Cole Melancon

remember that name

By Barbara Pinnella

It would make sense if, before the Iron Cowboy, PBR fans did not know much about Cole Melancon, or even know who he was at all. Prior to the major event at Staples Center, he rode in a handful of Velocity and Touring Pro events. He is much more well known in the PRCA, twice qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo. But now all that has changed, and Cole is happy with his decision to ride in Iron Cowboy, a choice that he was on the fence about.

“I got invited to ride in the Velocity Finals in 2017 for winning the College Finals, and I did go to that. I also got invited to the Global Cup. I grew up with Cooper Davis and Cody Teel; we’re all from the same area. Cooper told Justin (McBride) about me, and Justin told him that if I wanted to come, I could. I had about a 24-hour notice on that before I had to jump on a plane.

“Those were the only PBR events I went to until this year. Up until then I didn’t really have any more thoughts about coming over to the PBR; I was just going to continue to rodeo. But in December I went to my first Velocity event, then went to about three others, and did well enough to get to come to L.A.”

Melancon told us that now that he has a family, he had to make a business decision. He would like to continue riding in the PRCA and try to qualify for the NFR this year, as well as riding in the PBR. As for the $100,000 he won, he intends to pay off some bills, and perhaps invest a bit of it also. “The money’s really good at the PBR, and when the man invites you, it’s hard to turn it down and not come. And now being sixth in the World Standings, it’s a big change overnight. I get to go back to Arlington this weekend for the Global Cup to represent Team USA again, so I’m pretty excited about that, and excited to have that opportunity again.” When Cole was young, his family was into rodeo a bit, but they were team ropers. Melancon became the standout, because even though he also enjoyed roping, he knew at an early age that he wanted to ride bulls. That was his interest when he went to the rodeos with his family, and he admitted to watching the movie 8 Seconds many, many times. “My dad started letting me get on some sheep, then some calves, and it just went from there. I qualified for the Texas State High School Finals Rodeo four years, and rode bulls in college from 2016 and 2017. That was at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas, rodeoing for Coach Paul Brown. I made the College Finals both years, and as I said earlier, ended up winning them the second year, 2017.” Cole Melancon takes on Lets Play Clay (4B Bucking Bulls) in round 1 of the PBR Iron Cowboy in Anaheim, CA. Photo by Andrea Kaus / Chaos Graphics.

In July of last year at a rodeo in Salinas, as Cole looked to be on track to qualify for his third NFR, he suffered a collapsed left lung and three broken ribs, putting a stop to his run for those Finals. He was in 13th place at the time of the injury, and finished 18th in the standings; close, but no cigar.

When asked what bull he would most like to get on, his answer was the same as many other riders; SweetPro’s Bruiser. But unlike a lot of his peers, he has already been on Bruiser three times.

“I rode him twice, and got bucked off the other time. the first time I rode him was in Vernal, Utah. I was 92.5 on him and won the rodeo. The second time was in Caldwell, Idaho, where I rode him for 90 points and I ended up winning second. I drew him again at the NFR in 2018 and he bucked me off right at the whistle. I’d like to get on him again, especially in the Short Round at one of these PBRs.”

Cole is not one to sit around and when he has any off time, he tends to keep busy outside. He likes spending time with his family, and working around his ranch. They have a few horses there that always need tending to. He does some day work as well; whatever anybody needs to have done he is right there. But with his intent to now ride at both the PBR and PRCA events the rest of the season, keeping busy might not be that much of a problem. “I’m going to juggle both of those organizations and just see what happens towards the end of the year,” he told us. “I dang sure want to try to make the NFR again. I’m not going to give up on rodeos this year. I’ve already started it, and I’m doing fairly decent in the standings.

“I know it’s early, but whenever I’m not at a PBR I’ll be rodeoing. Come summer on the PBR break, I just won’t take one, I’ll keep rodeoing and keep going.”

Cole is talented and determined, and Humps N’ Horns Bull Riding Magazine wants to congratulate him, welcome him to the PBR, and wish him good luck in the future.

Cole Melancon bests on Spotted Demon (Julio Moreno / Dallas Schott) for 89.75 points in round 4 of the PBR Iron Cowboy in Anaheim, CA. Photo by Andrea Kaus / Chaos Graphics.