Rodeo Life

Category: Articles

  • Shannon Smith

    Shannon Smith

    As a former performing art dancer, American Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) trick riding performer, Shannon Smith, has moved from center stage recital to center stage act – with a bit more grit and dirt. Still using grace, muscle and style, Shannon has traded her Pointe shoes for a horse, and in less than two years, the trick rider has progressed to presenting her specialty act with Dave Martin and the AFR-36. “It takes a lot of guts, but I love it. I love the thrill and traveling that I have experienced,” she said of the lifestyle change.

    Being the daughter of APRA steer wrestler, Mike Smith, and younger sister of Skip Smith, who is also an APRA steer wrestler, Shannon had every opportunity to get involved with horses, but her interests were occupied with dance instead. “I had nothing to do with horses growing up. My dad was always trying to get me to go out and at least ride, but I just wasn‘t in to it,” she said. “Looking back, it would have been a plus if I would have started earlier though.” While her mom (Fran) does not compete, Shannon says that she is the ultimate rodeo mom and offers her support through it all.

    For 12 years, Shannon specialized in ballet, Pointe and jazz dancing and it wasn’t until after her high school graduation that she was persuaded to buy a horse. Soon after, she purchased her first APRA membership card and began competing in the barrel racing. “I raced for one year and then took a break for a couple of years before returning to perform as a trick rider,” she said. Through her building interest in trick riding, Shannon took her dad’s hazing horse (Bo) and started out in her new trade. “I bought a book to learn how and any time I would run into more experienced trick riders, I would take the opportunity to ask questions and learn more. I owe a lot to Dusti Crain and Loretta Pemberton for all of their help,” she said of her start, but says her parents have been her biggest support. “From traveling with me, to going with me to buy horses, they have been through it all. My dad will even go out to the arena and help me. Even if I say I am scared, he just says ‘I don‘t care, go do it‘,” she said.

    While still barrel racing at local timed events, Shannon is reaching her second year as a performing trick rider and like any other rodeo athlete, she continues to make progress with her craft. “I would like to try to get a Roman riding act put together with my trick riding act and continue to perform with the APRA,” she said of her future goals. She will resume with her main horse (Bubba), a 16-year old Palomino that she purchased a year ago. “It is definitely the people,” she said of what keeps her coming back to the APRA. “Both, contestants and those who run it are so helpful with great attitudes and support. It is a great association and I love it.”

    Outside of the arena, the McVeytown, Pa., native splits her living as a chiropractor billing specialist and working for the United States Postal Service. At 27 years old, she continues to make life changes with a recent engagement to Matt Hoffmaster, who is in the U.S. Army and currently stationed in North Carolina. The soldier showed his braveness through a crowd frontal proposal at the APRA sanctioned Huntington, Pa., rodeo last June, where he rode out on a horse and took to one knee to ask for Shannon‘s hand in marriage. “Honestly, I was very nervous,” admitted the bride-to-be. The couple are planning a 2015 spring wedding.

  • Mikayla Almond

    Mikayla Almond

    A day consisting of feeding horses, school work and then returning to the barn to spend the rest of the afternoon practicing, has paid off for the 2013 Junior Southern Rodeo Association (JrSRA) senior girls all-around champ, Mikayla Almond. “Whether it’s roping the dummy, tying a goat or working with her horses, she’s always doing something to better herself,” said mom, Jeani.

    At only 13 years old, Mikayla has racked up five pole bending championships within the JrSRA, along with being named the 2012 NBHA Youth World Champion 1D barrel racer. In her first year (2013) with the National Junior High School Rodeo Association, Mikayla won state titles in the pole bending, breakaway roping and goat tying, and reserve in the barrel racing. Her impressive rookie stance found her competing in Gallup, N.M., at the NJHSFR, where she returned home as the Reserve World Champion pole bender. Because of Mikayla’s incredible work ethic, in the arena and the classroom, she was one of four kids in the United States, selected to be on the Professional Choice Elite Student-Athletic Team. Meeting the criteria of a 4.0 grade point average and an all-around cowgirl, Mikayla will wear the Professional Choice patch and be rewarded with a credit line through college.

    The JrSRA’s legacy resides in Mikayla’s family and their persistent rodeo heritage. “It is definitely a family thing with all of us kids carrying on the tradition,” said Mikayla of why she likes the JrSRA. The organization began with her great-grandfather (Jack Laws), who was one of whom responsible for starting the organization in the 1950s. It then passed to her grandmother (Debbie Colyer), who was crowned the 1966 JrSRA junior barrel racing champion and later served as the association secretary for 11 years. Then, to her mom, who started out in the association and continues with the SRA. While her dad (Eddie) is currently serving his second term as the JrSRA president, her older sister (Hayley Joh Knox) is a past five-time all-around champion and went on to obtaining her first of two SRA all-around titles at the age of 15. “Hayley is someone who has helped me to become an all-around cowgirl,” said Mikayla.

