Texas family focuses on producing best rodeo stock

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Trevor Walker (back, right) and his family are heavily involved in raising bucking rodeo stock at their ranches in Texas and Canada. Last year, not only did one of their bulls earn the AABI's No. 1 ranking, Trevor and wife Rebecca received the association's Breeder of the Year award. All of the Walker family members are involved in the business, (front row, from left) Zane, twins Amber and Quentin, (back row, from left) Megan, Rebecca, and Trevor. -- Staff photo by Montgomery

March 10, 2005 - Growing up in a ranching and rodeo family in ValMarie, Saskatchewan, 38-year-old Trevor Walker knew at an early age what he wanted to be when he grew up.

"Dad was a rancher and rode bulls and broncs. Growing up, there was not a whole lot of bucking bulls to draw to. I said I was going to do something about it, so I did," Trevor, who also rode bulls, stated.

Today, Trevor with the help of wife Rebecca, and children Megan, 11, Zane, 4, and 2-year-old twins Amber and Quentin, raises bucking stock, including both cattle and horses, on two places in Texas - Pittsburg and Stephen-ville - and at the family ranch in Canada.

Married 14 years, the couple meet at, you guessed it, a rodeo. Their lifestyle revolves around the bucking stock atmosphere and travel, spending much of their time on the road, between the ranches and attending bucking bull futurities and classics.

In Texas, the couple has over 70 cows, plus around 35 replacements and 50 or so bulls. In Canada, there are 50 to 60 bulls, plus cows and "around 120 head of bucking horses."

With all these bucking animals, the Walkers have received some recognition for being the best.

In 2004, they won the American Bucking Bull Incorporated (ABBI) 2004 Breeder of the Year Award and their bull, #269, was ranked No. 1. Their bull exceeded the No. 2 position by 15 points in the Top 100 ABBI Futurity Bulls listing.

"We were surprise to win the breeder award. It means a lot of what people think of me, and the respect of your peers in the industry," Trevor said.

The couple knew they had won the top futurity bull award, but didn't know about the breeder award, when they attended the awards ceremony during the Professional Bull Riders Finals in October, in Las Vegas.

Rebecca said Trevor was so excited, he took off for the stage when the awards were announced, and left her in her seat. Somebody said to Trevor, "Rebecca's behind you," and he stopped to wait on her.

"We were shocked," she added.

The Walkers also had bull #279 to finish in the 18th position and bull #285 to finish 31st.

Up and coming bulls to watch from the Walkers' herd include #381, #35, and #387.

The breeder attributed genetics to his successes.

"Pay the price to make sure you are getting proven maternal genetics. Proven means the mother has an offspring that will buck," Walker said.

With the Walkers' busy schedule, how does one find time to do everything?

Trevor simply stated, "I couldn't do it without the girls. Rebecca runs the outfit here in Pittsburg, and Megan is my right hand."

"Just the two of them can get more done," Rebecca added.

Ask Megan to explain what she does and she simply replies, "I can't explain. I just know what to do."

"What to do" could be all phases of working cattle, including working the catch gate, rounding up the cattle, feeding, etc.

(Megan was one of three youth featured in the Feb. 17 Country World article "Building bucking businesses; Young eyes dead set on building herds." Megan's passion is the family's horses, and according to Trevor, "she has a gift.")

Trevor is a "strong supporter of the ABBI" and is an ABBI shareholder.

"I have no complaints with the ABBI. I have been treated well," he said.

The future is bucking stock for the Walkers, not only in the pasture, but for the family.

Megan is following her Dads footsteps and already owns some bucking stock.

"Zane will be the (stock) contractor. Quentin will be the bull rider. Amber will be tough," Rebecca said.

"But Megan is the rock," Trevor added.

The family will continue to focus on raising and selling futurity bulls, and will eventually move the Texas operations to one location in Stephenville.

To contact the Walkers, call 406-698-6876.