Notable • Inducted 2024
J.D. Yates holds not one, but two PRCA National Finals Qualification records. The first happened in 1975 when he became the youngest PRCA contestant to qualify for the National Finals at age 15 years 4 months, beating Ace Berry’s previous record by 7 months. The second came in 1984 when J.D., father, Dick, and sister Kelly became the only father-son-daughter trio to qualify for the National Finals. He also stands as the fifth cowboy with the most overall qualifications – 21 appearances in team roping at the National Finals and 11 appearances at the National Steer Roping Finals. He and partner Bobby Harris won the NFR Average title in 2002. Yate won the NFSR Average title in 2008.
This Colorado cowboy started roping behind the chutes while his father competed at the rodeo. Other cowboys would pay Yates to rope a passing cowgirl for a quarter. By the time he was in his teens, Yates was on his way to the pros. He had his permit by the time he was fourteen and had it filled by fifteen.
Yates won two National Intercollegiate Team Roping Titles in 1979 and 1980. He is one of the few team ropers to have competed at the National Finals as both a header and a heeler. Yates has also collected fourteen Mountain States Circuit titles in team roping, steer roping, and all-around.
Yates has always been one to appreciate a good horse. He and his father trained many of the horses they hauled. He started showing more and more horses in the AQHA world competitions. He has earned over 40 titles for the horses he has taken to competition, including four Super Horse titles.
Accolades
Biography
National Finals Rodeo Average Champion
Team Roping: 2002
Steer Roping: 2008
RAM Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion
All-Around: 1984, 1990, 1992, 1995
Team Roping: 1978, 1984, 1987, 1990
Tie-Down Roping: 1981, 1992
Steer Roping: 1988, 1990, 1996, 2007, 2009
RAM Circuit Year-End Champion
Mountain States
All-Around: 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989, 2011
Team Roping: 1981, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2016
Steer Roping: 1994, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009
Born: August 15, 1960 in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Joined the PRCA: 1975
NFR Qualifications: 21
NFSR Qualifications: 11
Rodeo Championships
Buffalo Bill Rodeo / North Platte, NE
Team Roping: 1987
Caldwell Night Rodeo / Caldwell, ID
Team Roping: 1980
Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
All-Around: 2016
Steer Roping: 1994
Colorado State Fair and Rodeo / Pueblo, CO
Team Roping: 1976 (tie), 1979, 1992
Days of ’47 Rodeo / Salt Lake City, UT
Team Roping: 1980
Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo / Deadwood, SD
All-Around: 2015
Dodge City Roundup / Dodge City, KS
All-Around: 1989, 2015
Team Roping: 1978, 1988, 1998 (tie)
Steer Roping: 1989, 1996, 2005
Tie-Down Roping: 1989
Elizabeth Stampede / Elizabeth, CO
Team Roping: 1998 2000
Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA
All-Around: 1988
Team Roping: 1986, 1988
Steer Roping: 2003
Fiesta de los Vaqueros / Tucson, AZ
Team Roping: 1991
Tie-Down Roping: 1983 (tie)
Grand National Stock Show and Rodeo / San Francisco, CA
Team Roping: 1988
Greeley Independence Day Stampede / Greeley, CO
Tie-Down Roping: 1982
Team Roping: 1975, 1983
Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo/ Guymon, OK
All-Around: 1992
Team Roping: 1992
Steer Roping: 2008
Helldorado Days Rodeo / Las Vegas, NV
Team Roping: 1997
Lea County Fair and Rodeo / Lovington, NM
All-Around: 1994
Team Roping: 1994
Lewiston Roundup / Lewiston, ID
Team Roping: 2007
Livingston Roundup / Livingston, MT
Team Roping: 1979, 1988, 1998
Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo / Molalla, OR
Team Roping: 1992
National Western Stock Show / Denver, CO
Team Roping: 1983
New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo / Albuquerque, NM
Team Roping: 1977
Pendleton Round-Up / Pendleton, OR
All-Around: 1994
Steer Roping: 1991, 1994, 2001
Parada del Sol / Scottsdale, AZ
Team Roping: 1987
Red Bluff Round-Up / Red Bluff, CA
Team Roping: 1996
Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
All-Around: 1984
Team Roping: 2003
Rooftop Rodeo / Estes Park, CO
Team Roping: 1997
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo / San Antonio, TX
Team Roping: 1991
Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo / Odessa, TX
Team Roping: 1988, 1989
Sisters Rodeo / Sisters, OR
All-Around: 1989
Team Roping: 1989
Snake River Stampede / Nampa, ID
Team Roping: 1993
Spanish Fork Fiesta Days / Spanish Fork, UT
Team Roping: 1977, 1979 (tie), 1989
Walla Walla Frontier Days / Walla Walla, WA
All-Around: 1993, 1996
Steer Roping: 1993, 1995
World’s Oldest Rodeo Prescott Frontier Days / Prescott, AZ
All-Around: 1983
Team Roping: 1987