Yates, J.D.

J.D. Yates holds not one, but two PRCA National Finals Qualification records. The first happened in 1975 when he became the youngest PRCA contestant to qualify for the National Finals at age 15 years 4 months, beating Ace Berry’s previous record by 7 months. The second came in 1984 when J.D., father, Dick, and sister Kelly became the only father-son-daughter trio to qualify for the National Finals. He also stands as the fifth cowboy with the most overall qualifications - 21 appearances in team roping at the National Finals and 11 appearances at the National Steer Roping Finals. He and partner Bobby Harris won the NFR Average title in 2002. Yate won the NFSR Average title in 2008. This Colorado cowboy started roping behind the chutes while his father competed at the rodeo. Other cowboys would pay Yates to rope a passing cowgirl for a quarter. By the time he was in his teens, Yates was on his way to the pros. He had his permit by the time he was fourteen and had it filled by fifteen. Yates won two National Intercollegiate Team Roping Titles in 1979 and 1980. He is one of the few team ropers to have competed at the National Finals as both a header and a heeler. Yates has also collected fourteen Mountain States Circuit titles in team roping, steer roping, and all-around. Yates has always been one to appreciate a good horse. He and his father trained many of the horses they hauled. He started showing more and more horses in the AQHA world competitions. He has earned over 40 titles for the horses he has taken to competition, including four Super Horse titles. Yates was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame with the Class of 2024.