Incoming National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Student President
A first-person perspective from Tyree Cochrane (Animal Science, ‘21), who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in agriculture.
This past June, I represented the West Coast Region at the College National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Summer Board meetings as West Coast student region director. As region director my responsibilities include representing our region at national meetings and helping put together regional rodeos, incorporating COVID-19 safety protocols, and hauling our national sponsor banners and flags to all our regional rodeos. Last year, all meetings were held through zoom, so it was great to see my fellow student regional directors and all of their regional faculty directors face-to-face and get to know all of them. This was also Cal Poly Rodeo Coach Ben Londo’s first national meeting in person as West Coast Region faculty director. At the summer board meeting, we work with the rest of the regions to decide certain scholarship awards and vote on the next year’s student and faculty presidents. I was blessed to be nominated and elected as the NIRA student president and I am so excited to represent the West Coast and Cal Poly at the national level! As national president I will preside at national meetings along with the newly elected faculty president, Llew Rust, from the Southwest Region. I never would have had this opportunity without Coach Londo’s encouragement, the faculty support I have in my master’s committee including Professors Zach McFarlane, Julie Huzzey, and Kim Sprayberry, and my parents love and commitment to see me accomplish my goals. I am so excited for our winter board meetings to be back at South Point, Las Vegas this December. I hope to see you all at the Cal Poly NFR Watch Party on Dec. 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Brunswick Room, South Point Hotel & Casino.
Read more stories on in the Fall 2021 Newsletter