Before Tough Draw became a brand, a production agency, a representation group or a bull riding tour, it was a script.
Brad Hughes earned his film degree from the University of Texas at Austin with a love for storytelling that stretched far beyond a single genre. Internships in Los Angeles with Scott Free Productions and Imagine Entertainment offered exposure to high-level filmmaking, but even while in Hollywood, the stories that lingered were not set on studio lots. They were rooted in Western culture, grit, resilience and legacy.
Returning to Texas to pursue development of his bull-riding-focused script became a turning point in Hughes’ personal and professional life.
That move home shaped more than just a career path. It’s where Hughes met his wife. It’s where businesses were launched. It’s where seasons of growth and seasons of challenge both played their part. What started as a single story slowly evolved into a life anchored in the Western world he was trying to portray on screen.
Along the way, mentorship played a defining role. Figures like Kristen Horn and Sam Birdsong helped shape Hughes’ understanding of his craft, reinforcing that storytelling is not just about production value, but about perspective, integrity and honoring the subject. Their influence deepened his belief that Western culture deserved stories told with care and authenticity.
Through early production work, filming at Championship Bull Riding (CBR) events, and building relationships across the rodeo landscape, Hughes found himself immersed in a culture where stories weren’t just manufactured but lived.
Mentorship and friendship with figures like Tuff Hedeman further solidified that understanding. Time spent learning from athletes, stock contractors and families within the sport revealed a powerful truth: the Western world holds some of the most compelling stories in sports, yet many of them remain untold.
That realization ultimately paved the way for LANE: Life | Legend | Legacy, the documentary chronicling the life of Lane Frost. When the COVID shutdown paused live events and much of the sports world stood still, it created space for reflection and storytelling. Producing and directing LANE became both a creative undertaking and a responsibility to honor legacy.
Today, LANE remains available for rent as Tough Draw continues to pursue expanded distribution opportunities and pop-up screening events that connect the film with live audiences—including future integrations alongside the Tough Draw Tour in 2026. The documentary is not a closed chapter; it is part of a larger narrative still unfolding.
For Hughes, the through-line has never changed.
“I didn’t set out to build a brand. I set out to tell a story,” Hughes explains. “Tough Draw has simply been the vehicle that allowed that passion to evolve. Every step—from film school to LA, to coming home, to filming in the arena, to producing LANE—has felt like preparation. The Western world is full of stories that deserve to be told with care and authenticity. We’re just getting started.”
Today, that commitment to storytelling flows through every vertical of Tough Draw, from athlete representation to live event development. While the team around it has grown and evolved, the foundation remains steady. The arena may be louder now and the footprint larger, but the mission has never shifted. Tell the stories. Honor the culture. Build something that lasts.
Tough Draw is a Western storytelling and athlete advocacy platform operating across live competition, sports representation, media, and production. Founded in 2014, the brand was built on a commitment to honor Western culture while elevating the athletes who define it. Today, Tough Draw operates through multiple verticals, including Tough Draw Tour, a premium bull riding–only league; Tough Draw Sports, an athlete representation agency; Tough Draw Talks, a Western-focused podcast; and Tough Draw Film, a production company rooted in documentary storytelling. Guided by athlete-first values and long-term relationship building, Tough Draw blends sports professionalism with authentic storytelling to expand opportunity within the Western industry.
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