Bull rider Kristopher Baker rides Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s East Texas Gangs for 81 points Friday night to take the lead at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo.
(PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – For the past two seasons, Kristopher Baker has been testing the waters in ProRodeo as a permit-holder.
In order to play on the biggest stages in the sport, cowboys must perform on their permits until they earn enough money to qualify for their PRCA card, which allows them the opportunity to battle in the world standings. That’s where Baker has been, but he’s got big plans, and he’s hoping to gain momentum to build toward the dreams he’s had most of his life.
During Friday’s second performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, he rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s East Texas Gangs for 81 points, the only bull rider to last a qualifying eight seconds through two nights of rodeo in Hempstead.
“When I got my (random) draw Monday or Tuesday, I looked him up and seen he’d only been ridden once,” said Baker, 20, of Coldspring, Texas. “I looked up some videos of him on The Cowboy Channel, and I knew he was real good, he was going to fit me. I couldn’t waste the opportunity.”
So far so good. Of the 22 bull riders who have competed over the opening two nights of rodeo at the Waller County Fairgrounds, Baker is the only one to conquer the demon. He’ll have to wait out the 16 cowboys that are scheduled to ride Saturday night to see how he finishes. For now, though, he’ll take the top spot and run with it.
Not only does the rodeo in Hempstead pay top dollar, it’s also a qualifier for RodeoHouston, which takes place next March. All winners from Waller County earn an automatic bid to compete next spring in Reliant Stadium.
“I want to go to Houston,” said Baker, a graduate of Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. “I’m about to buy my rookie card in a few days, and I was just trying to make some money to do that. Hopefully, we go to Houston, and I’ll take all that money there.
“I’m going to go and see if it works out and trust in the Lord and hope He makes my plan come true.”
Faith is an important part of Baker’s competitive nature. Riding bulls is a dangerous business, and he’s able to approach the game with a positive mindset because of his trust in God.
“I jut have the faith in Him that He’s going to let me walk away and He’s going to allow me to do what I need to do each and every day,” he said.
Baker has been competing on bucking animals for much of his life. In youth rodeo, it starts with calves, then cowboys graduate to steers before getting on bulls. He’s ready to continue building his confidence and his resume, and this is where it starts. Should he finish among the top eight in Hempstead, it will mark the first time since early July that he’s earned a payday riding bulls.
He understands that bulls will win most of the time, but persistence pays off.
“I always love being in competition, and I love every aspect of it,” Baker said. “I love being around people and all the family and friends I have. I’ve made more friends and family in this industry than anything I could have ever done.”
Waller County Fair and Rodeo
Oct. 2-4
Hempstead, Texas
Bareback riding: 1. Lane McGehee, 84 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Marie; 2. Brayze Schill, 82.5; 3. Colt Eck, 81; 4. Toby Deudney, 80.5; 5. Matt McLanahan, 79; 6. (tie) Bodee Lammers and Kash Loyd, 78; 8. Blayn Hughston, 74.5
Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Cody Harmon and Cameron Haumea, 3.8 seconds; 3. (tie) Austin Hurlburt and Tristan Martin, 4.0; 5. (tie) Emmett Edler, Logan Mullin and Justin Shaffer, 4.2; 8. (tie) Jacob Daniell, Colin Fox and Rhett Witt, 4.3.
Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Kincade Henry, Lane Livingston and Clint Singleton, 8.0 seconds; 4. Lane Webb, 8.2; 5. (tie) James Collins Jr., Cash Enderli and Shad Mayfield, 8.5; 8. Landyn Duncan, 8.7.
Breakaway roping: 1. Kirby Rawlinson, 1.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Rylee A George, Jordi Edens-Mitchell and Aspen Miller, 2.1 each; 5. (tie) Jade Mitchell, Tiffany Schieck and Loni Kay Yates, 2.2; 8. Hadley Thompson, 2.3; 9. (tie) Bailey Gubert, Taylor Jones and Amy Ohrt, 2.5.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Ethan Cart, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Full Moon, Ira Dickinson, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Downtown, and Wyatt Lavergne, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret Agent, 84.5 points; 4. (tie) Carson Bingham and Thayne Elshere, 83; 6. Cole Futrell, 82.5; 7. Will Pollock, 80.5; 8. Blake Starrett, 78.5.
Team roping: 1. (tie) Brenten Hall/Jake Clay and Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 4.4 seconds; 3. Treyden Larmon/Tyler Hutchins, 4.9; 4. Wyatt Bray/Sid Sporer, 5.0; 5. Denton Parish/Brock Borkman, 5.1; 6. (tie) Jeff Kanady/Caden Beatty and Cole Thomas/Boogie Ray, 5.2; 8. Kody Harrell/Kinney Harrell, 5.3.
Barrel racing: 1. Morgan Addison, 15.25 seconds; 2. Emma Parr, 15.33; 3. Abby Fields, 15.37; 4. Ceily Simpton, 15.40; 5. (tie) Gracen Harman and London Lyne, 15.44; 7. Brittany Fellows, 15.46; 8. Tiany Schuster, 15.48; 9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.50; 10. Kaycee Killingsworth, 15.56; 11. Taylor Baize, 15.58; 12. Carlee Otero, 15.61; 13. Shelley Morgan and Sherri Reagan, 15.62; 15. Acey Pinkston, 15.63.
Bull riding: 1. Kristopher Baker, 81 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s East Texas Gangs; no other qualified rides.