Sonoma 's Willie Church is a third - generation rough - stock rider .
Penngrove 's Alex Meroshnekoff has returned to bareback riding this year despite a 1998 injury at the Cow Palace in which he broke five vertebra .
Sonoma 's Willie Church is a third - generation rough - stock rider , and Penngrove 's Alex Meroshnekoff has returned to bareback riding this year despite a 1998 injury at the Cow Palace in which he broke five vertebra .