From collection Person List
Stran Smith has lived by the mantra of “Never give up on your dreams.” It has paid off for him with 11 National Finals Rodeo qualifications, 3 Texas Circuit titles, and a World’s Champion gold buckle. Born into a ranching and rodeo family, Smith grew up knowing how to rope but preferred the football field and basketball court to the rodeo arena. It wasn’t until he was 16 that he decided to become a rodeo cowboy. Smith entered the PRCA in 1994 and by the end of 1995 had qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo. As he was chasing a second bid for the NFR, an encounter with a drunk driver on a stretch of Oregon highway turned his world upside down. Smith survived, but his best friend and traveling partner, Shawn McMullen, didn’t. After failing to qualify that year, Smith took some much-needed time to recenter himself and came back for the 1997 season with a new outlook on life. He would qualify for the next five NFRs. Smith faced yet another setback in 2003 when he suffered a stroke at the age of 32. The stroke revealed a heart condition called a patent foreman ovale (PFO). Through an experimental procedure that repaired the PFO, Smith made a full recovery and was back to roping within two months. During this time, Smith purchased renowned calf roping horse, Topper. Smith and Topper made a comeback qualifying for the Finals in 2004 and 2005, with Topper earning the AQHA Horse of the Year title in 2003 and 2005. Smith was close to qualifying for the 2006 NFR, when a shoulder injury sidelined him at the end of the season. In 2007, Smith bought a new mare named Destiny. This partnership would result in the dream that Smith spent 14 years chasing – a gold buckle. Smith and Destiny also walked away with the 2008 National Finals Average title. It was a nail-biting Finals with the Championship being decided in the 10th Round. When the dust settled, Smith was the World Champion by $2,389. As Stran’s career blossomed and evolved, so did his opportunity to be a light to many. Smith was instrumental in hosting Elevation Sunday, a church service during the NFR, for 15 years. Today, Stran is an inspirational speaker nationwide, sharing life lessons, advice, and his unwavering faith in God. Due to the response to his monthly article, “Down the Line with Stran Smith,” Stran has begun recording his popular “Tack Room Talks,” where his goal is to use his experience to encourage others. Stran co-authored a bestselling book titled A Colonel and a Cowboy, with retired West Point Colonel Craig Flowers. He continues to reach out to the younger generation through talks at schools and retreats across the country. Stran and his wife, Jennifer, now raise Black Angus cattle on STS Ranch with their three children, Stone, Scout, and Selah. The Smiths partner with Carroll Leather in the ranchwear and handbag company, STS Ranchwear. Smith was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame with the Class of 2025.
