Brenda Mays
2009 World Standings Place: 12th
2009 Earnings: $81,523
2009 Wrangler NFR Place: 8th
2009 Wrangler NFR Earnings: $4,147
Career Earnings: $357,766
Born: Oct. 15, 1968, in Myrtle Point, Ore.
Residence: Terrebonne, Ore.
Joined WPRA: 1995
Horses: Judge Buy Cash “Jethro” (11 year old gelding) – Sire: Judge Cash/Dam: Flash Polly Vandy and Judge (14 years old)
World titles: 0
Wrangler NFR qualifications: 3 (2007-09)
Tour Finale qualifications: 12
• Caldwell: 2007-08
• Puyallup: 2007-09
• Omaha Finale: 2006-09
• Championship Finale: 2006-08
Education: Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College, associate’s degree in business
Professional
2009 Highlights
• Entered the Wrangler NFR in sixth but finished the 2009 season ranked 12th. Finished eighth in the average but didn’t place in any of the 10 rounds.
• Won the year-end and average title at the Dodge Columbia River Circuit Finals (Redmond, Ore.).
• Won the Klamath Falls (Ore.) Great NW PRCA Rodeo.
• Won the Larimer County Fair and Rodeo (Loveland, Colo.).
• Won the Wild Rogue Rodeo (Central Point, Ore.).
• Won the Clovis (Calif.) Rodeo.
Career Highlights
• 2008 – Placed in two out of 10 rounds at the Wrangler NFR. Finished the year ranked eighth with $109,250. Was sixth in the average at the NFR and won $19,301; won the Dodge Columbia River Circuit Finals, the Lynden (Wash.) PRCA Rodeo, the Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo (Longview, Wash.), the Home of Champions (Red Lodge, Mont.), the Crooked River Round-Up (Prineville, Ore.), the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo (Central Point, Ore.) and the Southeastern Livestock Expo Rodeo (Montgomery, Ala.); was co-champion at the Salem (Ore.) Rodeo.
• 2007 – Won the Dodge Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo (Redmond, Ore.), the Kitsap County Fair & Stampede (Bremerton, Wash.), the Omak (Wash.) Stampede, the Larimer County Fair and Rodeo (Loveland, Colo.), the Toppenish (Wash.) Pow Wow and Rodeo, the Last Chance Stampede (Helena, Mont.), the California Rodeo Salinas, he Klamath Falls (Ore.) Great NW Pro Rodeo, he Sisters (Ore.) Rodeo, and the Coulee City (Wash.) Last Stand Rodeo. Finished the year ranked ninth in the world with $99,197.
• 2006 – Tied for the win in the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Round at the Puyallup (Wash.) Rodeo; won the Salem (Ore.) Rodeo and the Chief Joseph (Ore.) Days Rodeo.
• Four-time qualifier for the Dodge Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo.
Amateur
Horse, Jethro, 2010 AQHA Barrel Horse of the Year race, 2008 and was second in 2009; NIRA National Breakaway champion, 1992; NPRA Barrel Racing and Women’s All-Around champion, 2005.
Personal
Husband, Andy Easterly (PRCA steer wrestler and owns Easterly Fencing Co.); son, Kyle…Her mom, Lynne Mays, won the GRA rookie of the year title and qualified for the NFR in 1975 and finished 12th overall. She travels with Brenda quite often. Her father, Frank, competed in the PRCA as did her grandfather, Rich Vredenburg. Her father used to work in heavy equipment but is now retired and her mother is a horse trainer. She has one sister…Brenda’s other occupation is a horse trainer…Her nickname is “Willy” Mays Hays. She got that from Brad Goodrich when they were in college together…Got involved in rodeo through her family and began competing in 1976…Her rodeo superstition is “Don’t pick up any rodeo checks until the event is over”…Graduated from high school in Myrtle Point where she participated in basketball, volleyball and track…Favorite sports teams are the New York Yankees, the Green Bay Packers and the Miami Heat, favorite rodeo is Pendleton, Ore., because it is so unique, favorite food is Chinese, favorite type of music is 80′s rock, and favorite book is the Bible…Enjoys playing X-Box while on the road…Rodeo idols are Jimmie Munroe and Jerri Mann.
In Brenda’s Words:
Hobbies: When I’m not riding horses or watching Kyle’s sports games I really like watching tv I love my tv shows NCIS is my favorite along with Castle. I TIVO quite a bit, I have shows I watch all week long and when NFL football is on I’m watching the Vikings. I like the Vikings because of Brett Farve, Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen. I guess if Brett Farve left the Vikings and went somewhere else I would like that team!
Favorite animal: I really don’t have a favorite animal I just have animals. I have Jethro who is my partner just because he is really doing all the work. We have a dog “Bolt” who goes with my Mom and I on the road. We have a cat that has to go in the winter his name is “Meow Meow” my nephew named him a long time ago. We did lose a part of the family this year I had a rabbit that traveled with us for the last 4 years he passed away June 9 2010. He was a well traveled bunny he had been with us the longest.
Memorable ride: I would have to say my 2010 year is the most memorable it has been the most successful and exciting since I have been rodeoing hard the last 5 year. Jethro has been awesome this year and the back-up horses I have stepped up. I rode back-ups at 6 different rodeos and placed on all of them. The 7 year old mare by Dash to Fame placed at 4/4 rodeo’s. The 7 year old gelding by Dash to Fame placed at 1/1. The 15 year old 1/2 brother to Jethro came through again at Pendleton.
Favorite food: I really like Chinese, but my favorite that I can’t hardly do without is chocolate ice cream or candy. Easter is my favorite I love Cadbury Mini eggs.
Columbia River Circuit Barrel racing champion 2006-2010
4x NFR qualifier
2007 Salinas Barrel racing Champion
2010 Cody Wyoming, Prescott AZ, Eugene OR, Casper WY, Joseph OR, Hermiston OR, Walla Walla Wa, Puyallup WA, Lewiston ID, Just to name a few it has been a very blessed 2010
Winning the Big 4 was a huge honor not too many Barrel Racers win that award. The Big 4 is a cash prize to the highest point earner from 4 rodeo’s Walla Walla and Ellensburg Wa. Lewiston ID and Pendleton Or. It has been a great season I thank the Lord that I have accomplished the things that I did and give him the glory.
