story by Siri Stevens
Taylor and Tyrin Allen love riding bulls. The boys live in Glynn, Louisiana; Pointe Coupee Parish, about 25 miles from Baton Rouge. “It’s a rural area with sugar cane fields and levees,” explained their mother, Monica, who is thrilled that her boys ride bulls. “I love it – it’s an adrenaline rush for me – I can’t wait for the next rodeo. I get my reward seeing how excited they are getting to the next rodeo,” she said. “The LHSRA has been a blessing to so many parents; all the workers are so helpful and kind. Every rodeo parent is just as kind and helpful. They are a great group of amazing people who have helped me in every aspoect of this journey.”
“They are so dedicated – all three are dedicated to what they are doing.” Monica grew up going to rodeos and hunting. She has two jobs; a full time job at the Baton Rouge Coca Cola bottling plant, in equipment services, and a part time job at Francis Southern Table as a waitress. “I’ve been at the bottling plant nine years, starting as a temp receptionist.”
Taylor started riding sheep when he was six, and got on his first bull when he was nine. The 16 year old has known since he was little that he wanted to be a cowboy. “We used to go to the PBR in Baton Rouge and it looked like fun,” he said of rodeo.
He learned from his mom’s boyfriend, Brett Parker, and has gone to one of Gary Leffew’s schools. He trains by riding horses bareback in circles, getting on practice bulls and the drop barrel. Taylor is focused on rodeo, but he also loves to hunt, fish, ride four wheelers and go to mud festivals. “We just go ride and play and have fun with friends – sink our four wheelers and then try to get them out.”
Taylor likes school – he likes carpentry and metal class. He has learned how to weld and build projects. Taylor will start working at Francis Southern Table soon, alongside his mother and older brother, Tyler, 17. Tyler has no interest in rodeo, but he is an avid hunter and spends all his spare time at hunting camp. He plays high school baseball and drag races a Banshee. Tyler works at Francis Southern Table grilling oysters as well as New Hew Construction Company, laying down flooring and back splash.
Taylor wants to be a professional bull rider, planning to enter both PBR and PRCA as soon as he turns 18. He has had quite a bit of success so far in his bull riding career, winning the IMRA two years in a row (2018 and 2019) as well as making the National Junior High Finals as well as the National High School Finals.
His last year in junior high, Taylor made it to National Junior High Finals in South Dakota. “It was a pretty cool experience – South Dakota was nice beautiful land.” It was his first time being around so many contestants. “It prepares you for bigger rodeos.” He won the 11th performance and won the scholarship. He also became an American Hat Brand Ambassador while in South Dakota. This is his second year in high school rodeo, he made it to Nationals in Wyoming last July, but he didn’t cover enough bulls to make the short go. “The land is different in Wyoming,” he said. “And the rodeo was a lot bigger. It was more competitive. I made friends there that I still stay in touch with. My favorite part of rodeo is traveling and hanging out with friends and family.”
He helps his little brother, Tyrin, who is 12, by coaching him and encouraging him. Tyrin went to his first junior high rodeo this past weekend and Taylor went along to help his behind the chutes. Tyrin is 12 and is competing in the junior high division. This is his first year and he just finished his first rodeo. “I lost my balance,” he said of his early dismount. He learned how to ride bulls from his brother and Brett. Along with riding bulls, he also enjoys hunting and fishing. “I go for catfish, and I catch them with crickets with closed face cast line.”
Tyrin is not a fan of school. “It’s boring,” said the 7th grader who goes to Rougon Elementary. There are 61 in his grade and his favorite class is science. “We do experiments and stuff.” As the little brother, he gets picked on. The older boys always get Tyrin to do the dummy work – when the garbage has to go out, they get him to take the garbage out and they’ll pay him but they never do.
Tyrin played baseball for two years before giving it up for bull riding. “Always do what you love – that’s what I’m doing by riding bulls. He plans to follow his brother’s footsteps and go into the PBR and PRCA.
“I’ve always told my boys that everybody is not college material,” said Monica. “It’s ok if they don’t want to go to college, but they have to do some kind of trade school after high school for something to fall back on.”
All three boys spend a fair amount of time at hunting camp – the same camp that Monica grew up in. The hunting club consists of tents and cabins that are decorated. “We sit around on the porch and tell hunting stories, living life in the outdoors,” said Monica. “We wouldn’t be where we are without the help we get from Brett,” explained Monica. “He is their mentor – this is a different platform than baseball and basketball, which they both gave up for riding bulls.”
