story by Lily Weinacht
Ryan Cox from North Platte, Neb., was raised on rodeo, but seventh grade was when he began to take the sport seriously. The 18-year-old steer wrestler and team roper qualified for the NJHFR in the chute dogging in eighth grade, and recently signed on to the Mid-Plains Community College (MPCC) rodeo team on a rodeo scholarship. “My dad is the one who got me started in rodeo – he used to team rope a lot,” says Ryan. “You meet friends you’ll never forget, and it’s a great learning experience. Everyone has the goal to be on top, and I’ll work as hard as I can every day all year to do what it takes to be on top. I crave it too much to be on the bottom!”
While Ryan heads in the team roping, steer wrestling is where his true allegiance lies. “I’m by far an adrenaline junky,” he explains. “All the pro guys are an inspiration, and it’s hard to idolize one person when everyone else is just as good, so I take advice from everyone and do what fits me.” He and his dad, Kelly Cox, recently finished building an arena at their house. “It’s a totally new arena – we’ve never had one before, so it’s pretty exciting. We just got some roping cattle, and our horses, and that’s all we really need!
“My bulldogging horse, JB, was a birthday present my sixth grade year. I trained her, and I’ve roped calves and headed and heeled on her. When I needed a bulldogging horse, she stepped up to the plate and started running by some steers, and she’s by far the best horse I’ve run. My team roping horse, Bunny, is a bay I bought from Wylie Currant my freshman year, and she’s really helped me improve my roping. I’ve gone with my dad to all of the high school rodeos, and I’ve started to travel with friends, but he still comes to watch, and it’s fun to see if everything he’s taught me sticks in my head.”
Ryan and his dad make their home between North Platte and Hershey, while Ryan has an older sister, Nicole, who works in a hospital in North Platte. “When you live in Nebraska, there’s a good sight to see, especially when it’s green. It’s a good place to live – except for when it gets really hot!” In addition to the NSRA, he competes in the KPRA, and plans to fill his PRCA permit next year. “I’ve been in the NSRA four years, because to get better, you have to have good competition, and when you practice with people who are talented, the outcome is always good. My favorite NSRA rodeo is Sutherland. It’s closest to my house, and since I went to school in Hershey, a lot of my friends come to watch – plus it’s good added money and competition.”
Since graduating in May, Ryan has used his summer to rodeo and do lawn and ranch work in the area. He’s studying Ag. Business for two years at MPCC while college rodeoing. “Dustin Elliott is a great role model, and Garrett Nokes is the timed event coach and a great person to learn from,” says Ryan. “They’re two great coaches to have standing in your box and helping you learn even more.” His goal is to qualify for the CNFR his freshman year and walk away a national champion. “Next year, I’ll travel around to some of the smaller pro rodeos and get a feeling for them before I get my card and hit the bigger rodeos,” he explains. “I also hope to qualify for every amateur association finals I have my card for, and I want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me along the way.”
