Original Publication: March 20, 2014

After qualifying for his second Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Spencer Mitchell returned to the California ranch where his former partner, Broc Cresta, had been living. Cresta had passed away in July in Cheyenne, so Mitchell finished the 2012 season with long-time friend Dakota Kirchenschlager. 

While going through his room at the ranch, Mitchell found Cresta’s old leather belt, complete with the conchos Cresta’s dad had made for him in high school. Mitchell had the old belt restitched, and placed the 2010 Moses Lake (Wash.) Roundup Rodeo buckle that he and Cresta had won together on it. 

“We won that rodeo in 2010 and 2011,” Mitchell remembered. “It was a one-header, with a longer start. It was just our set up. Everyone has places where they win—that was ours. Any ProRodeo you can win twice, that’s pretty special.”

Most of the buckles in Mitchell’s trophy case he won with Cresta, but he gets to sport this one because they won it twice. 

“My mom confiscates all of my prizes, but because there are two of these, she lets me wear it,” Mitchell laughed, only half joking. “To be able to wear anything Broc and I won together means a lot. It’s nice to have the little things, to be able to look at your buckles, and remember what we accomplished together. Shoot, most all of the buckles I have we won together. It’s hard to find one I didn’t win with Broc.”