Trevor Reiste hangs on tight during his win at the Pendleton Round-Up. Photo by Click Thompson, courtesy of Trevor Reiste.
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
Trevor Reiste has been honing his craft during his nearly 20 years of bull riding. So much so, that he has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 5-14. Reiste is one of just 15 competitors who are vying to take home the $12,501,505 in prize money.
Reiste’s road to rodeo has been a long one. He began riding calves when he was 8 years old, steers when he was 10 and full-grown bulls by age 13. Now 32, Reiste has become a professional bull rider with multiple accolades under his belt — and a few injuries for his troubles.
“Oh, I’ve had concussions. I’ve had several of them. I currently don’t have an ACL, MCL or meniscus in my right knee. I’ve dislocated my right elbow twice. The first time I dislocated it, I actually broke a bone in it and separated my AC joint and my left shoulder, and I’ve separated ribs, broke ribs,” Reiste said.
Reiste has had his fair share of success during his multiple years of rodeo competition. He notes his recent win at the Pendelton Round-Up rodeo as one of his best. You can watch his winning ride on his Facebook page, HERE. Reiste also won at Puyallup, Washington, last fall, and placed high at several other big rodeos.
He first qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 2017. This will be his second time at the competition. How did he fair his first time around?
“Not great. Yeah, they bucked me off the first time. So, we’re going to get some payback now,” Reiste said.
Rodeo season starts on Oct. 1 and goes year round, ending on Sept. 30. Reiste says he has a few sponsors, but most of the funding comes from his own pocket.
“We pay entry fees at every rodeo. I take a truck with a camper in the bed on the road, and then any flights that I buy, you know it’s all out of pocket. And if I get bucked off a bull, I don’t get paid. So you’ve got to ride your bulls to get paid,” Reiste said.
Reiste, who has been a member of the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) since 2015, is currently ranked ninth in the world for bull riding. The top 15 PRCA riders earn spots at the National Finals Rodeo. According to Reiste’s profile on the association page, in 2024, including the Pendelton Round-Up and Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo in Puyallup, he has won the RAM – Jim Baier Chute Out Rodeo (Fort Madison), the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo (Kalispell, Montana), the Missoula (Montana) Stampede Xtreme Bulls, the Eagle (Colorado) County Fair and Rodeo, the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo (Vernal, Utah), the Angelina Benefit Rodeo (Lufkin, Texas), the Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo (Indianapolis, Indiana) and was Co-champion at Rodeo of The Ozarks (Springdale, Arkansas). Those successes brought him $160,670 in earnings during the 2024 season.
The Linden native says seeing what he is able to accomplish is what gives him the most enjoyment out of the sport.
“Anything’s possible. And to prove that to yourself, day in and day out, it’s a pretty cool feeling,” Reiste said.
You can follow along Reiste’s journey on his Facebook page, Trevor Reiste PRCA Bull Rider, or click HERE to be taken to the page directly.