Talk banking industry with the president of the Bank of Cushing John Bryant and you might get an earful – especially if you bring up the recent changes; but talk Cushing Rodeo with the president of the Cushing Community Rodeo Association John Bryant and you just might see a big grin come across his face.
John Bryant has been one of the driving forces behind the Cushing Community PRCA Rodeo for over 20 years now and it is one of the things he looks forward to most each year. That said, he is quick to give credit to those behind the scenes who work to make it happen.
“We have a great rodeo committee,” Bryant said. “People just come up to me and ask if they can be on the committee. They do a great job.”
He went on to commend the ones who prepare the rodeo grounds each year – Jim Lauerman, Gary Cussner and Pat O’Kelley.
“It’s a relief to have them in charge,” Bryant said.
Bryant said he wasn’t always involved in the Cushing Rodeo. “I was doing a lot of rodeoing when they first started. I believe it was an IPRA rodeo at first and I had my PRCA card and I was going a different direction.”
Bryant was very active in rodeo from the 80s until back surgery in 2002 took him away from the sport he loves. Primarily a “steer ropin’, team ropin"” kind of guy, Bryant boasts that Cushing Rodeo is one of the few PRCA rodeos that still includes steer roping in its main schedule of events.
“A lot of places just don’t do that anymore,” he said.
When asked what other changes he’s seen in rodeoin’ Bryant said, “It’s gotten a lot faster, bulls buck harder. They’re running at more money – they’ve got better horses, better bulls.”
“They’re getting younger, too,” he added with a laugh.
Bryant said his favorite part of his rodeo days was actually training the horses. “Of course I liked to win the money – but I never did do much of that,” he chuckled. “I really preferred training the horses. I’ve had some pretty nice horses in my time and I trained most of them. I like that part of the rodeo.”
Unfortunately, due to his back surgery, Bryant isn’t able to do much riding any more, but admits doing it once in a while. “I sent my old steer horse down to a friend of mine in Texas,” he said. “So when I go down there I ride him. He’s gentle.”
Come Friday, July 8th, Bryant may not be on a horse, but he’ll be riding tall in the saddle as he sees people stream in to attend this year’s rodeo events.
“We’ve been amazed at how many people come from all over,” Bryant said. “I hope everyone will come out and have a good time at the rodeo!”
Cushing Community PRCA Rodeo has been voted the “best rodeo in a small town” several times the past two decades on the Prairie Circuit, which includes Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.
Tickets are on sale now and available at both Bank of Cushing locations in Cushing: 224 E. Broadway and 2106 E. Main – $10 in advance and $12 at the gate.
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