Rodeo Life

Category: Articles

  • Ed “Woody” Stavovy

    Ed “Woody” Stavovy

    Ed Stavovy, better known as “Woody” among his friends, has been competing in the APRA since he was 18. Today, at 35, Ed is still happily competing in the association in tie-down roping. Ed grew up on a cow farm in Washington, Pa. and although none of his family had a background in the sport, Ed entered his first rodeo when he was five. He caught the rodeo bug, and went on to ride bulls and team rope when he was in high school. At age 21, Ed decided to quit his roughstock event. “I quit riding bulls ‘cause I was too beat up,” he explained. Still wanting to compete, Ed decided to pursue roping more seriously. He did so with the help of several friends, including Dan Minick and Justin Yost. “They taught me a lot. I had the opportunity to go all over the country with Justin. We went down to Florida two years in the winter when the weather got bad up here.”

    Following high school, Ed was pursuing several other career possibilities while he kept up his roping. He attended the Academy of Equine Dentistry in Glenns Ferry, Idaho and worked in that area of training for several years. He also worked in construction where he eventually settled in to building fences for a company out of Pennsylvania. He has been working for the company for nearly 14 years, building fences for horse farms, construction sites, residential areas, and agricultural purposes.

    Over that period of time, Ed had been roping off of his horse Taco, but Taco’s many years of competing were catching up to him. Not having another horse ready to rope off of at the time, Ed decided to quit rodeoing. He bought a Harley Davidson motorcycle and went to bike rallies. However, riding a motorcycle couldn’t quite measure up to roping, and after several years, Ed decided to start rodeoing again. His young mare, Betty, was old enough to start roping off of. Having raised and trained Betty with the help of his friend, Ed was ready to see how she did at rodeos. He started hauling her to rodeos in October of 2012, and by May the following year, Betty proved a good roping horse. She has helped Ed to win a number of rodeos in the last year. While Ed lives in Pennsylvania, he keeps his horses at his friend Dave Trehorne’s house, which is in Ohio. Trehorne has an indoor arena, and Ed makes the hour drive across the state line about four days a week to ride and practice.

    Ed likes to spend his spare time going to concerts or seeing a good movie, but he loves nothing better than the feel of his rope in his hand. He is sitting fifth in the tie down roping. “I just love going to rodeos. It’s so expensive that I want to win every time I go, but it’s not easy to win money in tie down roping.” Fortunately for Ed, several of his friends at work also rodeo, and their employer gives them the flexibility to come and go during rodeo season. Ed tries to keep his weekends booked with rodeos throughout the summer, and one of his favorite rodeos in the APRA is held in Attica, N.Y. “I’ve done well there, and there’s a fun party,” he explained with a laugh. Ed said of his goals for this year, “I’ve always been just out of the finals, so I want to make the finals this year. I’d like to try to stay in the top ten, catch most of my calves, and have fun!”

  • Reagan Humphries

    Reagan Humphries

    At just 11 years old, Reagan Humphries will enter the 2014 Junior Southern Rodeo Association (JrSRA) season as the youngest competitor within the senior age division. Fear is not something that enters her mindset, instead, eagerness and determination has set her goals for the year. “I’m so excited to compete at the next level and want to make the finals in my first year as a senior,“ she said. “As the youngest senior, I think it would be really cool if I could make it.“

    The quadruple event contender completed her final season in the junior age division with a fourth place finish in the pole bending, fifth in the all-around and a top ten finish in the barrel racing. “I like how the JrSRA is so competitive, you have to ride hard and be tough to succeed. It teaches you how to better yourself by competing among those who are better than you,” the third-year member said of why she likes the organization.

    A barrel racer, pole bender, breakaway roper and goat tier, Reagan says that it is a toss-up between the barrels and poles for her favorite events to compete in. “I’ve recently got a new barrel horse [a nine-year old dapple gray – Frosty Ted, who she refers to as “Ted“], and although, I’ve only had him for a little while, we have found a chemistry together. At the same time, I use my old barrel horse to do poles on [a 15-year old bay, “Bonnie“]. She is very automatic and we just work really well together as a team,” explains Reagan. In the goat tying, Reagan uses her dad’s roping horse and has found a two-event horse in Ted, whom she will breakaway on this year. “We are new together, but I’m excited with what we can come up with,” she said.

