Written by: Maya

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J.J. Elshere, Professional Rough Stock competitor and 2014 PRS World Saddle Bronc Champion, is carrying his gear bag into the AT&T Stadium for the first time this month. The recipient of one of The American’s coveted exemptions, J.J. has every intention of winning the saddle bronc riding at the world’s richest one-day rodeo. While winning the average in the saddle bronc riding at the 2006 WNFR is one of his career highlights, J.J.’s trip to Arlington, Texas, is equally exciting to him. “I think it’s going to be fun!” says the 34 year old from Hereford, S.D. “I’m just going to treat it like any other rodeo – you want to do your best at every rodeo you go to, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Following in the bootprints of his older brother, Ryan, J.J. started riding saddle broncs in high school. The boys’ father introduced them to rodeo early on, and both gravitated toward roughstock. “Our whole family went with us to our rodeos, and gave us the opportunity to compete,” J.J. recalls. “Ryan taught me a lot about saddle bronc riding, and that made it a little easier for me to learn.” While J.J. also rode bulls, it was rodeo’s classic event that he pursued after high school. He joined the PRCA in 2000. “Ryan bought my permit for me and got me started in pro rodeo. He entered me in rodeos – even some I didn’t want to go to, but I got money out of it!”

Full story available in the March 2015 issue.