By Katy Lucas

Magnus, Kelton, Goodrich, Timberman, Myers, Skelton, and Brazile.

You know the names, you remember the runs and rides under the bright lights of Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Center, and you saw the pride in the gold buckles won that they still wear to this day.

Now it’s time for the next generation to start carrying on the family name that these rodeo superstars have etched in the history of this great sport, and blaze their own trail into the future of rodeo, starting at the Junior National Finals Rodeo — which streams live right here on FloRodeo starting tomorrow.

One of the competitors blazing that trail this year is 18-year-old Truman Magnus, son of nine-time NFR qualifier and renowned horseman, Tyler Magnus. When your dad makes his living with a rope in his hand, you would think it would be hard not to feel the pressure of living up to that legacy.

“He’s my dad, so people know who you are a little more and a lot more people pay attention to you, but I don’t take it as extra pressure,” Truman said. “I like it, I’ve gotten to rope every day, to see how he did it, learn from him. It’s helped a lot and I’ve had a lot of opportunities.”

Tyler, known for his horsemanship skills, seems to have held nothing back when it comes to sharing that knowledge with his son. The pride in his voice is obviously when Truman talks about his love of training horses.

“Roping is fun and winning is fun, but having good horses that work and being able to train them and bring them up along the way — that’s the most fun for me I have to say,” Truman said.

He may be conquering the art of roping, but he says the next step has nothing to do with physical talent.

“I think mental is the biggest part of roping. You can rope as good as you want but if you don’t have it figured out mentally it’s not going to work,” Truman said. “[My dad] is really good about that, and that’s kind of one of my last steps of roping, to really be stronger mentally.”

Truman will have plenty of opportunity to work on his mental game during the 2018 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo season, as the duo prepare to rope together in what will be Truman’s first full season of professional competition. You would think being the son of such an accomplished roper may be difficult, roping behind him as his partner an even tougher feat, but Truman says it’s just the opposite.

“We already have the run down,” he said. “We don’t have to start from scratch, which is good to have your first year of rodeoing pro. You have someone that you know what they’re going to do every time.”

In the meantime, watch for Truman Magnus competing at his first Junior NFR in the team roping, covered LIVE on FloRodeo.

There will also be other next-generation competitors to look out for in Vegas.

Twenty-three-time world champion Trevor Brazile is a man that needs no introduction, but we’re excited to introduce you to his son, Treston Brazile, who will compete in the 10 and under breakaway roping at the Junior NFR, while his dad competes in the tie-down roping at the WNFR.

Gator Goodrich is the son of six-time NFR tie-down roping qualifier Brad Goodrich. The young Goodrich will be competing in the 13 and under tie-down roping.

Ketch and Kenzi Kelton will be competing in the events they know best: roping. The pair grew up with a rope in their hands under the watchful eye of their father, three-time WNFR qualifier Chance Kelton. Ketch will be competing in the 13 and under tie-down roping, Kenzi in the 14 and under girls breakaway roping, and then the pair will face off against one another in the team roping competition, each with their own partner.

Westyn Timberman has grown up with quite the idol for an uncle: 2004 world champion bareback rider Kelly Timberman, who has no doubt been an influence for him as he carries on the tradition in the senior bareback riding.

If you’re a team roping fan, the name Skelton was synonymous with team roping domination in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Speed Williams and Rich Skelton claimed eight world titles in a row. Look for the next generation as Rainey Skelton enters the 14 and under girls breakaway roping at the Junior NFR, while her dad ropes in the CINCH Boyd Gaming Chute-Out.

Look for the next generation or rodeo royalty, competing alongside many young cowboys and cowgirls that will be looking to blaze their own trail in the rodeo world, hoping some day that theirs will be a legendary rodeo name to carry on.