    Reagan is a third generation rodeo athlete, starting with her granddad (Leonard Atwell), who competed in the tie down and team roping within the Southern Rodeo Association (SRA). The family tradition continues through her dad (Clint), who is a current team roper and finished in the top 20 of the 2013 SRA standings. But like most athletes, Reagan has already experienced a huge setback, when she broke her femur while getting off in the goat tying during her second rodeo of the 2011 season. After three surgeries and a six-week recovery period, Reagan was back in the saddle. “It was a big rebound, but I started riding as soon as I could walk again,” she said.

    A straight-A fifth grader at Lincoln Charter in Denver, N.C., where she says that science is her favorite subject. “I want to be a vet and science really interests me,“ she said. Reagan is the example of a true student-athlete, setting the bar high for herself, she plans to attend North Carolina State University and major in veterinary medicine. Outside of rodeo and school, she is a member of the Gaston County 4-H Blazing Saddles, where she won the county, district and state level with her presentation on Diving Horses. “It’s a five minute presentation with posters and props,“ explained her mom, who included that Reagan was also the high-point winner in the junior and senior divisions. Furthermore, Reagan is a former three-year competitive gymnast, but quit in order to focus on rodeo.

    The accomplished youngster is the only child of Clint and Amy Humphries and the family resides in Lincolnton, N.C. While Amy does not compete, she takes on the many roles to support Reagan. “I’m the rodeo mom and tack girl,” she said. Amy is a dental assistant at Hills Orthodontics in Huntersville, N.C., Clint is a fire fighter on the Charlotte Fire Department and the owner and operator of Humphries Landscaping.

  • Justin Pendry

    Justin Pendry

    Southern Rodeo Association (SRA) saddle bronc rider, Justin Pendry, may be a man of few words, but he lets his actions do the talking. After closing out with a first place 77-point ride in the first-round and grabbing second in the average at the SFR-40 to finish sixth in the year-end standings, he has already come out guns-a-blazin’ to rank in the top three in the 2014 standings. “My goal is to win the year-end,” he declared.

    While riding in his fifth year, Justin’s roots reach far beyond his own competition within the organization as his dad (Kelly) is an alumni SRA member, where he competed in the bareback riding and dabbled in the steer wrestling for approximately 15 years. “It’s a good association that carries on the cowboy tradition from generation to generation. I know everyone, because of my dad,” he said. Although, his mom (Cheyrl Michalec) has never competed and is not fond of him riding rough stock, Justin says that she wants him to do the best he can.
    Justin and his younger brother (Dillon) have followed in their dad’s footsteps through their own competitiveness.

    While Dillon climbs on a different style of buckin’ horses in the bareback riding and finished the 2013 season ranked in the top ten of the SRA standings, Justin got his start in the bull riding at about 18 years old and rode for approximately seven years. “The injuries caught up with me, and because I always rode horses and colts, it made the most sense to go to an event that was more natural to me,” he said of the switch. But the 29-year old does not cling to just one event as he also plays in the tie down and bareback riding. His associations also include the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association, where he competed for about three years while serving as a E4 Corporal in the United States Army. Last year, he expanded his recent competition to the International Professional Rodeo Association. “I can’t explain it. It’s just something that I do that I love,” he said of why he likes to rodeo.

    The father of two has already begun to pass along the family tradition to his six-year old daughter (Alaina) and his two-year old son (Dayton). While Alaina likes to ride horses and enjoys her daddy’s sport, Dayton has started riding in the mutton bustin. “It’s a small step, but it’s how everyone gets their start,” said Justin of his youngsters.

    When he is not rodeoing, the Smith Mountain Lake, Va., resident works as a cowboy jack-of-all-trades – shoeing horses, helping his dad and picking up day work when he can. But his busy schedule is worked around his own education as he has recently finished his first semester at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Va., where he is working toward a major in Early Childhood Education. “I just want to make a living and survive,” he said.

  • Carol Clark

    Carol Clark

    Carol Clark has been competing in the CSRA for three years. She competed in her first rodeo when she was eight years old, and today, at 49, Carol continues to enjoy the sport. The barrel racer from Fairmount, Ill. is following closely in the footsteps of her mother, Nancy Clark, who taught Carol how to barrel race. Carol grew up going to rodeos with her parents. She and her mom would compete, and her dad, Ted Clark, would be their driver. “I learned the ropes with her and my dad. We’ve seen a lot of country,” said Carol. During her 41 years of rodeoing, Carol says that what has kept her dedicated, in addition to a core love for the sport, is the goal to always improve her competition. “It’s highly sophisticated now,” she explained. “It’s changed a lot.”

