Kolyn Gilland, formerly of DeQuincy, started the 2019 bull riding season on Jan. 5, in Cheyenne, Wyo. There he rode his first bull of the year as well as the first bull on his journey to what he hoped would end in Las Vegas at the Juniors National finals rodeo.
Gilland got his taste for bull riding in January 2018 right here in DeQuincy at Penny’s Rodeo Arena. He began by riding four bulls a week and from that point never got off of them. He competed in several Buckle series put on by the Pennys at their arena. Gilland has broken a few bones in his bull riding career, one being his riding thumb and his arm. Both never slowed him down. He just rode using his off hand.
He moved from DeQuincy to Wyoming during the summer of 2018 and his bull riding career seemed to take off and prosper. He was able to ride in Buckle series in Dubois and Lander, Wyo.
Gilland has been on 58 bulls so far this year. No, he did not cover each of them for the required eight seconds, but he covered enough of them to qualify for the Juniors National Finals Bull Riding event.
He won four belt buckles on his journey to Las Vegas.
Junior World Finals will be held Dec. 5-14, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls.
Gilland has qualified to ride in the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas in December. His back or bib number will be 72. The bull riding event will be held Dec. 5-9. His first ride will be on the 5th, his second ride the 7th. If he scores high enough he will be back for the finals on the 9th. The event is televised on the CBS Sports Network.
Gilland is a former student at DeQuincy Middle School. His parents are Tim Gilland of Lander Wyo. and Teri Parker of DeQuincy.
