Jestes, Tuckness understand uniqueness of Gooding Pro Rodeo
GOODING, Idaho – A decade ago, Nathan Jestes drove into this community for the first time to work as a bullfighter at the Gooding Pro Rodeo.
“I remember pulling into town and wondering, ‘Where in the hell am I?’ ” said Jestes, a seven-time nominee for PRCA Bullfighter of the Year who has been selected to work the National Finals Rodeo four times. “Then the rodeo started. It’s a small community, but everybody comes to Gooding for a great time from all the surrounding communities.
“As a rodeo athlete, you don’t necessarily hear the crowds, but you feel the energy. The atmosphere and energy inside that arena is something you’ve never felt before.”
Jestes will return to work the Gooding Pro Rodeo for the 10th year and will be joined by Dusty Tuckness, a 10-time Bullfighter of the Year who has worked every NFR since 2009. They are excited to be part of the action, set for Thursday, Aug. 15-Saturday, Aug. 17, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 14. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena.
When the show begins, thousands pack into the Gooding County Fairgrounds for one of the best rodeos in the region. They will see some of the top bucking horses and athletic bulls in ProRodeo, and they’ll witness two of the greatest cowboy protectors in the sport. It’s a fantastic value for the endless entertainment possibilities.
“It’s pretty cool to see how the rodeo’s grown in that small community,” said Tuckness, now in his sixth year at Gooding. “(Organizers) just put a lot of work into it, and it continues to grow. There are a lot of good rodeos that week, but if I had a pick, I’d pick Gooding every time.”
The event is a different rodeo experience, even to the people who make a living in the sport like Tuckness and Jestes, who can feel the energy that comes out of the stands. Whether it’s dancing to the music or cheering for every ride and run, the people who come to enjoy the Gooding Pro Rodeo make it memorable.
“Gooding is generally unique,” said Jestes of Douglas, Wyoming. “It’s a rodeo-knowledgeable crowd that loves to have fun. When the crowd knows what they’re watching and is having a good time, it transfers over to everybody: Contestants, the bullfighters, the other personnel and the members of the committee.
“When you have fun doing your job, there’s no better place to be.”
Make no mistake; Tuckness and Jestes take their jobs seriously. Their primary purpose is to help protect fallen bull riders and others in the arena during the final event of the night, and it takes a focused mind and an aggressive nature to make that happen. Both men will utilize their ability to read livestock and their athleticism to help draw the animals away from their targets.
If there’s a wreck, they will jump into the middle of it, but most of their efforts seem almost choreographed. It’s like a little dance in the dirt, and it can be exquisite.
“Nate and I work a little bit throughout the year, but come August and September, there aren’t too many rodeos we don’t work together,” Tuckness aid. “It’s good to work with a guy like Nate who’s got your back. When you go to those big rodeos like Gooding, that’s where everybody’s at. We have five or six weeks left in the regular season; everybody’s tired, but that’s when you’ve got to mash on the gas and finish strong.”
Having that familiarity is helpful.
“There’s nothing like it to me,” Jestes said. “Me and Tuck are good friends, and we fight a lot of rodeos together. We know what each other’s doing. It just makes our job that much easier in the arena. We are going to be at our spots, and we can anticipate each other in an instant. It’s hard to beat that kind of chemistry.”
That’s true.
“The best part is the people you work with,” said Tuckness of Meeteetse, Wyoming. “When you’ve got a good crew, it’s hard to call it work. At Gooding, they provide a great crew, from multiple award winners to great stock to everything that makes it run so smoothly. They get guys that want to put on the best show that week. It’s not just one thing; it’s the whole thing mixed together.”
Of course, Gooding also where great work is rewarded by a special group of fans who offer up a “Beer Worthy” sign when they think something magnificent happens in the arena, whether it’s a fast time in team roping or a big buckoff in bronc riding. When Tuckness and Jestes make a big save, the signs are targeted directly on them.
“Being ‘Beer Worthy’ means everything, because Gooding, Idaho, is the only place where you can be ‘Beer Worthy,’ ” Jestes said. “When you’re there, you want to be ‘Beer Worthy.’ ”