Return to Bios...

Zeke Thurston

2017 world standings place: 7th
2017 WNFR standings place: 10th
2017 WNFR earnings: $29,462
2017 earnings: $199,917
Wrangler NFR average titles: 1 (2016)
RNCFR qualifications:1 (2015)
Education: Sheridan (Wyo.) College, majoring in agriculture

Professional
2018 Highlights
• Won the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo (Denver, Colo.)
• Won the Wainwright (Alberta) Stampede
• Won the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up
• Won the Lea Park Rodeo (Marwayne, Alberta)
• Won the Innisfail (Alberta) Pro Rodeo
• Won the Wildwood (Alberta) Bronc Bustin'
• Co-champion at the Fallon County Xtreme Broncs (Baker, Mont.)
Career Highlights
• 2017: Won the K-Days Rodeo (Edmonton, Alberta), the Ponoka (Alberta) Stampede
• Won Rodeo Austin (Texas), the Redding (Calif.) Rodeo, the IPE and Stampede (Armstrong, British Columbia), the Lewiston (Idaho) Roundup, the Wrangler Champions Challenge presented by Justin Boots (Rapid City, S.D.), the Camrose (Alberta) Spring Rodeo, the Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo (Innisfail, Alberta), the Rocky Pro Rodeo (Rocky Mountain House, Alberta), the Elgin (Ore.) Stampede, the Jasper (Alberta) Heritage Rodeo, the Kitsap Stampede (Bremerton, Wash.), the Golden Spike Rodeo (Tremonton, Utah) and the Iron County Fair and PRCA Rodeo (Parowan, Utah). Co-champion at the World's Oldest Rodeo (Prescott, Ariz.)
• 2016: Won Round 6 and placed in six rounds to rank first at the Wrangler NFR. Won the world title with $265,449. 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 Santa 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 National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER, finished 11th in the world standings with $127,970. Won the World’s Oldest Rodeo (Prescott, Ariz.), the Oakley Independence Day Rodeo (Oakley City, Utah), La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (Tucson, Ariz.) with 168 points on two head, 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. 
• 2014: Won the RAM Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo (Great Falls); 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, which broke 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