Just $87 was the difference between riding into the Thomas & Mack in December and not. Chason Floyd kept his hold on the 15th spot for a couple weeks. He had to keep going to keep ahead of Josh Peek, who was trying up until the last minute to get that spot. Neither pulled a check the last week. Chason got a couple checks the week before, but he hit three rodeos the last week, never pulling a check. “Josh wished me luck at a rodeo we were at that last week – hoping I would make it.”
Chason has been trying to punch his ticket to Vegas since 2012. “I had a very good rookie year, and tried again for the next few years,” said the 28-year-old from Buffalo, South Dakota. “In 2015, I got hurt and had to sit out a year.” He went from 41st last year to 15th this year. “I try to learn something new every year, and this year I’m more mature and I know a little more. I also switched horses after Labor Day, jumping off Sean Mulligan’s horse. She fit me really good.”
Chason got married May of 2014 to Jesika Garrett Floyd and the couple is expecting a new bulldogger into the family February 14. “She was joking one day saying if I ever made the Finals, she would probably be pregnant. I mentally told myself after we found out that I better get to winning if I was going to make this happen. And it did. ” The couple owns an assisted living facility in Buffalo South Dakota, and Jesika has a home health business as well. They are opening another one in Faith, South Dakota, within a year. “I also ranch with my family.”
He is still adjusting to his first WNFR qualification. “We woke up and went over to the building and started working on it – you go back to normal. But I’m still getting the calls, and it will sink in that I did accomplish my dreams. It’s pretty neat.” Chason will stay in shape by jackpotting and going to his circuit finals in Minot. He won the year end at those Finals. He plans to enter a few others and continue jogging and staying in shape. “We’ve been moving cattle and shipping, so it’s kept me pretty busy. I’ll head to Oklahoma the middle of November to practice with Sean.”He has never been to the NFR – this will be his first trip. “I didn’t want to go until I made it. We’re super excited.”
Chason grew up in Ludlow, it’s a school, a church, a hall and a bar. His family is still there on the ranch. He started rodeo when he was young, starting in the 4-H rodeos and then high school rodeos. He roped and rode saddle broncs when he was younger. “I got kind of big for bronc riding,” said the 28-year-old. His parents, Ron and Cindy, along with his sister CJ and two brothers, Colt, and Ckyler will all be heading to Vegas to watch.
