Mike Marvel, born May 22, 1951 to Tom and Rosita Marvel, is a 4th generation rancher and cowboy. He, along with his siblings (Tommy, Suzy, Sally, Joe, Pete, and Amy) spent their early years riding, roping, branding, and pushing cattle across the high desert ranges of Nevada.

Under the guidance of his dad and Jim Dorrance, a long-time cowboy and horsemen, Mike learned to ride bucking ranch horses and colts in the wide, open spaces of daily ranch life. Mike had worried that maybe he was letting the colts buck too much, and his dad would get upset. Jim just laughed - telling him "not to worry ... what your dad don't know, don't hurt him".

When Mike was a junior in high school, cowboy and former saddle bronc rider, Tim Erickson brought Mike his first bronc saddle. Tim told him that, as good as he and his younger brothers rode outside, they should be riding in the rodeo arena. Mike liked riding the ranch horses and colts that bucked so he decided he'd give it a go. Idaho's Bud Godby showed him how to "set" his saddle and helped him with the mechanics of the "rodeo style" of riding bucking horses. Many of Bud's theories came from Rodeo Legend, Winston Bruce who later became a good friend and mentor of Mike's.

Once his parents, Tom and Rosita, realized that riding rodeo broncs was something the boys wanted to do and were good at, they provided all the practice horses the boys needed. After winning the Nevada High School Saddle Bronc Riding title and numerous NCA, ICA, and CCA rodeos, Mike decided to join the professional ranks - qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo in 1974 and 1975. His parents continued to be his and his brothers' biggest fans and supporters.

Mike married his wife, Theresa iri 1976. Together on the ranch, they raised their three children Matt, Katie, and Jamie. Continuing the family rodeo tradition, all three children received college rodeo scholarships with Matt joining the ranks of the PRCA.
Currently Mike and Theresa and their son, Matt and his family have a cattle ranching operation in Northeastern Nevada. Mike enjoys watching and helping his nine grandchildren compete in Youth and Junior High School Rodeos, stockhorse shows, and other sporting events and activities.