ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Fallon honored a native son Thursday, a cowboy who is sitting on top of the world in professional rodeo.

Mayor Ken Tedford Jr. declared Thursday as Jade Corkill Day less than a week after the Fallon cowboy and his partner, Clay Tyran, won the world team roping championship Saturday night in Las Vegas.

“It’s extra important we recognize those from our community who excel and as a community we have pride in these young people who do so well,” Tedford said.

Corkill said he is humbled with the recognition and the proclamation Tedford read to a crowd of about 50 friends and family members.

“I appreciate the people from my hometown who recognized what I did,” Corkill said. “It means a lot to me.”

What made the accomplishment so special is that Corkill and his team-roping partner from 2012 also won the world title. Tedford said Corkill travels the United States competing in various rodeos, and in doing so, puts Fallon on the map because of his accolades.

“We should have immense pride in that, and this shows how he works hard and perseveres and shows what he can do no matter where he came from,” Tedford said. “I am so proud of him and the great family he comes from.”

In reading the proclamation, Tedford cited Corkill’s accomplishments since the Fallon cowboy first picked up a rope and lassoed a wooden steer in the living room. He won the Nevada high school championship in both team and tie-down roping in 2005 and the World Junior Team Roping title in the same year.

He became a professional cowboy when he joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association eight years ago at age 18.

Since then, he has been part of a team that set a world record by roping a steer in record time — 3.3 seconds — with Chad Masters in 2009 at the National Finals Rodeo and how he won two back-to-back world team roping championships.

Corkill will have a few days to rest from the rodeo circuit while spending Christmas with his parents and grandparents, his 3-year-old son, Caleb, and wife, Haley.

Bruce Corkill said he couldn’t be prouder of his son and his accomplishments.

“No one sees how hard he works behind the scenes. They just see him for 10 days on TV,” Bruce Corkill said of the televised performances.

Bruce Corkill said Jade accomplished his goal to be a world champion.

“What people don’t understand, though, is how this is a roller coaster ride,” Bruce Corkill explained. “If they (Corkill and his partner) don’t catch (the steer), they don’t get paid. You have to be at the top of your game every time you show up (to rope).”

Mitzi Corkill said watching her son receive a proclamation was “awesome.”

“He has worked so hard,” she said after the presentation. “It’s hard enough to win one world championship … but now back-to-back.”