One shot. Brody Yeary knew that was all he had. And he was going to make the most of it.
For many competitors in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the focus during the winter portion of the season is having success at what is colloquially known as “The Buildings.” Indoor rodeos at places like Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio pay out large sums of money that have the potential to set a cowboy up for an easier road to the National Finals Rodeo.
The catch — everyone competing at these indoor winter events has to qualify based on success in the previous season.
That put Yeary in an awkward spot as the veteran bull rider struggled in 2023, leaving him on the outside looking in for many of the PRCA’s biggest winter showcases.
Except one.
“I’m not in San Antonio, I’m not in Houston. I was kind of surprised I got into Fort Worth. Obviously, with that, you don’t have a shot at the big money building rodeos right at the beginning of the year,” Yeary said. “I had to kind of conquer and take my chances now because I’m not going to have my chances at big money at the building rodeos. So, when I got into Fort Worth, had some success, and got some money, it made not going to San Antonio and Houston just a little bit easier, knowing that I still have a good start even though I didn’t have those opportunities.”