In Memory of Broc Cresta – Rest in Peace Cowboy

On July 28, 2012, the entire rodeo community was rocked to its core with the unexpected passing of Broc Cresta.

Immediately following the announcement, Pro Rodeo released a statement which read in part, “…“The whole rodeo world is in shock,” said PRCA Director of Communications Kendra Santos. “My phone’s been ringing off the wall all day with calls from Hall of Famers on down to little kids. Broc’s a fourth-generation cowboy in California, and everybody loves him. It’s hard enough to lose a good cowboy when he’s 90, but losing such a talented and genuinely good person at 25 is just about impossible. Our hearts are with Broc’s family and friends. The entire rodeo family hurts right now.”  For full story website.

Broc was a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Team Roper and the 2007 PRCA/Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year.

To truly understand the impact this young cowboy had on so many, one only need look to the overwhelming outpouring of support throughout not only the rodeo community in his home State of California, but the rodeo community world-wide.

On Friday, August 3^rd, more than 1,400 family and friends gathered in his home town of Santa Rosa at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, not only to say their goodbyes, but to celebrate Broc’s life.

Many, who could not attend, posted on social media sites including a Facebook Page, Rest In Peace Broc Cresta (Facebook).  To date, over 17,500 people have joined the page to express their condolences to his family, his girlfriend, Brittany Pozzi, and to his friends.  People grappling with unimaginable disbelief and heartache have found an outlet to share their grief, as well as to share many happy memories of Broc, both personally and professionally.

In the words of one fan who had never met him, “It is unknown if Broc truly realized the impact that he had on so many.”

Over and over he has been described as “A true cowboy”, “A true gentleman”, “A man who led by example”, “A true champion”, “The nicest young man who we ever had the pleasure to know”, “A great guy with that infectious smile”, and finally, “A life taken too soon”.

 

We would like to extend our condolences to the entire Cresta family, to Brittany Pozzi, to his friends and to Broc’s rodeo family.   We can only hope that the genuine outpouring of love will help you through this time.

 

A memorial fund has been set up in Broc’s name.  To donate, please contact:

Broc Cresta Memorial Fund

Sonoma County Grange Credit Union  website

304 Sutton Place, Santa Rosa, CA 95407

1.707.584.3811

The following link was set up through Legacy.com for friends to sign the guest book and convey their condolences to the Cresta Family - website.

 

The following obituary is courtesy of the Los Angeles Times and gives a very nice tribute to Broc's life:

“Broc Cresta, a California steer roper and rising star on the rodeo circuit, who ranked 12th in the world as a heeler in team roping, was found dead Saturday in his trailer at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming. He was 25.

Cresta, the son of an expert steer wrestler from Santa Rosa, Calif., had competed Friday in the prestigious Cheyenne event, held annually since 1897. His body was discovered by his girlfriend, champion barrel racer Brittany Pozzi, when she tried to awaken him Saturday morning, said his father, Daniel.

"The whole rodeo world is in shock," said Kendra Santos, communications director of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn. "My phone's been ringing off the wall all day with calls from Hall of Famers on down to little kids. Broc's a fourth-generation cowboy in California, and everybody loves him. It's hard enough to lose a good cowboy when he's 90, but losing such a talented and genuinely good person at 25 is just about impossible.... The entire rodeo family hurts right now."

In 2007 the rodeo association named Cresta Rookie Heeler of the Year. His event, team roping, is considered the only true team pursuit in rodeo, involving two ropers — a header, who ropes the steer first, and a heeler, who comes in second and ropes the steer's hind legs. The event is timed, with the clock stopping only when no slack remains in the ropes and the horses of the ropers are facing each other.

The event is more complicated than it appears, involving not only strength and agility but exquisite timing.

In the 10th round of the National Finals in Las Vegas in December, Cresta and partner Spencer Mitchell, a childhood friend, roped a steer in 3.6 seconds, which tied for the round's fastest time. They finished 10th overall, roping five of 10 steers in 21.3 seconds.

Cresta teamed with champion header Turtle Powell in the 2010 finals and with Logan Olson to win the Cheyenne title in 2009.

Born on Jan. 2, 1987, Cresta grew up on a 500-acre ranch in Santa Rosa, Calif. His father and uncle wrestled steers on the pro circuit. His grandfather, William, raised horses for the sport and owned a champion steer wrestling horse.

When Cresta was 9, he started tossing a rope around an assortment of animals — ponies, donkeys, horses and goats — in the rodeo ring on the family's ranch. By the time he reached high school, he was missing so much school to compete in rodeos that he switched to an independent study program that did not require him to attend formal classes. He earned a degree from Santa Rosa High School in 2005 and turned pro two years later.

Cresta traveled 60,000 miles a year to compete in rodeos across the country. With Mitchell he won several rodeos in California this year — in Redding, Livermore, Oakdale, Bakersfield and Marysville —and one in Eugene, Ore. He withdrew from a rodeo in Oklahoma City three months ago when he injured his ribs but was otherwise healthy, his father said.

In addition to his father and grandfather, he is survived by his mother, Kelline Cresta, of Santa Rosa, and a brother, Brent, of Cloverdale, Calif.”  (link)

Rest in Peace Cowboy - You will be missed