FAIRFAX, Va. – Cody Jesus would wake up early in the morning when he was 14 years old and grab a big burlap bag and head outside.
The Navajo teenager would then scour for pinyon trees throughout the Window Rock, Arizona, region and surrounding areas.
Jesus carefully would look for the special pines containing the small, tiny brown nut that is primarily found in the southwestern region of the United States.
The aspiring bull rider would harvest for hours at a time. He had just started to ride bulls and was madly in love with the sport, but Jesus didn’t want to be a burden on his family.
One of eight siblings, Jesus was committed to doing whatever it took to earn enough money to pay for his entry fees for local bull ridings.
Once he gathered a couple of bags worth of pinon nuts, Jesus would then head into town and sell the bag for roughly $50.
Jesus added to his harvesting earnings by also recycling bottles and cans at five cents a pop.
“I would pick up cans and pinons and do whatever I can for an entry fee,” Jesus said. “It barely paid my fees. I would pick three bags and would get enough for three rodeos. I would try to do the best I can doing my part and staying on.”
Jesus has not forgotten where he came from as he has slowly begun to rise through the professional ranks six years later.
The now 20-year-old has stayed humble as those $50 paydays have evolved into thousands of dollars for an 8-second shift.
Jesus returns home to Sawmill, Arizona, this week with another good chunk of change following a career-best second-place finish at the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational in Fairfax, Virginia.
His 3-for-3 performance netted him $18,100 inside EagleBank Arena, and Jesus has now won nearly $35,000 in his last three PBR events.
“It is very humbling, but I don’t let it change me one bit,” Jesus said. “I do pinch myself and tell myself you have accomplished this and done that. It is crazy man. I can only thank God, my mom and my family for everything. Because without them I would be nowhere at all.
“I come from a real poor family. We had no electricity or running water until I was 14. Whenever I get into these pressure situations of making something bigger, I take advantage of this because God put me in this situation.”
Jesus began his weekend in Virginia with 82 points on Red Fury. He then began to demonstrate his flare and flash by riding Check It Out for 87 points in Round 2.
Heading into the championship round, the Team USA Wolves member relied on his future Global Cup teammate Ryan Dirteater to make his draft pick.
Dirteater advised Jesus to select Mud Duck with the sixth pick, and Jesus took care of the rest.
Jesus made another flashy ride, covering Mud Duck for 87.5 points to eventually finish second to event-winner Kaique Pacheco.
“He showed me the video and he said, ‘I would pick that one if I were you. He is going to fit you really well,’” Jesus said. “I went on Ryan’s word and it worked out just right.”
There may be even more opportunities for Jesus to cash in very soon.
Jesus has rocketed up 28 positions in the world standings by earning 240 world points in Virginia. After beginning the weekend ranked 66th, Jesus is sitting 38th in the world standings.
The first-year pro will likely be an alternate for next weekend’s WinStar World Casino & Resort Invitational in Austin, Texas, and he is well within range of a Top 35 ranking and a spot at the 2018 PBR World Finals on Nov. 7-11 in Las Vegas.
Jesus trails No. 35 Marcos Gloria by 115 points with four regular-season events remaining until the World Finals begin at T-Mobile Arena.
“Right now, I am going to try and take advantage of this,” Jesus said. “This year, if I take advantage of it here, then I don’t have to put pressure on myself.”
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Jesus has only competed sparingly in the PBR thus far. He was a Native American invite to the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and later rode in Billings, Montana.
This weekend was his fourth career premier series event.
He is 5-for-8 (62.9 percent) on the 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast and 9-for-14 (64.29 percent) at six PBR events at all levels this season.
Current Rookie of the Year leader Keyshawn Whitehorse is also going to be a member of the Wolves at the upcoming 2019 WinStar World Casino & Resort PBR Global Cup USA on Feb. 9-10 in Arlington, Texas.
Whitehorse was a helping hand for Jesus in Virginia this weekend and the two prepared for Championship Sunday in the same corner of the locker room.
“Very impressed,” Whitehorse said. “We kind of get along pretty well. We are starting to get to know each other. He rode all of his bulls really great – really aggressive. He put out that effort and try. It was solid.”
Jesus bashfully smiled when hearing Whitehorse’s praise.
Ten minutes earlier, Jesus had just finished being one of the last riders signing autographs on the arena floor when he said he wasn’t trying to necessarily impress anyone at all this weekend.
“I am just a kid coming off the rez,” Jesus concluded. “I am not trying to prove anything riding bulls. I am just riding bull for bull and having fun and doing what I love. This is why I started bull riding, because I love it. If I keep doing it because I love it and keep God first and my family second, then the bull riding will always take care of itself I think.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko