Quesnel’s Tyson Roberts enjoying new lease on life as auctioneer

A budding rodeo star from Quesnel who was left paralyzed after getting injured during an event in Prince George has landed back on his feet.

Tyson Roberts is staying within the livestock industry as an auctioneer – he was part of the live auction during last night’s UNBC Legacy Night fundraiser in support of scholarships and bursaries supporting student-athletes.

In an interview with MyPGNow.com, Roberts said he got his foot in the door through Duane Danes, another bronc rider who was injured and followed the same career path.

“I signed up online there and it is a 90-hour course. I went for roughly 40 hours, a little bit more of a week of 10-hour days in Montana, and recently graduated the online portion of it a little over a week ago.”

“It was always on my mind, I have been going to auctions since I was a little kid and always thought it was kind of cool. But, I never really put any thought into it until after I got hurt.”

At this time of his injury, the Quesnel product was fresh off a provincial High School Rodeo saddle bronc title.

Roberts admitted there were some trying moments at the beginning of his rehab but after a while, the process got a little easier.

“I think I was in rehab for about five weeks. It was all pretty challenging but it was good, just amazing people down there but the most challenging was the difficulty coming out of ICU in the hospital being a little weaker and having to find out a new way to live.”

“It was a rude-awakening coming home out of rehab but it was an amazing feeling being out of the city and back on the ranch and the difficulties there and finally getting the proper equipment, better tires on the wheelchair, and a side-by-side with hand controls and getting my drivers license back. I have needed other equipment too in order to get around and help go back on a horse.”

Roberts attended the Western College of Auctioneering based out of Montana.

-Files by Brendan Pawliw-MyPGNow