The Heart of College Rodeo: Community, Grit, and Growth

Coach Steve Edwards, Heidi Foy, Bridger Chambers- University of Montana Coach and Alum.

As the rodeo world turns its attention toward the PRCA world and the year-end stretch and the energy builds toward Vegas, it’s a good time to step back and look at what really makes this sport powerful. It isn’t just the long scores, the fast runs, or the clean dismounts; or even the not-so-clean dismounts. It’s the people. The community. The relationships you build along the way. The grit. The growth that happens along the way.

It was years after my college life that I realized the thing that has driven me in every work position I have held was the people that I worked with and for.  The people I served and, if I’m honest, the people that served me more than I did them.  The relationships that I built along the way have, and will continue to, shape who I am.  The whole foundation behind the Bullfrog brand was created based on that realization.  And as the idea continued to grow from 2019 through the launch of the Portal in 2023, it became crystal clear to me that those relationships started with my experience in college rodeo!

I have vivid memories from my time in college. Some from the classes that I took, but mostly from the family I made. A team that was there for me during the ups of qualifying for the CNFR and even the first goat tying run I made after I had a major back surgery. A rodeo family that was more than just the students on my team. The students across the region who supported me during one of the hardest times of my college rodeo career. Right after Frog died. From treats on my front porch to surprising me with sour patch watermelon and notes of encouragement at that first college rodeo without him. Spending Easter weekend at my home away from home where my coach and team hosted a team roping with no horses - it was all on foot. I'll never know if it was intentional or just something that they always did.

College rodeo creates something you can’t get in a classroom or on a traditional team. It gives students a place to belong, a reason to push themselves, and a family that forms in the practice pen, in the truck on long drives, and behind the bucking chutes. Coaches tell us time and time again that the wins matter, but the relationships matter more. Building good humans matter.

The Community Behind the Arena Lights and the College Rodeo Championships

When a freshman shows up on campus unsure of their place, rodeo gives them one. It is a sport built on mentorship and shared experience. Older teammates help younger ones, athletes from different states come together, and competitors become friends rather than rivals.

“Students perform better when they feel at home. Rodeo teams create that for kids faster than anything else on campus.” - Rodeo Coach

That sense of belonging is part of what keeps athletes grounded through tough practices, long weekends, and demanding academic schedules.

Grit You Can’t Fake

College rodeo demands effort, responsibility, and resilience in ways few sports do. You’re not just managing practice. You’re managing horses, feeding schedules, travel, weather, and equipment. You learn quickly that there’s no shortcut to success.

College rodeo builds exactly that. The discipline required in this sport doesn’t fade after graduation - it becomes part of who these students are.

Growth That Shows Up Everywhere

The confidence a student gains in the arena shows up in the classroom. The communication skills they learn with teammates show up in their future careers. The humility they develop after a tough run shows up in how they handle challenges long after their rodeo days are over. Their ability to overcome adversity helps to create a toughness in them that is needed in the world.

This sport shapes leaders. Not just athletes.

A Season Full of Meaning

As the rodeo community prepares for the next big stretch, it’s worth remembering that while buckles and banners are exciting, the real reward is the kind of person each athlete becomes through the process. The friendships built, the lessons learned, and the maturity gained last far longer than any arena spotlight.

College rodeo isn’t just a sport. It’s a way of life that teaches students how to show up; for themselves, for their teammates, and for their future. This can be said about college and about the pro level.

Stay Connected to the Rodeo Community

Get all the details of the Rodeo's Next Up Conference held in Las Vegas this December.

This December in Las Vegas, the Western Sports Foundation is hosting the Rodeo’s Next Up Conference, a two-day event focused on athlete development, sports psychology, partnerships and branding, sponsorship strategy, and preparing rodeo athletes for the professional level. Bullfrog Recruiting Solutions will be in attendance, connecting with coaches and leaders across the industry and bringing back insights that will directly support high school and college rodeo athletes. If you want to understand where the sport is headed, this conference is one of the most valuable touchpoints of the season.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your recruiting process, create your free athlete profile right here!

It’s the easiest way to get on the radar of college coaches and stay ahead as we head into a new season.