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RL: Did you always want to be a professional cowboy? telling myself, wide open, wide open, wide open. I think: move,
CS: Yes, for as long as I can remember, but I also wanted to play go at it, wide open.
football in college. I had a hard time deciding between the two
in high school. I had two or three rodeos in a weekend and I RL: Do you have any rituals that you do before you
had to miss football practice to go to them. It was kind of rough go out to compete?
playing a football game Friday night then having to leave early CS: I have a routine I follow. The way I hang my rope up and
Saturday morning to go rodeo, but I’m glad I stuck it out. so on and so forth.

RL: How long do eight seconds really feel when you’re RL: How does it feel to share the win for your “hometown”
bucking on some of the industry’s strongest bulls? rodeo at the All-Florida Championship Rodeo?
CS: If you do it right, it doesn’t feel that long at all. You’re not CS: It felt amazing. I went down there to win it and that’s what I
thinking a whole lot, you’re just moving. I think when you’ve did. There’s no better feeling than that.
done it so many times you can feel when eight seconds
rolls around. RL: Is there any particular bull that you haven’t
conquered yet that you hope to this season?
RL: How important is physical fitness to success in your career? CS: Yeah, I had a couple of them I didn’t overcome last year, but
CS: Pretty important. If you’re not healthy, you won’t be able to I’m confident that I will this year.
do your best.
RL: You received a degree in Ag Science, what do you
RL: What is the last thing that goes through your mind hope to do with your degree one day?
right before they open the chute? CS: I hope I never have to use it, to be honest. I hope I never have
CS: Usually, I try not to have too much going through my mind. to pull that thing out of my pocket. I want to ride bulls and do
If you’re thinking too much, you’ll psych yourself out. I just keep well enough at it to make a living. But, it’s good to have.

Photo by William Keirce

Rodeo LIFE 51