By Gloria Way
Close to 100 family, friends, and fans of Winnie’s own Tristan Parker gathered at Charlie’s Bar & Grill last Thursday evening to celebrate Parker’s success and wish him well as he heads to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in December. Parker, 19, is ranked #8 bull rider in the world and #1 rookie bull rider in the world. Resistol named Parker as its “Rookie of the Year” for 2023.
Parker, ever so humble, thanked everyone for attending and spoke about the tumultuous first part of the year. “After a really bad beginning, everything just came into play,” said Parker. Since his shaky start, Parker won the Waller County Fair & Rode in Hempstead, Texas; the Xtreme Bulls Tour in Grand Island, Nebraska; the Lawton Oklahoma Xtreme Bulls and Mo Betta Celebrity Skeet Shoot; the Crockett Texas Lions Club PRCA Rodeo; the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Arizona; the Ellensburg Washington Rodeo; the Pasadena Texas Livestock Show & Rodeo; co-champion at the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi, and Co-champion at the Sheridan Wyoming Rodeo.
Good luck, Tristan! Your hometown is cheering you on!