Adversity builds strength and determination in many people, such is the case of 28-year-old bull rider Tyler Crockett of Buhl, Idaho., who competed at the Chief Joseph Days rodeo last weekend.

As a youngster growing up in Indian Valley, Idaho, Crockett and his family started having rodeos in the back yard where Crockett got his first taste of riding on steers when he was three or four years old. His father rodeoed and his mother had been a Miss Rodeo Idaho. Crockett’s real hero as he grew up was his older brother, Jeff, who rode in the PRCA.

Young Tyler competed in a number of junior rodeos, honing his skills to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

When Tyler was a freshman in high school his brother was killed in a bull riding accident in Yerington, Nev., after a bull stepped on his head after he was bucked off.

“He was my hero and I thought about never riding bulls again,” Crockett said. “A real strong faith in God has helped me along through the years,” he added. The young man didn’t ride during his fresman and sophmore years of high school but found that there was a void in his life. To fill that void he started riding again in his junior year.

“My parents weren’t to keen on the idea but said they would back me 110% if that was my decision,” he said.

Crockett turned pro in 1996 and is currently ranked fourth in Columbia River Circuit and 39th in the Wrangler World Tour standings. ” I don’t worry about the rankings, I just do what I do and let everything else take care of itself.,”he said.

This year has competed in 31 rodeos but ideally would like to work 90. “This is probably one of my healthier years so far,” he said. Crockett has been plagued by injuries over his career .Some major injuries include a broken face, shoulder and knee separations, a broken ankle and a lacerated kidney.

“So far this year I feel like I felt when I was 16 years old,” he said. Crockett plans to ride until until his body give out or his heart gives out right now they are as strong as ever.

What does it feel like to climb on a bull and try to hang on for eight seconds? “It depends,” Crockett said. “Actually if you make the whistle it’s great; if not then it’s horrible.”

“Sometimes it feels like slow motion, but if you get on a bull that really bucks I lose all track of time,” he added.

Crockett graduated from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas in 2000 with degrees in communications and public relations.

“One reason I love rodeo, is that I’ve made so many awesome friends. It’s like a big family. I’m always treated real good. That’s probably what I will miss most when I eventually retire,” he said. “I can’t see myself living in the city and working in an office.”

Eventually he would like to buy a ranch, and said that he just wishes that is as easy as it was 40-50 years ago.