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| Trevor Knowles |
Full Name: Trevor Knowles Current Status: Retired from full-time professional rodeo competition in 2022.
Trevor Knowles built one of the most respected careers in professional steer wrestling, becoming a four-time Calgary Stampede champion and a 13-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Raised in Mount Vernon, Oregon, he combined ranching roots with rodeo talent to become one of the sport's most consistent bulldoggers over a two-decade career.
Trevor Knowles Quick Facts
Trevor Knowles's professional journey in steer wrestling is highlighted by several key achievements and personal details, reflecting his dedication to the sport.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Trevor Knowles |
| Date of Birth | September 15, 1980 |
| Birthplace | Baker City, Oregon, USA |
| Residence | Mount Vernon, Oregon |
| Nationality | American |
| Sport | Steer Wrestling (also competed in tie-down roping) |
| Joined PRCA | 2001 |
| NFR Qualifications | 13 (2004–2016) |
| Career Earnings (PRCA) | Over $1.5 million |
Trevor Knowles Biography Summary
Trevor Knowles built a distinguished career in professional steer wrestling after joining the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 2001. He made his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo appearance in 2004 and went on to qualify 13 times through 2016, one of the longer active runs in the event's steer wrestling field during that era.
Over his career he earned more than $1.5 million on the PRCA circuit and won the prestigious Calgary Stampede steer wrestling title four times. Knowles was known for his consistency, strong horsemanship, and fundamentally sound technique, and he remained a fixture in the sport's top standings for well over a decade before retiring from full-time competition in 2022.
Trevor Knowles Early Life
Trevor Knowles was born on September 15, 1980, in Baker City, Oregon, and grew up around Mount Vernon in Grant County, a part of Eastern Oregon with deep rodeo and ranching roots. He attended Grant Union High School, where he was a two-time state wrestling champion in 1997 and 1998 and went undefeated during his senior season.
Knowles initially planned to continue wrestling in college, but a redshirt year left him looking for something to fill his time, and he began practicing steer wrestling seriously. That decision reshaped his path — "I thought, 'Man, this rodeo thing ain't bad,'" he later said of that period, before qualifying for his first NFR in 2004.
Trevor Knowles Personal Life
Trevor Knowles comes from a deeply rooted rodeo family. His uncle, Butch Knowles, was a longtime rodeo cowboy and National Finals Rodeo announcer, and his cousin, Blake Knowles of Heppner, Oregon, also competed professionally in steer wrestling after joining the PRCA in 2002. The two cousins were regular traveling companions on the rodeo circuit for years.
Off the arena, Knowles stayed closely connected to amateur wrestling, coaching youth at the Grant County Freestyle Wrestling Club in John Day and supporting the USA Wrestling Building Blocks program. He was later inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Class of 2015 (Oregon chapter) and received its Outstanding American award, alongside recognition for his volunteer work with the American Legion's Operation Comfort Warriors program supporting military veterans.
Knowles and his younger brother, Drew, were especially close and had long shared a dream of ranching together. Drew died in a car accident in July 2019 while returning home from a fishing trip, a loss Knowles has described as the moment his rodeo career effectively ended — he came home to help run the family ranch full time. He retired from competition altogether in 2022 and now ranches in Mount Vernon, Oregon, with his wife, Jena, and their children.
Note: Some personal-life details are drawn from interviews and profile features rather than official records; treat unconfirmed specifics with appropriate caution.
Career Highlights
In 2010, Knowles placed in six of ten rounds at the NFR, finishing fourth in the average and third in the world standings with $164,494 in season earnings. That year he also set an arena record of 3.0 seconds at the Justin Boots Championship and won the average riding Lee Graves's horse Jessie, the 2009 AQHA Horse of the Year. In 2014, he finished 6th in the world standings, averaged 10th at the NFR, placed in four rounds, and earned $42,602 — one of his strongest seasons. In 2015, he won the Caldwell Night Rodeo, the Days of '47 Rodeo, the Ram Columbia River ProRodeo Circuit Finals, and the World's Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Arizona, while again placing in four NFR rounds. In his final NFR appearance in 2016, he placed in four rounds and ranked 9th in the average. Knowles has credited his high school wrestling background for much of his rodeo success, noting that the discipline and work ethic wrestling demanded carried directly into his approach to steer wrestling.
Trevor Knowles Major Achievements
Trevor Knowles's career featured a strong run of titles at some of rodeo's most storied venues, alongside sustained success on the Columbia River Circuit.
