story by Lindsay King
Wisconsin transplant, Weston Winkers is now an avid bull dogger in the NSRA, M-SRA and PRCA Prairie Circuit. “My dad Scott rode bareback and saddle bronc horses in the PRCA Great Lakes circuit when I was growing up. My whole family competed in rodeo in some form, so I got my start through family ties,” said the Nelson, Nebraska, native. Starting in the NLBRA at six years old, Weston rode the bucking ponies and bulls until he decided he was more interested in the timed events in the fifth grade. “My dad was bound and determined to make me a bareback rider since he made the circuit finals in that event. But I thought the bull dogging and roping looked like a lot more fun.” Though a bull dogger at heart, Weston roped steers and calves in high school sending him to the finals all four years, in all three events his senior year.
“I grew up close to Jon Ragatz and Jacob Burks. I got to talking to them and started running some steers. Once I got in the rig with them it was a done deal, I was back to bull dogging after taking a break after high school.” Weston credits his dad with initially getting him into steer wrestling, but Jon and Jacob have helped fine-tune his techniques. “One of my proudest moments so far was making the Great Lakes Circuit finals in 2012 in steer wrestling. It was a big accomplishment to hit that goal. I fought through a lot of adversity, but it was also the most fun year of rodeo I have ever had.” With a second appearance at the circuit finals in 2014, Weston now has his sights set on making all three finals.
A grain merchandiser for the Aurora Coop for the past three years, Weston typically starts his rodeo weekends on Thursdays. “Last year was my first year in the NSRA. My favorite thing about it is all the bull doggers are such great guys. Everyone is always trying to help each other out. If someone needs a horse to ride or a hazer, there are ten guys standing in line to help. You simply cannot ask for better people.” Weston’s mental game focuses on the people he surrounds himself with for traveling and in daily life. “You have to surround yourself with positive people, winners. You always have to keep everything in a positive light to make sure you do not get down on yourself even when you are having some tough luck.”
With tongue in cheek, Weston admits to being an avid Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers fan amidst a sea of Cornhuskers. “I love going back home to where I grew up to deer and turkey hunt with my family. It is a tradition to go back there for that. But right here around Nelson, the deer and turkey hunting is phenomenal as well. I am just an outdoorsman in every way possible.” Weston recalls many late summer nights spent in the roping pen with his high school buddies. “We would rope until we simply could not anymore. Rodeo was always a big family growing up. It was also humbling, we were always trying to get better. Luckily, there is always someone out there to look up to and try to accomplish what they have.” His favorite rodeo to compete in so far has been Cheyenne, for the long-standing tradition and unpredictable nature of a long score. “I just crave rodeo, I love being out on the road every weekend, seeing all the people. I love the competitive nature of the sport and getting to promote it wherever I go. It is something I know I could not just quit at this point in my life.”