    Growing up, Carol stuck close to home. Following high school, she college rodeoed and competed in the IPRA, having been a member of the association since she was eight. Today, Carol works for the United States Post Office as a mail carrier, which she has been doing for 16 years. She does her route on foot Monday through Friday. “This time of year the weather makes it a challenge,” said Carol. She bundles up warm, and puts on her cleats when its icy. What Carol especially appreciates about the CSRA is that most of the rodeos are only a few hours away, allowing her to rodeo around her work schedule. Carol’s mom travels with Carol to her rodeos. She is now 73, and only just retired from barrel racing a year ago.

    Carol lives on her five acre farm with her two horses and five dogs. She has an indoor and an outdoor arena, and what ground is not devoted to horse pasture she uses for growing hay. Her two barrel horses are a pair of geldings. Jinks is her main barrel horse, and she has been running the cloverleaf pattern on him for nine years. Carol says of the 15-year-old gelding, “He’s very consistent, and he’s not the fastest horse in the world but he loves his job. He’s 16.1 (hands) and people make fun of him for being so big, but he can run a 12.8 pattern like he’s 14.2 hands.” Carol’s backup horse is 9-year-old named Dancer. She is working to get him seasoned, but admits that riding him is vastly different from riding Jinks.

    When she is not rodeoing, Carol loves to travel. She has been to 47 of the 50 states, with one of her favorite destinations so far being in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Ariz. Carol and her mom, as well as several other friends, have gone to Las Vegas, Nev. for the Wrangler NFR over the past several years. In addition to the rodeo, Carol enjoys a little bit of gambling as well. One of her ideas of a relaxing day would be to, “Hang around the house and relax with the horses, and just enjoy the day.”

    One of Carol’s greatest dreams is to compete at the International Finals Rodeo like her mother, who competed in the IFR in 1975. She also hopes to go on an Alaskan cruise and visit New York City to top off her travelling experiences. For this year, Carol wants to qualify again for the CSFR. “I’ve never won a bunch, but I’ve had consistent horses that will place me. I’m one of the low key ones,” she said with a laugh. Carol summed up her goals with, “I want to continue to make the Central States finals and someday make it to the IFR.”

  • Tyrell Rumford

    Tyrell Rumford

    Coming from a very distinguished and accomplished rodeo family, Central Plains Rodeo Association (CePRA) triple-event contender, Tyrell Rumford, is on his way to paving his own trail in the rodeo world. Currently sitting fourth in the steer wrestling and fifth in the tie down roping standings, Tyrell also competes on both ends of the team roping. “Something that I always tell my friends is: the reason we rope is because it’s fun. At the end of the day, if you can look back and say you had fun, then it was a success,” he said of his reasons for rodeoing.

    Although a four-year card holder, Tyrell competed within the organization off-and-on throughout high school and, after becoming a member, worked his way to the reserve champion tie-down roper in 2012. “The rodeos are run good with decent entry fees and good payouts, but most importantly, they are fair to everyone,” he said of the base that sets a long future with the CePRA.

    A cowboy with deep roots in the sport, Tyrell credits his family for his start. “It’s a family thing and I have them to thank for all of their support, help and encouragement along the way,” he said. While being involved in the once owned family rodeo company [Rumford Rodeo Company], the branches start with his dad (Bronc), who rode barebacks and later competed in the steer wrestling and calf roping in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He is now the Fort Hays State University rodeo coach. His mom (Kate) has worked hard in training barrel horses and competing within the CePRA, but has recently started team roping and is working Pro-Am events. “I hope to be able to at least hit some jackpots with her this year,” said Tyrell. The list does not end there, for both of Tyrell’s siblings have earned a name through their own accomplishments. His brother (Justin), who once competed in the saddle bronc and steer wrestling in the PRCA and the CePRA, is now best known as a two-time PRCA Clown of the Year and the Coors Man in the Can. His sister (Haley Schneeberger) is a six-time PRCA rodeo secretary of the year. “I think I’m the only member of my family that has not been on the cover of the Rodeo News,” Tyrell humored of his family’s achievements.

