At just 14 years old, Pierz’s Wesley Pulak has already cemented himself as one of the top junior bull riders in the nation. This month, Pulak will travel to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the Junior High School World Finals Rodeo – the biggest stage in his sport.
It’s a long way from where his journey began at just 6 years old, clinging to the back of a calf for dear life. But through dedication, perseverance and support from his family, Pulak has risen to the top of his sport.
Pulak’s introduction to bull riding came from his father, Jake Pulak, who was an amateur bull rider in his youth. It was him who first put a 6-year-old Wesley Pulak on the back of a calf, igniting a passion that still burns today.
“I started when I was 14 and did it for quite a few years,” Jake Pulak said. “Me and my brother both rode it together when I was younger.”
From those early beginnings, it was clear Wesley Pulak had a knack for bull riding. But the sport also requires dedication, resilience, and hard work to progress through the ranks. That’s where Jake Pulak helped guide his son, teaching him proper technique and safety.
“Just know all of the basics. Otherwise, you can’t really do nothing to keep safe,” Wesley Pulak said. “You’ve just got to get up and get out when you’re off your bull,”
All three Pulaks agreed that there was some level of risk involved with bull riding. Although there have been some minor injuries, none have been worried about Wesley Pulak’s wellbeing out on the rodeo, least of all Wesley Pulak.
“Wesley was born fearless,” said his mother Shauntel Pulak. “He’s never really been scared of anything.”
An example of Wesley Pulak’s grit and fearlessness came during one time when he was bull riding at only 7 years old. He got thrown off a bull, which ended up stepping on his hand. Paramedics immediately rushed to Pulak, about to take him to get treatment. However, when Jake Pulak came over to ask how Wesley Pulak was doing, the young bull rider gave his dad a thumbs up and a fist bump.
“That’s when I knew that he probably had it in him to do it,” Jake Pulak said, laughing. “He’ll get on that bull until you tell him he can’t no more.”
Over the years, Wesley poured his heart into bull riding, traveling across the state and region for competitions. He steadily climbed the ranks, culminating in a top four finish in the state junior high competition last year. That qualified him for the biggest stage of all: the Junior High World Finals. But to get there required sacrifice from the whole family.
“It’s been a lot of miles and a lot of money spent to get him to where we are today,” Jake Pulak said, acknowledging the costs of travel, entry fees and equipment.
Fortunately, they found support through sponsors, and Wesley Pulak began earning prize money as well. Most of all, Jake and Shauntel Pulak take pride in seeing their son’s progress.
“It’s pretty rewarding to see him working so hard and it paying off,” Jake Pulak said.
For Wesley Pulak, it’s about more than just the competition. It’s about the lifelong lessons the sport has taught him. That perseverance and grit were tested after his successful season last year ended with a disappointing third place state finish. But he responded by getting right back on the practice bulls to improve.
“Don’t quit and keep pushing,” Pulak said.
It’s that drive and commitment that has Shauntel and Jake Pulak confident in their son’s future goals, which include potentially becoming a professional bull rider. First though is the Junior High World Finals Rodeo from Sunday, June 23 through Saturday, June 29, the biggest event of Wesley’s young, but already impressive, career.
“I truly believe that he will be (a professional bull rider) one day if he keeps going how he is,” Shauntel Pulak said. “If he sticks with it and keeps the positive attitude and drive and a hunger for it, I absolutely think that he can succeed at that.”
With the continued support of his family behind him, don’t be surprised if this small-town bull rider rises to the top.
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