What Makes a Great College Rodeo Team Culture?

Members of the University of Montana Rodeo Team from 2000 and beyond reunite almost 20 years after their college rodeo days in Florence, MT. This is the family that you can find when you find the right fit for you.

Leadership, Sportsmanship, and the Spirit of College Rodeo

As the fall college rodeo season winds down and everyone’s eyes turn toward Vegas, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what makes college rodeo so special - the people.

Throwing your horses in with someone else and carpooling to the next college rodeo, blasting music on road trips, the late nights and early mornings, and team practices create more than just champions; they build a culture of grit, humility, and connection. When you go through adversity with a group of people it can create ties that last a lifetime. Every coach we’ve talked to says the same thing: winning runs come and go, but great culture lasts.

At Bullfrog Recruiting Solutions, I’ve experienced it personally and we’ve seen that firsthand — in vehicles, practice pens, and team meetings/dinners across the country. Great rodeo programs don’t just develop national champions. They develop leaders. They develop good humans.

1. Leadership Starts with Example

The best teams don’t rely on one person to lead - leadership is shared.

Coaches build teams around those who lift others up. Leaders show up early, stay late, and set the tone for what the rest of the team expects. They don’t just want to win - they want to make everyone around them better. Leaders don't need the title of “leader.” They can’t help but lead, even without a title.

2. Sportsmanship Isn’t Optional

In college rodeo, your attitude after a bad run matters just as much as your reaction to a great one.

“You’re not just representing yourself anymore - you represent the college.” — Kaylee Moyer, Frank Phillips College

Good sportsmanship builds trust between teams, and it’s noticed - by coaches, judges, and potential future recruiters. How you treat your competitors says more about your character than your time on the clock ever could.

 3. Team Over Titles

College rodeo might look like an individual sport, but ask any coach - the best results come when the team feels like family. This time in a young adults’ life can be the most difficult and most rewarding time.  Having a strong support system so you aren’t doing it alone can be helpful.

When a team supports each other, they bring out the best in every athlete. They celebrate wins together, bounce back from mistakes together, and create an energy that’s contagious - the kind of energy that carries into every practice, every trip, every ride.

4. Communication Builds Confidence

A strong culture isn’t just about what happens in the arena; it’s about what’s said in between.

Good communication keeps expectations clear and morale high. It’s how teams solve problems before they become divisions. Coaches value honesty, humility, and initiative - the same traits that make great leaders down the road.

5. Culture Is the Competitive Edge

Talent gets you noticed. Culture wins championships.

Every successful program - from junior college standouts to universities - has one thing in common: athletes who buy into the bigger picture. They believe in each other. They take pride in representing their school. And they know the team’s success is everyone’s responsibility.

“We can teach skills, but we can’t teach heart.” - Rodeo Coach

Final Takeaway

A strong team culture can’t be faked. It’s built through every early practice, every shared victory, and every challenge faced together.

So as you look ahead to your college rodeo journey, remember: find a program that makes you a better athlete - and a better person.

Because inside the arena, character always outlasts talent.

Ready to find the Culture that fits you best?

Create your free athlete profile at www.bullfrogrecruiting.com and start exploring programs by region, division, and team culture.