    Competing fourfold in her third year as a senior girl in the barrels, poles, goats and breakaway, the seventh grader will push forth to win her sixth pole bending title atop her 16-year old horse (Buddy). Buddy, himself, has made a name for himself in the association, winning 10 straight titles as of 2013; carrying Hayley to five prior to being turned over to Mikayla. “He also went on to winning two state titles in the South Carolina High School Association,” explained Jeani.

    Mikayla has set her sights on rodeo seasoning a five-year old (“Floozie” Ta Fame) for the barrel racing. “She has set the goal to have her ready to compete at the Junior High Nationals,” said Jeani. The futurity mare was one of two breeding rights to “Aim Ta Fame” given as a get well gift after shattering her femur in 2008 from Mike and Janell Green. “Her dad worked for the Green’s prior to becoming an independent trainer,” explained Jeani of the connection. “Three years ago, he also accepted a position with the NBHA, where he is in charge of the ground, so travels a lot.”

    Mikayla got her start in the JrSRA at the age of four and through her progression and appreciation for each moment says that her grandpa (Mike Colyer) is her biggest inspiration. “He has been by my side the whole time. He helps me in all of my events and even hauls me when Dad is on the road,” she said.

    A true all-around cowgirl, Mikayla says that she loves all of her events. “My Dad, Mom and Grandpa have taught me everything I know,” credited Mikayla. But if she had to pick, Mikayla says that it’s a tie between breakaway and pole bending. “I just want to place high and be on top,” she said. Early in the season, Mikayla is already sitting first in the standings in the goat tying and pole bending, third in the breakaway, sixth in the barrels and second in the all-around.

  • Clint Humphries

    Clint Humphries

    Holding a strong passion for team roping has set deep roots for Clint Humphries in the Southern Rodeo Association (SRA). “I could rope every day and be completely happy. It’s my getaway time and my stress reliever,” he said. “Rodeoing offers the opportunity to see all of my buddies, while doing what we all love. It‘s just a good ole time.“ Competing in the organization for at least 18 years, Humphries can be found on both ends of the steer as he headed for Corey Honeycutt to capture the finals average in 2009. In the 2013 season, Clint finished in the top 20 of the standings – heading for Alex Brooks and heeling for Jason Tucker. “Going to a SRA rodeo is like going to a family reunion for me. I know and am related to three-quarters of the guys on the timed events side, but that just makes it that much more fun,” he said.

    Growing up on a dairy farm in North Carolina, Clint had horses is whole life, but it wasn’t until 1987 that he bought his first roping horse and kicked off his life style choice. “I went down to Oklahoma City with a buddy who was looking for a horse. I wasn’t even looking, but ended up buying my first rope horse and the guy trusted me enough to make payments,” he explained. “I had always played with ropes, but it just snowballed from there.” Besides competing in the SRA, Clint also enjoys hitting jackpots. “I like to rope a lot, rather than just a few,” he explained. In 2009, Clint was the winner of a brand new truck for his efforts at a jackpot. “2009 was a good year for me, but luck was on my side that day,” he said modestly.

    Clint had gotten his start in the Junior Southern Rodeo Association (JrSRA) and later progressed to the North Carolina High School Rodeo Association, where he qualified for Nationals and competed in Shawnee, Okla., in 1990 with partner Brad Stewart. “I’ve been roping for a long time, but it was one of those things that happened because I followed my friends,” he said. His brother (Caleb) took on the habit as well and is a former SRA roper. “Caleb is good, really good. He got so good, so fast, that it was imperative that he practice on a regular basis to compete at the level he was at, so he ended up hanging it up,” said Clint.

    Thinking that rodeo was something that he had found, Clint discovered at the age of 16 when meeting his dad (Keith) that rodeo had actually found him. “I later found out that my dad had rode bareback horses back in the day,” he said. The family tradition is currently being carried on by his 11-year old daughter (Reagan), who Clint refers to as “Rea-Rea”. Reagan will compete in the 2014 JrSRA season as a quadruple event contender. “I never thought that my little girl would be interested in rodeo, because she was such a princess at first, but she started riding my roping horses and is really into it now,” said the proud daddy. “One of my favorite things about her is that she is very independent and tries to do everything by herself.” With two family members hitting the rodeo trail at full-force, Clint says that it is sometimes imperative to have two rigs on the move. “I would prefer to watch her compete, but when our schedules come to a cross road, I rely on trusty mom,” he said. While his wife (Amy) does not compete, she grew up in the grandstands, as her dad (Leonard Atwell) competed in the SRA in the calf and team roping. “Amy rides and ropes really well, but never went at it. She is a great supporter of us both,” said Clint.

