Rodeo Life

Category: Articles

  • Matt Scruggs

    Matt Scruggs

    Matt Scruggs is a third generation rodeo cowboy who was taught to rope by his grandpa and role model, Junior Scruggs. “My grandpa was a big role model to me. I grew up around horses and cattle, and I’ve always had a lot of rodeo experience (in the family) to inspire me. One of my favorite memories from growing up is rounding up cows and calves to cut calves and spray for flies.” Matt has been rodeoing in the CSRA for two years, although he has been competing in the sport since he was 16. He competed in team roping for a time, but found his niche in tie down roping, which he has been doing ever since.

    Up until recently, Matt roped off of the same horse for 21 years – a bay named Whiskey. When it came time to retire the horse, Matt, now 37, was considering retiring from rodeo himself. Then he bought Drifter. Little did he know that the unbroke two and a half year old he brought home from South Dakota would prove to be such a steady horse. In the winter of 2012, Matt trained Drifter, and took him to his first rodeo the following spring. “I was roping calves off of him only 30 days under saddle,” Matt recalls. “I pushed him really hard and he had no issues. He’s a very seasoned horse – in the last two years I’ve taken him to close to 80 rodeos.”

    Matt’s primary job is running his ag. equipment repair business, Scruggs Equipment. “It gives me flexibility,” he said. Matt often takes the summer off from his business to rodeo or train tie down roping horses for clients. In 2012, he went to nearly 50 rodeos, although he didn’t rodeo quite so hard last year. Matt lives outside of Hagerstown, IN. on several acres with his son, Noah. Noah, 11, enjoys riding, and he often runs the chute when his dad practices tie down roping. Matt currently has seven head of horses, as well as several tie down roping calves. “I get along a lot better with animals than I do people,” Matt said with a laugh, which is another reason he enjoys rodeo.

    When he’s not working his main job, Matt can almost always be found astride a horse in his arena. In the summer, he gets up early several mornings a week to rope a pen of steers before it gets hot. Matt enjoys hunting coyotes and fishing, but he says, “You can’t go too far away when you have seven head of horses. If I’m not working, then I’m probably in the roping pen or on horseback. I’m not a vacation person – I don’t need sand between my toes. As long as I have a horse between my legs, we’re good.”

    As Matt sees the great potential of his horse, Drifter, he is encouraged to pursue rodeoing again at a higher level. “Keeping up with him (Drifter) is the problem,” Matt said. “He picks up on things faster than I can comprehend. I’d like to push and get back to where I was before changing horses. I’ve gone to a lot of IRA rodeos but I’d like to make it to their finals. I always want to improve my roping and I’d like to make it back to the CSRA finals. Drifter has taken me there twice.” To sum it all up, Matt says of his goals for the coming year, “I want to go to as many rodeos as I can and better myself.”

  • Pete Walnofer

    Pete Walnofer

    For the last two years, Pete Walnofer has been a member of the Mid-States Rodeo Association. Besides Mid-States, he’s working on filling his PRCA card and competes in college rodeo. He likes the Mid-States Association for the location of the rodeos. “I live in Northeast Nebraska and I can get to a rodeo just about every weekend in the summer. Last summer I went to about 10 of the Mid-States rodeos. That’s what is perfect about Mid-States, the rodeos are on weekends and you don’t have to be gone during the week. You can get your work done and rodeo on the weekend.”

    In college, he competes in both the steer wrestling and the team roping. He says that his college rodeo coach, David Browder has given him an adage that Pete likes to keep in front of him, it says, “Practice like you have never won, and compete like you have never lost.” Pete explains, “To me that is something that I can use in rodeo as well as in day-to-day life.” He attends Laramie Community College in Cheyenne where he studies ag production technology. After college, he plans to go back to his family’s ranch and work there. “We’ve got a cow-calf operation and I’ll probably make that my career.”

