A teenager from rural Saskatchewan is making a big impression on one of rodeo's biggest stages.
Grady Young, 19, from Leader, Sask., is heading into Showdown Sunday at the Calgary Stampede as the top bull rider in the Pool B standings — and could walk away with the $50,000 grand prize.
Earlier this week, Young scored an 87 and a 91 on two of the toughest bulls in the country — putting him at the top of the aggregate standings with $14,400 in winnings, despite getting bucked off during a midweek ride.
The Calgary Stampede is a major milestone in a journey that started early.
"I was wanting to be a bull rider since Day 1," Young said. "Just kind of grew up wanting that and then slowly just worked my way up."
His father, Blade Young, a former pro bull rider himself, says it's not easy