    Living in Lincolnton, N.C., Clint makes his living as a fire fighter for the Charlotte Fire Department and the owner and operator of Humphries Landscaping. His busy schedule can, at times, interfere with his rodeoing. “I haven’t been able to go as hard as some of the other guys, but that doesn’t stop me when I get the chance,” he said.

    For the upcoming season, Clint says that his main priority rests in keeping Reagan going. “When I am able, I will be happy to go just a little bit,” he said. “That little girl has me wrapped around her finger and I am the happiest when Rea-Rea and I can just go out and play on our horses all day.”

  • Michelle Piha

    Michelle Piha

    In her fifth year of competition in the CePRA, Michelle Piha has set a goal to qualify for her first finals. “I didn’t get to go a lot last year because I was trying to get with a new horse, but I want to go at it hard this year,” she strategized. While Michelle could be considered a newbie in the equine world, having only been horseback for the past 15 years, she has surpassed the initial titles and is currently sitting in the top 15 of the CePRA barrel racing standings. “I love the people and the way they are run. The CePRA takes it a step above the local events and provides rodeos on a more professional level,” Michelle said of the organization.

    The oldest of six siblings, Michelle grew up as a bona-fide city girl and was not raised with a background in horses, but in her heart she always knew she wanted one. “I would ride every chance that I could get, which was things like girl scout camp or trail rides on vacations, and then read every book and watched every movie there was about horses. I’ve just always loved them, and now that they are a big part of my world, I can‘t imagine a life without horses,” she described. It wasn’t until Michelle had graduated college and obtained her first job that she finally bought her first horse and several years later introduced herself to the world of barrel racing. “I got a late start, but I’m finally catching up. I would say that my biggest challenge has been juggling work and finding time to ride, practice and haul,” she said. Michelle will take on the cloverleaf pattern upon her 11-year old bay mare “Vana”, whom she purchased about a year ago from fellow barrel racer, Carol Tracy. “Vana’s brother [owned and jockeyed by Tracy] was named CePRA Horse of the Year about three years ago. She is such a nice mare and I would love for her to win the same honor,” she said. In true horsemanship fashion, Michelle considers her horses, not only friends, but partners. “God put them here for us to enjoy, love and care for. I try to do my part by keeping them comfortable, in-shape and by doing anything else that I can to make them strong competitors,” she said.

    Living on a ranch east of Douglas, Kans., with her husband (David), the couple of almost nine years, raise angus cattle in a cow/calf operation. “He is my number one fan and has always supported me, from helping me find my first barrel horse to letting me get out of helping with hay season to go rodeo. He used to ride rough stock and has dabbled in roping, but his shoulder is shot from playing baseball in college and now devotes his time to the cattle,” Michelle explained. For the past 17 years, Michelle has worked for Boeing, but the closing of the Wichita site has caused her to change direction. “Boeing offered me a position in Oklahoma City, but I could not leave my mom who is battling lung cancer,” she said. Four weeks ago she accepted a position as the Director of Program Management for DJ Engineering. “It is a major learning curve. It is really fast paced and I am very excited. The best part is, it is great to want to go to work in a job that you love and then return home to a hobby that you love,” she expressed.

    Michelle’s decision to stay put was based on her mom (Carol McCreary), who was diagnosed with lung cancer. “She has always supported me and is my motivation. Watching her fight just pushes me to want to do the same thing,” she expressed. Michelle’s dad (Tom) also supports her. “He’s not into horses, but is very encouraging even though he teases me about how much better a motorcycle is,” she said. “He has taken on a major role in helping my mom. His devotion has really touched me and his strength inspires me to demand success in everything I do.”

  • Tristan Mahoney

    Tristan Mahoney has been rodeoing with the GCPRA since he was 16. In 2013, the 23-year-old had his first big win with the association, coming home the GCPRA Calf Roping Champion. The tradition of rodeo in Tristan’s family runs back to his grandfather, Hollis Fuchs, a cowboy with one leg and a heart for team roping. Both Tristan’s parents, Kent and Becky Mahoney, have competed extensively in rodeo and seen great success in the sport.  “They’re the ones that got me into it (rodeo) and taught me everything,” says Tristan. Another influential person in Tristan’s life is Gordy Alderson, a bit and spur maker from Tucson. “He’s helped me along the way and given me a lot of advice,” Tristan says. In addition to calf roping, he also competes in team roping as a heeler in the incentive. He also competed in steer wrestling during college rodeo, but gave the event up when he injured his knee.

