Cassidy Brown from Montgomery, Alabama, made NBHA history. For the first time, a run off happened to crown the 1D Champion at the 2020 NBHA Youth World Champion Teen Division. Cassidy and Caleb Cline stopped the clock at 14.686 in the short round. They came back and Cassidy won it with a 14.682. “I’m over the moon – I did not go into this past week thinking this would happen; I really didn’t,” said the 19 year old.
Cassidey began her clover leaf career at a very young age, learning the art of three barrels from her mom Tracey. She attended a Martha Josey Clinic when she was nine. “Chuck and Linda Gail Steward helped me a lot as well,” she said. “The morning of the finals, we received the news that Mrs. Linda Gail lost her battle to cancer that night. I told myself the day of the finals that I’d be running for her and Mr. Chuck. One other thing that really helped my nerves is I knew she’d be riding with me the whole time and I know I had made her smile from heaven.”
She also handles her nerves by having a huge support system around her. “They stayed in the back talking to me; people come and pray with me – it was sweet of everyone to be there with me – it helped my nerves. I love having people there with me – if I was there by myself, I’d overthink everything and get too nervous.”
Cassidy gives all the credit to Tito, a nine-year-old gelding that she’s been riding for five years. “His name is Chasin’ Memories, and he’s pretty cool,” she said. “It takes a whole lot of heart to run a 14.68 twice and he did it.” Tito was clocking like he should for a four year old, but it wasn’t consistent. “Buying him as a four year old – there’s a lot of unknowns. Now he’s consistent and I think taking him to Craig Brooks – who we bought him from – helped us a lot.”
Cassidy is a sophomore studying finance at the University of Alabama. “I enjoy the business aspect of things and I’m good with numbers and finance.” Since her classes will be online only, she is looking forward to being on the road more. Her next big race is the Good Times Barrel race over Labor Day weekend, where she will race to qualify for the Junior American. “I’m excited to take a shot at it.” Throughout the week she keeps Tito in shape by working circles keeping him bending and loose and good in the face and mouth. “Whenever I get to the event, I’ll do the same thing. I might put him on the barrels for muscle memory, mostly for me. He’s got a good mind and heart so when it’s on barrels it’s me.”
Cassidy is well on her way to her degree having completed several of her undergraduate classes in high school. After that, she plans on hitting the barrel racing road. “The futurity side of things seems like a really good place to be – maybe someday I can do that.” For now, ”I hope to do good and see others do good. I hope I can do my horse justice – he’s awesome.”
Category: Archive
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ProFile: Cassidy Brown
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On The Trail with Quincy Sullivan and Luis Mendiaz
Quincy Sullivan is the second girl to ever win the National High School Finals in team roping..Brend Youtsey Reay was the first in 1986. The odds were totally against Quincy Sullivan and Luis Mendiaz, team ropers from New Mexico, that won the National High School Team Roping title for 2020. The last New Mexico high school rodeo was in October, 2019. 17 year old heeler, Luis Mendiaz, from Santa Fe, ended the fall season in 5th place. Header Quincy Sullivan, age 16, was in 6th place. The New Mexico first place team was unable to go to Nationals, and Luis was next in line. When his header couldn’t go Quincy was next in line. Quincy and Luis had only roped together once before making the trip to the National High School Finals in Guthrie, Oklahoma. “We each drove 80 miles to rope together before heading to the Finals,” explained Quincy.
“In the first round, we did pretty good,” she continued. “I didn’t rope the first one as good as I should and we ended up 8th in the round. The second round we drew a stronger steer – Luis pulled off an incredible heel shot!” In the short go, which eliminated all earlier scores, there were four teams ahead of Quincy and Luis, including another New Mexico team. Quincy continued: “I really didn’t think we were as fast as we were. But we did it in 9 seconds and took the lead.” After the first place team missed. —– We won it!”
Quincy & Luis team roping at the 2020 National High School Finals Rodeo – Acentric Rodeo 
Luis Mendiaz with his father & brother in front of the Dodge Ram that he won at the NTR in Wickenburg in 2019 – AndersenC-C 
: Quincy & Luis team roping at the 2020 National High School Finals Rodeo Quincy grew up in rodeo, both parents competed. She began by competing in all events – barrels, poles, goat tying, team roping and breakaway. Finally settling on team roping and breakaway roping. She works every day on her events. “I have 15 horses now and I ride them all. My head horse, Hondo, is amazing. He tries his hardest every time and even if a steer is slow or fast, he’s solid. My dad’s team roping partner sold him to us, and he’s worth every penny we paid for him,” she proudly reported, adding: “I hang out with the boys more, because most of the girls don’t rope as much as I do. I’m not your average high school girl.” She will be team roping with Hadley Oder this year and Luis is team roping with her cousin, Weslynn Reno.
With two more years of high school, Quincy is setting her sights on Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. “I want to be a lawyer,” she explained. “I took mock trial last year in school and really enjoyed it. I’m pretty passionate about it!” She is also running for president of the student council at her school which has 100 students. She added, “I want to make some changes to our school and have a voice.”When Quincy was in the 7th and 8th grades she qualified in both the team roping and breakaway roping for Junior High National Finals. She has made the National High School Finals both her freshman year and this past year in both events again. She also qualified for the Junior World finals last year in both the ’15 and under’ as well as the ‘19 and under’ breakaway roping. She won the ’15 and under breakaway roping’.
Quincy with her family – courtesy 
Quincy & Luis – Courtesy 
Luis with the Dodge Ram that he won at the NTR in Wickenburg in 2019 – Andersen C-C Quincy’s mother, Shacey, grew up in rodeo, competing in speed and roping events in high school. She said of daughter, Quincy, “She works hard at her rodeo events and I’m glad she’s getting recognition for it.” Quincy’s dad, Russell, competed in calf roping and team roping in high school and won 2nd in team roping as a heeler. He went to the college finals in both events from 1996 through 1999.
Heeler, Luis Mendiaz, rode a quarter horse, Sus Beetle, his dad’s friend sold him. He’s a head and heel horse. “I won a truck on him heeling. He’s a good horse,” said Luis. He let’s his dad drive the Dodge Ram truck he won because it is standard shift. Luis admits he’s not good driving a standard shift vehicle. “My dad works construction, and didn’t rodeo until he came to New Mexico in 1999 and started watching roping. He began roping in 2005. He taught me to rope.” In 2010 his dad roped in the USTRC Finals at Guthrie and Luis watched him win 10th place in the #8 Division. “I like to rope the dummy during the day, before I practice on my horse,” Luis explained. His parents don’t speak English but we asked him to ask his mother how she felt about her son winning the world. He said, “She feels really happy for me and for her – that she had a son that won the world and how far I’ve gone in roping.” Luis will be a senior and when he finished he plans to go to college and learn to shoe horses. He said, “I want to thank my parents for supporting me and Quincy and her family.”
Quincy, with the support and rodeo experience from her parents, and the fact that Luis has his dad’s roping history to aid him, and with their hard work and determination we are sure tol continue to hear about their successes in the arena for years to come.
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Featured Athlete: Ashton Padon
Ashton Padon is in love with her 5 Star Equine Products.
The Conroe, Texas cowgirl, a recent graduate of Grace Christian Academy, uses the saddle pads, sport boots, bell boots and shin guards.
