story by Jennie Lawrence
Quentin “Bubba” Holcomb has been a member of the Rocky Mountain Professional Rodeo Association (RMPRA) either two or three years. Bubba, as he prefers to be called does not know how he got his nickname, he has just always had it.
Bubba calls New Harmony, Utah home. He was born in Texas, but his family moves to Oregon when he was six. They just kept moving around, and finally ended up in Utah. He has lived there for six-years.
He is the youngest of seven siblings. He and another brother Zeke are the rodeo cowboys in the family. Zeke is an all-around cowboy, riding both bareback horses and bulls. He is also a steer wrestler.
Bubba got started in his chosen sport after watching reruns of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on television about five-years ago, and told his dad he wanted to rodeo. He attended Bar T rodeo school in Mount Pleasant, Utah the following week and learned the basics of riding bareback horses. Caleb Bennett was his instructor. Although Bubba rides bareback horses, he really likes to watch saddle broncs.
When asked about his winnings, Bubba was modest. “I haven’t really won a whole lot, but I have won Mount Pleasant and other little ones.” Some further research revealed that he won second place on October 23, and first place on October 24, 2020 at the RMPRA finals rodeo. He won second in the average. He also rodeos for Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas, a small town about a 45-minute drive northeast of Amarillo. Bubba is a sophomore, majoring in welding. He is currently sitting fifth in bareback broncs for the Southwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). His brother Zeke also attends the same school. Zeke is sitting 11th in bareback horses in the Southwest Region.
Bubba tries to make as many rodeos as he can during the year, but it depends on his work. He is employed by Dixie Curb Cut in Saint George, Utah. The firm cuts concrete and does dirt work. “My boss is really cool and usually lets me off when I need,” he said. He put 40,000 miles on his truck last year. he estimates he made 40 to 60 shows last year between the RMPRA rodeos, college rodeos, and open rodeos. He is a big fan of listening to podcasts when he travels.
Bubba had a hard time answering the question, “Who are your biggest supporters?” He credits the rodeo community with being very close and supportive of one another. “Like a big family, there are too many to name.” If he had to chose just one or two people, he would pick his mom Kelly and dad Jay.
Like any cowboy, Bubba has had a wreck or two. When he was a freshman in high school, he got on a bareback horse and hung up. The mare stepped on his leg. His dad did not think Bubba’s leg was broken, so the young cowboy walked out of the arena. He sat there for four or five hours while they finished bucking horses and bulls. They finally took him to the hospital and discovered his leg was actually broken in three places.
Bubba likes hanging out with his friends and family when he isn’t working, studying or rodeoing. His short-term goal is to make it to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming. His long-term goal is to make it to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
His favorite quote is by George Addair. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”
