story by Michele Toberer
“I’m a cowboy,” is not what Kendall and Micheal Bradley expected to hear from their son, Landyn. Though they thought it was just a phase he would grow out of, what Landyn repeatedly told them with so much conviction, finally convinced them to reach out to a family friend for help. They took 9-year-old Landyn to a local West Georgia Junior Rodeo Association event in Franklin, Georgia where David Paris, Sr. explained how things would go. “He talked with Landyn and helped him get on his first steer at the rodeo, but first told us that it was likely to go one of two ways. He said he’d either see that it felt different than it looked at the PBR events he’d been watching on television and get scared and never come back; or, he’d be a natural at it and in that case we better get used to the rodeo life, because we were going to be here awhile,” explained Kendall. Fast forward to three years later, and not only is Landyn now riding bulls, he’s dreaming of being a stock contractor one day and has already started his own herd of bucking bulls.
Now a 12-year-old 6th grader at Monroe County Middle School, Landyn recently earned the coveted 2019 International Miniature Rodeo Association Champion Junior Bull Rider title after competing on four bulls at the IMRA finals held at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma during the International Professional Rodeo Association’s IFR50. He was able to qualify for the finals by competing at the WGJRA’s IMRA sanctioned events during the 2019 season; and competing at the IMFR was an experience he’ll never forget. “I was able to compete on my final-round bull during the IFR50 performance with the big guys competing for world titles, so that was pretty awesome. It was really fun getting to meet bull riders from all over the country because where I go to school there’s not any other kids that rodeo.”
Landyn also competed in bareback riding throughout the season, qualifying him for the IMFR after winning the 2019 WGJRA Champion Junior Bareback Rider title. Although he qualified in both events, he only competed in bull riding at the IMFR. Kendall and Micheal still find it a bit incredulous that this young son of theirs has jumped into this new world with both feet. Kendall mentioned, “We didn’t have much of a sports background at all, I am a practice manager for Georgia Urology, and Micheal is in the elevator union in Atlanta, Georgia. But, Landyn’s older sister, Skylar Elkins, 16, has been a dedicated softball player for years. Landyn grew up watching his sister excel in softball. She currently plays as catcher for a national travel softball team, Georgia Impact, and recently was signed for a full-ride sports scholarship to Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, where she will begin attending in 2022. Stepping into rodeo has been a whole new thing for us, people welcome you in and although it’s competitive, they’re competing more against the animal than each other so it’s like a brotherhood where they help each other.”
Landyn is grateful to Dakota Paris and Ethan Ray for all their help with his riding. Landyn’s supportive family has not only allowed him to follow his rodeo aspirations, they’ve also moved to the country so he could have the space to build his own herd of bucking bulls. “I have four in my herd right now, with one on the way. I used my winnings at the IMFR to buy my first American Bucking Bull Incorporated cow, Kitty Scat, which has been bred to a really good bucking bull named Bob. I’m hoping that her calf will be a great bucking bull one day.” Landyn’s herd name is Triple B Bucking Bulls, and he hopes to one day work as a stock contractor, putting on his own events, in addition to riding bulls.
“It’s so exciting when the bull riding starts, and you get an adrenaline rush as everyone gets excited. One day I’d like to ride like my favorite bull rider, JB Mauney, and compete in PRCA and PBR events. The IMRA is giving me a great foundation to build on.”
