SAVANNAH, Mo. – Born and raised in northwest Missouri, Durfey carries on the family trait of being a cowboy, and on the rodeo trail, he’s better than most. Over the past couple of years, he’s proven his status as an elite tie-down roper.
A year ago, Dufey became the first American to win a Canadian Professional Rodeo Association title when he clinched the championship at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, Alberta. Next week, Durfey returns to the Canadian championship to defend his title. Lisa Lockhart of Chadron, Neb., became the second American to win the title north of the border when she won barrel racing shortly after Durfy.
“I’ve gotten a lot more recognition by winning the Canadian title than I would have otherwise,” he said. “Coming off that, I think people expected higher achievements out of me.”
Durfey expected more of himself, too.
“Before last year started, my goal was to go to the Canadian Finals, but after winning the Canadian deal, I just kind of expected to go to the NFR,” he said, referring to the National Finals Rodeo, the home of ProRodeo’s world championship. “That’s the goal I set for myself. I’m pretty good about setting goals I expect to achieve.”
Durfey has qualified for his first trip to the NFR, which features the top 15 contestants in each event on the money list at the end of the season. He’s spent the past several weeks working on his family’s Savannah ranch in preparation for the season-ending championships.
“Last year, I rode a horse called Rolex a lot and won the Canadian Finals on him,” Durfey said. “This year, I rode a horse called Little Man. My dad has kept me in good horses and kept them working well for me.”
Family is a big part of who Durfey is.
“Family, to me, is bigger than rodeo,” he said. “I love rodeo, and it’s always been my dream, but my family is more important than that. I could’ve been going to rodeos over the last few weeks, but I was just looking forward to coming home and practicing and getting my horses sharp.
“Any time I’m a little down on my luck, I can always count on my dad or brothers to help me out or cheer me up. I can always count on them to keep my head on straight and talk me up or make me feel better.”
The Canadian finals begins Nov. 7 and features six go-rounds. Last year, Durfey scored better than the other 12 competitors in the field to win the aggregate championship, which boosted him to the Canadian title.
Now the gold buckle that accompanies the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association championship is well within his grasp.
“When I was growing up, making the NFR was what I wanted,” Durfey said. “If you want to rodeo, that’s how you measure your career. It’s a dream come true for me, something I’ve always wanted.
“My ultimate goal is to win a world title, but I feel like this is a step toward the right direction. It feels like a big relief.”
When time comes to compete in ProRodeo’s grandest stage in Las Vegas beginning Dec. 6, Durfey said he’s prepared for all that comes with it. That includes nearly 18,000 fans in attendance in the Thomas & Mack Center and millions watching on television and a chance at winning about $16,000 during each of the 10 rounds.
“I can’t say how I’m going to handle the pressure, but anytime I’ve been put in pressure situations, I’ve always seemed to do pretty good,” Durfey said. “I’ve always seemed to strike when I needed to.
“The lights and the pressure really excites me, and I envision myself doing good.”