    Pete got his start in rodeo with the help of his friend, Kyle Whitaker. “We’re from the same town and one day he asked if I wanted to go with him to watch him bulldog. He just started teaching me how to do it and I went on from there.” Kyle became Pete’s mentor and inspiration in rodeo and in his personal life. Pete talks about Kyle, “He’s been a really good role model for me. I’ve tried to keep up with him and he has been a great help to all through this. I’m not really all that big, but Kyle has taught me that the technique is a huge part of steer wrestling. That’s 90% of it, is having the right technique and form.” Pete keeps himself in shape with workouts and spends time doing some chute doggin’ to keep himself sharp. “You have to stay in shape for any event in rodeo, and I’ll do sit-ups and push-ups to keep my upper body strength.”

    Preparation for competition begins in the practice pen for Pete. “A big part of it is getting things right in practice. Then at the rodeo, it should just be second nature. Of course, you really need to have your mind on it and focus. But it all starts with practice. If a guy can make consistent runs time after time, then you’ll be placing. Especially in college rodeo, that’s important.”

    Pete, 20, lives in his home town of Chambers, Neb. with his family. His parents are Alvin and Brenda. Pete is the middle sibling and has three brothers and one sister. During the week, Pete is a full time student and does various day work for ranchers around Cheyenne. Leisure time when it can be found, is spent hunting or fishing. Goals for the future are to build a career in ranching and to continue to rodeo.

  • Triston Boor

    Triston Boor

    Kicking the new year off in style, Central Plains Rodeo Association (CePRA) bull rider, Triston Boor has taken the top of the leader board and has set out to win the Gunslinger Rodeo Series in his second year with the organization. “I have won buckles and saddles, but never a pistol and that’s a goal I would love to accomplish,” he said.

    A third generation rodeo cowboy, Triston says that he is inspired most by his grandpa (Jerome, who passed away in 2009) and his dad (Mark). “They are my supporters and motivators for the future, in and out of the arena,” said Triston. “I just want to thank them for everything that they’ve done for me.” While Jerome was the owner and operator of Lazy J Rodeo Company, supplying some of the top bulls in the area, Mark is a prior Dodge National Circuit Finals qualifier in the bull riding; opening the door for bulls to get into Triston’s blood. Although his mom (Loretta) has never been affiliated with the sport, other than watching her family compete, Triston says that she is also a huge supporter of her children. His competitiveness is accompanied by his two younger siblings (sister, Shanndi and brother, Ty). While Shanndi used to run barrels within the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), Ty continues to compete in the bull riding within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

    The 23-year old cowboy got his start at a young age, competing in the mutton busting and progressing to calves and steers, but got on his first bull his eighth grade year. He says that he has expanded his events to riding saddle broncs, but sticks to bull riding. “I’ve gotten on a couple for fun, but never took it serious,” he said. From there he competed in the NHSRA, where he qualified for Nationals in 2008 and 2009 and was crowned the Kansas State Champion in 2009. His growing talents landed him a rodeo scholarship with Fort Scott Community College, where he spent one semester before transferring to Pratt Community College (PCC). “I was only able to rodeo one year, due to an injury,” he said of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus acquired during his rookie year of the PRCA. But his tough luck wasn’t over as he returned to the arena after surgery to break his jaw and have five teeth knocked out on his third bull back in Mesquite, Tex. “They had to wire my jaw shut and I was put out of competition again,” he remembered. He says that his misfortune began as he had qualified for the Prairie Circuit Finals while holding his permit in 2010 and was knocked out during the first-round and did not get to finish out the finals. “I still ended up eighth in the standings, but would love to make the Circuit Finals again,” he said of another 2014 goal.

    A recent graduate in automotive technology, the Pratt, Kans., resident now works for Main Street Auto. “I just work on cars. It’s a good job and you could say that it’s a passion outside of rodeo,” he said. He shares his rodeo passion with his long-time girlfriend, Latisha Simon, who is currently seeking a degree in agricultural business at PCC and will graduate this spring. She makes her way through collegiate competition running barrels on the rodeo team.

