GOODING, Idaho – The bleachers shook. The thousands inside Andy James Arena created an explosion of sound, and it was all directed at a local cowboy.

Mitch Pollock still lists his hometown as Winnemucca, Nevada, but he’s been a southern Idaho bronc busting fan-favorite for the better part of the last decade. His Friday night 89-point ride on Korkow Rodeo’s Joker Poker to take the lead at the Gooding Pro Rodeo.

“A lot of bronc rider say, every time we go to a rodeo this time of year, it sounds like Mitch’s hometown,” said Pollock, 32, a 2019 National Finals Rodeo qualifier who has finished among the to 50 in the saddle bronc riding world standings each of the last seven years. “I’m so lucky, and I’ve surrounded myself in such a great community.

“I’m part of the Magic Valley, so we have Filer; that’s a hometown rodeo. I go to Burley, and my wife’s family is from that area, so that’s a hometown rodeo. I’m a Caldwell ambassador, so that’s like a hometown rodeo. Then I come to Gooding, and I went to school with a bunch of kids from Gooding and know a bunch of these farmers from up here; they treat me like one of their own. I’m very fortunate to be part of such a great state.”

 There’s a lot of pride in those words. There was also a lot of excitement. Word around rodeo is the Korkow’s red-roan bucker is growing into a superstar. Pollock knew that, and when the random draw chose Joker Poker as his match-up, he knew it was time to go to work.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Pollock, who sits 27th on the money list, about $45,000 behind the No. 15 man in the world standings. “I like that nervous. It’s not a bad nervous feeling; it’s good. It means I have a chance to win, but at the same time, I have to be able to slow things down, get my mind right and just know that what I’ve been doing and preparing for will go through and be worth it.”

It was valuable both mentally and fiscally. Organizers in Gooding have increased the local dollars mixed into the purse, so the payout should be substantial.

“That could be a game-changer for me,” he said. “I’m winning money in Burley, sitting second there. I’m winning money in Caldwell, and I’m going to pull a fairly good check here. All of the sudden, I can have a $15,000 week, and now things are changing because of the tour standings.

“There’s a lot that can happen, so that’s why I say never count me out. I’m a stubborn Basque, so you can never count me out.”

His family me have originated from the Basque Country in southwestern Europe, but he’s quite at home in southern Idaho. 

Gooding Pro Rodeo
Aug. 13-16
Bareback riding: 1. Richmond Champion, 87.5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Nicks; 2. Cooper Cooke, 87; 3. Sage Allen, 86.5; 4. (tie) Mason Stuller and Jess Pope, 86; 6. (tie) Wacey Schalla and Clay Jorgenson, 85.5; 8. (tie) Jacek Frost, Donny Proffit and Tanner Aus, 85.

Steer wrestling: 1. Riley Duvall, 3.4 seconds; 2. Will Lummus, 3.6; 3. Riley Westhaver, 3.7; 4. (tie) Cody Devers and Rowdy Parrott, 3.8; 6. (tie) Tristan Martin, Landris White and Talon Roseland, 3.9; 9. (tie) Jacob Edler, Trisyn Kalawaia and Garrett Oates, 4.0.

Team roping: 1. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 4.0 seconds; 2. (tie) Kolton Schmidt/Chase Tryan and Tyler Tryan/Denton Dunning, 4.3; 4. (tie) Brodi Jones/Cody Burnside, Cory Kidd V/Will Woodfin, Clint Summers/Jade Corkill and Dustin Egusquiza/J.C. Flake, 4.5; 8. (tie) Kavis Drake/Denim Ross and Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 4.6; 10. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 5.0.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Mitch Pollock, 89 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Joker Poker; 2. (tie) Statler Wright and Zac Dallas, 88.5; 2. Tanner Butner, 87.5; (tie) Damien Brennan, Lefty Holman and Ben Andersen, 87; 8. Kade Bruno, 86.5; 9. Tegan Smith, 86.5; 10. (tie) Sawyer Eirikson, Logan Hay, Reed Neely and Brody Cress, 85.5.  

Breakaway roping: 1. (tie) Aubryn Bedke, Kash Gay and Brooke Bruner, 2.1 seconds; 4. (tie) Maddy Deerman, Beau Peterson and Hali Williams, 2.2; 7. (tie) Jessi Everett and Rylee A George, 2.3; 9. Shayla Hall, 2.4; 10. Bradi Good, 2.5; 11. (tie) Martha Angelone, Erin Johnson, Taylor Raupe and Kinlie Brennise, 2.6; 15. Brittany Truman, 2.7.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) John Douch and Riley Webb, 7.4 seconds; 3. Bryce Derrer, 8.2; 4. (tie) Seth Hall, Shad Mayfield, Bo Pickett and Chet Weitz, 8.4; 8. Shane Hanchey, 8.5; 9. (tie) Tyler Calhoun and Brushton Minton, 8.6.

Barrel racing: 1. Summer Kosel, 16.66 seconds; 2. (tie) Halyn Lide, Kassie Mowry and Anita Ellis, 16.72; 5. LaTricia Duke, 16.74; 6. (tie) Hayle Gibson-Stillwell and Tayla Moeykens, 16.75; 8. Jordan Driver, 16.78; 9. Caitlyn White, 16.87; 10. Katie Hlbert, 16.88; 11. Katelyn Scott, 16.90; 12. Julia Johnson, 16.93; 13. Carlee Otero, 16.96; 14. Tricia Aldridge, 1697; 15. Julie Plourde, 16.99..

Bull riding: 1. Ky Hamilton, 87.5 points on Korkow Rodeo’s 883; 2. Trevor Reiste, 87; 3. Jordan Spears, 86.5; 4. Cutter Kaylor, 86; 5. Luke Mackey, 85; 6. Billy Quinlan, 83.5; 7. Qynn Andersen, 83; no other qualified rides.