting ready to ride is pretty easy for Austin. “Right before I nod my head, I clear my mind of everything and focus on doing what I know how to do. I don’t get nervous about it, the adrenalin takes over and it’s just fun; that’s what I love about it. I do challenge myself to do my best and I want to be as good as the bull riders in my family have been. I want to show my family I can keep the bull riding tradition going.”
Austin competes in high school rodeo and it’s one of those moments from a high school rodeo that is locked in as that “most memorable moment. “It was at the Utah State High School Finals two years ago. Going into the short round I was sitting in fifth place. It turned out that everyone ahead of me bucked off, so it was up to me to ride or go home. I made my ride and went to the National High School Finals. Everyone was going crazy and all my buddies were yelling. It was very special to me and very exciting.”
He’s already locked up a rodeo scholarship to Odessa College and will be majoring in physical and health education. “With that kind of career I can have summers off to go rodeo. My uncle teaches (physical education) at the junior high I went to and he says it’s a good job to have and it’s fun to work with kids.”
Austin lives in Cleveland, Utah with his family. His older sister, Ashlynn is at Weber State University on a track scholarship. He has a younger sister, Hailey 14, and a younger brother, Dalton. “This kid is going eat it up more than I do. He is a big fan of bull riding.”
