The sport of bull riding is not one to be taken lightly. When a rider falls in the arena, the only thing they can see is an angry bull charging straight at them, which can be fatal. Bull riding and rodeo competitions, despite the dangers involved, are popular among adrenaline-seeking sports fans. The sport has also captured the imagination of the younger generation, many of whom want to one day compete as professional cowboys. For Sterling Huitron, 13, bull riding is his passion, and he’s already accomplished a lot for someone his age.

The New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung featured a young man with dreams of becoming a professional cowboy. But Sterling Huitron doesn’t only talk about his hopes and dreams; he also talks about a remarkable accomplishment he made just lately.

Dedicated completely to bull riding

Sterling Huitron, age 13, rides bulls twice his size when most American kids his age play basketball, baseball, or soccer. He recently finished the seventh grade at Canyon Middle School in Castro Valley, California. A trip to Perry, Georgia, for the National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) on June 18–24 is in the pipeline for the young cowboy. Huitron’s interest in rodeos dates back to when he was just two years old. Since he began competing at the tender age of nine, his curiosity has grown into a burning desire to one day earn a living as a professional cowboy.

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In an interview with the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung, he narrates his cowboy journey in a few words, saying, “I thought it’d be fun, and I tried it, and I loved it.” Since the first time he stepped into an arena, the 13-year-old hasn’t stopped competing. He has rodeoed in several different cities, including Guthrie, Oklahoma, and Las Vegas. Huitron has accomplished a great deal thus far in his life, including placing third in senior steer riding at the 2022 World Championship Miniature Bull Riding (WCMB) World Finals and winning the 2022 and 2023 Texas Junior High Rodeo Association (TJHRA) Region VI championships. By placing third at the TJHRA State Finals in May, he qualified for the upcoming NJHFR nationals.

A supporting mother with concerns

This young cowboy’s mother’s name is Candace. She cheers Huitron on as he pursues his passion for bull riding. “If we’re not able to get him there because of work… someone is always there to help him get down the road,” she says, elaborating on the family’s unwavering support. The possible perils of bull riding keep Candace, a nurse, on guard despite the backing of his family.

Since “that’s the biggest risk,” as Candace puts it in the interview, the sport is fraught with perils. She never misses a rodeo her son is in, and she always makes sure there are medics there. Candace is concerned about maintaining as much equilibrium in Huitron’s life as she can as he pursues his ambition of being a professional cowboy.

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