    Tristan was born and raised in Arizona and currently makes his home in Florence. He works in his family’s real estate business with his dad and grandpa. He is showing houses and building up a clientele of his own, and in the last four or five months, he has spent a large portion of his time remodeling a house that he bought in Florence. “It was a total remodel,” Tristan explains. “I figured it out as I went, and a lot of people helped me and showed me how to different things. I’m going to sell it before too long and try to get a place with my own arena.”

    In the meantime, Tristan keeps his horses on his family’s ten acres and uses their arena. His calf roping horse is Ollie, an American Quarter Horse who started out a reiner but found his niche in rodeo. Tristan trained him for roping and seasoned the gelding that has now been his mount for five years. Tristan has always trained his own horses, and the ones that don’t fit him for rodeo are sold. Currently Tristan is starting a new bunch of colts, having recently sold several that he finished.

    Prior to his work in real estate, Tristan attended Central Arizona College (CAC) where he graduated with an Associate of Arts degree. What he especially had his eye on, however, was college rodeo, which he competed in during his two years at CAC. “I didn’t have a lot of luck,” says Tristan. “I just missed the college finals and I hurt my knee bull dogging my sophomore year.” While success in college rodeo was hard to pin down, Tristan has had better achievements in circuit rodeo. During the summer, he rodeos in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington on the Columbia River Circuit. “You try to hold your money together, and when it runs out, you come home!” Tristan explains. Other activities that he enjoys include spending a hot summer day at the river or the lake, but roping is what his lifestyle revolves around. One his favorite rodeos in the GCPRA is the Wilcox Rodeo, and he often competes at his best at the Cave Creek Rodeo, which is on the Turquoise Circuit.

    Feeling optimistic, Tristan describes his goals for the near future. “I’d like to repeat and win the Grand Canyon (calf roping) again, and I’d also like to win the circuit finals and make it to the Dodge Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. I’m going to get these horses finished, put a little money together in the next few years, and make a run at the Wrangler National Finals.”

  • Sterling Gehrke

    Sterling Gehrke

    Sterling Gehrke does not believe in doing anything by halves, especially rodeo. “I’m a really competitive person, and I don’t like to lose,” explained the 18-year-old. “I like to do well at everything I do. When I start something, I try to do the best I can at it.” Sterling first started competing in rodeo when he was 10. After watching a friend rodeo, he wanted to give the sport a try. His parents, Lyle and Dawn Gehrke, have never competed in rodeo, but they wholeheartedly support Sterling’s pursuits and try to be at every one of his rodeos.

    This is Sterling’s final year competing in the SDHSRA, having competed with the association since he was a freshman. His events are tie-down roping and team roping as a header, and he finds equal enjoyment in both. Sterling looks to his dad as his role model, not only for rodeo but for many other things in life. “He helps me when I’m practicing and he always helps me with what I did wrong,” said Sterling.

    The Gehrke family lives about six miles outside of Castlewood, S.D. They enjoy horseback riding together, and the Gehrke’s have eight horses, two of which are Sterling’s rodeo horses. He heads off of his gelding, Ray, and does his tie-down roping on his mare, Josie. Sterling and his dad finished training Ray for rodeo, but bought Josie when she was new to tie-down roping and trained her themselves. It was a long process, but she has proven to be a steady roping horse. In the summer, the Gehrke’s keep roping calves and steers and Sterling is able to practice in his family’s arena.

    While Sterling may take the winter off of riding, he stays busy with plenty of other activities. He is a senior at Watertown High School where he wrestles on his school’s team, the Watertown Arrows. He has been wrestling varsity since eighth grade, and last summer he wrestled for Team South Dakota at the Disney Duals in Orlando, Fla. In addition to wrestling, Sterling also enjoys his welding class. He finished his required classes for high school when he was a junior, leaving him more time to spend on wrestling and welding this year. Sterling has made a sign to hang above his family’s driveway, as well as benches for their shop, and he takes care of any projects around his house that need a welder’s know-how.

    During the school year, Sterling has wrestling practice every weeknight, with up to two competitions a week, but he still finds time to rope the dummy, or go hunting or fishing with his dog Remy. Sterling also competes in 4-H rodeo which helps fill in the gaps between SDHSRA rodeos. In 2013, he won second in tie-down roping at the South Dakota 4-H Finals Rodeo.

