J.D. Yates

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.

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

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