About this item
"Readers looking for inspiration (or just a great story) will discover a wild ride that proves just how twisty some paths to Christ can be." -Publishers Weekly Many of us would say it takes guts and a little bit of crazy to step toe-to-toe with a powerful, 1,700 pound bull. For Hall-of-Fame bullfighter, Jeremy Sparks, it took faith. Sparks' remarkable and illustrious journey began at a young age when he received a God-given calling to become a professional bullfighter. Soon after accepting a college scholarship for rodeo, he suffered a near-fatal electrocution, which, but for his faith in God, would have ruined his dream. After three years of training under a world champion, he was accepted into the elite Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and spent years tussling with raging bulls until God, once again, showed him another path.
About the Author
Jeremy Sparks is an All-American; Citizen, Airman, Scholar, Athlete, and Author!
Sparks, now retired Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Bullfighter was a 10-year member of the most elite rodeo association in the world; the PRCA. Sparks represented the US Air Force throughout his rodeo career. Sparks continues to serve in the Air National Guard.
While only 33-years old Sparks, at the pinnacle of his career he retired in 2010 at the famed Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. In 2000, Sparks was a front-runner at the National Finals Rodeo Binion's Bullfight. During his career, Sparks was 9X bullfighter for the largest rodeo in the world, Cheyenne Frontier Days and performed five times at the College National Finals Rodeo. Sparks is also the only American bullfighter to earn a title in South Korea, accomplishing that feat in 2002, 2005-2007. He is a 3X Military World Finals Bullfighter and is the PRCAs 2006 Mountain States Circuit Finals bullfighter as well as the 2007 Dodge National Circuit Finals alternate bullfighter. In 2008, Sparks was selected to work the First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo and in 2013 he was selected into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Hall of Fame.
During his career, Sparks appeared in more than 400 promotional activities, national commercials, news articles, movies and documentaries, television interviews and Reality TV. Media engagements include: The Power of Ten w/ Drew Carey, "Aha Moment" ~ Mutual of Omaha, "It's Personal" ~ Bresnan Communication, Western Horseman, Dallas Morning Star, Denver Post, Air Force News, Road Trip Nation, OLN, ESPN, College Sports TV, Travel Channel, CMT, HDMojo and a host of other civilian and military outlets.
Sparks graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas-Monticello with a degree in Speech Communication and graduated summa cum laude from Trident University International with an MBA. Sparks redefined what it is to be a Scholar-Athlete. Academically speaking, Sparks was ranked in the top 1% of all university students within the United States earning honors into the 2001 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. In addition, Sparks is a 3X All American Scholar, a member of Alpha Chi and Lambda Pi Eta honor societies.
The PRCA claims, "Jeremy Sparks has one of the most impressive list of academic accomplishments in pro rodeo," (ProRodeo Sports News 7/11/01) .
Sparks is married to Jamie Jordan of Arkansas. The couple make their home in Fayetteville, Arkansas where Jeremy leads Organizational Change Management for a Fortune 100 company.
