Return to Bios...

Zeke Thurston

2016 world standings place: 1st
2016 WNFR standings place: 1st
2016 WNFR earnings: $160,404
2016 earnings: $265,449
Wrangler NFR average titles: 1 (2016)
RNCFR qualifications:1 (2015)
Education: Sheridan (Wyo.) College, majoring in agriculture

Professional
2017 Highlights
• Won Rodeo Austin (Texas)
• Won the Redding (Calif.) Rodeo
• Won the Wrangler Champions Challenge presented by Justin Boots (Rapid City, S.D.)
• Won the Camrose (Alberta) Spring Rodeo
• Won the Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo (Innisfail, Alberta)
• Won the Rocky Pro Rodeo (Rocky Mountain House, Alberta)
Career Highlights
• 2016: Won Round 6 and placed in six rounds to rank first at the Wrangler NFR. Won the Justin Boots Playoffs (Puyallup, Wash.), the Canby (Ore) Rodeo, the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (Montgomery, Ala.), the Hand Hills Lake Stampede (Craigmyle, Alberta), the Rodeo of The Ozarks (Springdale, Ark.), the Kitsap Stampede (Bremerton, Wash.), the Rodeo de Sante Fe (N.M.), the Missoula (Mont.) Stampede, and the Home On the Range Champions Ride (Sentinel Butte, N.D.). Co-champion at the 22nd Glen Rose (Texas) PRCA Rodeo
• 2015: Placed in two rounds at his first Wrangler NFR. Won the World's Oldest Rodeo (Prescott, Ariz), the Oakley Independence Day Rodeo (Oakley City, Utah), the La Fiesta de los Vaquieros (Tucson, Ariz.) with 168 points on two head, the A Tribute to the Great American Cowboy (Casper, Wyo.), the Lake County Round-up (Lakeview, Ore.), the Rocky ProRodeo (Rocky Mountain House, Alberta) and the Oldstoberfest (Olds, Alberta). Co-champion at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo (Hermiston, Ore.), the Strathmore (Alberta) Stampede, the Oakdale (Calif.) Saddle Club Rodeo. Finished 11th in the world standings with $127,970
• 2014: Won the RAM Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo (Great Falls, Mont.); A Tribute to the Great American Cowboy (Casper, Wyo.); the Rocky Mountain Classic (Kalispell, Mont.); the Richland County Fair (Sidney, Mont.) and the Dawson County Fair & Rodeo (Glendive, Mont.). Earned $18,239 on his permit
• 2013: Earned $6,204 on his permit in PRCA competition and qualified for the Canadian Finals Rodeo despite being sidelined by a broken ankle in June, suffered during the College National Finals Rodeo (Casper, Wyo.)

Amateur
Canadian Finals Rodeo Steer Riding Champion in 2008; three-time qualifier for the National High School Finals Rodeo and a qualifier for the College National Finals Rodeo

Awards
Canadian Contract Act of the Year in 2005 and 2007 with his brothers, Sam and Wyatt, performing trick riding and trick roping as The Thurston Gang. They appeared at the CFR five times and performed for both the Queen of England and Prince William and Princess Kate

Personal
5-9, 145 … Single … Father, Skeeter, qualified for the National Finals Rodeo six times (1986-87, 1989, 1991, 1994-95) as a saddle bronc rider; mother, Lynda; brothers, Wyatt and Sam, also compete as saddle bronc riders; younger sister, Tess, competes in barrel racing and goat tying … Special interests are ranching, roping, deer hunting and fishing … Enjoys drawing and tends to produce art of “real good cowboy wrecks” … Suffered a broken femur when stepped on by a bull in 2011 and has a rod in his leg … Played hockey in high school and still plays in a Sheridan (Wyo.) recreational league every Sunday he’s home … Favorite sports team is the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League … Lists his dad, Ty Murray and the Etbauer brothers as his rodeo idols