Resistol Rookie Sierra Spratt wasn’t expecting to fall into the world of television journalism, but the shoe fit perfectly after graduating with a masters in communications from Cal Poly and patiently searching for a remote job that fit the ProRodeo lifestyle.
Now, Spratt is currently sitting No. 3 in the Resistol Rookie of the Year breakaway standings with $9,673, and is hot on the rodeo trail with fellow rookie Ariana Varischetti and reigning Resistol Rookie of the Year Braylee Shepherd in the truck.
Hailing from San Tan Valley, Arizona, Spratt is one of the faces on Teton Ridge’s broadcast team. But how did Spratt end up with such a cool gig? It started with her announcing a barrel race at her aunt’s arena—an event she occasionally dabbles in herself.
“Someone mentioned to my uncle Troy Pruitt that I had a great voice, and should try to get onto the Cowboy Channel,” Spratt said. “He laughed and mentioned it to me—and then asked if I was serious.”
The ball started rolling, and while the Cowboy Channel wasn’t hiring, another name was pitched to Spratt; Joe Loverro of Teton Ridge.
“You ever do television, kid?”
“I called him one day and pitched myself to him,” Spratt said. “I wasn’t looking for any job in particular, I was thinking a little marketing job—I just wanted to work. He gave me a chance and here we are.”
Originally hired on in October of 2022, Spratt decided to put off her Resistol Rookie plans for one more year to put her entire effort into Teton Ridge.
“I didn’t have any experience with broadcast, but I’d done a lot of acting and modeling in high school and college. I feel like that gave me experience because that’s what broadcast is—it’s a lot of improv.” – Sierra Spratt
“I thought, ‘This is more than a little remote gig, this is a cool opportunity and I need to put my best foot forward because it’s not going to come around again,'” Spratt explained. “During my first year working there, Kadee Coffman was unable to do the American Contender Tournament [broadcast] in Heber City, Utah. So, I was up. Now, I am doing national broadcasts on FOX Sports and The American.”
Spratt made it clear she was planning to rodeo and work full-time in 2024, and says she’s received overwhelming support from her coworkers.
“A day in the life—I’m on the phone a lot, I’m on the computer a lot and either traveling to or at a rodeo,” Spratt, 27, said. “I am co-producing a show on Teton right now called Rodeo Road Trip. Our first stop is Calgary, then Cheyenne and Pendleton, where Luke Branquinho is going to co-host with me. It’s a College Game Day live show slash late night talk show, so I am on the phone planning that right now, trying to get the whole thing lined out.”
Sierra Spratt’s Rookie paydays
- Walker County Fair & Pro Rodeo, Huntsville, TX $1,488
- Clark County Fair & Pro Rodeo, Logandale, NV $1,257
- Days Of The Old West Rodeo, Delta, UT $1,186
Sierra Spratt’s horsepower
Spratt currently has two horses in her trailer; old faithful “Bo” and new face “Fabio.” Bo is a 16-year-old grade gelding that originally came from Tyson Durfey more than a decade ago.
“I’ve had him for about 10 years now, and he’s my rock,” Spratt said. “He never has an off day, he always gives me one hundred percent, and he’s really hard to get off of.”
On the flip side is “Fabio,” a 9-year-old gelding registered as “Hancock Red Sorrel” Spratt recently purchased from Alyssa Bigon for the long scores on the summer run.
“Fabio’s fast, honest and won’t take that shot away,” Spratt said.
Armed with two strong horses and two inspiring ladies in the rig, Spratt is looking forward to the summer run.
“We’ve got a busy Fourth of July planned,” Spratt said. “If we can make it, we’re going. It’s nice because Ariana is a rookie too, and Braylee won it last year so it’s a great combination.”