    It wasn’t until his freshman year of high school that Tyrell got interested in the tie down roping. Upon finding his center for rodeo competition, he expanded to the steer wrestling, which he says his brother helped him get his start. “Justin is so very encouraging and has helped me in so many ways,” he said. Later, he picked up the team roping, but continues to explore other areas in which to master in the arena. Dabbling as a pick-up man since the early years of high school, Tyrell has found himself getting more and more jobs such as the World‘s Toughest Rodeo Series. “It’s a wonderful thing to be able to work with your family,” he said. “And I would love to be selected as a pick-up man for the Prairie Circuit Finals this year.”

    The 23-year old Fort Hays State University senior is working on a major in general studies with an emphasis in leadership, where he is looking into coaching for his future. While he has served as the rodeo club and team president for the past two years, Tyrell is also interested in the arts. He says that at one time he had worked in western, mainly pencil, drawings, but now focuses his talents in braiding much of his own tack and is a self-taught guitarist.

    As a member, of not only the CePRA, but the PRCA and the KPRA, Tyrell qualified for the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colo., to kick his 2014 season off. But his goals rest in making the CePRA Finals and the Prairie Circuit Finals.

  • Morgan Olson

    Morgan Olson

    At 15 years old, a high school sophomore stepped out in a woman’s world to prove that age does not matter when it comes to tough barrel racing competition. In her first year as a member of the Colorado Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA), Morgan Olson entered the finals sitting 12th in the standings, but after winning the first and second go-rounds, along with the average, climbed the ladder quickly to finish the season in eighth. “We were going into the third-round pretty strong, but my horse had a hard time getting through the mud,” she said of her fifth place finish in the third-go.

    Not setting out to expand her associations, Morgan mainly competes in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA), but had entered early CPRA rodeos with her older brothers (Tyler, 24 and Brandon, 18), who are bull riders within the organization. Her first show out, Morgan ended up splitting third and fourth at the Cripple Creek Cowboy Gathering in Cripple Creek, Colo. “After I found that I could compete, we ended up going to more,” she explained. She then entered five other rodeos along the way.

    Growing up in Franktown, Colo., where her family continues to reside today, Morgan was born into the world of rodeo, as her dad (Randy) competed in all three rough stock events. His love for an eight-second high was then passed to both of Morgan’s older brothers. While her mom (Karen) never competed, she is one of Morgan’s biggest fans. “Mom was a city girl and didn’t start going to rodeos until after she met Dad, but she loves going to the rodeos and is very supportive of us,“ said Morgan. Brandon started riding in the NLBRA at 10 years old, where Morgan spent a few years in the stands as his cheerleader. “When I was old enough, I decided that I wanted to do it too,” she said. “But I wasn’t doing well on the horse that I was competing on, so we bought my mare about four years ago from Kalli and Toni Palen.”

    With the help of the Palen’s, Morgan has spent many hours turning the 11-year old chestnut (Dezi) into a barrel horse. “I owe a lot to them [Kalli and Toni Palen], along with Marcy Henderson [CPRA breakaway roper] and her parents Mark and Moni, who has helped me with my riding,” she stated. The hard work and dedication has proved to be beneficial as Morgan finished out the season as the runner-up to the Rookie of the Year in the CPRA, along with fifth in the world standings of the NLBRA. She says that her biggest inspiration in rodeo is split between her dad and her brother. “Dad is always supportive and helps in pushing me to do better, but Brandon is the one who got me into it,” she said.

    Now, at 16-years old, Morgan attends Douglas County High School near Castle Rock, Colo., where she extends her extracurricular activities to girls soccer and plays the forward position. She says that she is targeting her future towards a rodeo scholarship and would like to attend either Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., or Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla. “I’m thinking about going into nursing or finishing as a vet tech., but I’m not 100 percent sure yet,” she said.

    Securing a root system within the CPRA, Morgan intends on continuing her competition within the organization. “I want to make the finals again, but would like to go in sitting a little higher,” she said of next season’s goal. “I would also like to work my way to winning the year-end title.”

  • Sienna Kaufman

    Sienna Kaufman

    Sienna Kaufman’s love for her horses, and for speed, makes rodeo the perfect sport for her. The 13-year-old was taught to ride by her mom, and she has grown up riding with her entire family. Sienna has been rodeoing for eight years, two of which have been in the KJRA. “I love horses and I just love rodeoing,” she explained. Sienna competes in barrel racing, pole bending, and breakaway roping. Not surprisingly, her favorite event is barrel racing. “I like the speed,” she said. Sienna has been coached in her roping by Braden and Kara Stueve – Sienna’s cousin and his wife. Sienna’s mom and dad, Debra and Tim Kaufman, are her role models. “I think rodeo is fun! I’m competitive, and I’m trying to get better every year. I’m working hard at it.”