“I want the best for my babies,” she said of her horses. The pads work well, especially for her pole horse, Rack It, who is a sway back with high withers. “I like the support the saddle pad gives her and the cushion it has. It has a flex-fit cut for her withers and I like how it sets on there. My saddle doesn’t roll on her.”
She also loves the support the boots give her horses. “I really like how they are lightweight and have the extra strap to make sure they don’t come loose.” She appreciates the extra material at the bottom, where the bell boot fits, “so there is no opening or space between the bell boot and the sport boot, for your horse to hit their ankle.
The eighteen-year-old cowgirl competes in the barrels, poles and breakaway, in the Better Barrel Races, the Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association, and the Texas High School Rodeo Association, where she just wrapped up her senior year at state finals.
For the barrels, she rides Skippin Lanes, “Churro,” a seven-year-old gelding who “is the biggest baby on the face of the planet,” she said. “He’s in my lap. He wants all your love and affection. He’s probably one of the calmest barrel horses I’ve ever had.” He’s the most recent addition to the Padon place.
Her pole horse, Rack It, has a beautiful story. The mare was owned by Sherri Herndon who trained her on the barrels and poles. When Miss Sherri got bucked off a young horse and became paralyzed, Ashton and her mom took Rack It in hopes of selling the horse for her. But “we ended up falling in love with her and we bought her.” They include Miss Sherri in the horse’s successes, including the AQHYA World Show, where Rack It won the reserve world title in the pole bending. Rack It “was her baby, and she didn’t want to give her up, but I told her, I’ll take care of her, I promise.”
Ashton’s barrel horse is a 28-year-old gelding named Houston, who, the family was told by the seller, was a fourteen-year-old grade horse. It turned out, Houston was stolen. When the rightful owners were found, Ashton discovered the horse was 22, not 14, and was registered. She and her mom became friends with the former owners, who gave the horse’s papers to Ashton when she graduated from high school. Last year, Houston won the Horse with the Most Heart award at the Martha Josey Junior World.
Her favorite horse of all is a thirteen-hand paint pony named Jasper. Jasper is an all-around horse, capable of the barrels and poles. “He’ll do anything,” she said. “He has won probably more buckles and money than any of the horses I have.”
The 5 Star Equine shin guards come in handy when she rides Rack It. “For the longest time I would hit the second barrel every single time,” Ashton said. “That’s why I started running her on poles. I love the shin guards. They don’t slip down, they have support and extra cushion to when I hit a barrel, I don’t feel it.” They also fit under a pair of jeans instead of on top. “My pride won’t let me wear the big ones outside of my pants. I like that these go underneath and you can’t see them.”
Ashton has plenty of favorite foods, including her mom’s barbecue cashew chicken with rice, strawberry cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, and plain cucumbers, cut into circles. She likes strawberries, but especially when they’re stuffed with cheesecake filling or used in smoothies. And washing it all down with Dr. Pepper is the best! But she’s trying to ration her Dr. Pepper intake and replace it with more water.
Ashton’s favorite place to be is the horse barn. “I like seeing my horses out there, seeing what I’ve been blessed with, and what my parents have done for me.”
This fall, she will attend Sam Houston State University, where she will compete in the barrels. Ashton would like to get a business degree and run her own business, possibly as a provider of RV parks for families of military members.
She has a younger sister, Brenlynn, who is six years old. Ashton is proud to be the daughter the late Roland Padon, who passed away in 2008. Her mom is J.J. Hill Wallace, and her stepdad is Robert Wallace. -
The Henry Ford Saying
The Henry Ford saying goes “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” This is a very profound statement and it is true. When we face any situation in life the thoughts we have and the words we speak towards that situation have a very large impact on the results. Now, this doesn’t say what everyone else thinks or says they are right. It says what YOU think and say you are right. There are going to be people along the way that think you can’t, that think you’re in too deep, that think you’re as far as you’re going to get, but it doesn’t matter what they think or say because the Lord makes the final call and it ultimately is decided by him, his truths, and his words that are buried inside of us when we accept him as our savior.
That’s where it starts. With accepting him as our savior. Romans 10:9-10 says “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
We have to openly declare with our words, which means say it out loud. We can’t just believe it, we can’t just think it, we have to say it. Once we have declared Jesus as our savior we receive the Holy Spirit. He lives inside of us. Once we receive the Holy Spirit our words have a tremendous amount of power and what we do with our words will bring life or death upon any situation.
In Genesis 1 we read about God creating the earth, humans, and animals. How did he create it? With his words! God said “let there be light.” God said “let there be space between the waters and land.” God said “let there be fish in the sea, birds in the sky, and animals on the land.” God said “let us make humans in our image.” You want to talk about powerful words. He spoke everything into existence!
Fast forward a little bit to when Jesus was on the earth performing miracles. Jesus is in Capernaum when a government official approaches him and asks him to heal his boy who is about to die. How does Jesus respond? He doesn’t wave a magic wand around. He doesn’t go there and sprinkle magic dust on the boy. He SAYS “go back home, your son will live.” John 4:50.
In Mark 1 Jesus cast out an unclean spirit or a demon, by saying out loud “Be quiet, come out of him.” Later in Mark 1, a man with leprosy approaches Jesus asking to be healed. Jesus touches him and says “Be healed” and immediately the disease left the man.
In Luke 7 Jesus and his disciples were heading into a city when they came upon a funeral progression. The boy who had died was a widow’s only son. Jesus had compassion for her, walked over to her and told her not to cry. Then, he went over to the coffin and said “Young man, I say to you, get up.” After that the dead man sat up and began to talk. In Matthew 9 the rulers daughter has died, Jesus goes to the house and tells the crowd “Go away. She is not dead but only asleep.” When the crowd left she got up. John 11 tells us about the death of Lazarus, one of Jesus close friends. When Jesus heard of his death he went to his tomb. He calls in the tomb and says out loud “Lazarus, get up” and he walked out of the tomb with linen still on his hands and feet. He had been dead for four days and Jesus raises him from the dead with his words!
One of my favorite miracles is found in John 5:1-9. A paralyzed man had been sitting by a bubbling pool that people believed if they got in when it started bubbling they would be healed. He had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him he knew he had been ill for a long time so he asked him “Would you like to get well?” The man replied “I can’t. I don’t have anyone to put me in the water when it bubbles up. Someone also gets in before me.” The next statement from Jesus is profound. Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! John 5:8-9.
These are just a few of the amazing miracles that are recorded in the Bible and we can see with words the world was formed, humans were born, demons were cast out, the blind could see again, diseases were vanished, storms were calmed, the paralyzed were made to walk again, and people rose from the dead. All with what was said!
Now, you may say “this was Jesus and God talking not me.” I revert back to the beginning where I said it all starts with accepting Jesus as our savior. His sacrifice, grace, and mercy not only save us from our sins and promise us eternity with him in heaven, but it also invites him in our hearts. He gives us the Holy Spirit when we accept him as our savior. This means that Jesus and God live inside of us which mean our words have the same authority. What we say has the same power. Our words bring life or death!
Knowing this, we must be careful what we speak and how we speak to every situation. When we say “I can”, and we believe it we will. When we say “I can’t”, and believe it we won’t. When we look at our problems and speak only how big they are, how in conquerable the situation is, how bad we have it, that is all we get. On the contrary, if we would look at our problems and speak how big our God is, how anything is possible for those who believe, how we can get over anything because Christ gives us strength, how Gods plan is to prosper us not harm us, that is what we will get! Even if we can’t see it right now. Even if in the natural it looks completely opposite of what we want. Even if we can’t see a way out and don’t see any changes. We must continually speak life, speak what we want, speak with Christ given authority, and move our mountains with our words and Gods strength!
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.”
Mark 11:22-23 -
On The Trail with Gauge McBride
Gauge McBride has found success in the rodeo arena as well as the wrestling floor. He finished his senior year at Kearney High School as the Class A 152 pound state wrestling champion for Nebraska. He also finished his four years of high school rodeo as state champion in the bareback and bull riding, third in saddle bronc riding as well as the All Around title. He headed to the National High School Finals in Guthrie in all three events. Gauge was born without his 7th cranial facial nerve. The congenital defect affects the muscles that control facial expression and eye movement. “Just one side works – my left eye’s not great either. I can’t see out of it very well. I’ll wear my contacts for wrestling and sometimes for riding too.” He admits getting made fun of growing up. “I got in a couple fights about it, other than that, I try to find a good come back … it’s never been something that’s impacted me that much with friends or rodeo; it hasn’t stopped me from doing what I want.”
“From the second that Gauge was involved in high school wrestling it was apparent that he was a tough kid,” said his wrestling coach, Ty Swarm. “He brought a level of toughness and grit to him that helped our wrestling room and program for the four years he was at Kearney High School. He’s super coachable and driven, so if you tell him why and what he exceeds expectations. I’m not surprised he made a state champion. He is just a good competitor and has the mind-set of how to win and find success. If he knows something is going to benefit him, he’s into it full on. He’s a kid that has flourished under everything he’s done. He’s lighthearted and fun to be around.”
A picture Guage drew in art class his junior year 
Gauge and Jacque at his graduation – Gary Lewis 
Bow hunting hunting with Cooper at his Uncle Justin’s place. – Jacque McBride 
2016 NJHSRA State Champion Boys All Around, plus all three rough stock champion. – JJJ Photo Gauge has had plenty of coaching on the rodeo side from his dad, Cooper, a 7x NSRA saddle bronc champion, as well as his Uncle Justin McBride, 2x PBR champion. “I was pretty little when he was winning, so I never went to Vegas. But I learned a bunch from him. I used to go down there every summer for a week.”
Justin made the finals ten times, winning the world twice (2005, 2007). “From the time I was 19 until I was 29,” said Justin, who went from riding to the analyzing side of bull riding for CBS sports and regular CBS. The 40-year-old got his permit when he was 18 and made the finals the next year. “Gauge is a really tough kid; in fact I think that’s his best attribute. A lot of that toughness comes from his dad. Wrestling really translates in rough stock and that gives him an advantage.” Justin is ready to help again and sees ways to help him improve in the bull riding. “They’ve got to believe what they are saying. Even taking away that he’s my nephew, Gauge never looks for a shortcut, and he’s willing to do the work to get there.”
There are others that have given Gauge guidance and advice. “A bunch of us have,” said his dad. “Steven Dent has helped us a lot too – it’s a group effort.” Cooper thinks his son is “doing real good; he’s got a lot of good things ahead of him if he just takes care of business,” and gives him this advice: “Don’t be scared, scared gets you hurt.” Cooper started riding broncs after high school and went on to win the NSRA in the saddle bronc riding from 1998-2004. He quit riding in 2007 after breaking his leg. “I was going to the circuit finals and amateur finals one more year, but I broke my leg and hung it up.”
Cooper and Gauge ride to work together every day. Gauge works on gas lines for the Natural Gas Company. “I’m out there with dad; it’s not a bad gig. I’m a welding helper – when they make a well, I use the grinder and clean it off, or I’ll hand them a welding rod when they are finished with their last one. I run the shovel a lot, when they dig up the holes, I have to go in there and clean it up and find the pipe. Eventually I want to be welding for the pipeline. It’s fun and I’m learning a lot right now. It helps me stay in shape running the shovel.” Gauge is going to pursue a welding degree at Panola College in Carthage, Texas. “I really like the coach, Jeff Collins; his attitude and how he goes about business – he was really adamant that you stay in shape, on the right path, doing your schoolwork and things that a guy needs to do to be good at what he wants to be good at. They’ve got a good team; it’s the perfect spot for me … and it’s warmer than Nebraska.”
“I’m going to agree with Gauge – he’s going to be a blessing for our team,” said Jeff Collins, rodeo coach for six years at Panola. Panola College, known for its vocational degrees, is home to 2,500 students, with 35 on the rodeo team. “I’ve had really good luck with wrestling athletes; they are disciplined, in shape, and willing to give and do a lot of things other guys aren’t. Gauge told me he wants to ride all three like Ty Murray, and there hasn’t been a guy as talented in all three in a long time. When I say Ty Murray – at 51 he’s still one of my heroes to this day. I’ve got great expectations of Gauge.”Gauge will take 14 years of training, and success with him to college. He started muttin’ busting and wrestling when he was four. “When I was little I tried every sport and I really liked wrestling. I played soccer, football, and baseball but they were during rodeo season.” He moved from sheep to calves, to steers, and then mini bulls. “In junior high, I did goat tying, and breakaway roped, team roped, and rode all the rough stock.” Gauge admits he wasn’t that great at the timed event end. “I could have been, but getting on three every day and then to the timed event it was getting to where I wasn’t prepared for each event, and it cost me in the long run.”
2016 NJHSRA State Champion Boys All Around, plus all three rough stock champion. – JJJ Photo 
Gauge and Carsyn, first day of school – his senior year, her sixth grade year – Jacque McBride 
Riding in Valentine, NE, his junior year – Cathy Sandall 
The 2020 Class A 152 pound state wrestling champion for Nebraska – Jacob Oertle, Assistant wrestling coach at Kearney Preparing for each rough stock event is different, but they all include stretching and praying. He can’t choose one event he likes better. “Somedays the bareback goes good, sometimes the bull riding; I’ve been riding bulls the longest, but I think I’m better at the bareback; the bronc riding is a rough story.” He’s having a hard time getting the hang of it. “For some people it clicks, but there’s a lot of moving parts. In the bareback and bulls, you grit your teeth and hold on … in the bronc riding you’ve got to move your feet and when you’re in all three, it’s a different way of lifting with your body and it’s hard to get it. I end up lifting like I’m in the bareback and it ends up getting me out of there or getting me drilled.” The combination of wrestling and rough stock has worked well for Gauge. “Wrestling helps with roughstock a lot; being in shape and helping me in the way I land and flexibility.” It has also helped his mental game. “It’s helped me be mentally tough – never show you’re tired, never give up – it gets tiring getting on three every day, but having a tough mind keeps you from weakening.”
He prepared for the National High School finals by working out every day and riding the spur board. “Along with bench squat and curls, I run around the track at the YMCA and I’ve got intervals, sprint for 30, jog for a minute, then sprint for a minute and jog for a minute.” His experience last year at the NHSFR wasn’t the best. “I got bucked off in the first round of the bareback and both runs in the bull riding. Second round I was 72. This year I’m better mentality, last year I got worked up on wanting to win win win … it’s hasn’t changed, I still want to win, but I was so focused on winning I wasn’t thinking about how I was riding.”
