Ramsey Sullivan
news@greenepublishing.com
The plans we make for ourselves don't always work out like we want them to, but sometimes, things turn out better than we could have planned for ourselves.
Michael McCamman, a 2016 graduate of Aucilla Christian Academy and Greenville resident, never thought he would be competing in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit as a bareback rider. McCamman didn't grow up in the rodeo scene. In fact, he didn't even start until he was sixteen years old.
"I started working for Paul Bass and he used to rodeo and ride bareback, so he got me into it and helped me get started," said McCamman.
With no plans to continue his rodeo career in college, McCamman qualified for the High School National Finals. It was there that his future college coach caught a glimpse of him as a rider and offered him the opportunity to attend Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) on a full ride scholarship. McCamman attended FSCC for three years, and graduated with his Associates of Science degree.
After graduating in 2019, McCamman continued his rodeo career with the PRCA, where he is currently riding in the Southeastern bareback circuit. "I'm just traveling around the country, staying with some of my buddies, finding rodeos to ride in," said McCamman.
Unlike other sports, bareback riding isn't one man against another, it is man against the animal. In his specific event, bareback riding, the rider has to hold onto a suitcase handle and attempt to spur the horse. The rider must ride for eight seconds, or his score does not count. If the rider completes the eight second ride, he receives a score based on a 100-point scale: 50 points for the rider and 50 points for the horse. The harder the horse bucks, the higher the score will be. The harder the rider spurs, the higher the score he will get.
McCamman plans to continue his rodeo career for several more years and find sponsors for his future rides. After his rodeo career has ended, he hopes to have his own ranch. McCamman is currently ranked third in the Southeastern Bareback standings, according to prorodeo.com.
McCamman is the son of Randy and Melissa McCamman.