Have you seen a cowboy wrangling objects around Penn State? Have you seen one on the jumbotron at Beaver Stadium? If so, you have seen Nicholas Pajovich, A.K.A. Nicky the Cowboy.

Many have probably wondered where this third-year cowboy came from, so we sat down with him to hear his story.

Onward State: Why are you a cowboy?

Nicky the Cowboy: Truthfully, I got bullied in high school, which made me think about who I wanted to be and what kind of people I was adapting to. I took a good look at myself and decided to reinvent who I wanted to be. I’ve always had an appreciation for animals, the outdoors, and the cowboy way of life. Their work ethic, attitude toward life, and their ability to stand up for themselves and what they believe in really resonates with me. Their morals and values are important and I decided to embrace that lifestyle.

OS: Where are you from, and did you grow up on a farm?

NTC: The truth is, I grew up in Berwick, Pennsylvania, which is near Wilkes-Barre. I did not grow up on a farm, but in the future, I would likely want to live on a farm with horses.

OS: What exactly do you love about cowboy’s morals and lifestyle?

NTC: They have respect for everyone and genuinely care about others, regardless of who they are or where they come from. They want to see everyone succeed and are often willing to put themselves last. That really stands out to me. I care for others more than I care for myself, and that’s just who I am. I also want to mention my faith. It’s very important to me, and cowboys tend to have a strong sense of faith, which aligns with my beliefs.

OS: In the future, do you plan on continuing this?

NTC: Honestly, I haven’t thought about it that much. Wherever the Lord takes me, I’ll follow. If it were up to me, I would love to continue my cowboy ways and work with horses. It’s who I am. It’s in my blood. The cowboy hat isn’t just a hat, it’s a symbol of who we are and what we stand for. You’ll often hear me get upset when people try to touch my hat because it’s not just a staple of our personality.

OS: Who is Nicky without the cowboy?

NTC: I’m a junior here at Penn State. I started my first two years at the Penn State Hazleton Campus. I’ve known I wanted to go to Penn State from a very young age. I love Penn State. I bleed blue and white. I appreciate the athletics, the community, and the network it offers. If you don’t catch me in a cowboy hat, you’ll find me in blue and white. I’ve managed to combine both of my worlds — Penn State and being a cowboy — into my brand.

OS: How do you feel about all the screen time you get at the games?

NTC: I’m not going to lie, I keep count. In the first game, I was on 22 times. In the second game, 23 times. And during the recent “White Out…energy” game, I was on 24 times. So far this season, I’ve been on the screen 69 times, but this didn’t start this year. It began last season. Even though I was at a branch campus, I had the opportunity to come to games because I got season tickets. It was awesome! I got on the big screen for the WVU game, and Nittanyville noticed me and invited me to join their group. From there, I found my family. That really gave me the chance to be in the front row and continually be on screen. Last season, I was on the jumbotron 143 times, so I’m on track to reach that again this season.

OS: Do you get a lot of people coming up to you in public?

NTC: Absolutely! I love it, and I’m very thankful for the people. I enjoy interacting with them. It makes me feel like I’m making an impact on their lives and being a light for them in a world where there isn’t much positivity. My biggest goal is to be a source of joy for people, so when they come up to me, it’s natural because people gravitate toward light. It shows me that I’m doing something right and that feels good. I love taking pictures with people and making them smile. It’s even extended beyond the students now. I’ll have folks from all over the area come up to me on gamedays excited to meet me. It’s a very special feeling.

OS: How much stress are you under right now?

NTC: If I’m being honest, it’s quite stressful. There’s a lot going into it. I have a brand to defend now and a public image. It feels like there’s a fishbowl effect where all eyes are on you, and everyone knows who you are. When they see that cowboy hat, I can’t just slack off. I never would, but it’s a concern because people can twist things. Plus, with scheduling and people wanting me to join clubs, sometimes I have to say no, and that really hurts. It’s a lot to keep track of with balancing my time, schoolwork, and everything else. There’s no such thing as sleep!

OS: Who is your biggest supporter right now?

NTC: I have a lot of supporters, and I’m very thankful for that. But my biggest supporters are my family — my mom, dad, and sister. They’re always there for me, and I can call them at 2 a.m., and they’d be there for me. They’ve supported me every step of the way. They’re honestly new to this as well. We didn’t expect that coming into my first year on the main campus, I would gain such recognition. I’m also thankful for the support of Katie Feeney, the Athletics program, and many others in the Penn State community.

OS: Per Onward State tradition, the last question is, if you could be any dinosaur, what would you be and why?

NTC: I need a second to think about this…a Penn State dinosaur! All the dinosaurs are dead, but Penn State is forever.

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If you want to know more or keep up with Nicky the Cowboy, check out his TikTok and Instagram.