An injury may be keeping young Blair Mabry from competing in some of his events at the 2018 National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals in Guthrie, Oklahoma, but that injury can’t keep him from having a winning spirit. 

Watch the National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo LIVE on FloRodeo July 10-15, 2018.

“I have lived this past season, at school sports and at rodeo, by the saying ‘hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard,’” said Mabry in his NLBRA bio. “If you are willing to put in the work, you will be rewarded with the glory.”

May 23 of this year was a hard day for Mabry as he underwent surgery to repair his tricep after it as torn away from his elbow. Mabry called the injury “crushing” after it saw him having to turn out of the 2018 National Junior High School Finals Rodeo after working hard to qualify in five events. 

Mabry’s biggest goal was to win a national title in the steer bareback riding—which was his most successful event this season, tying for first place in the season standings—but he’ll have to sit it out this year while he continues to heal. That winning spirit is hard to squash, though; you’ll see the Tennessee cowboy compete in the team roping, breakaway roping, and ribbon roping at the NLBRA finals. 

“It has been devastating for me but it has also given me a new perspective of humility and sportsmanship,” said Mabry. “Even though I won't be able to compete in bareback, I have several good friends that will be competing and I will be pulling for one of them to win.”

This 14-year-old shows experience beyond his years, which could be accredited to his greatest mentors and supporters: mom and dad. 

“Along with Lane Frost, my dad is my biggest hero,” said Mabry. “He has taught me everything I know about rodeoing and riding and working hard, he always has my back and helps me when I need to make adjustments. He and my mom work hard to take my brother and me up and down the road every weekend.” 

A look at his accomplishments both inside and outside of the rodeo arena show that “hard work” is a universal principle in anything Mabry does. In 2018 Mabry won the Hustle Award and Defensive Player of the Year for middle school basketball and the Fastest Runner Award for middle school cross-country.

Looking ahead, Mabry plans to work hard in high school with a college path in mind. He hopes to rodeo throughout college and carry on to compete in the PRCA. 

Catch Mabry this week in performance one on Tuesday morning for the breakaway roping and ribbon roping, and team roping in performance four on Wednesday evening.