World champion bull rider Cody Hancock is enjoying life as the title holder and is already shooting for another national title during the early part of the rodeo season for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The native of Taylor, Arizona, is well positioned to qualify for a return trip to the National Finals Rodeo to defend his title.

The 25-year-old bull rider is currently among the top 10 in the world standings, after grabbing the fifteenth and final slot to qualify for last year's NFR to set the stage for one of the biggest come-from-behind victories in the history of the PRCA.

On his way to capturing the PRCA bull riding crown, Hancock easily earned the admiration and support of rodeo fans from across the United States. The NFR "rookie" was a favorite of fans and members of the media during the Cinderella story ending at NFR. Reporters at the NFR press conference walked past veteran NFR stars like Fred Whitfield, Speed Williams, Rich Skelton, and Joe Beaver to get an interview with the newly crowned bull riding champion from Arizona.

Rodeo fans embraced the "All-American" wholesomeness of the new champion rider. Hancock had 27 messages on his answering machine upon his return to tiny Taylor, Arizona, following the NFR win last December. He and wife Rinda and daughter Tyree received a hero's welcome, complete with a 5-police car and 4-firetruck escort, upon his return from Las Vegas. And the town celebrated December 11 as Cody Hancock Day.

The magnitude of Hancock's win did not immediately set in.

"It feels really good to win the world title," Hancock said. "It has been a goal of mine for a long time to win a world title. I didn't go into the finals thinking about winning the title. I just wanted to go down to Vegas and win some money for my family. I moved to the lead in the second round and started to think I had a shot at winning the title."

Hancock is only the second rider to go from fifteenth to win the world championship.

Far from being an overnight sensation, the good-natured cowboy has been winning titles for most of his young rodeo career. He was the Arizona state high school bareback champion his junior and senior years and added the bull riding title his senior year. He then moved over to the nationally ranked college rodeo program at College of Southern Idaho and was awarded a scholarship by rodeo coach Shawn Davis (also the general manager of the NFR).

Davis, a former PRCA champion bronc rider and recognized rodeo expert, was quick to praise his former student.

"It was nice to have the opportunity to be involved with Cody's success and it was exciting to be at NFR and watch Cody ride and offer some words of encouragement. This is the first world champion to come out of our rodeo program at CSI and Cody Hancock is a very good representative for the sport of rodeo, Davis continued. Cody came to CSI from Arizona and had a goal of becoming a world champion and he is proof of what you can achieve when you set goals and work hard to achieve those goals. Cody has his priorities in line for rodeo and life in general"

While at CSI, Hancock picked up an all-around title and bull riding crown in the Rocky Mountain Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. He made three trips to the College National Finals Rodeo and picked up the Wilderness Circuit bull riding title in 1998 and a 3rd place finish at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in 1999 and made the semi-finals for DNCFR last year.

Hancock has not ruled out a possible run at a PRCA all-around title in the future. I haven't been on broncs for a couple of years, but I might get on some this year and one year go for the all-around, Hancock said matter-of-factly.

The young rodeo star comes from good bloodlines. His father Ray rode bulls in the Turquoise Circuit and has made four trips to the National Senior Pro Rodeo Finals. "My dad loves to go to rodeos with me and he still gets on bulls, Hancock said. We get along real well and he has helped me a lot. He drove all the way to Calgary and watched me ride and then helped me get home. He has always been there for me."

His mother Twila has also been a big supporter of the young champion. "If Dad was with me on the road then mom was taking care of things at home, Hancock continued. My parents were there all 10 days and it was great to have them at NFR to share the win."

Hancock's younger brother Wyatt is also involved with rodeo and spent a year at CSI before serving an LDS mission in Alaska with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

Cody has also served an LDS mission and says it helped him to become a stronger person mentally and spiritually.

"My faith helps me stay focused," says Hancock. "I don't drink alcohol or chew tobacco and I've gotten a lot of respect from guys on the road. I think kids need guys to look up to in rodeo and hopefully I can be a positive influence."

Hancock has pledged his support to the Cowboy Against Tobacco program started by his good friend Cowboy Ted, a radio personality and rodeo announcer from Salt Lake City, Utah. Hancock is also listed among the eight members who form the advisory committee for the Cowboys Against Tobacco and Cowboy Ted's Kids Club programs.