In professional rodeo, there are a few names that are synonymous with certain events, such as Cody Demoss in saddle bronc riding or Shane Hanchey in calf roping. And whenever the top competitors in steer wrestling are discussed, Casey Martin is one of the first cowboys who comes to mind.

After working his way through the amateur ranks, Martin has become one of the most successful athletes in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association as well as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He has represented his hometown of Sulphur, Louisiana, at four Wrangler National Finals Rodeos in Las Vegas, Nevada, and finished third in the PRCA world standings in 2014.



When 55 of the nation's top cowboys left the PRCA to begin the new Elite Rodeo Association in late 2015, it was no surprise to see Martin among the departures.

This year is the beginning of a new era in the sport of professional rodeo as the ERA gears up to hold its first World Championship from Friday-Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

After competing on some of rodeo's biggest stages over the years, Martin said he isn't making any changes to his approach heading into the ERA's marquee event.

"It's not any different than every time I get ready for any rodeo," he said. "It's a lot of practice and more practice, and when I get to the event, it's always one steer at a time. And when you do this for a living, running a steer is running a steer no matter where your at."

Martin has always wanted to make a living in steer wrestling. But finding success in the sport is not possible on your own -- there is always another athlete to consider.

Martin credits his equine partner, Tuscon, for consistently putting him in position to win.

"Tucson helps take care of me, and I take care of him in return," Martin said. "Without a good horse, you can't get your feet on the ground, and if you can't get your feet on the ground you can't win any money. It takes a special kind of horse to put you where you need to be time and time again and Tucson's that horse. Very seldom does he not put me where I need to be to make a good run."

A father of seven, Martin said his biggest motivation is his family. After the dust settles in Dallas this weekend and the ERA champions had been crowned, he's not looking too far beyond coming home to North Louisiana for a few weeks and teaching a bull dogging class.  

However, Martin can see a future for the ERA far beyond its inaugural season.

"Where I'd like to see it, as a big production, as big as the Super Bowl is," he said. "I'd like to see cowboys be able to market themselves and to make an even better living rodeoing. That's why I believe in this organization and why I am a part of it. Rodeo has been kept down too long, and it's time for rodeo to be in the spotlight and that's what I hope the ERA can do."

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