I Russell D. Garrett was born January 5, 1955 in Ashland, Missouri. Knows as "Rusty" to my friends, I attended twelve years of school in the South Boone County School system. I worked on my uncle's farm and ranch but the best job I had was working for my father in his construction company. He built homes.
I learned a great deal about the construction industry but the most important thing I learned was how to make a living for myself. After a while I moved into the city and worked for 3M. It did not take me long to figure out that this country boy needed space and green grass and I did not like working for the "other fellow", I wanted to be my own boss.
As a young man, I always had my own horses and belonged to a local saddle club. My horses were my best friends. I trained them myself and learned to care for them, just as I do now. I did not learn to rope, my family was not into the rodeo scene.
I moved to Tucson, AZ with my late wife, Chella McNiece in 1982 and fell in love with the Southwest. We met several "rodeo" people and we got interested in Senior Rodeo, in 1990 we became Sponsors and to this day I have committed myself to this organization. I received my Gold Card and membership in 2000.