How Dean Got Started Dean Gorsuch won the World Steer Wrestling Championship in Las Vegas Nevada this past December. Dean led the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) World standings for most of 2006. After qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in his first year of full time competition, he was very eager to learn from what he experienced in 2005. Dean grew up around rodeo and knew it was his true passion. He spent lots of his childhood days with his grandparents riding and roping on their ranch. His dad kept him very interested in horses and bulldogging from a young age. His grandpa and dad spent endless hours in the practice pen with him. He competed in many Jr. Rodeos, High School Rodeos, and College Rodeos in the Central Rocky Mountain Region winning the Central Rocky Mountain Steer Wrestling Title in 2000. He then moved up in the ranks of Amateur Rodeos. After a few years of going to some of the “local” rodeos he decided to get his professional permit. After filing his permit in Rapid City he decided to get his professional card in 2004 and his goal was to try to make the Mountain States Circuit Finals. He worked very hard trying to do his best as a welder for the gas company and hit as many rodeos on the weekend as he could. After qualifying for the Circuit Finals he won the average at the finals and earned a spot in the Dodge National Circuit Finals. Awaiting the arrival of our first baby, Dean tried to hit some of the bigger rodeos in southern Texas. Taydon Wayne Gorsuch was born February 17, 2005. He was 7 lbs 7 oz and 21 inches long. We really weren’t sure what to expect as parents but we both would agree that nothing is better. Taydon was two weeks old and Dean had to head to Houston. After winning the Tour round in Houston we made the very hard decision to have him quit his full time job and support us rodeoing. April 1st, 2005 was the first day of Dean’s new job. He headed south to Texas again then headed west into Nevada and California. The adjustment to our new way of life was hard but looking back now neither of us would change a thing. He qualified for the NFR in 2005, and we made our first trip to Las Vegas. We had a wonderful time and knew that we were very lucky to be one of only 15 Steer Wrestlers to make the NFR, especially in his first year. He placed in 5 out of 10 rounds at the NFR and ended the year in sixth place. We were very excited! As 2006 started he just picked up where he left off in 2005. He had lots of success in early rodeos including Denver and Rapid City. Again it was time to head south. Already being on a roll was a great feeling as he headed to RodeoHouston. No better place to be in mid March. Dean was very excited this year to head to Houston as he was going to be riding the World Champion horse “Zan”. Winning Houston in only his second appearance was amazing. 2006 was full of so many ups and very few downs. He was fortunate enough to get to travel with some of the most amazing bulldoggers, but also wonderful men, Rodney Burkes, Ronnie Fields, John Ragatz, Jason Miller, and Birch Negarrad. Our successful year included us being able to go with him to several places. Dean won his first crystal cup in Dallas at the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Championship. This was only the beginning of the ending of a dream season. We came home from Dallas to regroup, celebrate Thanksgiving, pack and leave for Las Vegas. What a time we had in Vegas! Dean won a buckle for coming into the finales number one and received a bonus at the opening reception. Once you get there you know this is all for real. The contestant gets tons of gifts, their numbers, rings, and coats. As the NFR got underway things were slow for Dean, but he never lost his confidence and kept in the average over the 10 days. Leading the world by a little over $1,000 he extended his lead in the fifth night by winning the round and we got to make our first trip to the Gold Coaste stage to receive his buckle. This buckle was for Taydon, and he sports it very nicely. When all the dust settled he was the World Champion. It was nothing less than a dream come true. He won the average at the NFR, and we were instantly thrown into the most exciting time of our lives. Many things have changed in this short amount of time; Dean is still the same Dean. He loves the fact that his dream has come true but inside all is the same. He still has a very strong faith in God and gives him the glory for helping him become what he is. He has been picked up by two great sponsors this spring, Scottsbluff County Tourism and Wrangler, so we are very happy to make them part of the family. Keep a close eye on these web pages as we will be updating information as to where Dean is and how he has been doing. If you have questions or comments please don’t hesitate to ask! Thanks for your support and God bless! Dean, Bekah, and Taydon
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