Leanna Lehman
What cool things happen in December? Why, all the favorites, of course—the winter solstice that chases away the short days, Christmas and its festive good cheer, and New Year's Eve, abounding with shiny confidence in the year to come. For several Nevadans, however, another cherished event happens in December: The National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
Fallon is sending one of its own to compete in bull riding this year. While T.J. Gray may not have been born in the Silver State, he's been honorarily adopted by enthusiastic locals, his girlfriend, Kalona Marr, and his roommate, professional bull rider Billy Quillan, to name a few.
The 23-year-old from Dairy, Oregon, has lived in Fallon for a couple of years but has been riding roughstock for most of his life. According to Gray, he began riding at an early age. And, indeed, he did. "I started on calves at five and then just kind of worked my way up," said Gray, who went on to ride steers and eventually bulls.
After competing in high school rodeo, he moved directly into professional bull riding competitions. "I started getting on [bulls] professionally when I was 18," he said. Gray has had some guidance along the way with his father, Tim, and older brother, Levi, both bull riders. Now, he is the top-ranking bull rider in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) world standings.
Like many professional bull riders, Gray has focused solely on his chosen roughstock event and has not ventured into saddle bronc or bareback riding. However, he has attended bull riding clinics, which helped him refine his skills and develop his style. Gray said two of the most influential schools were the Gary Leffew and Shane Proctor Bull Riding Schools, both run by NFR world champion bull riders. Gray hopes to pay it forward someday and would like to help young riders develop their skills. If all goes well, that could happen as early as December here in Fallon.
Living with Quillan grants Gray access to a practice pen of bulls, providing opportunities to hone his abilities between competitions. It must be working because 2024 is Gray's first National Finals Rodeo; he is ranked first in the world and has $244,844 in earnings on the books for the season. Not bad for 23, with several of his competitors having also had the benefit of years and experience on the college rodeo circuit.
Gray has had several bull-riding legends who have motivated him over the years. "For me, I kind of take a little bit of the positive from every bull rider I admire," he said. "If you focus too much on one person, you try to become them instead of yourself." Gray encourages young competitors to find their riding style. "Try to steal certain things [techniques] from each guy…and be inspired."
Gray believes his great year is partially due to some help from above and his not trying to force things. "Instead of trying to rush to make it all work out myself, I just trusted His plan," he explained. "It worked out a lot better this year than trying to do it alone."
On Monday, December 2, Gray drove south to Las Vegas after visiting his parents in Oregon for Thanksgiving. With a bit of faith and his friends and family cheering him on, he'll be a tough match for some of the meanest bull flesh in the country. Good luck, T.J.—Fallon is rooting for you!
Photo above: T.J. with girlfriend, Kalona Marr on the red carpet at the NFR on December 4.
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