    While only competing in five CePRA rodeos during the 2013 season, Triston was one position out from making the finals. “One of the bull riders doctor released out and I was offered the opportunity to go, but had already made other plans and wasn’t able to go,” he said. To reimburse himself, Triston has set his targets on hitting the association hard and qualifying for the finals. “To win the finals and the year-end would be good,” he concluded.

  • Dara Short

    Dara Short

    Kansas Professional Rodeo Association (KPRA) breakaway roping director, Dara Short, has just wrapped up her fourth year-end title by dominating the event throughout the season. “It was an excellent summer. I started clicking with my horse to the point that we could trust each other and just go rope,“ she said. Placing in the money or winning 18 out of the 20 regular season rodeos, she wrapped up the year by finishing fourth in the finals average to take the saddle by approximately $4,000 above her closest competitor. “It was one of those dream summers. We won a couple big ones in there, but I owe a lot to Rocky,” she said of her nine-year old horse, whom she started on four summers ago. “I’ve been seasoning him and letting him mature. I just wanted to get him going, while gaining confidence to be successful,” she explained.

    Also competing from the heading box, Dara finished 12th in the 40/40 team roping standings to win her fifth runner-up all-around title with a little over $10,000 between her two events. Obviously, not new to the winner’s circle, Dara’s KPRA resume also includes two all-around titles (2007, 2009) and three breakaway year-end runner-up titles (2004, 2005, 2007). “I have been very blessed with quite a bit of success,” she modestly said.

    Growing up in Goodwell, Okla., Dara and her sister (Tanya Goad, two-time KPRA breakaway year-end champion) took to the loops early on in life. Learning from their dad (Dwayne), who is a team roper within the KPRA and the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC), the sister-duo started their competition in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association and then the National High School Rodeo Association. “Dad started us when we were young and it just stuck with us,” she said of her start in rodeo. Progressing through the years, Dara received a rodeo scholarship to Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) and, soon after, won the Rookie of the Year in the KPRA in 2000. Her mom (Joyce) does not compete, but is her family‘s biggest fan. “She is our time keeper, secretary, photographer and supporter. She is our everything,“ Dara detailed. Joyce, too, has found her ties within the organization and has served as a secretary for the past nine years. “My family has supported the KPRA for several years and I have always enjoyed the family aspect of the sport, which is something that the KPRA offers,” Dara said of the association. Among the family ties, Tanya’s husband (Travis Goad) competes within the organization as well.

    The 32-year old cowgirl’s sensational summer started off with an engagement to calf roper, Kyle Belew, back in May. The couple were brought together through rodeo in the NLBRA, but were reunited about three years ago while both competing in the KPRA. They have set the day for March of 2014 and Dara says she does not know how hard she will travel next season. “It will all depend on how we settle in,” she said. In the mean time, Dara continues to reside in Goodwell, where she is the Administration Counselor and Enrollment Coordinator at OPSU.

    “I mainly breakaway rope in the summer and team rope in the winter,” she said. Dara competed with her dad at the USTRC Finals in Oklahoma City and recently with her uncle (Byron) at the World Series Team Roping in Las Vegas, where she won fast time of the rotation, earning each of them $3,000. “Team roping with my dad and uncle is something that is pretty special to me. They have taught me so much and it feels great to be able to compete with them,“ she said. “I just want to rope the best that I can and be as successful as I can.” While Dara enjoys riding and roping as often as she can, her roots remain with her family. “I like to spoil my nephew (Kyler, 8) and niece (Kynlee, 4) and spending time with the whole family. It doesn’t matter what it is, just as long as we’re all together,” she said.

  • Cole McNamee

    Cole McNamee

    First year Colorado Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA) member, Cole McNamee, threw down in the steer wrestling during the 2013 season and was crowned the year-end champion with almost $5,600 won throughout the year. “I had a very blessed season. I just drew well and had luck go my way,” he said. The 27-year old cowboy was found in the money at 14 of the association’s 29 regular season rodeos, but battled every inch of the way with reserve champion, Kyle Maez. “Kyle and I had been going back-and-forth through the whole season and I was able to pull away after my last two rodeos, but he made a come back with a great finals,” explained Cole.

