by Terry Lidral
Trevor Taghon credits his father’s encouragement to develop a strong work ethic as the key to his success in bull riding.
Trevor Taghon is the Michigan state National High School Rodeo Association champion bull rider, heading out to Gilette, Wyoming for his fourth trip to the National High School Finals Rodeo. He’s looking forward to the opportunity to compete for a national title.
“My goal through the week is to take it one bull at a time throughout the NHSFR,” Taghon, who is now 18 years old, said of his final trip to the high school finals event. “I qualified by being #1 in the state and securing my 4th state title. I want to bring a NHSRA national title back home.”
The top 4 contestants in each category (i.e. bull riding, steer wrestling, etc.) from each state qualify for the National High School Rodeo Association Finals. Over 1500 contestants from the 47 member states and provinces will compete for NHSRA titles, awards and scholarships.
Taghon started riding bulls at the age of 7 and credits his first championship belt buckle with his love of the sport of bull riding.
“After a few years of riding I won my first ever belt buckle,” Taghon told us about the reason why he chose to dedicate himself to bull riding. “That lit the fire under me and that’s when I decided I was going to chase the dream of a world championship!”
“My dad produced rodeo events in Michigan. I was fortunate enough to be able to have the opportunity to be a part of those. I rode in International Miniature Bull Riding Association (IMBA) events and was blessed to qualify for the IMBA World Finals two times,” Taghon went on to say. “I also was part of a few other junior rodeo associations that helped me learn the sport.”
Junior bull riding associations are essential to the future of the sport of bull riding. Read more here: https://buckingstocktalk.com/rodeo-fever-contracting/
For Taghon moving into the NHSRA Junior High division was a big step.
“My best experience coming up as a bull rider was when I qualified for the NHSRA Junior High Finals. It was my first bit of exposure to the big lights! It was exciting getting to spend time and build relationships with people from the all over the rodeo community.”
This is the 75th anniversary of the National High School Rodeo Finals. Over 1500 high school aged cowboys and cowgirls from 47 states and provinces will compete in Gillette, Wyoming for national titles, awards and scholarships. Visit their website here: https://nhsra.com/
Taghon credits his father’s encouragement to develop a strong work ethic as the key to his success in bull riding.
“My role model in the sport of bull riding has always been my dad. Watching old VHS tapes of him back in the day, I see the grit and determination he had and I strive to keep that same grit and determination in my day to day lifestyle.”
That day to day grit includes a schedule of hard work and dedication.
“My practice routine is started with mobility exercises followed up but a 5 mile run. Then I do light weightlifting, and barrel work to help my muscle memory. Practice bulls are bucked around twice a week.”
Taghon hopes to win a national title this year, but he has eyes on the future. Now that he’s 18, he has acquired his PBR card and has won a round in a PBR event.
Taghon has some impressive wins in his short career. At the age of 15, he scored 89 points in a Professional Bullriding Championship event. This year, he won the 2nd round of Perry, Georgia PBR and finished 3rd overall in the event.
“When I turned 18, I bought my PBR card so I could get to that level of competition. It has been nothing short of what I’ve always imagined,” said Tahon of living out his dream. ” I’ve got a good group of friends that have continued to push me and help me get up and down the road to those events. I have learned to surround myself with good people that have the same goals I do because “iron sharpens iron.”
There is a strong support group making sure that Taghon has the opportunity to compete in the NHSFR.
“I have many great people in my corner that are helping me make my way to Gillette, Wyoming. It means the world to me to have so much support as I am finishing out my last year of high school rodeo.”
Taghon’s plans for his future are two-fold.
“My goals for the future consist of chasing my dream and being the best version of myself I can be.”
Author: Terry Lidral
Terry Lidral is a western writer/journalist who lives in Idaho. She is the publisher and editor of the online magazine Bucking Stock Talk and the online magazine Western Living Journal. Her publishing credits include Storyteller for Real American Cowboy Magazine, writing feature articles for Humps N Horns Magazine as well as a wide variety of national and international web sites, historical magazines and news publications. She is known for her "up close and personal" profiles of celebrities and industry moguls such as NPR's Tom Bodett; PBR's Wiley Petersen and D.H. Page, PRCA's Sammy Andrews, Cindy Rosser and Julio Moreno to name a few. She has been applauded for her way of making a personal connection between her readers and her subjects. She indulges in her love of rodeo by serving as an associate board member for the Caldwell Night Rodeo. She is also an accomplished trainer and handler in dog agility. Her shelties Amelie and Milo are titled in NADAC, USDAA and AKC.
