As a rancher in Pecos, Texas, Doug A. Miller spends his weekends entering USTRC and World Series of Team Roping events across the Lone Star State. One of his most memorable wins, and a buckle that ends up on the end of his belt, is the Gist trophy buckle he won at the 2018 CINCH USTRC National Finals of Team Roping in Oklahoma City.

“I don’t wear it very often because it’s so pretty,” Miller said.

Miller roped with fellow Texan Clay Emmons to win the #8 Exclusive with a time of 41.05 seconds on four head, splitting $25,000 and $10,000 Ram Truck vouchers. But the win didn’t really set in until Miller got home and shared the news with his son.

[Read: Emmons and Miller Win #8 RAM Exclusive at USTRC’s Cinch NFTR]

“Well, you know, that’s a roping that everybody wants to win,” Miller, with a grinning chuckle, said. “It kind of took a little bit for it to soak in. I was really proud and excited, but it was a few days later when I finally realized how big a deal it really was. I got home and I was telling my son about it. He said, ‘Boy, dad, that’s a big deal,’ and I said, ‘Well I guess it is.’ I got to thinking about how many thousands have run at that thing over those 28 years, and we were one of 28 to win it.”

Miller’s accomplishment is one that he will remember for a lifetime. He knows that these ropings are hard to win and that’s exactly why he cherishes his buckle.

[Read: Buckle Up with the USTRC CINCH NFTR Buckles]

“That roping is like winning one at Las Vegas at the World Series and when you do that, you kind of have done it all,” Miller added. “At least that’s the way it feels to me. Any of them are hard to win. It’s really special. That’s why I don’t wear this buckle very often.

“I’ve wanted one of these ever since the first time I saw it. I don’t know of one you could win that could match.