Brushton Minton grew up on a ranch in Witter Springs, California. The 25-year-old cowboy comes from a long line of talented rodeo athletes. His grandpa rode bulls and broncs and his dad is a former Linderman Award winner, meaning he worked events on both ends of the arena.
Like the rest of the family, Minton is an all-around hand himself - competing in tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and team roping. Currently ranked ninth in the tie-down World Standings, Minton is hustling to earn his second qualification to the National Finals Rodeo.
“I figured I’d pick one thing I really wanted to be good at, and I picked rodeo,” he said.
The cowboy competed in high school rodeo and moved on to represent the Coalinga Junior College Rodeo Team for three years. In 2018, Minton qualified for the College National Finals in the tie-down roping. Minton’s career almost came to an end as the cowboy began to hang up his hat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Luckily, Minton realized he was not ready to quit the sport that has done so much for him. The athlete then dedicated his full attention to his rodeo career.
“I just went full tilt,” he said.
Minton obviously wants to return for another NFR in tie-down roping, his favorite event, but he also plans to still team rope and steer wrestle with the goal of winning enough money to beat out Stetson Wright for an All-Around Gold Buckle.
After a few more NFR qualifications in the tie-down roping, he plans to shift his attention to trying to make it in the steer wrestling.
“I feel like if you want to try to beat these guys back here in Texas you gotta be back here roping with them,” Minton said. “I don’t have a place here in Texas, but I try to stay as long as I can.”
