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Josh Edwards - 2025

Award Winning Pick-Up Man

Josh Edwards, born in Waco, Texas, is a man whose life embodies the Cowboy Code of integrity, humility, and unwavering dedication to the sport of rodeo. His journey began in 1999, working with Rafter G Rodeo while attending Hill College on a rodeo scholarship. Weekends found him in Mesquite, competing in calf roping to see his high school sweetheart, Kristi—now his wife. One night, he was called upon to work as a pickup man, discovering that it combined everything he loved about rodeo: roping, horsemanship, timing, and a profound understanding of livestock. From that moment, Josh was dedicated to the art of being a pickup man, and he never looked back.


Over his remarkable 25-year career, Josh has picked up over 100,000 horses across 25 of the top PRCA Tour Rodeos, earning the respect of his peers and achieving numerous accolades, including:

  • Two-time NFR Pickup Man (2014, 2023)

  • 2023 PRCA Pickup Man of the Year

  • 2022 NFR Open Pickup Man

  • Three-time NFSR Pickup Man (2017, 2020, 2022)

  • 2023 Reserve Nutrena Pickup Horse of the Year with his beloved horse, Wiggles

  • Ten-time Circuit Finals Pickup Man


Josh’s influence extends beyond the rodeo arena, as he is a dedicated entrepreneur who has managed multiple businesses, from medical device sales and auto repair stations to hair salons and an excavation company. His diverse skill set includes working as a radiology technician, holding a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card for 16 years, and performing as a stuntman in several feature films and shows. Josh is also an adventurer and athlete, competing in multiple Ironman races and, in 2024, placing third in the world’s toughest equestrian challenge, the Mongol Derby—a grueling 600-mile 10-day endurance race on semi-wild horses across Mongolia.


After retiring from pickup duties at his hometown rodeo, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, in 2024, Josh continues to serve rodeo’s future. As Vice Chairman of the PRCA Board of Directors and an active member on the NFR Committee and Texas Circuit Board, he remains dedicated to passing on the traditions of rodeo to the next generation. He is especially proud to see his sons, Blevin and Brinnon, embracing the cowboy way of life.


Known affectionately as “The Cowboy,” Josh Edwards is a man of humility, grit, and devotion. He represents the very best of Texas heritage and is a true Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee, preserving the values and legacy of the Western lifestyle.

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