    After passing the milestone of high school graduation this spring, Sterling plans to attend South Dakota State University. He will be rodeoing with the college, as well as studying for his major in Ag. Business with a minor in Agronomy. As for his goals in rodeo, in addition to college rodeo, Sterling hopes to conclude his high school rodeoing by competing at the NHSFR this summer. He has competed in the South Dakota state finals rodeo for the past four years, but he is working extra hard to qualify for nationals. His pursuits wouldn’t be possible without the support of his parents, and Sterling concluded, “I’d like to thank my parents for keeping me with good horses and getting me up and down the road.”

  • Casey Sellers

    Casey Sellers

    Casey Sellers is a persistent cowboy from Buffalo, Wyo. In 2013, that persistence paid off when the 18-year-old was able to win the 2013 WHSRA All-Around Cowboy. Among other achievements last year, won the year-end tie down roping in the WHSRA and set an arena record at the National Little Britches Finals Rodeo with a 7.5 in tie-down roping. “I’ve always loved being around horses and roping, and seeing guys do good,” said Casey. “I’m working to become one of those winners, and be like the guys that I look up to. This last year I started winning more consistently, and to see that start paying off – that was really motivating for me.”

    Casey competes in tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and team roping as a header. “I guess whichever one is going the best that day is my favorite,” he said with a laugh. Casey and his older brother, Colter, who attends college in Texas on a rodeo scholarship, are the first of their family to compete in rodeo. Their dad, Dan Sellers and his mother, Vickie Sellers, competed in ranch rodeos, and support their sons to compete in the sport of rodeo. “They’ve been behind me and my brother all the way. They give us all that we need to compete,” Casey explained. “I’d like to thank my mom, my dad, and my brother, the Spratt families, the Jase and Deb Ready family, and Dean Finnerty for all of their help and support. And everyone else that’s helped me!”

    Born in Montana, Casey and his family moved to Buffalo, Wyo. when he was six. Since they live in town, the Sellers keep their horses a short distance from their house. Having to haul his horses to an arena whenever he wants to train hasn’t always been easy, but he always makes the most of his practices.

    Okie is Casey’s tie-down roping horse. Casey and Okie set the arena record at the NLBFR with a 7.5 in calf roping. Casey steer wrestles off of Cutter, a horse that belongs to his friend Klay Ready. Caseys best steer wrestling time is a 3.5 sec run on Cutter. Yankee is his best team roping horse, but is currently hurt, so Casey is team roping off of his other horse Shaggy. “I’ve got good horses underneath me,” said Casey. Casey is homeschooled and is currently taking dual Credits at Sheridan College. He will have 27 college credits when he graduates. He played football for three years on the Buffalo High School football team and was the school’s All Conference Linebacker his junior year. He decided not to play his senior year. I’ve decided to invest my time and money in rodeo. At least I got to experience high school football, and I loved it!” Casey also enjoys skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, as well as hunting and fishing with his dad.

    Encouraged by his rodeo achievements in 2013, Casey is very optimistic about his 2014 rodeo season. He aims to win the WHSRA all-around title again, as well as adding WHSRA tie-down roping champion and steer wrestling champion to his résumé. Casey also wants to enter in more amateur rodeos and begin circuit rodeoing. He plans to earn a Business degree and study to be a real estate appraiser at Gillette College in Wyoming. He currently co-owns a patent for their invention, the Hooey Tuf Kaf.

    “Rodeo is like when you get a disease,” Casey concluded. “You catch it and keep going and trying to win. That’s what fires me up!”

  • Sammi Jo Gaudet

    Sammi Jo Gaudet

    Sammi Jo Gaudet is the rodeo pioneer of the family. Although her parents, Donna and Steve Gaudet, had never owned horses and did not consider themselves “horse people”, they lovingly supported Sammi Jo in her passion. Sammi Jo was introduced to horses and rodeo by friends of the family when she was in eighth grade. “My first year of riding was absolutely horrible,” she remembers. “I don’t know how many times I fell off!” She bought her first horse from a friend and her parents secretly built her a barn behind their meat market – Gillis Grocery and Café, and Gillis Meat Market. “I still can’t figure out how they got that past me!” Sammi Jo said with a laugh. With horse and trailer in tow, it was time to rodeo. But it didn’t come easy at first. “When everyone was winning buckles and saddles and awards, I got a participation buckle and t-shirt,” she says. “The next year I stepped up my game and won the reserve saddle in the all-around.”

