The number 22 was a lucky one for Cochrane steer wrestler Straws Milan as he broke his previous 3.2-second run to make the record books this past weekend.
On July 22, Milan tied a national record when he took down a steer in 2.9 seconds at the K-Days rodeo in Edmonton.
“It’s a pretty amazing feeling,” Milan laughs. “It never crossed my mind that I would be in the history books,” Milan said.
“My brother called me and said ‘it’s pretty cool you’re going to be in the record books,” he added about his brother explaining that money isn’t the most important factor. “That’s something no one can take away from you.’”
Milan’s goal is to continue competing in the Canadian Finals Rodeo – Nov. 8 to Nov. 12 in Edmonton this year – and dreams of going back to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas where he competed in 2013.
“My goal was to get in the Canadian Finals Rodeo,” Milan said. The K-Days Rodeo helped bump him into the top 12 in Canada – the cut off for CFR qualification. He now sits as the sixth best steer wrestler in Canada, up from his previous No. 29 place.
Milan said when he saw the No. 22 steer, he knew it was going to be his best run.
The cowboy said the No. 22 has always been his favourite number. It was his hockey jersey growing up and he said the number kept popping up throughout the weekend.
The steer he took down was No. 22, the date, his room number was 422, at one time the temperature in his vehicle was 22 degrees, a movie he had watched had shown the No. 22 in it.
Milan said it was the “weirdest” experience.
He also gives credit to his horse, Smoke.
“Horse power is a big part of it,” Milan said. “He’s made it that much better out there.”
Milan, now 33, didn’t get into steering wrestling until he was 17.
“I never really showed any interest in it,” Milan stated. “Then, I followed in my family’s footsteps.
Milan’s family has always been big in rodeo, his father and two older brothers are also professional steer wrestlers.
Milan said there has never been sibling rivalry between him and his brothers; he’s always hoped for the best for them.
“If I’m not the one winning, I hope it’s one of my brothers.”