    The Kaufmans live in Durham, Kan. on a 160 acre farm. They raise cattle, as well as farming an additional 2,500 acres. Sienna loves to help her dad with working and branding cattle, as well as harvesting their crops. She has a younger brother, Cole, who is 11. Cole enjoys riding horses, but he prefers riding dirt bikes to rodeo. He does, however, show his horse in 4-H. Sienna and Cole have an older sister, Dakota, who will be graduating from college this year.

    In addition to cattle, the Kaufman family has six horses, a dog, and several cats. Two of those horses belong to Sienna. George is her 18-year-old gelding, who she has been riding for just over a year. He is an all-around rodeo horse, and Sienna competes in all of her events on him. Her other horse is Rosie, an Arabian/Missouri Fox Trotter cross. Sienna carries flags on Rosie at several women’s ranch rodeos in their area, as well as a local rodeo in Abilene, Kan. Depending on the rodeo, Sienna will carry the American flag, or she will carry the sponsor’s flag.

    In addition to rodeo, Sienna is quite busy with her school sports. She is an eighth grader at Hillsboro Middle School. P.E. is her favorite class, and playing dodgeball is a highlight of her school day. Sienna plays volleyball, basketball and does track and field. Track season will be starting soon, Sienna enjoys pole vaulting in her field events. Furthermore, Sienna shows her horses Rosie and George in 4-H, as well as competing in  4-H pole bending, barrel racing, and trail course.

    Sienna loves to spend her every spare minute with her horses, whether it’s practicing every day in the summer for rodeo, or taking a leisurely trail ride through the Flint Hills, a wildlife area known for its geology and tallgrass prairie. She is a member of the Durham Baptist Youth Group, as well as the Strassburg Baptist Church. With all of the places she has travelled, Sienna has two favorite areas. One is the arena in Cheyenne, Wyo. that is home to Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the other is Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Sienna had the opportunity to visit the famous racetrack, as well as meet several jockeys.

    With each passing year, Sienna is more certain that she wants to barrel race in the PRCA. She also hopes to college rodeo while studying at Kansas State University to be a large animal veterinarian. In the more immediate future, Sienna’s goal is to win a belt buckle in the KJRA and to continue to improve her barrel racing. She is greatly supported by her family and relatives, and Sienna concluded, “I want to thank my mom and my dad for helping me with the horses, and everything!”

  • Booger Gleghorn

    Booger Gleghorn

    Booger Gleghorn is a sort of jack-of-all-trades. The cowboy from Ackerly, Texas runs two ranches full time, takes his roughstock to bucking horse futurities, works as a pickup man, lends a hand with the family trucking business, and in his spare time, competes in team roping and ranch sorting. “We’re in a little bit of everything,” says Booger, who has gone by his nickname since he was a year old. “We just try to keep our weekends booked.” He has been involved with the TCRA since he started working as a pickup man for the association when he was 14. “My dad was a stock contractor for over 20 years and I’ve been picking up since I was 14, so I’ve grown up with them. I’ve been in it (the TCRA) for 25 years.”

    A team roper, Booger can both head and heel. He qualified for the World Series of Team Roping Finale 8 in 2013 for the first time, but his roping horse was crippled only weeks before the event. Booger and his family still went to Las Vegas to watch the Wrangler NFR, however, a tradition which they keep every year. “It’s our family vacation,” Booger explained. “My fiancée (Kim Coleman) and I also did a lot of shopping. I guarantee that the wheels on the suitcase we had with us were smoking by the time we got out of there.”

    Despite having to forgo the WSTR Finale, Booger is no less dedicated to the sport than before. “I guess it’s in your blood. Just like finding that better bucking horse or bucking bull, it’s the same way with winning the better event. You win it once, you want to win it again. There’s lots of good people in it, too.” Recently, Booger and his team roping partner Steve Sanders competed at the Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo Super Tuesday in Odessa, Texas.

