It hurts to fall off, but it’s sure exciting describing such action to those watching from the sidelines.
Troy Goodridge has rodeo lifestyle in his system whichever direction life takes.
Bleacher spectators appreciate the first hand experience style of delivery presented by Goodridge as he announces rodeos and bull ridings throughout the country.
“I’ve wanted to be a cowboy ever since I was a little kid,” emphasized Goodridge of Fort Scott.
“Fortunately, I had a fairly successful career riding bulls, but I just kept getting hurt,” admitted the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association contender.
“I was about as injury prone as anybody going down the road,” added Goodridge, who qualified for the Great Lakes Circuit Finals in 1993.
His recovery record was high, so Goodridge kept getting back on and collecting checks.
“I purchased my PRCA permit in 1993 and competed in bull riding until 2003,” said Goodridge, who rode broncs while growing up in Iowa.
“I was always more of a bull rider,” added Goodridge, noting high school rodeo competitions.
“I did well at the finals every year, until the last bull, and then I’d get bucked off and didn’t qualify for the National High School Rodeo,” noted Goodridge, who received a rodeo scholarship at Fort Scott Community College.
“Finally, my shoulder and knee injuries made it almost impossible to keep riding bulls,” Goodridge recognized.
With a desire to continue in the sport, Goodridge had an acquaintance suggest he announce rodeos.
“I really wasn’t all that much of a talker, but my friend said I could do it, and he’d help me,” Goodridge related. “I practiced and practiced, and I just couldn’t get the hang of it. But, my buddy said I’d be all right when the time came that I had to do it.”
Unbelieving in himself, Goodridge took the job when asked to announce a youth rodeo in Missouri.
“It was a five-hour, slow-moving marathon each night, and I was pretty discouraged by the second performance,” Goodridge recalled. “However, an amateur stock contractor heard me and hired me for several rodeos that year, which encouraged me.”
Now, Goodridge is in demand throughout the Midwest. “I’ve had an event every weekend since April, and it’ll continue for a few more weeks,” he commented.
In addition to amateur and high school rodeos, Goodridge has announced several professional rodeos and a number of association finals.
“Announcing college rodeos is almost non-stop action,” Goodridge qualified. “Now, I’m really excited that they’ve asked me to announce the Kansas Ranch Rodeo Championship at Medicine Lodge this year. That should be a great experience.
“I really have to say I get the most enjoyment from the bull ridings, maybe because I still feel like I’m a bull rider, even though I don’t compete,” Goodridge commented.
Among the bull ridings is the Flint Hills Bull Blowout at Strong City Goodridge announced over the weekend, and he has also worked some championship events for bull riding organizations.
Indicative of his adrenaline for bull riding, Goodridge has had his own cow herd to raise bucking bull prospects for five years.
“I have15 cows, and they’re all Plummer-bred,” he identified. “They have attitudes and pedigrees to back them up. I think that’s important.”
For mating the cows, Goodridge is using a young bucking bull prospect leased from Jimmy Crowther at New Frontier Rodeo in Roxbury.
“This bull promises to be a top bucker. He definitely has the genetics to be one,” Goodridge informed. “His dam is a proven producer, and he has several generations of top bulls on his sire’s side.”
Herd has been expanded with home-raised heifers, and bulls are showing high potential for bucking.
“I have a handful of bulls that will be getting some outs next year, and I’m optimistic they’re going to be tough,” Goodridge assured.
Although his children, Keely, sixth grader, and Troy, third grader, are “very athletic,” and “successful in sporting activities,” they haven’t participated in rodeos yet.
“Keely really wants to be a barrel racer, so I’m going to have to make that happen,” Goodridge said. “Troy doesn’t show much interest yet, but I’m not going to push him.”
Support for the announcing career comes from his wife, Katrina, a Pleasanton native who is attending college for a nursing degree. Goodridge is a sales consultant for Kirkland Welding Supply, Inc., as a “day job.”
Expressing concern for rodeo due to fewer cowboys having the desire to participate, Goodridge also worries about high travel costs and the poor economy being a detriment to the sport.
“It may not be as tough as I see it,” Goodridge qualified. “The sport has sure been good to me.
“I hope it can just continue. I am excited about contracting events for next year. I would like to do more rodeo finals, and the ultimate would be the Professional Bull Riders finals,” Goodridge concluded.