// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Aaron Semas say to his masseuse? You're a-maas-ing.
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Aaron Stanford Semas (born September 1, 1966) is an American former professional bull rider. He competed in professional rodeo and bull riding events for more than two decades and was a founding member of Professional Bull Riders (PBR), a professional bull riding organization established in 1992.
Semas competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), PBR, and Bull Riders Only (BRO) circuits. He later served on the PBR Board of Directors for more than ten years and was inducted into multiple regional and professional halls of fame.
Early life
[edit]Semas was born in Auburn, California, and was raised on a ranch by his parents, Stanley and Sandra. He is one of six children.
He developed an interest in rodeo at an early age and, while attending Placer High School, competed in team roping, calf roping, and bull riding as part of a District 3 high school rodeo team. In 1985, the year he graduated, he won the California state championship in bull riding.[1]
Following high school, Semas competed in regional rodeos throughout Northern California. In 1987, he obtained his PRCA permit.
Bull riding career
[edit]Semas began competing in the PRCA in 1988. By 1990, he qualified for his first of seven appearances at the PRCA National Finals Rodeo (NFR).[2]
He later qualified for the PBR World Finals five times.[2]
During his career, Semas won major rodeos including Denver, Houston, and San Antonio.[1]
He competed alongside prominent bull riders of the era, including Jim Sharp, Ty Murray, Clint Branger, Scott Breding, Tuff Hedeman, and Marty Staneart.
Semas also faced notable bulls such as Bodacious, Yellow Jacket,[3] and Promise Land.[4]
He retired from professional competition in 2003. Following his retirement, he continued to serve on the PBR Board of Directors for more than a decade.[1]
Legacy
[edit]Semas is regarded within the bull riding community as a technically skilled rider and a contributor to the growth of professional bull riding as a standalone sport.
In addition to his competitive career, his involvement in the founding and governance of Professional Bull Riders contributed to the development of the modern professional bull riding circuit.
After retiring, he has volunteered for research and spoken publicly about the long-term effects of head injuries sustained during his career.[5][6]
Honors
[edit]- Semas was inducted into the PBR Ring of Honor in 2003.[7]
- He was inducted into the Placer Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020[1]
- In 2025, he was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame[8]
- He qualified for the PRCA National Finals Rodeo seven times and the PBR World Finals five times.[2]
- His career high score was 94.5 points.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Taking the bull by the horns: Semas to join Placer Athletic Hall of Fame". goldcountrymedia.com. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- 1 2 3 4 "Aaron Semas - Bull Rider Profile / Stats". probullstats.com. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ 🇺🇲 Aaron Semas 🆚 Yellow Jacket - 97 PBR Finals (92.5 pts) #shorts #rodeo #agro #sports. Retrieved 2026-03-16 – via www.youtube.com.
- ↑ PBR BudLightCup (2018-02-20). Promise Land destroys Aaron Semas - 99 PBR Finals. Retrieved 2026-03-16 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Las Vegas Review-Journal (2019-02-14). Aaron Semas, professional bull rider, talks about his traumatic brain injuries. Retrieved 2026-03-16 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Review-Journal, Jessie Bekker Las Vegas (2019-02-17). "Las Vegas center studies effects of head blows in bull riders". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "Aaron Semas - PBR Hall of Fame". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "BRHOF Inductees". The Bull Riding HOF. Retrieved 2026-03-16.