    Booger has recently started competing in ranch sorting, which he is thoroughly enjoying. In January, he and his fiancée, Kim Coleman, traveled to several barrel horse futurities, as well as bucking horse futurities as he continues to build his line of bucking horses. Kim raises and trains barrel horses, and she also competes in the TCRA. Booger manages to work jackpots and USTR ropings into his busy schedule, especially in the winter when rodeo season is slow.

    While Booger has plenty of rodeos and team ropings on his agenda, his ranching comes first. “You’ve got to pay the bills,” he says. He helps his dad, Wayne Gleghorn, with running the two family ranches – one in Post, Texas and the other in Gail, Texas. Booger described an average day on the ranch. “I go check cattle – sometimes I take a young horse with me depending on the weather. In the evening I ride the colts and rope, but then you’ve also got to keep your pickup horses legged up, because they are what you make them.” Booger works as a pickup man as often as he can, including at TCRA rodeos and ranch rodeos. Additionally, he works as a shag man, roping the bulls and getting them out of the arena.

    Booger says of his ambitions for this year, “I’ve got a bunch of good, young horses to take to bucking futurities this year. I’m going to try to qualify for the WSTR Finale again this year. I’d like to go to some big World Series and US ropings and continue picking up at as many rodeos as I can.”

  • Clay Parsons

    Clay Parsons

    Clay Parsons is the Vice-President of the GCPRA, as well as a longtime competitor in the association. He was rodeoing with the association when it was known as the ARA (Arizona Rodeo Association), then the SRA (Southwest Rodeo Association), to what today is known as the GCPRA. Clay, 52, has seen his share of seasons in rodeo, from success, to injuries, to taking 18 years off from rodeoing to raise his family and start his business. But he has always returned to the sport that he was raised on.

    Clay competes in tie-down roping and team roping as a heeler. He went pro when he was 17, and among other things, went on to be the all-around and team roping champion at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Huron, S.D. in 1979. He was also the tie-down roping champion at the College National Finals Rodeo in 1983, rodeoing for the University of Arizona. Clay tried qualifying for the WNFR for two years but didn’t make it. He explained what his mindset is on rodeo today. “The motivation that keeps you practicing is being on the losing end, or knowing when you show up at a rodeo that you’re not ready. There’s the old saying that you’d rather have luck than skill, but not me. I’d rather have skill than make my mistakes and miss a calf. I’d like to get to a point where I go to a rodeo to just have fun. I’m not there yet, but I’m sure it will come.”

    For Clay, another motivation to rodeo has been recovering from an injury that set him back from competing for a year. In April of 2013, Clay was tie-down roping at a GCPRA rodeo when, in the middle of a standard run, he fractured his pelvis when he missed his calf but his horse stopped as usual. It turned out that Clay already had a fractured sacrum, which he was unaware of, and the strain of roping caught his body in just the right position. The St. Luke’s Sports Medicine Team that volunteers at GCPRA rodeos put Clay on a life flight and he was flown to a hospital in Phoenix. This March, Clay competed in his first rodeo since his injury almost a year ago. Though shaken by his first serious rodeo related injury, Clay is eager to return to competing. While tie-down roping may have to take a backseat now, Clay plans to make team roping his main event and is more than grateful to be able to rodeo again.

    The cowboy from Marana, Ariz. is a “weekend warrior” when it comes to rodeo. Clay has been running his fulltime business, Marana Stockyards, for 20 years. “I really like dealing with ranchers. It’s a business that requires a good reputation and handshake, and I enjoy my work.” The Parsons raise some of their own cattle and sell consignment stock at their livestock auction. Clay’s wife, Karen, is the clerk in their sale barn and their son Clay Jr. – known as Clay Buck – also helps with the family business.  Clay and Karen’s three daughters are Mallory, Carly, and Haley, and all three of them have thriving careers. More than anything, Clay and Karen love to spend time with their family.

    Clay has been on the GCPRA rodeo board for eight years, three of which he has served as the vice-president. “At this point in my career I enjoy watching the young competitors coming up. We have junior high kids all the way up to 60 or 70-year-old men competing together in events – it’s kind of a special mix. It’s a great association to belong to.”

