An area contestant on the upcoming season of Ultimate Cowboy Showdown died on Saturday.
Jackson Taylor, a graduate of Clarendon College, died following an injury during a rodeo, according to an official news release from the INSP Network that airs the show.
On Sunday, the show’s host, Trace Adkins, took to Twitter to share his condolences.
“Jackson Taylor was a helluva cowboy. There was no ‘back down’ in him and I’m proud to have known him. Rest in peace, hoss. – Trace”
The network shared its own message via news release.
“Jackson was the quintessential cowboy,” said Doug Butts, EVP of Programming at INSP. “He was an exceptional horseman, rugged, talented, aggressive, experienced, a maverick, a tough competitor, and a devoted friend. Everyone at INSP feels a profound loss and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the cowboy community as you grieve his death and remember his life.”
Filming of season four of the show wrapped up in the spring. It’s an all-star season that brought together the top competitors from the previous three seasons, including Taylor who was initially featured in season two.
The fifth-generation cowboy was one of 14 contestants who came back to participate in season four. He was also one of just four contestants to return from his debut season.
On the season’s roster, which can be found at www.insp.com/shows/ultimate-cowboy-showdown/contestants/, his hometown is listed as Lockney. He’s one of seven Texas contestants.
A network spokesperson told The Herald the season is completely done and set to air in September. There will be no changes to the season since it’s complete so Taylor will definitely be featured.
After much discussion, the network decided airing the season as planned starting Sept. 6 is the best way to honor his legacy, the spokesperson noted.
Season four was filmed at the Flying E Ranch in Arizona, according to the teaser trailer on the INSP YouTube channel. Taylor is spotted throughout and speaks during the trailer.
Taylor grew up near Lockney and spent his childhood ranching with his family. The Clarendon College graduate spent his life ranching and competing in rodeos. During an interview with The Herald ahead of the season two premiere in 2021, he described himself as an adventurous person who loved meeting people, which is part of what drew him to take part in the show. Some friends let him know he had the personality for a reality TV show.
“I’ve been told by a lot of friends and family members that I was made for that kind of lifestyle,” Taylor said, later adding that he’s not loud, it just comes out loud, he told The Herald in 2021.
In the Ultimate Cowboy Showdown, cowboys compete in challenges like calf roping, sorting calves, herding cattle, to name a few contests. They’re tested on skill, knowledge, grit and heart, according to the show’s website. The winner gets $50,000 worth of cattle and a golden buckle.
While it wasn’t revealed how far Taylor made it in season four, the network did note that he’s a prominent presence in numerous episodes.
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