Tough Draw Tuesday: Representing Rodeo at the National FFA Convention

Oct 27

5 min read

Jace Trosclair (right) represented the PRCA at the National FFA Convention. — *Jace Trosclair (right) represented the PRCA at the National FFA Convention*.

More than 72,000 FFA members, advisors, and supporters gathered in Indianapolis last week for the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo. For four days, students from across the country celebrated their accomplishments, explored career opportunities, and connected with people and businesses representing nearly every corner of agriculture.

Among those faces were two Tough Draw Sports athletes, professional bull riders Clayton Sellars and Jace Trosclair.

Sellars attended through his partnership with AgTruckTrader, while Trosclair participated in autograph signings with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Both spent time meeting FFA members and connecting with fans while in Indianapolis.

Each appearance highlighted the longstanding connection between agriculture and professional rodeo, and the importance of engaging with the next generation of the Western industry.

A Shared Foundation

Agriculture and rodeo have been connected from the beginning. The sport grew from the skills and traditions of working cowboys, and those agricultural roots remain an important part of the industry today.

For young people involved in FFA, those connections are especially relevant. Agricultural education introduces students to opportunities in livestock production, business, leadership, and countless other fields, including the industries that support professional rodeo.

Both Sellars and Trosclair understand those connections firsthand.

Sellars was raised on a ranch in Florida and went on to study agricultural science at Western Texas College while pursuing his rodeo career. Trosclair grew up in Louisiana, spending time working cattle alongside his uncle, where he also gained some of his earliest bull riding experience.

*Agriculture and professional rodeo share deep roots, with generations of Western traditions and values connecting the two industries.*

While their careers have taken them to some of rodeo's biggest stages, both have backgrounds tied to the agricultural communities represented at the convention.

For Trosclair, joining the PRCA's activities offered another opportunity to meet young people interested in the industry and represent professional rodeo outside his regular competitive schedule.

"It's pretty cool to see how many kids are involved in FFA and excited about agriculture and rodeo," Trosclair said. "I've had a lot of people help me along the way, so anytime I get the chance to visit with young people and hopefully encourage a few of them, I'm glad to be part of it."

Tough Draw Sports worked directly with PRCA Merchandise and Licensing Director Nicole Garside to coordinate Trosclair's involvement. The association's continued presence at events like the National FFA Convention helps introduce young people to professional rodeo, while giving athletes opportunities to engage with fans and represent the sport.

Those relationships between athletes, associations, and the people working behind the scenes are an important part of making experiences like this possible. The PRCA team's willingness to collaborate and create space for those interactions is something Tough Draw Sports values and appreciates.

More Than an Autograph

For Sellars, the convention was another opportunity to represent longtime partner AgTruckTrader, a company with strong ties to the agricultural community and a commitment to supporting FFA.

Through his scheduled appearances, Sellars spent time meeting students, signing autographs, and taking photos with fans who were excited to meet a professional bull rider.

For AgTruckTrader and its parent company, The Certified Agriculture Group, that kind of engagement is an important part of their involvement with FFA.

"The mission of the FFA—developing premier leadership, personal growth, and career success—directly mirrors the foundational values of AgTruckTrader and The Certified Agriculture Group," said Lyle Orwig, chief marketing officer of The Certified Agriculture Group.

Orwig sees the organization's investment in FFA as an investment in the people who will lead agriculture in the years ahead, from future farm and ranch owners to agricultural business leaders and innovators.

Having someone like Sellars represent the company creates a personal connection to that mission.

*Clayton Sellars joined longtime partner AgTruckTrader at the National FFA Convention.*

With his background in ranching and professional rodeo, Sellars understands the audience AgTruckTrader serves. His relationship with the company has also extended well beyond traditional sponsorship, including opportunities to represent its products and connect with customers throughout the agricultural industry.

"I grew up on a ranch, so it's always good to be around people who share that background and love agriculture," Sellars said. "AgTruckTrader has given me some great opportunities to meet people and represent something I've been around my whole life. It's pretty neat seeing how excited these kids are about it."

For Orwig, those interactions are among the most rewarding parts of having athletes involved.

"It is always special to see the FFA members light up and run to get his autograph and picture with him," Orwig shared.

That enthusiasm speaks to the influence professional athletes can have on young fans, but it also highlights the value of partnerships that give athletes opportunities to engage directly with the communities they represent.

"These personal touchpoints strengthen our partnership by grounding it in shared values rather than just logos on a truck," Orwig concluded.

Building Connections Beyond the Arena

For Tough Draw Sports, coordinating appearances like these is part of helping athletes build careers and relationships beyond competition.

Through relationships with sponsors and organizations like AgTruckTrader and the PRCA, Tough Draw Sports works to connect athletes with opportunities that support their individual brands, strengthen partnerships, and give them greater visibility throughout the industry.

The National FFA Convention provided two examples of how those relationships work in practice.

For Sellars, it meant spending time with FFA members on behalf of a brand that has supported his career for years. For Trosclair, it meant representing professional rodeo and connecting with an audience that shares many of the same agricultural roots.

*As a professional bull rider, Trosclair takes pride in representing the sport both in and out of the arena.*

For the students, meeting professional athletes offers another perspective on the possibilities within the Western industry. Rodeo careers may begin in the practice pen or on a family ranch, but the industry also depends on people working in agriculture, business, livestock production, media, and countless other fields.

Organizations like FFA help prepare young people for those roles, while the businesses, associations, and athletes involved with the convention help show what those possibilities can look like.

Tough Draw Sports is proud to work with athletes and partners who recognize the importance of staying connected to the communities that support Western sports.

And for Sellars and Trosclair, another week spent representing their partners offered a chance to do something that matters beyond their own careers: spend time with the young people who will help shape the future of agriculture and rodeo.