    Today, the 18-year-old from Lake Charles, La. competes in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, ribbon roping, and trail course. Pole bending is her favorite event right now, as she is back to competing in the event on her gelding, Jack, who has just recovered from being sick. Sammi Jo’s other horses are Hemi, her barrel horse, and Eli, her trail and goat tying horse. A person who has been very influential in coaching Sammi Jo and her horses is Stacy Elias.

    In addition to rodeoing with NLBRA, Cajun Little Britches, and Louisiana Little Britches, Sammi Jo is finishing her second semester of school at Louisiana College. She is majoring in business with a minor in theater. She says of theater, “It’s so much more fun than I thought it would be! We all help with everything (in theater) but I’ve worked the most on sets. That’s really fun.” Sammi Jo’s older sister Morgan also attended Louisiana College. She graduated in 2013 and now teaches second grade.

    Like many NLBRA members, Sammi Jo’s favorite part of the summer is competing at the NLBFR in Pueblo, Colo. Not only does she enjoy the competing and the camaraderie, Sammi Jo also loves cooking for everyone at the finals. Her dad and several other families, including Chad Richard, cook three meals a day every day of the finals, except on Wednesday, when everyone goes to see the sights of Pueblo. Sammi Jo always cooks the fajitas. She and her family haul a large chest freezer to the finals in the back of their horse trailer. “The men get together, and some of the women, and come to the meat market to prepare the food. They slice veggies and meat, then vacuum seal it and we keep it cool in the freezer on the two and a half day trip to Colorado,” says Donna, Sammi Jo’s mom. “It’s a lot of fun!”

    Not only that, the Gaudets and several other families started Cajun Little Britches, which recently finished its second season. Donna volunteers as the treasurer of the association, and Steve, Sammi Jo’s dad, volunteers as a gate man and works the derigging chutes. Sammi Jo is serving on the NLBRA youth board as the 2014 Vice-President. She has helped the youth board plan social events for the members of the association, and the youth board flew to Las Vegas during the WNFR and helped run the booth on the concourse of the Thomas and Mack Center. “We also did Bowling with the Stars where we got to meet a lot of people and raise money for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.”

    Sammi Jo has one more season with the NLBRA. She says of her future plans, “I haven’t thought about it much because I don’t want it (Little Britches) to be over! I’d like to compete in some jackpots and barrel races, but for this year in Little Britches, I want to make it to the short go at nationals in barrels. I’ve never been super cut-throat competitive. I look at rodeo as fun!”

    Noble Outfitters recognizes youth accomplishments and supports programs like NLBRA. Sammi Jo will receive a  Hands Duffle!
    Learn more at nobleoutfiters.com

  • Lyle Kathrein

    Lyle Kathrein

    At age 45, he has at least four more years to repeat his championship titles that he claimed in 2013. Those titles are the World Champion All Around, the Reserve World Champion Tie Down roper, and the Reserve World Champion Ribbon Roper, all in the 40’s age class. The 2013 rodeo season was Lyle Kathrein’s first year in the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association. Not bad for a ‘rookie’ year. It was his second year in the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association and he finished on top of the 40’s tie down roping and ribbon roping there, too.

    He talks about his 2013 season, “That’s the first time I was able to really compete for those kinds of titles and it was quite an honor for me. Things just sort of came together for me and I had a really good horse and that’s a big part of it. It was really neat to be competing in the ribbon roping with my wife; she was my runner and did great. I was quite happy with it, for sure.” He is quick to give credit to his horse and says that without a good horse he would not have been able to achieve all that he has. He looks at the conformation of a horse first then the papers and says, “If the build is there, then the papers probably won’t dissappoint.”

    For Lyle the Senior Pro association has provided opportunities to travel and meet people from all over the U.S. and Canada. “I’ve been able to meet a lot of people that have helped me and they just welcome you into the group.” While Lyle is competing in the tie down roping and team roping, his wife, Michelle competes in the barrel racing.

    Lyle had an interest in rodeo and roping from the time he was a young boy. “As a boy I always had a rope in my hands so everything around home got roped. Nobody else in my family was a roper, but my granddad rode broncs when he was young. We always had some horses around and would work with them. I can remember being able to go to the spring rodeo in Edmonton, and I just knew that there was something there for me.” His first rodeo competition was in the Wild Rose amateur circuit. “My mom was the secretary for that and I was a director on the committee several times. I was in some other amateur associations back then and they don’t even exist anymore.”

