story by Michele Toberer
Sometimes it just takes the desire to do something in order for it to become a reality. Starting out, rodeo was not a big part of Trevor Brenize’s life, as he grew up in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania on a dairy farm with 6 sisters and 2 brothers. But, when he watched as his oldest brother, Nathan, ride bulls, he couldn’t wait to turn 18 so that he could give it a try himself. “My mom was not too thrilled about the idea of me riding bulls, so I had to wait until I was 18 to get on my first one.” After borrowing Nathan’s bull riding gear, Trevor headed to Annville, Pennsylvania where the Redeye Rodeo Company has a weekly practice pen, and he found a love for a sport that he hasn’t been able to shake yet. “It was really like a bucket list thing starting out; I wanted to try it at least once. But the adrenaline rush I felt just made me want to go for it and keep getting on bulls whenever I could. That first time I got on, in January 2017, it didn’t go as well as I was expecting; but by the summer, I was making full rides.”
Trevor, now 21-years-old, spent his rookie year with the American Professional Rodeo Association in 2019, and after spending a year on the APRA rodeo trail, he qualified for their season finals and left with the 2019 APRA Champion Rookie Bull Rider title, finishing 9th in the year-end bull riding standings. Trevor is looking forward to riding in the APRA again this season and hopes to finish the season with another title at the end of it all.
Trevor’s dad, Jim Brenize, passed away when Trevor was just 6 years old, so he has been raised since he was 9, by his mom Angie and her husband, Lloyd Chamberlain. He is towards the bottom of the list of siblings in the household, so his older brothers were off doing their own things as he was growing up, and he spent most of his time in the country and doing chores needed on the family’s dairy. He attended the Faith Tabernacle school and graduated high school in 2016. Trevor has been working for his cousin, Brock Brenize, in his landscaping business, Zullinger Brenize Outdoor Design and Maintenance, since he was 16 years old. Trevor has played ice hockey since he was 12, and still likes to play in pick-up games nearby in Harrisburg when he can. He still lives at home on the dairy where they have mainly Holstein and Jersey-cross cattle. He helps with feeding and field work that needs done. “If I have to milk, I will, but I’m not a big fan of milking cattle.”
“I really like watching some of my favorite professional bull riders like J.B. Mauney, Justin McBride, and Sage Kimzey. They have so much grit and try and watching their proper riding form helps me to make my riding better.” Trevor is appreciative that he has a group of guys that practice and travel to rodeos together, and besides the adrenaline, traveling is one of his favorite things about rodeo. “Everyone is trying to help you do better and it’s so motivating. That’s something that sets rodeo apart from other sports. Rodeo is like a big family, and I like that I get to travel and see the world.” Trevor is also grateful to his girlfriend, Emmy Piper, for being his biggest supporter when it comes to bull riding. “Emmy and I have been dating for just under a year, and I appreciate her support of my bull riding goals.”