His family, along with grandparents, and younger sister, Carsyn, 12 were in Guthrie to cheer him on. “He is extremely humble,” said his mom, Jacque, who competed in all the events in high school except cutting and team roping. “He can light up any room.” Gauge put on dances for all the high school rodeos. “He’s got Party Rockers; and he puts a party on at all the rodeos. He loves to dance.”
Along with Party Rockers, both Gauge and Cooper are guitar players. He’s been playing for about three years and plays any songs he can figure out. “I play a little country and a lot of rock and roll as long as I can crank the volume and not annoy mom and dad. Dad plays too, playing a lot longer than I have.”
Gauge finished seventh at the high school finals and he’ll be home one night and he’s off to his first PRCA rodeo in Deadwood, SD. After that it’s Phillipsburg on the 30th.
“Finals was a lot of fun,” he said. “I got bucked off my saddle bronc. I rode my second one for a 64 and I opted for a reride. I ended up getting three rerides and bucking off.” In the bull riding, he bucked off both of them.
“I have a short memory – I keep going and get ready for the next one.”“I’ll make a shot for Resistol Rookie maybe next year. I’m just going to a couple this year and dip my feet in the water and hopefully not end up with my head in the ground. Next year when I have a little more time, I’ll get to a few more. I think college will be a big step up and I’m excited to see where that goes.”
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Bud Tillard
For the first time in history, three generations of one family will qualify for the National Finals Steer Roping, held in Amarillo, Texas, Nov. 19 – 21. Steer roping is the only Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) final event not held at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Dec. 3-12. “The arena isn’t big enough to rope steers,” explains Ann Bleiker, Senior Media Coordinator for the PRCA.
Wyoming rancher, Bud Tillard, qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping twice. “I made it in ’68,” says the 81-year-old who decided not to go that year. “I had some shipping dates,” he explained. “I never sacrificed my business for roping.”
Tillard qualified again the next year, and headed to Pecos, Texas, with his wife, Betty. “It was hot and the arena was not that good” recalled Bud. There were no commemorative T-shirts that year, only Tillard’s back number that hangs in his home. “They didn’t make a big to-do out of the finals then. I remember we went to a picnic there,” he said. “The tables were set up as long as this house. They were lined with brown bags full of whiskey. There were no bars in Pecos; it was a dry county.” Tillard borrowed a horse, didn’t do any good, and went home. He continued roping until 1971. “I roped my last steer in Pendleton,” recalls Bud. “I won the second day.”
He quit roping cold turkey and has had to work around it ever since. “I don’t pack a rope,” he admits. “I might want to rope something.”
Tillard and his wife, Betty, grew up together and they were married in 1947. “She took to the place,” he said. “You either like this or you don’t.” They raised three boys; Andy, Marty, and Tim.
“I taught all the boys to rope,” says Tillard (arena is pictured above). “We roped calves to start.” Tillard built a calf-roping arena below the house and doubled the size (250 yards long) to accommodate steer roping. “We roped every night,” recalls son, Marty. “Dad made sure we had that. Steer roping was my passion because it was available.” Little did he know at the time that Tillard was making sure his boys were too tired to drive into town. “He was keeping us off the road,” explains Marty. “It was great. We didn’t know any different.”
“Dad raised us that the ranch is first,” says Marty, the second generation to qualify for the finals. “Steer roping was my passion because it was available.”
Marty, went to the finals two times; the first one was in Laramie, Wyo., the second in Guthrie, Okla. “I placed in some gos and won one or two.” Then Marty followed family tradition and went home to ranch.
Competing on the road was always a struggle for the Tillards. “Somebody stayed home at all points and time to watch the chicken coop,” explained Tillard. “Back in my time there weren’t many steer ropings, maybe three all summer. It’s different now.”
Troy Tillard is the 26-year-old son of Tillard’s son, Tim. “I’m sitting thirteenth right now,” says the grandson who lives “down the creek” from his grandfather. “There are a couple of rodeos left and if I have to, I’ll go.” As long as he is in the running for the National Steer Roping Finals in Amarillo, Texas, he’ll stay on the ranch and work rather than attend any more rodeos.
When the Tillard family enters a roping, there are six entries with the same last name. “The whole family steer ropes,” explains Marty. “It’s a bad habit.”
Tillard’ son, Andy, passed away from cancer when he was 42. The Isenbergers, good friends, put on a memorial roping in his honor every year at their place. A saddle is given away each year. Many of the ropers that have won saddles have passed them on to either Andy’s sons or grandsons. “All of them have saddles now,” says Tillard.
The Tillard ranch encompasses 100,000 acres of rolling rough country north of Douglas, Wyo. It takes three road graders to maintain the roads, of which 17 miles are the driveway. Upkeep on the fences requires 2,000 steel posts a year. Nine thousand sheep and 1,200 cows call the ranch home.
Publisher’s Note: This story was published in November of 2004 (added to story in 2020) Bud Tillard and Glee Net at the 2019 Don King Days -
BE A WARRIOR!
“I don’t think I would be able to handle your situation like you do.” This is a statement I’ve heard a lot since September, 2018. Although, this is meant to be compliment, to me it raises questions and wonders on why people think this. What do I do that makes people think this? Why does everyone think so down on themselves? What do I do that makes me be able to handle this situation the way I do?
Being made children of God and being blessed to live in the United States we all have free choices every moment that we are awake. We choose what to wear, whether to go to work or not, where to live, what vehicle to buy, and my favorite choice, how many cups of coffee to drink in the morning before doing chores. For me, I choose a lot of coffee before starting the day. With these free choices we also get to choose what to think, what to believe, and how much effort we want to put in.
I grew up wrestling from a young age. From the time I was five until I graduated high school, I endured long seasons of grueling practices, tough competitions, tournaments, and weight cutting. I would spend the off seasons at training camps to better my skills. I traveled all over the country to regionals, nationals, and every big tournament there was. I would spend time before practice working on drills and stay after practice to get more conditioning. I learned fast, the harder you worked the more reward you received from it. All the blood, sweat, and tears shed from my wrestling career carried over into my rodeo career.
I began riding bareback horses going into my freshman year of high school. Through high school and college I competed in all three rough stock events. To compete in the three most physically demanding sports in the world I knew I would have to train harder than everyone else. I trained in the gym before school. Then I would come home after school and ride my spur board and drop barrel for hours. I went to every practice I could and got on as many animals as they would run under me. Sometimes, between the three events I would get on upwards of fifteen animals in one practice.
I knew that to go to the National Finals Rodeo someday and be a World Champion I was going to have to be the best. They don’t just hand out gold buckles and I knew that. I put in the time when I was young and it catapulted me into my professional career. By the time I was eighteen and graduated high school I was ready. I was ready to compete against the big dogs. I had the skills to compete but I learned fast that I needed more skills then I had. I had to learn how to travel smart. How to enter rodeos correctly to utilize time and money. I had to learn how to battle through slumps. How to keep a positive mind when everything seemed to be going wrong. But, from wrestling I had learned at an early age how to train like a champion, and how to fight like a warrior.
After the paralyzing wreck in 2018, I decided to fight this battle the same way. Train like a champion and fight like a warrior!
