Behind Every Legend Is a Story Worth Telling

Bradley (Brad) Hughes founded Tough Draw with a simple but powerful belief: the Western way of life deserves to be told with authenticity, grit, and heart. With roots in film, rodeo, and storytelling, Brad has built Tough Draw into a multifaceted company that spans video production, athlete representation, live event strategy, and the Tough Draw Talks podcast. The vision for Tough Draw began in 2007, when Brad sat in a University of Texas screenwriting class and was asked to write the first act of a feature film. His mind went straight to his West Texas roots and his favorite sport—bull riding. That spark carried him to Los Angeles the next year, where he was accepted into the UTLA program and spent the summer interning for Ridley Scott at Scott Free Productions and Ron Howard at Imagine Entertainment. During that time, Brad had a small hand in projects like Body of Lies, Robin Hood, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and Friday Night Lights. Returning to Texas, Brad joined Lockheed Martin in 2010, where he shot and edited videos for the Missiles and Fire Control division and later helped produce commercials for the F-35 program with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. In 2012, he walked away from the corporate world to build his own production company, setting the foundation for what Tough Draw would become. As a producer, writer, and director, Brad went on to create the feature-length documentary LANE Life | Legend | Legacy, celebrating one of rodeo’s most iconic figures. Today, he continues to lead Tough Draw with a rider-first, story-first mentality—whether shaping the Tough Draw Tour, building authentic brand partnerships, or developing new ways to elevate Western culture. Brad resides in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife and two sons, proud to raise his family in the same Western values that fuel his work.

A lifelong cowgirl, Kaycie Timm has built her career around promoting the Western industry through storytelling and media. Since graduating from West Texas A&M University in 2018, she has honed her expertise in marketing, content creation, public relations, and branding while working with organizations such as the American Quarter Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association, the Mustang Heritage Foundation, and EG Media. Kaycie has captured and shared stories from some of the Western world’s biggest stages, photographing world champion rodeo athletes, industry leaders, and events ranging from the National Finals Rodeo to fundraising galas and concerts. Today, she serves as founder of her own marketing agency, director of marketing strategy for Tough Draw Sports, and marketing consultant for the Western Sports Foundation. Passionate about elevating authentic stories through writing, photography, and film, Kaycie continues to help shape how Tough Draw connects the Western industry to the world.

Lindsay Hughes has been a driving force behind Tough Draw since its earliest days, working across nearly every corner of the company to help keep ideas moving and stories alive. With roots in the veterinary field, where she began working at just 14 years old, Lindsay brings a natural mix of care, discipline, and adaptability to her work. Over the years, she has created branding, photography, and social media for Tough Draw, produced the Tough Draw Talks podcast, and played a key role in athlete relations and communications for Tough Draw Sports. She also served as the behind-the-scenes photographer during the making of the documentary LANE Life | Legend | Legacy, capturing moments that added depth to the story. Lindsay’s ability to wear many hats—creative, operational, and relational—has made her an essential part of the team. Whether supporting athletes, managing details, or helping the brand stay true to its vision, she continues to be a steady presence at the core of Tough Draw, all while balancing her most important role as a mother.

With over two decades of experience representing professional athletes, Michael McGarvey brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to Tough Draw Sports. A graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in Economics, Mike began his career in Major League Baseball on the marketing side, facilitating endorsement deals before transitioning to representing NFL players in 2007, where he signed his first 1st round draft pick. Introduced to Brad Hughes through a mutual contact, Mike quickly found himself drawn to the sport of rodeo. Many late night calls spent learning about the sport, its athletes, and the Western way of life led to a genuine passion that now fuels his work with Tough Draw. Today, Mike plays a key role in athlete representation and development for Tough Draw Sports, helping to grow opportunities for competitors while aligning with Tough Draw’s mission to elevate the sport of rodeo and the stories behind it.

Dallas Jackson brings a diverse background that spans finance, music technology, aviation, and large-scale event production. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, his first connection to Western culture came through the country music scene before transitioning into rodeo and live events. Brad and Dallas first worked together as two of the original founders of The Hondo Rodeo, where Brad saw firsthand Dallas’ expertise in event strategy and business implementation. That collaboration sparked a lasting bond, and today Dallas plays an integral role in shaping the Tough Draw Tour, serving as Event Operations Manager. Dallas’ ability to bridge big-picture planning with on-the-ground execution has made him a key partner in developing events that stay true to Western heritage while reaching new audiences.

A Fort Worth native and proud TCU graduate, Klyne Kidwill brings entrepreneurial drive and a strong network within the Western industry to the Tough Draw team. He and Brad Hughes first met during the Fort Worth Stockyards closure while the 1883 project from Taylor Sheridan was filming, and the two have collaborated closely ever since. Over the past several years, Klyne has worked alongside Brad and the Tough Draw team on a range of projects, combining his strong ties in the Stockyards with his natural ability to connect with people. His energy, creativity, and understanding of the Western space make him a key asset in both sales and business strategy, helping Tough Draw continue to grow meaningful relationships and partnerships across the industry.

A Lubbock, Texas native, Tanner Griggs shares the same West Texas values that helped connect him with Brad Hughes during their time at the University of Texas at Austin. Though they attended different high schools, their paths crossed in Austin, where they worked side by side in film classes, directing and shooting projects ranging from Super 16 film work to music videos and early digital creations that helped launch their careers in the industry.   Tanner went on to work with production companies and studios across the Dallas Fort Worth area, where he found his calling in virtual production. His experience spans operations, engineering, and supervising roles, giving him a deep understanding of both the technical and creative sides of modern production. Today, Tanner brings a strong sense of visual storytelling and virtual creation to the Tough Draw team, helping elevate projects through innovative animation and design.

Caleb Cowart is a third-generation partner on a cow-calf operation in Texas, where the values of hard work and stewardship have shaped his perspective from an early age. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Management and a minor in Law, Caleb brings a rare blend of agricultural roots and business acumen to Tough Draw. Brad and Caleb first crossed paths in 2010, when Brad was newly married and selling gym memberships to make ends meet while Caleb was serving as a general sales manager. The two quickly bonded over a shared passion for sports, laying the foundation for a friendship that would grow into a business partnership. Caleb was instrumental in raising the funds that brought Tough Draw’s feature-length documentary, LANE Life | Legend | Legacy, to life. His influence, instincts, and ambition continue to help position the company for growth while staying true to its mission of telling authentic Western stories. He currently resides in Texas with his wife and two children, proud to pass on the same Western values that guide his work.