Family man and professional steer wrestler Bray Armes, 33, solidified his chance to compete at THE AMERICAN when he finished ranked third among the top 10 steer wrestlers in the world following the 2013 National Finals Rodeo, where he won the coveted average title. The wheat farmer-turned-professional rodeo athlete from the Texas panhandle now lives in Ponder, Texas. Armes, a former collegiate champion and 2004 Texas Circuit Champion, left semi-retirement in 2012 to compete full time and has proven that he can mix it up with the best bulldoggers in the business.
Armes could hardly have picked a better time to chase his dreams as a professional rodeo athlete. “It’s amazing to think about getting the opportunity to run at that kind of money,” said Armes of having qualified to compete against the best steer wrestlers in the world for the highest payout ever offered at a one-day event. “It’s the kind of thing you dream about all the time when you’re rodeoing. It would be awesome to win THE AMERICAN; I’d probably be speechless. It’s a chance to win a life-changing amount, and I want to thank everybody involved in organizing THE AMERICAN for the opportunity to run at this kind of money.”
With the support of his wife, Neelley, daughter, Breely, 6, and son, Drake, 5, Armes will run for the money at the $2 million one-day event and plans to ride notable steer wrestling horse French Wonder, a.k.a. Ote, formerly owned by Matt Reeves. Armes lost his own horse, “Ricky Bobby,” in a freak accident in August but persevered through the regular season, borrowing mounts before teaming up successfully with Ote. Armes has since purchased Ote, the runner-up in the 2013 PRCA/AQHA Horse of the Year in steer wrestling.
Quick Stats:
- Events: Steer Wrestling
- Born: 12/29/1981
- Age: 32
- World Titles Won: 0
- Current Residence: Gruver, Texas