How does a warrior fight? By being prepared before he goes to battle. You see, I grew up in a spiritual family, I accepted Christ and was baptized at nine years old. I was steered in the right direction from a young age. Although, I took some back roads growing up, and veered off course, I always ventured back to my faith that started young. I learned at a young age to trust God’s plan. How to search the Word. And, how to seek the father in prayer for my needs and wants with thanksgiving. I learned that when we battle with Christ on our sides nothing can stop us!
How do we battle with Christ? Just like any warrior does. We put on our armor and face the battle with courage. Our armor can be found in Ephesians. “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:14-17
As warriors we must put on God’s armor. The belt of truth is the centerpiece of the armor, it holds everything together. The belt of truth is Jesus. We must first and foremost make Jesus the absolute unequivocal Lord of our lives.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Putting on God’s armor starts by giving our lives to Jesus daily. Reading our Bibles, spending time alone in prayer, humbly laying down ourselves and worshipping him are all ways we can give our lives to Jesus. Turn off the TV. Get off Facebook and Instagram. Spend time with Jesus laying out our worries, cares, needs and wants at his feet.
Next, is the body armor of God’s righteousness. This is the breast plate which is similar to our rodeo vests or a bullet proof vest. The vest protects against internal damage from bulls feet when you get stepped on, or horses flipping in the chutes. Or, like a bullet proof vest that protects our military and police force from bullets entering the chest cavity. The breastplate of righteousness is what protects our hearts. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 NLT. We have to be sure that our hearts are protected and filled with Jesus. By daily pouring God’s word into our hearts we can have confidence that we are being led in the right direction and apply it to our lives so that we steer away from sin.
The next piece of armor is the shoes of peace. The shoes of peace come from the Good News. The Good news is that God sent his only son to die for us on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins and a promise of eternity with him in heaven if we accept him as our savior (John 3:16). The shoes of peace keep us moving forward no matter what our circumstances are because we know we aren’t staying here. No matter how bad it seems nothing can keep us down when we know we are going to heaven. The shoes of peace keep us moving, and it’s hard for the enemy to hit a moving target. The shoes keep us prepared to do God’s work wherever we are and whatever situation we are in. We can always be thankful for something and we should all be prepared to share the good news with others at anytime.
The shield of faith comes next. This is what stops the flaming arrows of the enemy. Our faith is so important. When the enemy attacks physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, our shield is what stops his attacks. Our shield is what keeps us in the game. Our belief in God’s promises are what give us hope for a better future. Our belief in Jesus as our savior is what gives us a hope for eternal life in heaven. Our belief in God’s word reminds us that he can do the impossible, we can face anything through him who gives us strength, and that no matter what our current circumstances are, he alone can give us a breakthrough. “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NLT
The helmet of salvation is like our bull riding helmets, or a helmet of any kind. It is what protects our brains from head to head collision with a bull, or wreck in any other action sport. The helmet of salvation is what guards our minds. Just like it is important to guard our hearts it is also important to take control and guard our minds and our thoughts. If the enemy can’t crack us with a physical blow he often tries a more subtle approach and it can often be heard as a voice in our heads. “You’re not good enough. You can’t. God won’t heal you.” These are all voices we may hear. It is important to take control of what goes in our minds. What we dwell upon. And what we think about.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT. What we think and believe of a situation often times is what becomes. If you think you can’t, you won’t. If you think you can you will. Engrave God’s promises and words in your mind to often reflect on and let his word guide your thoughts.
Lastly, is the sword of the spirit. The rest of the armor has been defensive and offers protection. The sword of the spirit is how we fight back. This is our weapon.This is how we attack. This is like the spurs on our boots as we prepare to nod our heads and challenge the beast that we sit upon. The sword of the spirit is the Word of God. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 NLT.
When we read God’s word, bury it in our hearts, and apply it to our lives it changes everything. John 1:1 tells us that in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. So, since the word of God is Jesus when we use the word against the enemy we allow Jesus to fight our battles for us. We don’t have to take them on ourselves. We can stand by God and let him do the fighting for us. “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Romans 8:31 NLT.
In this time of chaos and turmoil. Whatever battle you face whether financial, physical, or mental. Whenever you feel like you can’t keep going, when life is hard or unfair. Whenever you feel like there is no way, put on your armor and fight back with the promises from the word of God. Don’t give up and keep fighting. Be courageous. Be a WARRIOR! -
ProFile: Kamry Davis
story by Kendra Elder
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” -Philippians 4:13
Thirteen-year-old Kamry Davis, from Buffalo, Wyoming, is a junior high rodeo competitor who portrays courage and service to her community. Kamry is the daughter of Kim and Zach Davis. “My parents rodeoed and now run our family ranch.” Kamry explained. She said she is thankful for her parents support and love. “They support me and are with me every step of the way, as well as my three siblings: Kaden (18), Karly (12), and Karson (8).”
Growing up around horses on her family ranch helped Kamry find an understanding for rodeo. Kamry watched her 18-year-old sister (Kaden) rodeo for many years. “I look up to my sister because she always pushes me to be my best.” After years of watching Kaden compete in events, Kamry assured herself she would rodeo one day. “I joined the National Little Britches Rodeo Association when I was eight,” Kamry said, and she loved her experience with the association and hasn’t stopped rodeoing since.
Kamry will be in eighth grade this coming school year at Buffalo Middle School. She is a member of the Wyoming Junior High and High School Rodeo Association. She competes in barrel racing, breakaway, pole bending, goat tying, and ribbon roping. “My favorite event is barrel racing,” Kamry said. “I grew up competing in this event and I enjoy it the most.” Two of Kamry’s role models barrel race. “I look up to Hailey Kinsel Lockwood and Lisa Lockhart,” Kamry said. She enjoys watching them barrel race because they stay dedicated and motivated.
Kamry enjoys rodeoing for the Wyoming Junior High and High School Rodeo Association because everyone is connected. “We help each other out,” Kamry said. “I started rodeoing with them in the 6th grade and I love the people.”
Kamry was awarded the Encouraged, Character, and Community award from the National High School Rodeo Association this spring. Kamry said she was surprised to receive this award. “I did not even know this award existed. I read more about the meaning of the award and then understood why I was a strong candidate,” she added. The award is given to an individual who portrays a helping hand to the rodeo community. Kamry defines showing character, courage, and community service as stepping out of her comfort zone to help whenever she can. “I enjoy helping out when I can and lending a helping hand,” Kamry said. “I was honored.”
Kamry was disappointed when learning that rodeos were canceled due to Covid-19. She would have qualified for three events in the National Junior High and High School Rodeo Finals. “I used this time to get better in my events and grow as an athlete.” she said. Kamry explained that not being on the rodeo trail has helped open her eyes to appreciate the good and bad times. She is focusing on her future goals, which include winning a saddle at nationals.
When Kamry is not rodeoing, she is playing basketball, volleyball, and running track. “I am the setter in volleyball and point guard in basketball,” Kamry said. “I did not get to run track this year because of Covid-19.” She looks forward to competing in these sports again next year. You can also find Kamry helping out on the family ranch.
Kamry exemplifies heart, courage, and dedication. When she is on her horse, on the court, or with her family; she will always be looking for a way to help her ‘team’ out.