    With a long running steer in the first-round of the CPRA Finals, Cole was unable to pull a check until the second-go, where he took second place to win $354, but a stopper in the third-round caused Cole to go over the top and miss the average. In the meantime, Maez was closing the gap by placing in all three rounds and winning the average title with an aggregate time of 15.4 on three head. “The only thing that saved the year-end for me was my traveling partner [Dan Cathcart, three-time CPRA steer wrestling champion] tied for first with Kyle in the third-round, which helped me seal the deal,” said Cole of the close call and he walked away with the saddle by $12.96 above Maez.

    Living east of Pine Bluffs, Wyo., Cole had been a primary member of the Wyoming Rodeo Association (WRA), but had been to quite a few CPRA rodeos through co-sanctioning prior to this season. “I knew the finals were good, but besides that it’s a good all-around association. They put on good shows and try to have everything run smooth,” Cole said of why he likes the CPRA. “On top of having good cattle and good business backing, they treat the contestants right.” His early season goal was to buy both cards and win the year-end title in both associations. Goal accomplished. He was also crowned the WRA steer wrestling champion by approximately $2,300 above Cathcart. “I had a good finals,” he said after finishing second in the average and first in the shoot-out round.

    Cole grew up around the sport. His dad (Steve) is a former steer roper and his uncle (Mark) steer wrestled and traveled with Cathcart in his day. Although Cole roped through junior high, school sports soon consumed his life and he got away from the arena. His football talents found him playing at the college level for a year as a running back for Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D., before suffering an injury to his shoulder. Knowing that his career on the field was coming to an end, Cole transferred to the University of Wyoming in Laramie, where he graduated in 2010 with a degree in animal science. He currently works for his dad on the family ranch running approximately 100 head of cattle in a cow/calf operation. While his mom (Dawn) never competed in rodeo, she grew up in Colorado and likes the ranching life. “She enjoys watching rodeo and both parents are very supportive,” Cole said. “A special thanks goes out to my family, especially my parents, for all of their constant support and help.” He also included that he would like to thank Dan Cathcart and his family for all of their help and support as well. “I’m very blessed to have such great friends and family,” he said.

    He returned to rodeo in August of 2009. “It is action packed and gives me the adrenaline rush that I was missing from sports. I’ve loved it since the first time that I tried it,” he said. An immediate click with his event allowed Cole to purchase his permit within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 2010. By 2011, he had filled his permit and went full force in his rookie year in 2012. “It’s the atmosphere. Everyone feels blessed to be there and it feels like a distant family with the people that you are around all of the time. It’s a community that you become apart of,” he said of why he likes to rodeo.

    Starting the 2013 season working for a qualification to the Mountain States Circuit Finals, Cole changed his focus after getting a new horse half-way through the season. In a more settling state with his four-legged companion, he hopes to go at it stronger in the 2014 season and fulfill his goal.

  • Ray Beechy

    Ray Beechy

    Ray Beechy is a cowboy who has overcome many obstacles. When he was 12 years old, he was involved in a sawmill accident, which resulted in his right arm having to be amputated below the elbow. The loss of his hand did not slow him down for long, however. It served to make him very competitive and he quickly became adept with using one hand. “It’s never kept me from much of anything other than shuffling cards – or clapping,” Ray said with a laugh.

    As Ray grew up Amish, he did not start competing in rodeo until after he moved away from the Amish community when he was 16. He tells the story. “I was 16 when I really took an interest in the rodeo circuit. A friend of mine that lived close by was riding bulls at the time, and got me interested.” Ray was given a boost into rodeo by Galen “Peewee” Helmuth. “He got me started way back in the day and has taught me more than anyone else,” says Ray. He has also been inspired by Ray Cox, owner of Lazy C Rodeo School in Jacksonville, Ill.

