Gerald spent his youth growing up on the YR family ranch in Oakley, where he enjoyed working with cattle and with the interaction with all the animals on the ranch. As he got older he tried his hand at bareback riding and steer riding. Deciding this activity was too hard on his body, he determined to provide others with horses to ride and went into business for himself, creating Young and Young Rodeo Company. He started small, picking up horses whenever possible, and constructing a make-shift arena out of snow fence with lighting provided by vehicles. As participation grew, so did his desire for a regular rodeo arena, and in 1940 local leaders decided to build an arena in the town park.
As the town grew, Young and Young also grew with over 40 rodeos contracted annually, his favorite being the weekly Lagoon rodeo
Realizing a need for a cowboy’s association, he was instrumental in forming and organizing the Rocky Mountain Rodeo Association, from which he received the RMCA Outstanding Service Award in 1961. He received several other awards over the years. A homegrown cowboy, plus his love of animals, combined with the desire to rodeo, equaled the best of the best, Young and Young Rodeo Company.
He not only served the local and national rodeo industry, he also served his local community and county as a County Commissioner, Chairman of the Oakley Independence Day rodeo, Grand Marshall for the Independence Day parade, recipient representing Summit County for the National Day of the American Cowboy, and has been showcased in a number of publications.
His wife and children worked beside him, and several children are still a large part of the daily management and operation of the ranch.