JOSH PEEK, Pueblo, Colo.

There is a distinctive hunger in everything Josh Peek does these days.

For two straight seasons, the all-around hand has missed competing at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He doesn’t want that to happen again anytime soon. When you make your living on the rodeo trail, Las Vegas is where you need to be in December.

Besides, Peek has done well there before, winning the NFR’s all-around crown in 2009. In all, Peek has six qualifications to ProRodeo’s biggest event, three each in tie-down roping and steer wrestling. He also owns six championships in the Mountain States Circuit – three all-around (2003, ’07 and ’09), two tie-down roping (’07 and ’09) and a bulldogging crown (’09).

But Peek excels each March inside the Lazy E. He won the title in 2010, and he’s a regular fixture among the top five finishers. In all, he’s won $102,000 at the Timed Event Championship, so he knows a thing or two about this competition. He also knows how to parlay his talents into Oklahoma cash.

And when one is as talented as Josh Peek, about anything is as possible, especially when one is as hungry as is to win.