    He tried steer wrestling but eventually gravitated to tie down roping as his primary event. “I never was big enough for the bull dogging and it was always calf roping that caught my interest. You tend to go to the events that you’re better at, and that’s what I did.” To learn the technical aspects of calf roping, Lyle went to several clinics and honed his skills. “I went to some Buck Weimerich schools and Bill Reeder clinics. I’ve probably been to a dozen Larry Robinson calf roping schools. It really helps to go to the guys that you look up to, to learn calf roping.”

    He lives in Mayerthorpe, Alberta near where he was born and raised. He and Michelle have a 12-year-old daughter, Dani. During the winter, Lyle does oil field work, stays busy shoeing horses in the warmer months, he does some farming and putting up hay. Lesure time spent with the family and maybe a little golf. Goals for the future are to continue to rodeo in both Senior Pro associations and “…win whatever is available to me.”

  • Jamie Christensen

    Jamie Christensen

    Jamie Christensen is a big fan of the Rocky Mountain Rodeo Association. “Every Rocky Mountain rodeo I go to is big, it’s fun, and it’s a show. The events payout well and that makes it well worth your time to go. I always feel like I’m going to do well at Rocky Mountain rodeos. I try to go to all of the rodeos that don’t conflict with my college rodeo schedule.” Jamie has been a member of the RMPRA for three years and competes in breakaway and barrel racing. She also is a member of the Utah Barrel Racing Association. She would like to say ‘thanks’ to the RMPRA for putting on great rodeos where the competition is always tough.

    She is a member of the NIRA and competes for Utah Valley University on a rodeo scholarship. The sophomore is studying communications for TV broadcasting and is working to get an internship by her junior year at a television station. “Then by my senior year and graduation, I would have my foot in the door and be able to start a career in broadcasting.” In addition to her rodeo scholarship, she serves as a school ambassador. “I go to transfer colleges, junior colleges, or schools where students want to move up to university level schools, and talk about the Utah Valley programs and what the school has to offer. I like meeting people and helping them to pursue their dreams.”

    For Jamie to start her rodeo career was a natural. “My father was a bull rider in the PRCA and trained horses, my mom ran barrels, and I grew up going to all my older sister’s high school rodeos. So, I was kind of an arena rat. I was in the little Buckaroo Rodeo, Junior rodeo, Junior High rodeo, and High School rodeo.”

    Like most top athletic competitors, Jamie spends plenty of time watching ‘game film’. “I have the videos of my runs on my phone and I watch them every night before I go to sleep. I have to keep my mind ready, and then it’s just muscle memory when you get to the rodeo. I don’t ‘safety-up’ on any run; I go for it every time.” Just to be sure there is plenty of good karma in the arena, she’ll keep track of the shirts that she does well in and save them for competition.

    A big part of her preparation was instilled by here father. “He always taught me, ‘If you want to be champion, you need to act and look like one.’ When I was real young, I never understood why I had to have my shirts ironed, but it matters how you look and act, being a good sport, and acting like a champion.”

    When she’s not at school in Orem, Jamie is at home in Erda, Utah with her parents, Wade and Ruth. She makes weekend commutes home to reunite with family, pets, and horses.  Leisure time is spent doing some drawing or painting.

    She says that her parents have been her biggest influence in her life. “They have always kept me on track and have gotten me where I need to be. They’ve taught me to be the best person that I can be. Two other people that mean a lot to me and have helped me in rodeo are Doyle Rollie and Edria Day. Doyle is a great roper and has helped me a lot with my roping skills and has put me on some great horses. Edria did the first 30 days training on my barrel horse and she is helping me become a much better barrel racer.”Goals for the future are to be working in the broadcasting industry, possibly in news programs and eventually into talk shows.

  • Sam Felber

    Sam Felber

    There are a few people that are fortunate enough to find that one event, that one activity that becomes their life’s passion. Sam Felber is one of those fortunate individuals. The 28-year-old cowboy has been riding bulls for the last eight years and still has that fire-in-belly desire to ride as much today, as when he started. “I’m the first one in my family to compete in any rodeo event. My younger brother tried it, but it wasn’t for him.” He has been in the Mid-States association for the last six years and says the Mid-States rodeos are well run, close to home and, “…they have good money added and they pay out pretty good.”

    Besides Mid-States he competes in the Nebraska State Rodeo Association and Bull Riders of America. “I’ll only get to about 10 rodeos this year, but I went to about 50 or 60 bull ridings. The bull ridings are set up where you might have two in a day and they pay better. But, there is more travel. Mid-States rodeos are a lot closer. This year I plan to hit more rodeos and maybe stay a little closer to home.”