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” -John Wayne -
Featured Athlete: Cole Younger
Cole Younger is a 5 Star Equine Products team member.
The nine-year-old cowboy, a resident of Oskaloosa, Iowa, competes in the breakaway roping, tie-down roping, goat tying and team roping (as a heeler for his dad.) Of his events, tie-down is his favorite because “you’re always moving and there’s no time to dilly-dally,” he said.
As a 5 Star member, he appreciates their products. “I use the Rancher one-inch saddle pad with fleece lining, the 5 Star Patriot boots, and the Pegasus bell boots. The boots give good support all the way around, and they last a really long time if you take care of them.”
His parents, Morgan and Derrick, appreciate the 5 Star Equine products. “One of the things Cole did was design his own pad,” Morgan said. “He was able to make it his own, to personalize it for himself.” The long-lasting high quality goods are another selling point for the Youngers. “To have him using high quality products gives him an extra boost of confidence in the arena,” she said. “As he learns new things, like horsemanship and how to tie and work with his horse, we don’t have to worry, ‘are the boots on right? Is the pad ok?’ It’s one less thing to worry about.”
For the tie-down, Cole rides two horses: Charlie, a horse he got earlier this spring, and Bear, a 26-year-old horse his dad competed on. For the heeling and breakaway, he rides Tex, a twenty-year-old sorrel. For the goat tying and breakaway, he rides Pearl, a nine-year-old roan. His favorite is Charlie, “because he’s more my size. I’m a little guy and all my other horses are big.” Charlie has a good personality, too. “He’s a really good calf horse. He’s really friendly and he likes it when you come out and pet him. He’s not shy.”
Cole just finished his fourth grade year, and, due to COVID-19, did online school through Zoom meetings. He prefers school work at home. “You get done way earlier and you get to rope way more.”
His favorite subject is science “because you learn about animals and I’m really into animals.” His favorite animals are horses (first choice); cows (second choice) and zebras (third choice.) He also plays basketball.
The best food his mom makes is homemade macaroni and cheese. His favorite dessert is bunny tracks ice cream (caramel and chocolate pieces in vanilla), and his favorite meat is steak He loves sweet corn, apples and Snickers and likes to wash it down with a diet Pepsi.
The best trip he’s taken was to Chris Neal’s Future Stars Calf Roping in Oklahoma. Cole attended it twice last year and will go again this spring. He learned lots and was one calf away from finishing in the top ten.
The Younger place has a variety of pets: a “ton” of cats, one dog, and chickens. Some of the cats are tame, some are wild, and the dog loves to chase all of them. The dog is a Corgi named Annie who Cole has trained to hunt rabbits.
When he grows up, he would like to be a professional tie-down roper and make multiple trips to the National Finals Rodeo. He looks up to Tyson Durfey because “he’s a really good calf roper and he’s a good guy.”
Cole has a younger brother, Carter who is four years old. -
Back When They Bucked with Jan Youren
If the boys could do it, Jan Youren was there to prove that girls could do it, too.
The Idaho woman was a roughstock cowgirl for nearly all of her life.
Born in 1943 as the second oldest child of Sterling and Madelyn Alley, the family lived on a farm and ranch near Garden Valley, Idaho.
The Alley place was the last house on the road up Alder Creek, Jan said, and it was seven miles to town. “When I was six years old, I would ride to Crouch,” a village near her home, Jan remembered.
She wasn’t big enough to saddle her own horse, and they didn’t have an extra saddle for her anyway, so she rode bareback, “all the time, all over the mountain. I was a bit of a wild child, so most time it was at a high rate of speed.”
That’s how she was raised, she said. “You did your chores and the day was yours. You could go do what you wanted to, if dad and mom didn’t have anything special for you to do.”
By the age of eleven, Jan was riding bareback broncs and bulls. Her daddy produced the first full all-girl rodeo, and he entered her in every event. The rodeo was in Emmett, Idaho, and she placed in two events: the bareback broncs and cow riding. “I won $54 for twenty-four seconds of work and I thought I was on the road to riches,” she said.
Jan competed at junior rodeos and all-girl rodeos, and in 1960 she graduated from high school.
She was married and had her first two children within eleven months.
After her first two babies were born, she continued to ride barebacks, but not with the skill she had possessed before.
It was 1962, and her dad told her something she didn’t want to hear. “My dad said, ‘Babe, you better quit and be a mom. You’re just not riding like you used to.’” That set a spark back into Jan. “You talk about waving a red flag in my face,” she said.
Jan on a bull at the 1975 Red Lodge, Mont. rodeo, where she won second to her daughter, Tonya. Tonya also won the bareback riding at that rodeo. 
Jan on a bull at the 1995 Professional Women’s Rodeo Association Finals in Ft. Worth. 
Jan in the bareback riding at a rodeo in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1991. She went to prove him wrong. At a rodeo in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, she drew a buckskin horse. Her timing was right, she spurred him, and her dad changed his mind. “He came up to me and said, ‘Babe, I take it all back. That’s the best ride I’ve ever seen you make.’ I was in seventh heaven.”
She continued to rodeo at all-girl events. She was a charter member of the Idaho Girls Rodeo Association then the Girls Northwest Rodeo Association, which included events in Oregon, Washington and Montana.
In 1966, she was invited to an invitational international all girl rodeo in Calgary.
The rodeo was organized by Pearl Borgul, a public relations person who was excellent at promoting rodeo but didn’t always understand the sport. Jan remembered one time that Pearl insisted the contestants wear corsages donated by the chamber of commerce. She balked at that. “I said, ‘Pearl, I am not riding a bucking horse with a three-inch pin under my chin.’” Pearl conceded.
From that rodeo, the Girls International Rodeo League (GIRL) was formed, and Jan became a charter member of that organization, too. The League had good events. “They were probably the best, and the best paying rodeos,” she said.
All the time, she continued to work as a waitress, a job she had started as a twelve-year-old girl at her aunt and uncle’s restaurant.
By this point, she had divorced her second husband, Roger, in 1965.
At a rodeo in 1970, she met her third husband, Dee Edmondson. He rodeoed, and when Jan’s oldest daughter was old enough to ride, Jan and the kids moved to Texas, where the spring and fall shows took place. Dee moved to California and worked for Cotton Rosser.
A few years later, at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, Jan ran into her uncle, Jim Youren. Jim had been married to her mother’s sister, and his wife died of cancer. Jan knew Jim well; Aunt Carol had lived with her family when she was dating Jim.
They began to call each other. Jim wanted to marry her, but Jan wasn’t ready yet. But he persisted, and they married on January 31, 1984. “I saved the best till last,” Jan joked. “I tell people practice makes perfect.”
Jan continued to rodeo. Bareback riding was her best event, in part because she had ridden bareback so many years as a kid. For the first twenty-five years of her rodeo career, she did the timed events too. But when she moved to Texas with the kids, she didn’t have an arena and access to calves, and it was cheaper to throw a riggin’ bag in a truck and leave.
She never felt discriminated against by cowboys. She never competed against the men; it was only women’s rodeos that she competed in. And the men knew she wasn’t trying to be one of them. “Too many girls thought you were doing a man’s event and had to act like one,” she said. Her daddy had set her straight years ago. “My dad told me, you are a lady. You can be as tough as you can, but when you start getting rough, you’re done.” Usually, she said, after the men realized she was a professional at her sport, they accepted her. “Most of them were very respectful and helpful to us,” she said, recalling that Lane Frost and world champion Bruce Ford had pulled her rigging many times.
