Jason Pollock was probably the only Canadian Cowboys’ Association finals rodeo participant wearing a tie for Saturday night’s final performance.
The chief executive of Canadian Western Agribition had so many duties during last week’s show, his first as chief executive officer, that he was learning the art of the quick-change.
But that schedule also prevented him from defending his title as steer wrestling champion. He said he and the board talked about his rodeo participation before he took the job June 1.
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“We recognized that Agribition is a very large show and takes a lot of energy,” he said.
Besides, he figured he had accomplished his rodeo goals. He attended eight or nine rodeos last summer instead of the usual 35 to 45. And when his horse was hurt in June, that “sealed the deal,” he said.
But then two steer wrestlers, father and son Ian Morris and Regan Morris, asked him to haze for them at the finals and he was back in the saddle.
“I was kind of glum on Wednesday when it all started,” he said, referring to the day the rodeo moved in.
Pollock was part of the CCA executive that brought the semi-pro finals to Agribition three years ago. Before that, the Agribition rodeo was on the pro circuit.
He admits the CCA competitors are not household names. But having the top 10 in each discipline compete each night means that those who attend will see the best perform.
“Our challenge as a finals is just to communicate the entertainment value that rodeo offers,” he said.
Pollock got involved in rodeo, first as a bareback rider and then in saddle bronc, about 12 years ago. For Christmas in 1996, he received a trip to steer wrestling school.
So strong is rodeo’s pull that Pollock is contemplating heading west to try a different game – the pro circuit.
“Rodeo is 10 percent physical and 90 percent mental,” he said. “I’d like to challenge myself like that.”
He believes he could handle that and his Agribition duties. To make the finals in his first year, everything would have to click, he said, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo doesn’t take place during Agribition.
