UW cowboy goes pro
Kemmerer Bareback Rider Donny Proffit continues to ride for the brand as he carries on the family tradition of being a legendary cowboy.
Proffit’s great-grandfather Hight began ranching in the mid-1940s, and later his grandfather Don took over the ranching business.
“My grandfather and my dad Clint Proffit grew up ranching and rodeoing to some extent,” Proffit stated.
Following in their footsteps, Proffit grew up ranching in Kemmerer, but he also knew he was destined to rodeo and started competing at an early age, gravitating to bareback horses like his father.
“When I started riding bareback, I seemed to be naturally better at it then saddle bronc riding or bull riding,” Proffit shared.
From there, his rodeo journey began, traveling from one event to the next across the country, keeping the prize in sight.
Growing up
“Growing up we were encouraged to compete,” Proffit shared. “I played football, wrestled and began my rodeo career early on, but wrestling and rodeo were always the sports I took to naturally and wanted to excel at most.”
Proffit’s father and grandfather not only ranched and rodeoed, they too were wrestlers in their time.
“I would listen to stories about experiences my dad had with wrestling, rodeo and working as a cowboy for numerous outfits as I grew up,” Proffit continued. “It inspired me, and he taught me a lot in both sports.”
In high school, Proffit won four state wrestling titles and one state bareback riding title, along with one state all-around title.
After graduating from Kemmerer High School, Proffit attended the University of Wyoming (UW) in Laramie on a rodeo and wrestling scholarship.
“After about a semester, I decided to focus on rodeo alone, and I qualified to four College National Finals Rodeos but could only go to three because of COVID-19,” he said. “But I did make the short round two of those three years.”
Proffit noted college rodeo came with great coaches and practice horses to help his riding and advocates he wouldn’t be as good now if it wasn’t for college rodeo.
Proffit dominated the Central Rocky Mountain Region as a leading figure on the UW Rodeo Team, but he had his sights on professional rodeo and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
The next chapter
In December of 2023, Proffit graduated from UW with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications.
But it was during college when he began his professional career, competing mostly at circuit rodeos.
“In 2023, I bought my Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rookie card and went hard for the first time,” he said. “I ended the season 36th in the world.”
This year Proffit set his sights on making his first NFR but sustained a wrist injury which set him back in the heat of the summer run.
“I had to sit out of a lot of major rodeos that could have helped me a lot,” he shared. “My plan now is to finish the end of this season out strong and stay ready for next year.”
Proffit’s biggest career and most memorable win thus far happened in April at the Red Bluff Round-Up in Red Bluff, Calif., when he drew the iconic “Virgil” of C5 Rodeo Company and spurred him for 90 points in front of a sold-out crowd.
He beat other riders like Kaycee Feild, Tanner Aus, Rocker Steiner and Garrett Shadbolt for the win.
Not only did this ride secure him a win, Proffit also set a new arena record.
During the 2024 season, he has traveled many long highways and a few dirt roads, as friends and family cheer him on and ended the season sitting 34th in the world standings.
This season, Proffit has secured some big wins pushing him up the leaderboard, as he placed third at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs, Colo. with an 84.5-point ride on Bill Flick Top E, and with an 87.5-point ride on OLS Tubs Stevie, he earned a memorable second-place finish at the Clark County Fair and Rodeo in Logandale, Nev.
Proffit is a rising star and is on track to dominate the PRCA bareback riding competition but ranching is also important to him, and between rodeos he helps his parents back home on the ranch with dreams of taking it over when he is no longer on the rodeo circuit.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