    Sam got his start bull riding with the help of some of his friends and recalls, “I had a couple of buddies that were riding and I started going with them. Then I started climbing on a few bulls and I was hooked and I went on from there. I was 20 when I got on my first bull.” He says that his mother has been his biggest influence to him and always been there with encouragement to weather the inevitable slumps that happen in rodeo. “It doesn’t matter whether I buck off or ride 10 in a row; she is always there for me.”

    Learning to stay aboard 1,500 pounds of mad bovine takes some doing and seeking out some expert support is the way to go. Sam explains, “I had a lot of help from Cody Bode when I started. Then I went to a Gary Leffew school and he helped me out a lot with the mental side of bull riding and keeping a positive mental attitude.” Sam’s preparation for nodding his head and opening the gate means staying loose and relaxed. “One of my buddies always told me to have fun with it. If you’re not having fun, why even do it? I think that’s the biggest thing for me; and that holds for everything you do in life. I am thankful for being able to do this, I don’t take it for granted.”

    When it comes time to bare down in the arena, Sam has a competitive spirit that comes to life. “If I see one of my buddies put up an 85 score, and I know I have just a good of bull as he does, then I’ll go out and try to get that 86 or 87 score. It’s like, ‘Watch this. I’ll one-up ya!’ I have always been competitive since I was a kid.”

    Sam, 28 makes his home in Newman Grove, Neb. where he was born and raised. His parents are Eugene and Jonell and he has a younger brother, Seth. During the week Sam works construction jobs. After hours, he and his dad are working the cows that they run together. Leisure time is spent hanging out with friends or going hunting or fishing. Goals for the future are to continue to ride bulls and develop his own string of bucking bulls to haul to rodeos or bull ridings. “I would like to win a Mid-States bull riding title once or twice before I’m done.”

  • Jaclyn Corcoran

    For Jaclyn Corcoran, nearly everything in her life revolves around rodeo – and she loves it that way.  The barrel racer from Earlville, Ill. is preparing for her eleventh year of competing in the IPRA. Jaclyn, 34, did not grow up rodeoing. While she started showing horses in 4-H when she was in junior high, Jaclyn says, “I didn’t even know rodeo existed until I was 19. When I was 22 I really got into it.” Jaclyn began rodeoing seriously in 2004. Before that, she was competing extensively in the Illinois Paint Horse Association at horse shows from the APHA World Championship Show to the World Wide Paint Horse Congress.

    Although Jaclyn loved competing in barrels and poles at the horse shows, she found that banding manes and keeping her horses gleaming and clean was not how she wanted to spend all of her time. Jaclyn had bought her IPRA card in 2003, and in 2004 she sold her pleasure horse, bought a barrel horse, and embarked on a new adventure. “I feel like coming from that, (horse showing) that I am a good rider. I’m able to take some of those (horsemanship) concepts and put them into barrel racing.” Today, in addition to the IPRA, Jaclyn also barrel races in the CSRA and the NBHA. Several of her accomplishments include winning third in the average at the CSRA finals rodeo in 2013 and sitting high in the standings of the NBHA.

    Jaclyn credits her two horses as the reason she has been able to go so far in rodeo over the past 11 years. “Hussy is 21 this year, but she hasn’t gotten the memo yet,” Jaclyn says of one of her barrel horses. “She’s the horse I’ve had the longest and she’s done the most for me.” Jaclyn prefers to use Hussy for summer rodeos and smaller pens. Her other horse is Wanda, a 12-year-old mare. She rides Wanda in some of the larger arenas and for the more demanding rodeos. Jaclyn rides through the Illinois winters to keep her horses in shape, either riding in the snow or travelling to indoor arenas to practice.

    Jaclyn lives outside of Earlville on what she calls a “farmette” with her husband, Dave, and their three-year-old son Casen. She and her husband buy calves in the spring for him to practice tie-down roping. In addition to their horses, they also have a pony for Casen. “He likes to go for little trail rides and he does like to rope the dummy already. He’s pretty good at that. Recently he’s been riding his toy bucking bull and pretending to buck off, but I’m trying to steer him towards timed events,” Jaclyn said with a laugh. Casen loves to watch his parents compete, and Jaclyn is especially pleased that rodeo is something her whole family can do together.

    In addition to the full time job of being a mother, Jaclyn works as a nurse, both in a nursing home, in a hospital, in-home nursing and home health. In the midst of it all, she still makes time to rodeo and go to barrel races. Jaclyn is also planning to start one of her colts on barrels this year. She explained her goals for the coming year in rodeo. “I want to become a more consistent rider and do the best I can for each of my horses. I start out every year going to rodeos and seeing where I have won money, and then I will try to make those finals!”