Bradley Harter is an 11-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in the saddle bronc riding and in 2019 he suffered a career ending injury.
“So rodeoing professionally, you drive thousands of miles wondering, you know you have an expiration on your career so I went along ways wondering what the next step in my life was,” Harter said.
When he hung up his saddle, it was insurance that Harter pursued and today, is the No. 1 salesman for life insurance with Farm Bureau Insurance and No. 1 in car insurance in Louisiana.
“It’s been just by the grace of God you know… the best part about it, it’s like rodeo. You get out of it what you put into it,” he said.
But Harter’s newest adventure came about on April 1, 2022 when he took over as the PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding Event Director. One thing that is different about Harter than past directors is that he is no longer competing in the rodeo arena.
“I’m not retired, I’m just redirected and so ‘m not competing anymore but I had some guys call me, ask me if I would serve as it and it’s been a great job. I still get to help my fellow competitors,” Harter said.
Within the PRCA, each event’s contestants select a representative that does not sit on the PRCA Board but still has a voice for the contestants on matters that the board has a hand in.
“What you are is the voice for the saddle bronc riding. You’re looking at rules, different committees trying to pass different things so you’re helping see what the guys want, taking a collective gathering of what they want. We’ll sit down together, chose horses for all the Xtreme Bronc riding events, we’ll pick horses for the National Finals Rodeo. So you’re just collectively the spokesperson for these guys,” Harter said.
Twenty years of rodeo and Harter is a great fit for the position.