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Last updated on Thursday, February 16, 2012
(MEDORA) - David Garrison of Medora hopes his cattle will be stars in the rodeo.
Garrison became interested in the rodeo when he was in high school and college. That is when he stepped into the world of rodeo and started researching how to start up his business. He began training cattle for rodeo.
In 2008, Garrison and his father; and business partner, Jim, took a trip to Ohio to purchase three, three-and-ones. A three-and-one in the rodeo business is a package that includes a cow and calf. The cow will also reproduce, giving the buyer 3 cows in one.
Since their purchase, the herd has grown to sixteen, and Jim expects the herd to grow to around 20 or more by March.
Training begins as soon as possible, and both men agree the process is never-ending. Training bulls and cows involves showing them how to run through pins to get to their destination, not moving before gates open, and how to get back into pins once the ride is over. Jim says it is a process that takes time and repetition.
Potential danger comes with the long hours of training, and Jim admits there have been some close calls. When cattle are in closed quarters or cornered, they become defensive.
The ultimate goal for training is to get the best bloodline and sell the animals to Professional Bull Riders (PBR), the professional rodeo league; getting the best bloodline means having the best steer and best cow breed and David says it would mean a lot to train for rodeos on that level. Selling to the PBR is his dream.
The Garrisons are looking to sell the bulls and add more to the herd to make them better.
As for now the cattle are taken to amateur rodeos to be tested for their ability and competitiveness. The two took two of their bulls to an amateur rodeo at Mooresville in Dec. 2011. PBR and mid-level scouts attend these rodeos to see about potentially purchasing them from the Garrisons and other rodeo trainers.
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