Championship Wins
- Calgary Stampede Champion: 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015 (four-time champion)
- Columbia River Circuit Champion: multiple times across his career
- Caldwell Night Rodeo Champion: 2015
- Days of '47 Rodeo Champion: 2015
- Ram Columbia River ProRodeo Circuit Finals Champion: 2015
- World's Oldest Rodeo Champion (Prescott, Arizona): 2015
- Cheney Rodeo All-Around Champion (Washington): 2016
- Canby Rodeo Champion (Oregon): 2016
- Sisters Rodeo Champion (Oregon): 2016
- Airdrie Pro Rodeo Co-Champion (Alberta): 2016
Trevor Knowles Career Statistics
Trevor Knowles's statistics reflect a long, consistent run at the top level of professional steer wrestling.
| Category | Statistic |
|---|---|
| NFR Qualifications | 13 (2004–2016) |
| Career Earnings (PRCA) | Over $1.5 million |
| Best World Standings Finish | 3rd (2010) |
| Calgary Stampede Titles | 4 (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015) |
Trevor Knowles Playing Style
Trevor Knowles was known for a fundamentally sound, efficient steer wrestling technique built on strength, precision, and strong horsemanship rather than flash. His ability to work in sync with his horses — including riding Lee Graves's AQHA Horse of the Year, Jessie, during a record-setting run — was a hallmark of his competitive style, allowing for quick, clean tackles in the arena.
Trevor Knowles Personal Life
Trevor Knowles comes from a rodeo family — his cousin Blake Knowles, of Heppner, Oregon, also competed professionally in steer wrestling and often traveled with him to rodeos. Off the arena, Knowles was a standout amateur wrestler and remained closely tied to that sport, later being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Class of 2015 (Oregon chapter) and receiving its Outstanding American award. He has volunteered with the American Legion's Operation Comfort Warriors program, visiting military veterans across the country.
In 2016, Knowles stepped back from full-time competition following the death of his brother, returning home to help run the family ranch with his father. He retired from rodeo altogether in 2022 and now ranches in Mount Vernon, Oregon, with his wife, Jena, their children, and extended family.
Note: Some personal-life details are drawn from interviews and profile features rather than official records; treat unconfirmed specifics with appropriate caution.
Interesting Facts About Trevor Knowles
Trevor Knowles's career and background are marked by several interesting details:
- He was a two-time Oregon state wrestling champion (1997, 1998) at Grant Union High School before turning to rodeo.
- He is a four-time Calgary Stampede steer wrestling champion — 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2015.
- He qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 13 times, from 2004 through 2016.
- He wore a USA Wrestling logo patch at the 2015 NFR in support of amateur wrestling, a sport he never stopped following.
- He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2015 and received its Outstanding American award.
- He set a 3.0-second arena record at the Justin Boots Championship in 2010, riding a horse named Jessie that had been named 2009 AQHA Horse of the Year.
- His cousin, Blake Knowles, also competed professionally in steer wrestling.
- He served as a YETI ambassador and was endorsed by feed brand Purina and Purple Cowboy Wines during his career.
- He retired from rodeo in 2022 and now works the family ranch in Mount Vernon, Oregon.
- He volunteers with Operation Comfort Warriors, an American Legion program supporting military veterans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trevor Knowles
When did Trevor Knowles start his professional rodeo career?
Trevor Knowles joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 2001, launching a professional steer wrestling career that ran for roughly two decades before his retirement in 2022.
How many times did Trevor Knowles qualify for the National Finals Rodeo?
Trevor Knowles qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 13 times, with appearances spanning from 2004 through 2016.
What are some of Trevor Knowles's major rodeo wins?
Trevor Knowles won the Calgary Stampede steer wrestling title four times (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015), was a multiple-time Columbia River Circuit champion, and picked up wins at events including the Caldwell Night Rodeo, Days of '47 Rodeo, and the World's Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Arizona.
What were Trevor Knowles's career earnings?
Trevor Knowles earned more than $1.5 million over his PRCA career, reflecting his long-running consistency at the top level of professional steer wrestling.
Is Trevor Knowles still competing in rodeo?
No, Trevor Knowles retired from full-time professional rodeo competition in 2022. He now works on his family's ranch in Mount Vernon, Oregon.
References
- Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Official Website
- ESPN Rodeo — Trevor Knowles Bio
- Calgary Stampede — Past Rodeo Champions
- National Wrestling Hall of Fame — Trevor Knowles
- YETI Ambassador Profile — Trevor Knowles
- Purina Mills — Trevor Knowles Athlete Bio
- Livestock Digital — Rodeo and Ranching Feature