John Crimber Talks PBR World Championship, Florida Freedom & Buying 100 Cattle

Pat (0:00)

So, explain to me what living like a cowboy means.

John Crimber (0:03)

It's not just wearing an outfit, it's who you are. You gotta be respectful. You gotta be, yes sir, yes ma'am, to everybody. I don't care if she's a young girl or old woman, like I'm gonna be respectful.

We help out each other. We take her clothes off her back for somebody, you know? That's how I think the real cowboy way, the true meaning of it is. Hey guys, John Crimber here. You're listening to Like a Farmer.

Pat (0:40)

Hey, y'all, it's Pat. Welcome to another episode of Like a Farmer. We're still down here in South Florida. The PBR is in town. Let me tell you something.

The 2026 PBR World Champion. Now, when I say that, you probably think it's some old guy. Been riding bulls a long time. You got 20-year-old John Crimber on the show today, John. Tell, like me saying that, 20 years old, what does that even feel like of like, man, I'm world champion?

John Crimber (1:09)

It's kind of, it hasn't set in yet in a way. I feel like whenever people say that, I'm like, oh, like, is it, is that, I think it's, is it true or am I dreaming? Like, is this, it's just a cool, cool feeling, I think. I, it's unexplainable. It's all I've ever wanted in my life.

Pat (1:25)

Now at 20, you won it at 20 What does that celebration look like when you finally, do you know immediately that you won it all or is it like at the end of the night? Like, explain to me, kind of put me back on that moment of when you found out.

John Crimber (1:40)

So the weekend, the week before, there was two weekends at the PBR World Finals. The first weekend, I actually didn't stay on any of the bulls I rode.

And then we had a couple of days off and then we went back to Dickey's Arena to finish out, to crown a world champion. And I didn't even know how it was gonna play out just cause I bucked off for four bulls. And I was like, man, like, maybe I still have a shot. I don't know. And I was the number one still, but I just kind of, you know, the guys behind me were doing good. And I was just like, man, okay, maybe, maybe we're still in this. I don't know. And then Sunday, I rode my first bull. I was 91 and a half and won the round. And that's what I needed. I need two big rides. And then in the short round, I rode my bull for 92, 92 and a half, I think as well. And I didn't know like how the scenario had to play. I didn't know if the guy in second was Brady Fielder. I didn't know if he had to stay on or buck off, like how it would work. So I just packed up my stuff, was in the locker room in the bathroom, just fixing my stuff. And out of nowhere, camera rolls in there, I'm like, what's going on? They're like, you just won. I'm like, what? And then I just, everybody started coming in there, screaming, hooping and hollering. And it was like the, I don't know, it was like a dream, you know, like I've always wanted that moment. And it was dang sure like a surprising moment. In a way, like I didn't know what was going on. And out of nowhere, just cameras and everybody hooping and hollering. Let's go, that's what I'm talking about.

Pat (3:12)

That's, I mean, when you get done, when you get done with a ride, especially if it's a good one, you're just activities and motives on that dirt. It makes me want to run through that wall.

John Crimber (3:25)

Oh yeah, it's the best feeling in the world to step off, you know, step off a bull and you're 90 points or whatever. You feel 10 foot tall and bulletproof. It's the best feeling in the world.

Pat (3:35)

So take me back to Texas where you grew up. If you're doing anything at the highest level, like you are at the age of 20, that just immediately means you've been doing it pretty much your whole life.

John Crimber (3:45)

Yes, sir.

Pat (3:45)

It's been in your family for a long time. Is that just been, hey, when you were old enough to get on that bull, and I'm curious what that age was, but from then on, it was just bull riding, that was it?

John Crimber (3:56)

Yes, sir.

Growing up, when I was a little, little kid, you know, I was about two years old, I would just be riding the dog, you know, around the house pretending it was a bull or the arm of the couch. I would just be turning everything to bull riding. And then I rode some sheep and stuff around three, four years old. And then when I was six, I actually got on my first bull. And then after that, it was like, this is what I love. I got addicted to it, you know.