Where there’s Smoke, there’s cash.
And it’s all in the jeans of Cochrane steer wrestler Tanner Milan and his horse, Smoke’s, feedbag.
Riding Smoke for most of the year, Milan has earned more than $100,000 from professional rodeo events across North America.
The defending Canadian Finals Rodeo champion finished second in Pro Rodeo Canada competition this year, earning $27,000 from 38 events. Folded in with his 13th-place finish in Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) competition in the U.S., Milan finished 2015 with $66,326.67 US in earnings (that’s $87,000-ish Canadian pesos). Add the $24,000 he won at Calgary Stampede and that’s more than $100,000 in 2015 for wrestling steers from Grande Prairie to Nampa, Idaho.
His hard work has not only cashed-in at the pay window, but with qualifying spots for November’s Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) in Edmonton and the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas in December.
The two-time (2014, 2012) Canadian steer-wrestling champ qualified for his first-ever NFR show this year.
“Everything’s been feeling good. My horse has been working great,” Milan says following a 5.7-second time good for $625 at the Cinch Pro Rodeo Canada Final Oct. 2 at Agrium Western Event Cenre on Calgary Stampede grounds. He was up in the arena concourse following his event, signing autographs for fans alongside steer wrestlers Dayton Roworth of Czar and Travis Reay of Mayerthorpe, and talking about his horse, Smoke.
“He was sore there for about a month and a half. I didn’t have him and things were pretty slow,” Milan continues. “I wasn’t winning a whole bunch. Right when I got him back, things started clicking again.”
Like a well-oiled machine, Milan and his trusty steed have clicked their way to the two largest season-ending rodeos on the continent. It has been a banner year for the “middle” Milan, 32, whose younger-brother Straws is a former Calgary Stampede champion steer wrestler and older-brother Baillie an accomplished competitor accompanying Tanner to Vegas to help him compete.
“I can’t even explain the feeling right now. I honestly don’t know if it’s sunk in 100 per cent yet. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since I found out I made it,” Tanner Milan says of his first trip to the NFR in Vegas. The top-15 finishers in PRCA standings qualify. “It feels great. I’m just glad to have a spot there. I fought so long and so hard to get there. Now it’s finally all paid off and I get to nod my head there.”
Younger brother Straws qualified for the NFR in 2013, so he has the “how to” manual to pass along to Tanner.
“He’s helped me with the start and the way everything runs down and what you have to do and where to be and all that. He’s been a big help so far and he’s probably going to be an even bigger help once it gets closer to Vegas and stuff. Straws will be down there towards the end,” Tanner Milan relates. “But my older brother, Baillie, he’s going to be hazing for me down there the whole time. So we’re going to be down there the whole time together.”
It’s a dream season that’s come together for the Cochrane rodeo cowboy.
“It’s been great. I just really need to thank my parents and my brothers,” Tanner says. “Without them, I wouldn’t be anywhere. I just want to thank them for all their help, the fans and the family.”