    Ray rode bulls for five years until he had a serious accident in the arena with a bull. “I broke my entire face,” Ray explained. “My thought was that I might try to build a career that has a better retirement plan than bull riding,” he said with a hint of humor. “I can pick up good trade skills, but I got tired of watching bull riding and I needed a hobby.” After four years, Ray climbed once more onto the back of a bull. He practiced on 20 bulls and set off to a rodeo. By his second rodeo he was winning money with a renewed vigor in the sport. After his four year retirement from bull riding, Ray, now 27 says, “I approached it with a completely different mindset, and learned the respect you have to have for the sport of bull riding.” He further explains his mindset about riding bulls. “You don’t think about the ride until you nod your head. I try to think about anything other than bull riding right before I go to the chutes.”

    While the rodeo season is fairly slow for the CSRA during the winter, Ray works his full time job as a concrete finisher. Having use of one hand has not slowed him down in rodeo, nor in anything else. The avid outdoorsman lives in Hammond, Ill., and whether golfing or playing sports, he pursues it all enthusiastically. He also enjoys music of all varieties and loves going to concerts and supporting local bands in his area. One of Ray’s favorite things is to work with horses, and while he doesn’t have any of his own right now, he helps his friends with training and riding. “I’ve developed my own training techniques and routine I go through. It’s a combination of a lot of other successful trainers,” Ray says.

    This winter, Ray is helping his friend Galen Helmuth put on rodeos every other week at the “Blue Barn”, a barn that Helmuth is leasing near Sadorus, Ill. “Rodeo is pretty popular in my state, just not in the area I live,” Ray explains. “We’re trying to promote this for young people and help them get exposed to rodeo.” Ray and Galen are additionally putting on ranch rodeos and bull ridings in an effort to introduce their community to several aspects of rodeo.

    Ray’s goal for his rodeo competition is to win the bull riding in the CSRA in 2014. “I want to get on as many bulls and win as much money as I can,” says Ray. During 2013 in the CSRA, he won the bull riding in Kankakee and Brownstown. He is considering competing in several other rodeo associations as well, but his fondness for the CSRA is evident when he says, “I like having a rodeo association in Illinois, and my main goal is to do whatever I can to make it an even better rodeo association.”

  • Wade Hazlet

    Wade Hazlet

    Wade Hazlet has been fighting bulls for nearly 12 years. Today he is a bull fighter for the APRA and the IPRA, as well as high school and local rodeos. Wade is the 2013 Funny Man of the Year in the APRA, and he has fought bulls for the associations finals on three different occasions.

    The funny man and bull fighter grew up in North Washington, Penn. While his family did not farm, Wade experienced farm life whenever he helped his dad’s cousin on his ranch – riding, moving cattle, and doing field work. Wade also helped behind the chutes at the North Washington Rodeo every year, which is what inspired him to want to ride bulls. Before Wade had a chance to ride any bulls, however, he and his best friend, Jarrod Sankey, met a bull fighter named Cory Wall. Wall was fighting bulls at a local rodeo. “Cory Wall happened to have been through a Sankey rodeo school,” says Wade. “We got to talking and found out that Jarrod was related way off to Lyle Sankey.” This news, combined with their keen interest in bull fighting, sent Wade and Jarrod to a Sankey Rodeo School in Rose Hill, Kan. “We were fighting bulls for the guys learning to ride at the school,” Wade recalls. “It was there I turned away from wanting to ride bulls and decided that the safety of the riders was more important.”

    Over the four days of the school, Wade and the other Sankey students had the opportunity to fight 300 – 400 bulls. Wade describes some of the ways he learned to bull fight at the school. “We’d watch some videos, but mainly we were chased around by a guy with a wheelbarrow. A person with a wheelbarrow can’t turn a tighter circle than a bull can, so you learn how to maneuver out of the way.” Wade, 20 years old and fresh from the rodeo school, was ready to start his career as a bull fighter. “When I came home from the rodeo school, it was a year and a half before I found a stock contractor who would let me into the arena. It’s extremely hard to find a stock contractor who has an opening or is willing to let you step into the arena. Sam Swearingen from Rawhide Rodeo Company helped me get my IPRA card, and Bill Slader helped me get my APRA card.”

