by Amber Scales, Student Reporter
Northwestern Oklahoma State University has earned a reputation for many things. In past years, the success of the university’s rodeo program has contributed to that. Much of that prominence can be attributed to Stockton Graves, who has been at the helm of the team since 2012. In those seven years, there have been highs and lows as in any coaching career, but Graves keeps a positive mindset.
“I don’t focus on the disappointments or the achievements that much,” Graves said. “The highs aren’t too high, and the lows aren’t too low.”
Graves was born in Ponca City, Okla. and was raised in a small town nearby called Kildare. He was raised by his father, Jim Graves, and his mother, Cheryl, along with his three sisters. By the time he was old enough to start rodeoing, his sisters were already involved in high school sports such as basketball and softball.
“My dad bull-dogged, and he influenced me the most in my life,” Graves said. “We started out by roping calves and team roping. When I got old enough, we moved into bull-dogging, but he introduced me to everything.”
In 1997, Graves was the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association champion steer wrestler. After graduating from Ponca City High School, Graves attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University and was on the rodeo team. Graves qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. three times, and he was a Central Plains region champion steer wrestler for the 1999-2000 season. Graves also holds the steer wrestling arena record at the CNFR with a time of 3.4 seconds.
Professional Career
After graduating college with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business, Graves continued his winning ways at the professional level. He qualified for his first circuit finals in calf roping in 1999. Graves had a long “To-do” list. The first thing on it was to win the RAM National Circuit Finals.
He accomplished that in 2006. But his biggest desire was to make the NFR. He admits there was a lot of ups and downs, but he always seems to accomplish what he sets out to do. And he did in 2004, making his first NFR. In all, Graves made the NFR seven times and won over $1,180,408.00 in his professional rodeo career.
Graves has numerous wins, such as winning the eighth round of the Wrangler NFR with a time of 3.3 seconds. He finished the year ranked seventh in the world with $117,772. In 2007, Graves won round seven of the Wrangler NFR with a time of 3.7 seconds. He placed in five of the 10 rounds at the Thomas & Mack Center in 2007.
In 2010, Graves won the North Idaho Fair & Rodeo in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He also won the Dodge Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo in Park City, Kan. He placed in four rounds of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
After many other wins, Graves semi-retired in 2012, but even in semi-retirement, he is still accomplishing his goals. In June 2019, Graves won $62,500 at WCRA Major in Green Bay.
The sport of rodeo comes with difficulties and hard times.
“In the sport of rodeo or in life in general, every day can be a difficulty,” Graves said, “but I would say just getting over the hump to be successful and to make the NFR took me about a year.
“I wasn’t always sure I knew I could. But there was always that fact that you just don’t know until you do. No matter how many times you fail, if you really want it, then you’ll find a way to do it.”
Personal Life
Outside of being a rodeo athlete, coach, and family man, Graves enjoys coyote hunting. And if it’s hunting season, he will be up early in the morning with his dogs ready to go. He is also an avid OU football fan and enjoys watching NASCAR racing.
Graves has accomplished lots of things in his rodeo career, but nothing compares to having a family. “My greatest accomplishment is my wife and my kids,” Graves said. He went to high school and college with his wife, Crissi Graves. They have two children: Sequin Lee, who is five years old, and Augustus Allen, who is two years old.
Crissi Graves said: “He’s a great dad to our kids and supports us. He’s a pretty good handy man around the house, and he is really smart business-wise, especially when it comes to rodeo.”
Coaching
Graves has been around the world with rodeo and has had much success, which makes him a great coach because he knows how to win. But he also knows how to handle a loss and move on from it. Graves has had many students on his rodeo team that have been very successful at the professional level after graduating from NWOSU. Not only does he teach them how to compete, but he also teaches them how to move on when it doesn’t go right every time.
Crissi Graves said: “There have been some rodeo athletes that have come through NWOSU while he has been coaching and they are now competing at the NFR level or are top athletes in their circuit. I think Stockton is a great ambassador for NWOSU by representing them in a lot of different places and brings a lot of recognition to the college.”
Jayden Johnson, a member of the NWOSU rodeo team, said: “I admire Stockton’s work ethic. He’s always focused on what he needs to do, and he’s pretty open.”
A good quality about Stockton is that he’s always straight to the point. He tells you like it is because he knows that, to be successful, you have to face the hard facts and correct your mistakes. But besides being tough, he has a pretty big heart. Stockton is always open to helping anyone. He tells his team that his door is always open if they need help with anything from school to rodeo.
“Stockton has given me lots of advice in the past about life, rodeo, and about having a positive mindset,” Johnson said. “He’s helped me become a better competitor and has helped me learn how to win. I enjoy him being my coach, and I see him as one of my good friends now. And I just enjoy his company because he’s good to be around and has a good mindset. He’s always positive, and I’ve learned a lot from him.”
Graves admits his outlook has shifted, but he is still striving to meet his goals: “Right now, making the NFR again isn’t my priority in my life. Rodeo has been good to me. But as you get older, your priorities change. I’m more passionate now about my family and my team. My focus is having a national championship team here at NWOSU and creating a tradition of championships here. That is my goal that we will work towards.”
