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An Interview with

DAYLON SWEARINGEN

Rodeo Life: How did you get started in rodeo? RL: Is there one particular bull that you
Do you remember your first competition? want to ride that you haven’t faced yet?
How did you do? What about a particular bucking horse?
Daylon Swearingen: My family has been involved DS: Bruiser, I would love the challenge to ride him.
in rodeo for generations; from my grandfather all Rawhide ProRodeo has a bucking horse named
the way down to me. I have always loved to go Kimberly that I watched grow up and she has
to rodeos. I rode sheep then moved onto junior become a pretty good horse and I would like to
steers and won my first buckle in New York as an draw her. She looks fun to ride.
8-year-old.
RL: What are some of your non-rodeo hobbies?
RL: What is your favorite rodeo and why? DL: I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and hunting.
DS: I like most of them, anytime I get to ride is a
good day for me. RL: Is there anything you thought you knew about
the rodeo lifestyle that turned out to be different
RL: In your opinion, what has been the when you really immersed yourself into it?
greatest win so far in your career and why? DS: It’s political and you really need to study the
What rodeo do you hope to win this season? rodeo; entering, traveling, flights, bucking stock
What is the ultimate goal for your career as and the list goes on. There is a lot of research that
a professional cowboy? has to be done to be successful in this sport.
DS: Winning the National High School Bareback
Riding last year. I hope that it helped those on the RL: How has it been competing with more veteran
East Coast know that if you work hard and prepare riders? Do any of them give you any advice?
you can come out here and be competitive. Any DS: It makes me step up my game and takes every-
rodeo I enter, I hope to win. My ultimate goal as a thing to the next level. Many have given me advice
professional cowboy is to keep working to become and I am glad to take it and appreciate the time and
a better person physically, mentally and spiritually. encouragement they have shared with me.

RL: What is life like for you on the rodeo road?
Do you have any traveling partners? How long are
you on the road rodeoing on average each year?
DS: I do not have any consistent traveling part-
ners because I am still in college and have to go
A Rookie when I am not at college.
to classes during the week. I am usually traveling

RL: What is your favorite part about living the
rodeo lifestyle? What is your least favorite part?
UNLEASHED different states and throughout Canada. We have
DS: I love seeing the country and traveling to

some beautiful scenery and exciting things to do
here. My least favorite thing to do is drive.

RL: If you could only choose one event to
compete in which would it be and why?
DS: Bull Riding. I raise some bucking bulls and
research their breeding. I enjoy taking care of
them and seeing how they buck as they get
a little older.
Rodeo LIFE 53
PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer
Photo by PRCA ProRodeo