EX-MARINE ENJOYING LIFE AS A COWBOY
Bonner Cooper

Austin, Texas, March 20, 2010 – Ross Sherrod of Conroe, TX has one of the most interesting stories in professional rodeo. Five years ago, Ross was finishing up his second tour of duty in Iraq as a combat engineer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Ross had joined the Marines in June of 2001, only two weeks after his high school graduation. Sherrod says that he had no idea what was in store for him, as the September 11th attacks would take place just a few months later. Although Ross would go on to serve a total of one year and three months in Iraq, he is now doing what he loves – riding bareback horses.

The rodeo world is relatively new for Ross, who got on his first bucking horse a few short years ago. Ross’s dad had ridden bareback horses in high school and in college, so Ross had been anxious to try it out as well. Sherrod is definitely making up for lost time. Since that first horse, Ross has approached ProRodeo with the same focus and determination that one would expect from a U.S. Marine. Ross qualified for his first Texas Circuit Finals this January and made the Heartland ProRodeo Finals in Waco, TX last fall. Sherrod, now 28, says there are a lot of similarities between rodeo and the Marine Corps. He mentions that the camaraderie between him and his traveling buddies is similar to what he shared on the battlefield with his platoon. He also stated that the mental toughness taught in the Marines Corps is necessary to ride bucking horses. “There are times when your mind must make your body keep going, even when it wants to quit,” he says.

Ross is now completing his degree in Agribusiness at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. He will graduate in August and is sure to credit the Marine Corps for paying for his education. Although Ross was unable to make a successful ride on his horse Friday night, Regulator of Beutler & Son Rodeo, he will be an exciting guy to watch in 2010
 

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