Bulldogging in four rodeos in two weeks could pass for a definition of tough.

Doing it well at each rodeo, though, takes more than just tough.

Just ask Trevor Knowles. The cowboy from Mount Vernon won the Big 4 trophy saddle Saturday at the Pendleton Round-Up.

The Big 4 Rodeo Circuit starts with the Walla Walla Frontier Days Rodeo, then moves to the Ellensburg Rodeo and the Lewiston Roundup before culminating at the Pendleton Round-Up.

Hamley’s of Pendleton made the saddle, worth about $10,000, that goes to the cowboy with the most points after competing in the four rodeos. This is Knowles’ fifth year as a professional cowboy and his first Big 4 win.

“I’m very proud to win it,” Knowles said, almost sheepishly. “It’s not easy to win. You got to be good at all four of them.”

And “good” may be an understatement. The best cowboys in the world compete in those rodeos. And the events follow hard fast upon one another, with the Walla Walla and Ellensburg rodeos starting Aug. 31, Lewiston going during the first week of September and Pendleton’s ending about a week later.

Round-Up Publicity Director Dennis Hunt said the award is presented in Pendleton because the Round-Up is the final of the Big 4 events.

“This is a pretty prestigious award,” Hunt said, “and with a local cowboy winning it even adds more to the story.”

Additionally, Knowles won the Mike Hopper Memorial trophy buckle presented at the Round-Up to the high-point winner for steer wrestling in the Columbia River Circuit. The award is named in honor of the former director and president of the Pendleton Round-Up.

Knowles finished No. 2 in steer wrestling at the Round-Up. In Saturday’s finals he had a 6.4 run, with a combined time of 19.1 seconds for three runs, .8 of a second behind winner Todd Suhn.

Knowles also roped calves and team-roped in Pendleton, but he said he didn’t do so hot in those events.

“Steer wrestling is what got me the win,” he said.

Knowles, who’s ranked No. 10 for steer wrestling in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, said he heard cowboys saying that “Trevor” had the saddle all wrapped up.

“I was assuming they meant Trevor Brazile,” Knowles said. “And he’s tough to beat.”

Brazile, out of Decatur, Texas, was the Big 4 winner last year and holds the PRCA’s No. 1 spot for all-around standings.

“I didn’t really know they were talking about me ’till I got to Pendleton,” Knowles said.

Last season Hamley’s sponsored Knowles. Hamley’s owner Parley Pearce said he and the Hamley’s crew was delighted Knowles won the saddle.

“He’s a kid that’s probably destined to become a world champion,” Pearce said.

Furthermore, Pearce said Knowles isn’t just a good cowboy, but a genuine nice guy.

Although Hamley’s presented the trophy saddle to Knowles at the end of the Round-Up award ceremony Saturday, Hamley’s has the saddle on display in its store at 30 S.E. Court Ave.

Hamley’s saddle maker Alan Dewey built it, spending hours carving the intricate leather work. And well-known silversmith Ernie Marsh of Marsh Brothers Oregon Silver in Westfall hand etched the saddle’s four conchos, each with a name from one of the Big 4 rodeos.

“And it’s a stunning saddle,” Pearce said.

Knowles certainly agreed.

“It’s the nicest saddle you can possibly have got, that’s for sure.”

Knowles is on the road to Amarillo, Texas, for another rodeo as his season winds down with about two weeks left. But barring injury, the Oregon cowboy is dug in to bulldog for a third consecutive year at the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas.

And that will make for good timing. Pearce and fellow Hamley’s owner Blair Woodfield, along with the presidents of the Big 4 rodeos – Ron Mitchell of the Ellensburg Rodeo, Dick Moeller of the Walla Walla Fair, Kent Meshishnek of the Lewiston Roundup and Butch Thurman of the Pendleton Round-Up – will present Knowles with the saddle at the Big 4 Party during the NFR.

But Knowles doesn’t seem the sort to let all this get to him much. It even took him a moment to remember he turned 27 Saturday.

After a moment’s reflection he simply said, “Pretty good birthday present.”

2007 Big 4 Award

(To the cowboy who scores the most points in the Lewiston, Ellensburg, Walla Walla and Pendleton rodeos)

?Knowles received: A custom-made, hand-stamped Hamley’s saddle donated by Hamley’s and presented by Parley Pearce and Blair Woodfield (not pictured) of Hamley’s and the Big 4 Rodeos.

Representing the rodeos were Ron Mitchell, president of Ellensburg Rodeo; Dick Moeller, president of the Walla Walla Fair; Kent Meshishnek, president of the Lewiston Roundup and Butch Thurman, president of the Pendleton Round-Up. The saddle will be presented to Knowles at the Big 4 Party in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo.

Mike Hopper Memorial Award

The Mike Hopper Memorial trophy buckle.

The award is presented to the high-point Columbia River Circuit steer wrestler at the Pendleton Round-Up.

A group of private individuals presented the award to Knowles.

The award is a memorial to the former director and president of the Pendleton Round-Up.