True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they’ll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough dirt on his boots to call himself a cowboy — and mean it.
Name: J.W. Harris
Age: 27.
Event: Bull riding.
Hometown: Mullin, Texas.
I’ve been to Rodeo Houston about eight times.
I started rodeoing when I was 3. I started out with calves and then I moved up eventually to riding bulls.
My favorite part about rodeoing is seeing all the people, and how hospitable everyone is. That, and I get to travel.
When I’m not rodeoing I’m raising kids and raising cattle.
If I wasn’t rodeoing I’d probably be doing pretty much what I’m doing now, staying in the ranching life.
This article appears in St. Patrick’s Guide 2014.
