CHEYENNE, WY – The only thing that Laramie County Community College senior Bernard Girard wanted to do this year for the Golden Eagle rodeo team was to give back to the place that has given him so much during his four years in Cheyenne.

Girard has been through enough highs and lows during his four years with LCCC that he can relate to almost any situation. From seeing the team not send anyone to the CNFR as a freshman, to taking a year off after COVID, to fighting through a knee injury last season in time to still qualify for his first CNFR, the man from Alliance, Nebraska never took his role on the team lightly.

“I think a big deal that I help with everybody is just keeping up morale,” the senior said.  That’s a big part. You carry one rodeo over to the other and letting that dark cloud hang over you it’s not going to be a good rodeo. I just try and make the kids have a short memory and just enjoy it while it’s here because it’s already gone for me.”

After closing out the season with enough points to hold onto the third and final spot in steer wrestling in the Central Rocky Mountain Region he sees this trip to the College National Finals Rodeo as one more chance to give back.

“I want to bring home a national title for Laramie County Community College,” Girard said. “I mean, as much as this community and this school has pushed me and helped me be a better person, I think I owe it to them to try and go there and win.”

This time around, he is full of confidence not just because it is his second trip to Casper, but because he feels his body is actually 100 percent.

“Last year I tore my knee up and I barely got to rodeo in the spring. This year I was able to stay fairly healthy all year,” he said, explaining the rehab process took a lot away from his ability to actually practice. “I think my physical state is way better than it was in years past and my mental game right now. Even on that last steer at Laramie, I had to win something and everybody was telling me how nervous they were for me and I didn’t even realize the hype of the situation. It was just me versus that steer and we just went and had our battle and I came out on top.”

Not only does his health add to his confidence, but everything will be the same other than the steers. Same arena, same coach, and even the same hazer in fellow senior Cauy Pokorny, who Girard said he wouldn’t think about going without.

“That guy has hazed for me ever since I started bulldogging and I don’t really trust anybody else over there,” he added. “When you have that confidence in that guy on the other side of you and you know he’s going to keep things right, that’s a great feeling. He’s always mounted me and hazed for me and encouraged me to get better. I owe that whole family, I love them all to death.”

As for his expectations and hopes for this year’s college finals, the sky is the limit for Girard.

“Last year I kind of didn’t think I needed to be there after being hurt,” he said. “Bulldogging as good as I did and this year being healthy, I’m ready to go play with them guys.”

Girard said he is also excited for what the group can do. With six total representing LCCC and five from the men’s team, he feels this group can make noise beyond their individual talents.

“If we draw good out there and we have some luck I wouldn’t put it past us to really compete, not at all.”

For him, he said it’s something he is proud to say he is a part of after being a part of a team as a freshman that didn’t qualify anyone.

“My first year here I don’t think we sent any qualifiers and my second year we only sent one or two guys,” he said. “It’s awesome to see how this program grown. I think Seth and Dean and Vicki are doing a great job and the school’s behind them the whole way. I mean, we’ve got a lot of really good people in our corner and before too long we are going to be up there in the team standings.”

He said that growth of the program and his own growth have him excited for what his future might hold in turn.

“This spring, even some judges were asking what I had planned for rodeo’s and stuff and I said I hadn’t really thought about it. As good as I’m competing I need to be going to some more. A guy can sit at home and tell everyone how good you thought you were but you never really know until you get out there on the road.”