July 15, 2024
Logan Bird is a man on a mission… well, maybe a few missions.
“I feel this is the best I’ve ever roped,” the Nanton cowboy stated. “I’ll have $31,000 won after this week which is the most I’ve ever had at this point in the year, and I didn’t make any money at Ponoka. To get to that total $2000 at a time is a lot different than winning $20,000 at Ponoka.”
The 2017 Champion has been first or second at four of the last five rodeos he’s been at including topping the field at the SMS Equipment Pro Tour stop, Teepee Creek Stampede (7.9 seconds, $2774) and catching second at Maple Leaf Circuit venue, Bowden Daze Rodeo (8.8 seconds, $1588). Those results come on the heels of a win at Benalto and a second at Williams Lake. The wins at Teepee Creek and Benalto are the third time Bird has won at each of those centres.
“If you’d have said to me before the season I’d have $30,000 won before August and not have won anything at Ponoka, I’d take that for sure,” Bird added. “I love Ponoka and the money that’s up there but if you don’t win there and a guy like Haven (Meged) wins $20,000, you have to work really hard to keep up to him which is hard enough to do already.”
The consistency that is the Logan Bird trademark is perfect for the goals he has set for himself.
“Every year I set out to be season leader so I’d like to do that again.” He’s twice previously headed to the CFR in the pole position. “And I’d like to have 40 to 45 thousand won before the CFR to make sure I get to Calgary. I think I sometimes rope a little defensively at the Finals to protect a spot at Calgary because I hate having to go there and just watch it. So I can be a little more aggressive at Edmonton if I’ve already got a spot at the Stampede pretty well clinched.”
The talented roper’s success comes in addition to his responsibilities as part of the family’s timed event cattle business. “I’m involved during the week with the cattle side but lots of people have jobs during the week. But at a rodeo, most people can concentrate on their event, but I have to make sure I see the dogging and other events we’re involved with, so I’m pretty busy at most rodeos I go to.”
As for the rest of the year, the eight-time CFR qualifier will spend at least some time rodeoing on the south side of the 49th parallel. ”I’m 35th in the world right now and that’s with all my money won up here, and I’d like to win enough to qualify for some of the big winter rodeos next year. I’ll probably head down to Pendleton and some of those to see if I can get that done.”
Between his job responsibilities, his horse training—there are a couple of really good young ones in a pipeline that has already brought us (award-winning tie down horses) TJ and Peso, and a busy competition schedule, it’s going to be a hectic last half of 2024 for Logan Bird.
But with solid goals to pursue and a well thought out game plan in place to accomplish those goals, one thing is for sure. Fans better get used to seeing this cowboy’s name exactly where it’s been for a lot of the season—at the top of tie-down roping leaderboards.
And when the 2024 campaign draws to a conclusion it’s a pretty good bet that Logan Bird will be able to say, “Missions accomplished.”
The CPRA schedule take us to Morris, Manitoba for another SMS Equipment Pro Tour event—the Manitoba Stampede, July 19-21 and to Kennedy, Saskatchewan for the Maple Leaf Circuit Moose Mountain Pro Rodeo, July 20-21.
For complete unofficial results, check out the Unofficial-in-progress-results page.
PHOTO: Logan Bird, 2024 Bowden Daze Rodeo by Gralyn Boyd