    Along with bull fighting, Wade explains the other aspect of his rodeo career – working as a funny man. “Bill McEnaney got me my start as a funny man, as well as Rockin’ Robbie Hodges, another funny man. They let me borrow acts from them to get started. I’m kind of a natural with acting funny and being able to come up with stuff. I’m quick on my feet and my mind is always working.” Wade travels the Northeast through the summer, fighting bulls for APRA and IPRA rodeos, as well as high school rodeos. In 2013 he worked more as a funny man than a bull fighter since he was working on strengthening his knee, which he had torn in 2012 at the beginning of his rodeo season. “I had enough rodeos lined up to fight bulls at the IFR but then I ended up tearing my ACL. I had to have reconstructive surgery. But I made a comeback in 2013.”

    Not all of Wade’s time is spent in the arena, however. When rodeo season is slow, Wade works at his full time job as a bridge repairman. He is happily married to his wife, Renee, and together they are raising their 10 month old son, Walker. When he has the opportunity, Wade also enjoys trekking through the great outdoors and hunting.

    At 32,  Wade plans to log many more years in the rodeo business before retiring, and he continues to work toward his goal of fighting bulls at the IFR.

  • Edward Young

    Edward Young

    Edward Young was born and raised in Walker, La. and he still calls the town home to this day. He has been competing in the CRA since he was 16 years old, competing in the association’s finals for the first time as a teen. Today, 35, Edward still enjoys competing in the CRA, and makes time to rodeo even with his full schedule. “I love it,” Edward says about of the sport. “I love the competition and the horses. I’ve loved it since I was a little kid. Now it’s my favorite hobby and I do it between raising kids and working.”

    Edward competes in team roping as a heeler. For several years he also competed in calf roping, but he says, “I’ve broken far too many bones to step off a calf horse anymore.” Edward’s team roping partner is his longtime friend Lane Holland. They grew up a mile from each other and still live nearby today. Even though both men have children to raise and full time jobs, they still get together once or twice a week to practice roping. “It’s pretty fun to travel with a guy that has become my best friend. It works good for us. We may rope early in the morning or right at dark, be we get it in when we can.”

    Two men who have been very influential in Edward’s life and rodeo pursuits are George Milton and Wendy Windorn. “I would be nowhere close to where I am today without those two guys, “ Edward said gratefully. “They are pioneers for this part of the world and I’ve spent a lot of time around them. I’ve known Mr. Wendy all my life – he lived across the road when I was growing up. Mr. George helped me rope when I got to roping. They’re both longtime family friends.”

    Edward makes a living as an Assistant Fire Chief in Livingston Parish. He has been a fireman for nearly 10 years. Additionally, Edward is raising his two daughters, Cheyenne, age six, and Katelyn, age four. “Cheyenne lives and breathes horses and rodeo,” Edward says happily. “She is goat throwing, pole bending, and barrel racing in youth rodeos.” His daughter Katelyn has started doing some goat tail pulling, but she hasn’t caught the rodeo bug quite yet. Another member of the Young family is Edward’s team roping horse, an American Paint. “He’s got a real original name,” Edward said with a laugh. “His name is Paint.” Paint has been Edward’s roping horse for nine years and has also proven to be a wonderful sort of babysitter for Edward’s daughters. “I’ll put my four-year-old on him and he’ll walk around and never break into a run. Then I’ll put my six-year-old on him and he’ll run a 20 second barrel pattern, and then I can get on him and rope. He’s proficient.”

    While Edward doesn’t have much spare time on his hands, if he were to have a day to spend however he chose, he says, “I’d rope at the CRA slack in the morning, have a good fun day with my kids, then go to a football game that night. I have season tickets to see the LSU Tigers and I see them play whenever they’re at home.”