  • Jacey Hupp

    Jacey Hupp

    Jacey Hupp is a 17-year-old cowgirl from Huron, S.D. She loves the great outdoors and staying active, which is one of the reasons she loves rodeo so much. “It’s what I was raised doing. It’s my passion and I never get bored with it.” Jacey first began competing in rodeo when she was eight, but before that she was tagging along with her older brother and sisters to every rodeo they went to. Her sister Cassy hauled her to peewee barrel races to get her started. Today, Jacey competes in team roping as a header, goat tying, breakaway roping, and barrel racing. Jacey’s dad, Bill Hupp, is her rodeo coach, and her mom, LaDonna Hupp, has faithfully documented the Hupp children’s rodeos and kept the cooler well stocked with food. “My whole family is a big influence to me,” Jacey explained.

    The Hupp family lives outside of Huron with their 15 horses, 3 dogs, and several barn cats. Sugar is Jacey’s 20-year-old goat tying horse. The little red roan mare has raised all three of the Hupp children through their years of rodeo, and between them, they have won eight saddles with her contributions. Peanut is Jacey’s breakaway roping horse, a former tie-down roping horse that belonged to Jacey’s brother. “He (Peanut) is an absolute knucklehead,” Jacey said with a laugh. “He doesn’t bend, but he runs a straight line and he does good when he pays attention.” Oops – dubbed as such because her mother was bred accidentally when a stud got into her pasture – is Jacey’s barrel racing horse. Finally, Buddy is Jacey’s team roping horse and he is as a solid as they come.

    Jacey will be starting her third year of competing in the SDHSRA this spring. Meanwhile, she is a junior at Huron High School where she is pursuing her other passions of basketball and volleyball. In addition to sports, she particularly enjoys her history, psychology, and sociology classes. Further activities to keep Jacey busy include competing in 4-H rodeo, as well as serving as the 2014 Student Secretary for the SDHSRA.

    In her free time, Jacey has been helping her nine-year-old niece, Devin, practice goat tying and barrel racing. Devin has begun her second year of competing in 4-H rodeo and the NBHA, much to the pride of Jacey and the rest of the Hupp family. Jacey also enjoys an array of hobbies, from reading books such as The Hunger Games, to hunting with her family. She says, “My favorite thing to do is riding in one of our alfalfa fields and listening to music. It’s one of the most relaxing things you can do.”

    As Jacey’s high school graduation approaches next year, she is starting to make plans. Her entire family has gone to school at South Dakota State University (SDSU), including her older brother and sister, Trevor and Tarin, who are CNFR qualifiers. Jacey would like to study something involving agriculture, but she has her eyes firmly set on competing in college rodeo. “I would love to have a National College championship under my belt. That’s my dream. I’m definitely going to pro rodeo, maybe in the PRCA, and definitely in the WPRA.” In the more immediate future, Jacey’s goal is to make it in the top four of state finals this year. She has won fifth and sixth in state several times, and she explains that her brother and sister have each won fifth. “My uncle Rod is the only one in the Hupp family so far to get in the top four, so I’m hoping to break the ‘curse’,” Jacey concluded with a laugh.

  • Sissy Davie

    Sissy Davie

    Sissy Davie is starting her third and final year of competing in the NJHSRA. The 14-year-old from Plattsmouth, Neb. competes in barrel racing and pole bending. This summer, she additionally plans to start team roping and breakaway roping. “Barrel racing is my top pick,” said Sissy. “I think it’s because it is so popular and such an adrenaline rush. It’s awesome to go in there and run!” While Sissy pursues all of her events with enthusiasm, she also finds her motivation to stay dedicated to the sport from her role model, Mary Walker. Sissy says of the 2012 WPRA World Champion Barrel Racer, “With everything she’s worked through, if she can go through it and do her best, then I think I can do it, too.”

    Sissy lives with her parents, Gary and Mary Davie, and her brother, Luke. They live in town, but keep their horses on their farmland, which is about five miles away from them. Sissy’s brother, Luke, is 17, and he competes in bull riding and saddle bronc riding, in addition to bull fighting. While Sissy’s older brothers, Dusty and James are not rodeo competitors, they gladly haul Sissy to rodeos when her parents can’t take her. Sissy’s two horses are Mama’s Little Jet and Watch My Hero – but they are better known as Slammer and Hero. While Sissy uses both horses for barrels and poles, Slammer especially excels in large pens and even on poor ground, while Hero does well in any setting. In addition to their nine horses, Sissy and her family also have several dogs and cats.

