Vern Smith was raised in a rodeo family in Burkburnett, Texas. He attended Eastern New Mexico University on a rodeo scholarship and then finished college at Southeastern Oklahoma State, where he was part of the 1978 NIRA National Champion Men’s Team. Vern was 1980 Lone Star Circuit Champion Bull Rider in Fort Worth, Houston, Cheyenne, Albuquerque, Dallas, Gonzalez, Prescott, plus many more. In 1980, he qualified for the NFR in 14th position and came out sitting seventh in the world. Vern was a multi-event cowboy, but bull riding was his favorite.
