ProRodeo Sports News - August 24, 2018

BLAINE KAUFMAN he is now. He’s a good person and very good family man, who is the humblest person you will ever talk to in your life. I told him the other day that he has the talent not to just go to the NFR, but also to become a world champion. He is just amazing to watch.” Kaufman, meanwhile, would be thrilled to earn a bid to the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., April 4-7.

minutes fromWichita. “I grew up working in the cow-calf operation, so it is second nature to me now,” Blaine said. Kaufman also has a family – wife, Amanda, son, Tucker, 3, and daughter, Taelyn, 8 months. “It’s harder to leave home (and rodeo) when you have two kids at home,” Blaine said. “Tucker spends every day with us, he’s on a horse with my dad and me. The circuit rodeos are a good fit for me. The furthest rodeo I’ve gone to is seven hours away, and you can be home that night. I love rodeoing, so I can see my buddies everywhere I go. When I do well at rodeos, it is always nice to have a little extra spending money.” Kaufman appreciates the support he receives from his family. “My son gets excited when I win, and sometimes he’s back there by the chutes hootin’ and hollerin’,” said Blaine, who also enjoys fishing with Tucker. “It’s really special when I can have my family with me and (they) watch me rodeo.”

“I would be pretty tickled if I could make the (RAMNCFR),” Kaufman said. “It’s like a mini NFR for us circuit guys, so that would be a pretty cool deal.” To qualify for the RAMNCFR, Kaufman would have to win either the Prairie Circuit year-end title or win the average at the RAMPrairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, which is scheduled for Oct. 18-20 in Duncan, Okla. “I have no doubt that he could make the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo,” Keylon said. “We’ve been mapping everything out. I would love to see him win the (Prairie) Circuit. He’s a friend who I think a lot of, and honestly, if he qualified for the RAMNational Circuit Finals, he could win the title there, there is no doubt in my mind. He has that type of talent.”

RODEO BACKGROUND Like so many PRCA cowboys, Kaufman didn’t have to look far to get introduced to rodeo. His father, Bruce, was a PRCA bareback rider, and good family friend Mark Gomes, the 1998 PRCA bareback riding world champion, lived down the road in Pretty Prairie. Gomes was an eight-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR (1994-95, 1997-99, 2001-03). “When I was little I did some other events, but I always just wanted to ride bareback horses,” Blaine said. “I started taking it seriously when I was in high school. I made the National High School Finals Rodeo as a junior and senior (in 2011-12).” After his prep days were done, Kaufman rodeoed at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College and continued to have success, winning the Central Plains Region crown and making the College National Finals Rodeo twice. Kaufman won $15,257 on his permit in 2012-13 before purchasing his card in April 2014. Kaufman competed part time from 2014-17, with his best season coming in 2016 when he earned $16,181. Depending how his 2019 winter run unfolds, Kaufman might venture out more on the PRCA trail. KAUFMAN STAYS BUSY OUTSIDE OFARENA When Kaufman isn’t rodeoing, he has no trouble occupying his time. He works on his family’s large cow-calf operation in Pretty Prairie, about 45

Blaine Kaufman shares a moment with his family: (from left) son, Tucker, 3; wife, Amanda; and daughter, Taelyn, 8 months. Photo courtesy Blaine Kaufman

ProRodeo Sports News 8/24/2018

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