    An eighth grader, Sissy studies from home with Iowa Connections Academy. This is the first year that she has done her school online and she loves the flexibility it gives her to ride her horses and practice. Her two favorite subjects are Algebra and Geography. “We travel a lot, so Geography is a part of my everyday life, and Algebra is part of my everyday life, too. When we’re at the auction house with our hay, you’ve got to know your math.” If she is not doing school, Sissy is often out working with her horses, either practicing for her events, or training her colt, _. She bought him two years ago and is starting him on barrels. Sissy hopes to start taking in colts to train for other people as well. She often spends her spare time with her horses, but she also enjoys going to her friends’ wrestling matches or soccer games.

    As Sissy prepares for the upcoming rodeo season, she explained one of her training techniques. “If I’m riding Slammer or Hero, I’ll watch my run on video from the previous rodeo and see what I need to do (differently). It gets me ready to get my horse out and bring home my check.” Several of Sissy’s rodeo accomplishments include winning the NE09 Youth Championship in barrel racing two years in a row, as well as the Carson, Iowa Youth Championship in barrels in 2012, with reserve in that same event in 2013. Sissy has also been competing in the NBHA Youth World Championship since 2012, and she is additionally a member of the WPRA.

    “My biggest goal, like any other barrel racer, is qualifying for the NFR and hopefully get a world title,” said Sissy. “I would like to win the Junior WPRA title (in barrel racing), and I’m pretty set on going to college rodeo once I get to college.” Sissy concluded, “I’d like to say thank you to Mary and Byron Walker for helping me in barrel racing, and my parents for always being there and supporting me.”

  • Meghan Proctor

    Meghan Proctor

    “My motivation (to rodeo) is to keep alive the tradition,” says 16-year-old Meghan Proctor. “If I didn’t do rodeo, I wouldn’t have anything else to represent what I am and what I do. Rodeo is my way of keeping that alive.” Meghan, the 2013 Miss Wyoming High School Rodeo Queen, has been competing in rodeo for more than 10 years. Her older brother, Miles, is the main reason that she decided to start rodeoing. “He is quite a bit older than me, so I’ve always looked up to him. Growing up, he was basically my only friend, so I wanted to do just like him.” Meghan followed in her family’s bootprints and, like her parents and brother, entered the world of rodeo. Today, she competes in breakaway roping and pole bending in the WHSRA.

    As a result of her enduring love for the sport of rodeo and its traditions, Meghan was inspired to serve as royalty. She won the title of Miss Wyoming High School Rodeo in June of 2013 at the NHSFR. Following that, she filled her year with grand entries, carrying flags, and representing the WHSRA in many other areas. At the beginning of 2014, Meghan went to West Virginia to the National High School Rodeo Association meeting. There, she met with the National rodeo and event directors from each state, along with other state High School rodeo queens. They discussed any changes for the association, as well as its budget. Meghan will have the opportunity to run for Miss Wyoming High School Rodeo Queen again this year, which she is considering.

    Meghan and her parents, Bill and Geri, live several miles outside of Lusk, Wyo. They have a small arena at their house, but for major practices, Meghan says they use one of their friend’s arenas. Along with their horses, the Proctors also keep roping steers, who are almost like pets. Meghan’s rodeo horse is an American Quarter Horse named WD40. “She has a very large personality and she is very stomach driven, but she is very willing to learn.” Meghan competes in both of her events on WD40. In addition to rodeo and her queening, Meghan also competes in the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) on her horse Bailey. She has been competing in the organization since 2005. “It’s my favorite thing to do. There’s pylons with balloons on them and you have to hit the balloon. For every balloon you miss, time gets added, but you want to have the fastest time possible.” The CMSA has a year-end world competition that Meghan hopes to compete in someday.

    A junior at Niobrara County High School, Meghan enjoys all of her classes, especially math. This year she is taking speech and debate, working in two events. In the poetry event, she chooses a poem to present as a speech at the end of the year, and in her second event, she interprets a story with a partner. Additionally, Meghan is highly involved in 4-H. Her projects include horse, market swine, market lamb, and sewing, along with being a Junior Leader. Meghan’s favorite thing to sew is western shirts, complete with snaps.

    Meghan thrives on her full schedule. She says of her  future goals, “My main goal is to go to college and get an education, then get a job. I’ve always wanted to be a large animal vet.” Meghan is also highly interested in competing in the PRCA someday, and in her down-to-earth way, she said, “That depends on how much time and money I have, but I’d like to (go pro) if I can.”