Jan at the 2019 WNFR – Rodeo News 
Jan won the bareback riding at the age of thirteen in Caldwell, Idaho. – photos courtesy of Jan In 2006, she and Jim moved from their ranch in Bruno, Idaho, to Cimarron, Kansas. Horse properties in Idaho were expensive, and Jim was tired of flood irrigating 400 of the ranch’s 700 acres. They were there seven years, then they moved back to Idaho. Jim didn’t appreciate the never-ending wind, and they missed home.
Jan’s list of accolades stretches far. In 1965, she won the first saddle for the all-around in the Idaho Girls Rodeo Association, also winning the bareback riding and tie-down roping. In 1981, she won the bareback riding in the Girls Rodeo Association, and in 1987 she won it again, this time with a broken back. “I didn’t realize my back was broken,” she said. “I thought I was just being wimpy.” In 1994 and ‘95, she won the bareback riding again.
Through this, she was taking her kids rodeoing and supporting them at their events.
Between her and Jim, they have fifteen kids. Hers are Tonya, Jim, Todd, Dawnita, Susie, Kristen, and Ty. Jim’s are Deanie, Deb, Dusty, Dixie, Doug, Don, Dodi, and together, their last child, is Cole. Jan rode against all four of her daughters throughout her career.
She always said she’d quit when her granddaughters beat her. In 2005, she shattered her arm at a rodeo in Grand Valley, Idaho in August, breaking it in seven places. The repair work required plates, a rod and three pins. The finals were in October, and she wasn’t supposed to ride, but she did. Her second granddaughter, Tavia, got ahead of her in points, and at the finals, Tavia beat her grandma for the year-end title, finishing one place ahead of her. That was her last professional rodeo; she had competed for 51 years.
Her last ride was six years ago, at a women’s roughstock reunion when she was nearly seventy years old. Son Cole and grandson Zane discouraged her from riding, hiding her riggin’ bag and then, when they realized she couldn’t be stopped, finding a horse that was as safe as possible. Cole chose a good bronc, instead of the runaway, because she wasn’t able to get off on the pickup man. She got on, but after the whistle, her dismount was straight to the ground. “I was satisfied with my last ride but when I bailed off, I hit the ground like a ton of bricks.” She told Jim, “I didn’t bounce.”
Jim passed away in 2014. She fills her life with her kids, grandkids (there are 64 of them) and great-grandkids (97 of them and counting.) Most of the grandkids are in Idaho, but some are scattered from Washington to Florida and she loves being grandma. “I said I’d see them all at least twice a year so they know who I am.” She goes to whatever activities they participate in: rodeo, football, basketball, track, and more.
Rodeo was great to her. “I was on the road for a lot of years and had a lot of riches, but not necessarily monetary,” she said.
Her family is her biggest accomplishment. “I raised nine kids that have never been in any serious trouble and never into drugs.
“I tell everybody I’m the most blessed woman in the world. I have all those kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, and they’re all healthy. I did something I thoroughly enjoyed my whole life and had a small measure of success at it. And I still get around as well as most women my age, and they didn’t have half the fun I’ve had.” -
On The Trail with The Steiners
“I don’t know many people do what we do – all for one.” Bobby Steiner
Bobby Steiner won his gold buckle when becoming the World Champion Bull Rider in 1973. “It was really something being born into a rodeo family that owned a rodeo company,” said Bobby. “The bull riders were my heroes from the time I was a kid. I dreamed of being in the Gold Buckle Club. I wasn’t just thrilled for me when I won it. I was happy for my wife, Joleen, my mom and dad, and all the people that had so much to do with my accomplishment. Everybody put so much into it.” Bobby was 22 when he won the world. He quit competing to help his dad, Tommy, with the Steiner Rodeo Company. “I had accomplished what I dreamed about,” he said.
The legacy of Steiner Rodeo Company began with Buck Steiner, an early day entrepreneur in many areas, including saddle making and rodeo. Buck helped Tommy run the Rodeo Company. “My dad, Tommy, was a great showman in the rodeo business,” said Bobby. “I can remember he had big entertainers at our rodeos, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans . . the crew from Gunsmoke and Bonanza television programs, and so many more big stars. As a kid I didn’t know how special that was.”
Bobby riding on 17 General Ismo – Jerry Gustafson Tommy and Bobby ran the Rodeo Company together for the next nine years. Joleen also helped time and secretary when rodeos overlapped. She had seen success in barrel racing, qualifying for the NFR in 1970 and 1971. When they sold the Rodeo Company in 1982, Bobby and Joleen spent their time raising their sons, Sid and Shane, and ranching.
“When we sold the Rodeo Company, the boys were 6 and 7 years old. I never wore my gold buckle, and never talked about rodeo. About a year later the boys asked me if they could ride the calves that were in the pens,” he recalled. “I agreed to let them ride. I’d put on rodeo schools before – but I had no equipment for them to use. It was going to be like the farm boys getting on. They rode to the back of the arena, got off, and never talked about it again. I did coach baseball and football,” Bobby recalled.
Before Sid started steer wrestling, the family took to the water – courtesy Sid doesn’t remember much about the Rodeo Company. He remembers growing up playing football and baseball. He and his brother are 14 months apart. “When we grew up on the ranch we were all we had, we played together and fought together. But we took different paths – we’ve both had success, and it was really a neat time. Rodeo wasn’t talked about — and there were no rodeo photos in the house.” Then Sid went to Ranger College, in Ranger, Texas, to play football. “That was the first time I’d been away from home, in Austin, and I wasn’t happy so I came home and worked on the ranch. A long-time friend and I started team roping in 1994. We would go to the arena and I’d borrow a horse. I didn’t really know how to saddle a horse, but we decided to team rope. I don’t think I even told my dad that I was roping, at first,” said Sid.
“A guy that was hauling cattle for us was a bulldogger and asked me to his house in 1995 to throw some steers down. I went and just kept working at it and getting better, but rodeo was the furthest from my mind. Joe Morris had some practice steers — I practiced with him for a month. Then I bought my permit and started going to pro rodeos. My mom entered me in Greeley in 1995 and I was off! Two months later I filled my PRCA permit.” Sid finished 18th in the PRCA Steer Wrestling in 1997 and that was a heart-breaker for him. “It took me three more years to get to the NFR,” recalled Sid. “My daughter, Steely, was born in 2001, and I decided not to rodeo any more.” Sid came home and watched the NFR from home. “That lit the fire under me again. I came out fresh in 2002 and knew exactly what I wanted out of it. I think everyone’s goal when they rodeo is to win the big title – that’s what we work for. I like to think I ‘outworked’ everybody. I was focused on what I wanted – I practiced hard, lifted a lot of weight and really tried. Sid won the gold buckle in steer wrestling in 2002. Like his father, that was it when he won, and he quit competing.
