Kristen Sublette

The Yates family name is prolific within the rodeo community. Trey Yates continues the family legacy competing as a heeler in Team Roping. At the young age of 28, his future looks incredibly bright, as he finished out the 2023 season 19^th in the world, with 2023 earnings just shy of $80,000. Throughout Trey’s career he has seen some major wins such as Cody Stampede (2018), Mountain State Circuit Finals (2018), Reno Rodeo (2018), Cheyenne Frontier Days (2019), his hometown rodeo Colorado State Fair & Rodeo (2021), the Deadwood Days of 76 Rodeo (2021, 2022), Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo (2022), and Las Vegas Days (2023).

Some of Trey’s most memorable and special accomplishments include College National Finals Rodeo team roping champion in 2018, his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 2018 winning the average, and winning Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2019. Trey is a fierce competitor with the record to show for it, qualifying for the Wrangler NFR in 2018, 2021, and 2022.

When asked what his greatest win was, Trey said his next one. A coin of wisdom inherited from his father J.D. Yates. Trey relents he never really understood why his dad would say that until more recently, “You are always striving for more and looking to do bigger and better things,” Trey said. If professional athletes are never satisfied, Trey exemplifies that hunger. Trey says, “Whether it’s the National Western, Fort Worth, San Antonio, or (it) might be a jackpot, it might be a little roping. Anytime you win something it feels good. It’s never easy to win.”

Trey displays a drive, not just to win, but to do better each day. Whether its roping in his own backyard or in a massive arena bustling with fans, Trey has his mind set on the prize. He understands that rodeo is a game of variables he said, “…you have to execute at the right time and when you do, it’s pretty rewarding.” In 2018 Trey finished out the year third in the world. He was riding a high, competing viciously and making his own way in the rodeo industry.

Trey describes his most meaningful wins as College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) and winning the average of the 2018 Wrangler NFR. Trey’s father had won CNFR twice and it was something Trey himself had always wanted. Trey said, “I had a major obsession with college rodeo, I loved it.” He believes college rodeo is a great opportunity that any young competitor should take advantage of. “That’s where you learn how to win,” Trey said. While Trey started his degree at Eastern Wyoming College, he ultimately finished at Casper College. It was a bonus to win it partnered with his friend, Kellan Johnson, header. “I finished at Casper College, so it was kind of cool, Kellan being from Casper, rodeoing for Casper College myself, and the College National Finals being in Casper, it was a pretty cool evening,” Trey said. CNFR ignited a fire that over the next month and a half burned hot in Trey.

A week after winning the CNFR Trey took Reno Rodeo by storm walking away with another buckle. He notes how great of an event Reno Rodeo is and that it was another special win for him. He speaks to that month and a half of 2018 where he won CNFR, Reno, and the Cody Stampede and he had the NFR made. “I think about that year and that month and a half every day,” Trey says, “and how it is so hard to get back in a position like that.” He feels he took for granted those wins at that moment in time. Trey has learned a lot since then.

Coming off the 2023 season, placing 19^th in the world, he did not qualify for the Wrangler NFR. A hard blow for Trey but he has found a foundation that keeps him striving forward. “What I’ve learned is you have to be good with yourself, good with your family, and have a relationship with God,” Trey says, “We are going to make mistakes; we are going to do things wrong… but I do understand the concept of walking with Jesus and being with God. It’s amazing how much my life has changed since I’ve done that… The happiness it brought to me.” He loves competing at a high level, he loves roping and having the opportunity to spend ample time with his family doing just that.

Trey describes how hard he has worked for his skillset; he also admits to having a terrible mindset up until this point in his life. He has lacked confidence and allowed negative thinking to rule his mind. He says that over the last few months he has devoted himself to being confident, trusting in the process, and getting closer to his faith. “I look back at my career this far and think, I’ve done all that with a negative attitude,” he says. Trey speaks to being truly happy, positive, and enjoying life now, he looks back and thinks about all those moments he took for granted, had a bad attitude, how it spoiled things. He allowed the outcome of a rodeo to ruin his day in the past and when competing at his level, he’s had a lot of bad days.

Trey brings a new mindset to the game this year. Focused and driven as ever, he is keeping his mind fixed on confidence and positivity. He says with this shift in thinking, when the opportunity to win arises he wants to be able to capitalize on it. Competing at a professional level can look glamorous but the reality is that mindset can make or break a career. Trey talks about losing in the past and how it would wreck his day, he’d go wallow in his own negativity, “You either do what I’ve done this whole time and go pout and whine about it and say it’s never going to get better or you man up and back in the next time and try to do your job the best you can,” he says. Actions reflect mindset and telling yourself you can’t do something will show up in your actions, Trey comments. Trey puts countless hours in on his horse, in the arena, and roping. He doesn’t pour himself into his craft to go out there and lose but with the shift in his mindset it has changed how he loses. Trey said, “I want to win, and I have a killer instinct to me, but enjoy the ride.”