Travis Sellers: Apple Doesn't Fall Far From Tree
By Maureen Panno

Never before has there been a father and son bull riding duo that have achieved the same accomplishments in their respective careers. For Ron Sellers and his son, Travis, it has happened twice. In 1983, on the night Travis was born, his father was riding a bull in the rodeo at Manawa, WI. There is a picture to prove it.



Ron Sellers at Manawa, WI on 7/3/83


On his 19th birthday, and his first year as a pro bull rider, Travis rode a bull in the exact same corner of the arena in Manawa. His picture of the feat is kept right next to his father's picture. Travis laughed and said, "The only difference between the pictures is I'm in the air coming off my bull and he rode his."




Travis Sellers at Manawa, WI on 7/3/02


When the Great Lakes Circuit Finals took place in Louisville, KY this past November, it was the 20th anniversary weekend of when Ron won the circuit bull riding title. The only advice he gave his son on the first night of the circuit finals was, "Just ride them and have fun."

Travis went out and did exactly that. On Saturday night - his father's 20th anniversary of winning the circuit bull riding title - so did Travis. He will be going to Pocatello, Idaho for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in two weeks.

His father said, "People say I taught him how to ride the bulls. I didn't. I might give pointers and the fundamentals, but you can't teach someone the heart that goes with it." To that Travis responds, "I give a lot of the credit for teaching me the fundamentals and the mindset to him. He helps me through the low times and points out what I'm doing wrong. People tend to think he's hard on me, but he's not. He's my mentor and I look up to him." Having spoken to both of them, there is no mistaking the pride, respect and love between father and son.

There is a poll on the Extreme Bulls website that shows a field of up and comers with the best shot of winning the Extreme Bulls championship. Travis is way in the lead with 41% of the votes. How will this added pressure effect his riding performance? "I didn't even know about that. There's a lot of pressure on me (friends, family) people expect me to do well. I just take it one bull at a time."

People always talk about something being "poetry in motion." That's exactly what comes to mind when you see Travis ride. When you compare bull riders, you usually see air between the bull and the rider. Not so with Travis. It's as if he put Super Glue on his jeans. Bull and rider match movements jump for jump. No air. True poetry in motion.

Even though the season is young, Travis is doing very well in the standings. He is 7th in the World Standings and 5th in the Extreme Bulls. You hear the pride in his father's voice when he says, "It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Travis were to go to the NFR and win the world championship."

It wouldn't surprise me, either. He's that good.