Jamie barrel racing at NFR 2000 – Hubbell Sid met his wife, Jamie, at a rodeo in Caldwell, Idaho. Jamie grew up on the race track where her father was a jockey. “They didn’t want me to be a jockey so I ran barrels instead,” Jamie said. Sid and Jamie got engaged in December, 1999. She made the NFR the same year as Sid, in 2000. They got married in April of 2001. Steely, their daughter, was 11 months old at the 2002 National Finals when Sid won the world. “I’ve always been a stay-at-home mom,” Jamie explained. “Sid does real estate, buying places, fixing them up and selling them — I think we’ve moved seven times so far.”
“Every time we’ve moved it’s been exciting,” said Sid. “I like to buy places and improve them, then I find something else I want to go do. Our place here near Weatherford works really well for us – everybody is happy here. I’m fortunate to spend most of my days with my wife and kids. Steely rides horses, everybody’s got the things they like to do here, and we’re always trying to get better every day.”
Sid at the 2002 NFR – Hubbell While the kids were young, they lived near Lake Austin and the family spent many hours on the lake, waterskiing. “Rocker started wakeboarding when he was three,” said Sid. “Steely wasn’t in to the water — horses were her way. She still wakeboards, but prefers her horses.”
“I’ve been riding since I was way little,” said 18 year-old Steely. “I got my first pony when I was three and rode it around like a banshee.” Steely just graduated from Brock High School. Her goal for this year was to fill her WPRA barrel racing permit. “The plan was to go out and rodeo a little bit, but there’s nothing to go to,” she said, “So I’ll wait until next season to go.” She’s spending her time riding and practicing. “I have a few young horses and it’s fun to bring them along.” She is hoping to start down the rodeo road next year and then consider an online college to study business and accounting to help the family. She was Reserve Champion at the Junior American in 2018 in barrel racing, as well as the short round at the International Finals Youth rodeo. “I’m grateful for my family – we want to win and we work real hard and always put in the effort. We are there for each other,” stated Steely.
Taking his celebration lap – Hubbell Her younger brother, Rocker, has lived up to his name. “He’s been a rock star from the time he was able to walk,” said granddad Bobby. “He thinks different – he was 8 when he tried a flip on the wakeboard and landed it. Rocker had competed all over the nation in wakeboarding. Rocker wasn’t raised in a family that was actively rodeoing but he decided he wanted to try rodeo. We put him on some bareback horses and he loved it. We’ve gotten him some broncs to practice on. He has a lot of body balance – Ty Murray has worked with him from the start and has even lent him the spurs Larry Mahan gave Ty, both great champions had ridden in them. You can never blame your ride on spurs,”
Bobby admitted, “I disliked being away from home when I was rodeoing. But I appreciate the rodeo world for what it is. I had forgotten the traveling road-show family and I’d forgotten how special that time was with my family.”
Rocker Steiner wakeboarding “Wakeboarding is something fun to do with friends,” said Rocker. “But being four feet off the ground on a wild animal is an ginormous adrenalin kick. Bareback riding has an adrenalin rush. You can’t even know if you’re going to make it out of the arena alive.” Rocker got on his first bareback horse August 29, 2016 – almost four years ago. “I was pretty certain I was the worst bareback rider ever. I didn’t do very good and I was scared to death,” he admitted. He got on ten horses a week, five at each practice, rode spur board and bucking machine daily. “My grandfather helped me every day. I had to make a deal with myself that I wasn’t going to be scared and the more I got on, the less I was scared,” he discovered.
Rocker at the Riggin Rally – Rodrigo Donoso www.rodrigosnaps.com @rodrigosnaps @rodrigosnaps Like his grandfather and dad, Rocker has set his goals high. “My main goal is make the Finals my rookie year, and I want that to be when I’m 18, and see if we can’t come home with a gold buckle – or something. I’m going to work every day to get there.”
With very few PRCA rodeos to go to these days, he’s had a couple of PRCA bareback riders staying at his home near Weatherford, Texas. “We (Leighton Berry and Cole Reiner) work out and try to get better every day – been doing that for the last couple of months since they’ve been here,” Rocker reported. They go to a little gym at Tesky’s in Weatherford. Cole is winning rookie this year, and both Leighton and Cole are on the road to the National Finals. “Seeing my buddies go and hit the road is going to push me and make me want to be on their level,” Rocker admitted. Rocker has two more years to go. “I’m not planning on doing any rodeos until I’m 18 – and I am going to keep doing this until I get my PRCA card. I want to be a world champion like my grandfather and dad – I wouldn’t be where I’m at without them – I appreciate that more than they’ll ever know.”
Steeley at the AMERICAN – Skylar Jo Photography “I try to make my kids the best they can be,” said Sid. “We have a ranch outside Weatherford and we raise bucking horses. My wife, Jamie, and daughter, Steely, raise barrel horses. I do whatever I can do to help my family. I’m just real proud of my family – and that’s what I tried to do with rodeo – being proud of your last name and wanting to add something to it. That’s what keeps pushing us. We only got one shot at this deal, we might as well get after it.”
“I think if you look at the history of the Steiners, we’ve never talked about anything but great – we expect it,” concluded Bobby. “It’s way better watching your kids and grandkids have achievements – it’s a euphoric feeling.”
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Featured Athlete: Brooke Klinger
Don’t mess with Brooke Klinger. She’ll take you down.
The 5 Star Equine Products team member has a first degree black belt in karate.
But her true love is barrel racing.
Growing up in Andover, New Jersey, she did trail rides and participated in English and jumping as well as riding a bit of western pleasure. But when she was twelve years old, she saw the barrel racing at the local fair.It fit her to a “T”. “I like to go fast,” she said. “I loved racing on the trails.”
So, a trainer, Jim Tenhoeve, taught her. She got a faster horse, and began running barrels.She uses 5 Star Equine products, with two of them her favorites. The saddle pads are wonderful, she said. “I’ve had (other brands of) saddle pads that after a few uses, get really stiff. The 5 Stars are flexible and stay soft. I like how they’re contoured so they fit flatly on the horse’s back. There are no gaps or spaces.” They’ve helped her horses. “They’re never sore.”
She just recently started using the boots for her horses and those are now her favorites. “I love them a lot. They’re not bulky and they don’t let sand in, which is very nice.”She loves it that she can customize colors for the saddle pads and boots, and she loves the saddle pads. “I have six of them now,” she said. “I just keep adding. I have an obsession with them.”
A 2019 high school graduate, Brooke works for her parents in their three enterprises: her dad’s electrical company, their real estate rental business, and with her dad as he teaches karate lessons. Her dad is the Sensei and she teaches the younger levels while she continues her instruction in the art.Brooke also gives riding and barrel racing lessons, which she loves. She travels to people’s houses, or students can come to her farm and ride one of her gentler horses. It’s one of her favorite jobs. “I like teaching people what I know and seeing them accomplish things. I like it when they work harder towards their goals, and when I know I was the one able to help them.”
She got her WPRA permit in 2019 and filled it within a few months. This year, she hopes to work towards the title of Rookie of the Year for the First Frontier Circuit.The family has five horses: King, her first horse; Dancer, her primary barrel and pole horse; Sunny, another barrel horse; Charlie, a five-year-old she acquired last year, and her newest horse, Brownie.
In her spare time, she loves to hunt for pheasant and deer, and she combats the stereotype that New Jersey is full of nothing but cities. “There are a lot of country people here,” she said. “People don’t really know that. They think New Jersey is nothing but city, but where I am, it’s all farmland.”
She is the daughter of Scott and Jackie Klinger.