By Terry Rhodes
At over six-foot tall and 200 pounds, Dillon Tiede lays claim to being one of the biggest, if not the biggest, bareback riders in the Mid-States Rodeo Association. He does stretch what might be considered the conventional bareback rider template. But that hasn’t stopped the 22-year-old Nebraska native from winning the Mid-States Rookie of The Year Title for 2015. He finished second for the year behind Cory Evans and second at the Finals. “Mid-States is a great association to be in, and they have always treated me and my family really well.” Dillon also competes in the NSRA, KPRA, and is planning to get a PRCA permit this spring.
Dillon took a hiatus from competition and did a self assessment to determine if he really wanted to rodeo anymore. “Then I got a call from Justin Nokes at Hastings College asking me to come rodeo there. He asked me if I wanted to ride bucking horses and after some discussion, I decided that I would. I was probably 50 pounds overweight if not more.” After losing the weight and getting back in shape, Dillon decided to enter the Overton open rodeo last year. “I ended up winning there and then went on to Lexington and won on the Horse of The Year, “Bloodstain”. Justin told me that if I didn’t go on and rodeo, I wasn’t being very smart, so I kept going.”
While on his rodeo scholarship Dillon majored in criminal justice. “I graduated with my degree from Dodge City Community College in 2013 and then went to Hastings. Some of my friends were surprised with my career choice. But I promised my mom that I would get some kind of degree.”
Dillion grew up in a rodeo family and credits his grandfather, Joe Phillips as being a major influence in his life and he rodeo career. “He’s a rodeo judge and has been Mid-States Judge of the Year and I’m pretty proud of him and respect him. He’s more like a friend than grandpa. My Uncle Tom was a team roper and bull dogged. I was never pushed to do it but it was always an option for me growing up. And, my mom competed when she was younger.” Dillon began riding steers and junior bulls as a young boy. “I decided I wasn’t a bull rider. In high school rodeo I roped calves, team roped, bull dogged, and rode bareback horses for three years.”
Dillon has teamed up with some friends to start a business building fence and cutting cedar trees. “After I came home from Hastings, they asked if I’d go in with them. It’s just grown to where it’s full time for us now.” He lives in Elwood, Neb. where he was born and raised. “I live with my grandpa and grandma and help them out here.” Leisure time is playing guitar, hanging out with friends, going dancing, or spending time with the family. “I generally stay busy enough that I don’t have a lot of time to get into trouble.”
Goals for the future are to continue to rodeo. “I’d like to think I’m smart enough to retire before I get too beat up. And maybe help out more with the stock contracting business.”
