NFR Bullfighter Helps Young Boy Fullfill Dreams By: Lindsey Wyllie What does a young boy living in Eastern Oregon dream of becoming? For Trever Hamsher of Prairie City, OR, his dream was to follow in the same field as his Father, Jim, in the exciting world of Rodeo. Trever and his sister Vanessa were taught to rope and ride horses as soon as they were able to wear Wranglers. Both are very talented with a rope and have won quite a number of buckles between them. As most kids of ropers growing up around arenas, Trever was either in the back pens pushing and loading roping calves and steers into the roping chute, or he was at the other end of the arena at the stripping chute removing ropes off the cattle. In fact, this was his first “real” job and he used the money he made to buy a Mini Bull named “George“, whom he had bought from Bob Burril, a local Prairie City cowboy. This is where Trever’s life plan really started to take it’s course. Oh sure, he had played with ornery roping steers in the pens, teasing and dodging their attacks, but now he had a real live bull to practice some bull fighting moves on. A strong desire overwhelmed this so called “scrawny” young lad and he started laying down some serious goals for himself. This all started at the ripe old age of 9. Many hours were spent playing with the new pet, trying to touch George’s nose and move out of the way, just like he had seen the bull fighters do at the National Finals Rodeo on TV. It was only a short time before Trever and his dad would haul the mini bull to an arena and the real practice would start. A small stuffed turtle, dubbed Franklin, was tied on to the back of the bull in the bucking chute. Then Trever would get in position and when the chute gate cracked open, he would run in to save the fallen rider from harms way. Throughout the rest of the roping season and while working the ropings, there was always a “snorty” steer in the bunch and this steer would be stuck into a Round Pen that had eight foot high solid walls. Just like the old adage when tossed into a body of water, you either learn to “swim or sink”, the same went for Trever. He had to learn how to avoid being run over by a charging bovine. Now it wasn’t like he wasn’t being carefully watched by the onlookers for his safety, and they soon became amazed at his grace and lack of fear. It was then Trever had made up his mind to become a professional bullfighter. A bucking barrel was constructed from an expelled plastic jalapeño barrel. This was hung between a couple of trees by ropes. Then, while his dad would make the barrel jump up and down, Trever would run in and practice his techniques and moves to free a cowboy that may be hung up. Again Franklin, the tattered turtle, was always the poor victim that needed to be saved. Fortunately for Trever, Franklin never became a great bull rider and Trever had lots of practice. The next order of business was to build a bullfighter’s barrel. Still at the age of 9, he realized that his barrel looked plain and seeked out sponsors to help him decorate his safety haven. It wasn’t long before the barrel was looking very similar to the ones the pros were using. But the sponsorships didn’t end there. He soon had national sponsorships due to his making calls and following up with letters. Local sponsors helped him to by his first safety vest. The next year at age 10, the Hamshers went to the Baker County Fair in Halfway, OR as Vanessa was competing in the barrel racing. Trever walked up to the stock contractor, Billy Stevens, and asked if he could fight the steers in the steer riding. Stevens said it was OK and a career was launched. The next gig was back at home during the local fair as Trever handled the duties in the sheep riding, calf riding and steer riding events picking up other small rodeos as well over the course of the next two years. At 12, Trever, again following his sister, this time to Sublimity, OR where she was competing in the Jr. Miss Rodeo Queen Pageant held in conjunction with the Santiam Canyon Stampede, a PRCA Rodeo. Trever met up with Billy Stevens’ son, PRCA bull fighter Tim McNarie who had also watched him at Halfway. Tim was so impressed with Trever’s’ abilities. That he introduced him to John Stroop, who had mini bulls bucking during this particular rodeo. Trever asked if it would be alright to fight his mini bulls and Stroop agreed. A good relationship ensued and Trever was asked to go and fight the mini bulls at the Mini Bull World Finals held in Gooding, ID. In an effort to further hone his bullfighting skills, Trever tried to reach a number of the PRCA bull fighters to inquire about bullfighting schools. Trever was able to contact 6 time NFR bull fighter, Darrell Diefenbach, by phone. Darrell told him that he didn’t have any schools planned at that time, but he would take Trever’s phone number and call him if he scheduled any. Two days later the phone rang and Darrell told Trever that he would be fighting the Caldwell Night Rodeo in a couple of weeks and invited Trever to fight the Jr Bulls there. During this time Darrell worked with him giving him tips and critiquing his abilities. Trever and his family were invited by Darrell to the NFR in Las Vegas as his quests a short time after the first meeting. He attended the PRCA awards banquet Diefenbach, who was a nominee for Bullfighter of the year, and Miss Rodeo America. At this time Trever had made up his mind that he someday would stand in the shoes of his mentor, the Australian born, Diefenbach. Keeping in mind all of Trever’s’ dreams are unfolding to him at the age of thirteen. Over the next two years Trevor continued to fight mini bulls for Stroop and made a couple of trips to Azle, Texas, home of Diefenbach. While there Darrell worked with him on his skills as they watched tapes of Darrell’s performances. Upon returning home, Trever started contacting stock contractors to schedule some summer work. Through Rusty Gorham, a former PRCA bull rider, he was hired to fight Oregon Junior Bull Riders Association shows. He also contacted The Howell Rodeo Company in Crow, OR, and was hired to work the Prineville High School Rodeo when a bullfighter failed to show up and the he was able to showcase his talent to Jerry Howell. Trever was then hired to fight all of the NYRA (National Youth Rodeo Association) rodeos in Oregon and Northwest Washington. At age fifteen, young Hamsher applied for his NPRA card, but needed letters from NPRA approved stock contractors and bullfighters. Howell Rodeo Company, Diefenbach, and Ryan Wilson, who is a PRCA, and PBR bullfighter, each contributed letters of recommendations. The board of directors for the NPRA approved him and Trever became the youngest bullfighter in the organization. Trever was contacted by the legendary PRCA stock contractor, John Growney, to work an NPRA show in Hillsboro, OR. It was there that Trever had the opportunity to work with PRCA bullfighter Eric Layton, and try his hand with Professional quality PBR bulls. Trever has performed in several clown acts in the Northwest with Diefenbach, Joe Baumgartner, Mark Swingler and Flint Rasmussen. Trever says ”He is not a clown, he is a bullfighter. The difference is a clown entertains and a bullfighter saves cowboys”. Howell Rodeo Company hired Trever to fight bulls at all of their 2007 NPRA rodeos. At 16 he was, in his first year of eligibly, chosen to fight bulls at the NPRA Finals held in Sister, OR. Four days after his 17th birthday during the awards ceremonies, with his mom, Dawn, his dad and several other of his relatives sitting nervously in the crowd awaiting for the announcement to be made, Trever was selected as the Northwest Professional Rodeo Associations Bullfighter of the year, the youngest ever to receive the Honor. After the announcement of his award Trever’s first thought was “ All the hookings I have taken have paid off”. He goes on to say “With hard work and dedication all goals can be obtained“. His plans for the future? When he turns 18 he wants to get a PRCA card and work to get to the NFR. Trever thanks Darrell, for all of his time and patience and caring enough to see something in him. Also with out the many supporters and sponsors it would not have been possible. Big dreams are met everyday by those that care enough to set high goals and spend most of their lives reaching for them, but for a nine year old to know what he wants to do in life and start working with the diligence of an adult, Trever has lived a lifetime in a very short period. Expect to see him at the NFR in a few short years.