    In pursuit of his other hobby, rodeo, Edward won 2013 Champion Heeler at the CRA finals. He has competed in the association’s finals every year since joining as a teenager. Edward was quite pleased when the CRA started up again after the association was dissolved for several years. “Billy Allemand started it back up and I’m sure glad he did. He’s doing a great job with it.” Edward is the association’s Team Roping Director (Heeler) for 2014, and he summed up his goals for the coming rodeo season by saying, “I want to keep having fun and win as much as I can.”

  • Lane Gilbreath

    Lane Gilbreath

    Lane Gilbreath is a calf rider in the KJRA. He rode sheep for three years in the association and has progressed to calf riding. “My dad rode bulls and that’s what interested me in rodeo,” says the 10-year-old from Emporia, Kan. Lane’s dad, Mike Gilbreath, coaches him in calf riding, and Lane says, “I look up to my dad – he’s my role model.” Lane has several friends that compete in the KJRA as well. “I think it’s fun (rodeo), and it’s a good sport.”

    Lane lives with his parents, Mike and Tracy Gilbreath, in the country outside of Emporia, Kan. Lane also has an older sister, Bailey. “We have a dog and a cat and a horse,” Lane says. His horse, a mare named Maggie, has won Grand Champion Mare at the Chase County Fair for two years, 2012 and 2013. Lane competes in saddle club shodeos during the summer in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and flag racing. In 2013 he was the All-Around Cowboy in the 7 – 9 age division in the Burlinggame Saddle Club series, and the Reserve All-Around Cowboy in the Eagle Creek Saddle Club/Olpe Downhome Days.

    The Gilbreath family enjoys hunting together in the winter, as well as playing darts, cards, and checkers. During the rest of the year, they are busy rodeoing and helping their neighbors haul hay and work cattle. Lane also loves to play catch with his dad and he spends a great deal of time roping the dummy, as well as practicing for his event on the mechanical bull. In his spare time, Lane enjoys reading the I Survived historical series by Lauren Tarshis, and listening to Red Dirt.

    Lane is a fifth grader at Chase County Elementary School, where he was on the A honor roll last school year. His two favorite subjects are math and social studies. “In math I like multiplying and dividing and doing fractions, and in social studies we’re learning about Native Americans and explorers.” Lane loves to play sports, and he plays on his school’s football, basketball, and baseball teams. He is also very active in 4-H. His projects this year are horse, goats, shooting sports, and welding. Lane has been in 4-H for four years, and this will be his first year in the goat project. For his welding project last year, Lane made a table that he was very pleased with. His grandpa also welds and they enjoy working together. At the Chase County Fair, Lane has been the Grand Champion in the Shooting Sport – BB Gun for two years in a row.

    During the 2013 KJRA rodeo season, Lane finished third in the 7 – 9 calf riding. What he is most excited about is competing in steer riding in 2014. It will be the first year that he can compete in the event. “I want to try to win first place in the KJRA in steer riding,” he says. Lane is sure that he wants to keep rodeoing as he gets older, and his motto for riding roughstock is, “If you ride, you ride, and if you buck off, you get back on!”

  • Kellie Wells

    Kellie Wells

    In July, 2013, Kellie Wells assumed the duties as the Arkansas Cowboys Association Rodeo Secretary. There was a lot to do in the next few weeks with the finals only being two and half months away. However, she was no stranger to rodeo and bull riding productions. In 2006, after completing their week long course and testing in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she was awarded her Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) secretary card. Just a few months later, she was working marketing for a Professional Bull Riding (PBR) and was approached about working some events as the secretary. A few weeks later, she was flying to Pensacola, Florida, to work her first PBR event and soon thereafter, obtained her PBR secretary card. This was the beginning of her working career for SuperBull Entertainment and the late George Marshall. “Over the past seven years I have worked with numerous events with George and his crew. It was always a great time and there was never a dull moment! I learned so much about rodeo production during these years. I was fortunate to have the opportunities I have had to work in this business and with many different producers including the American Bucking Bull, Inc. (ABBI) and the PBR. I have met many great people and made life-long friends. I have been able to travel all over the United States and been to places I would never would have been able to go to otherwise.”

     Kellie and her husband, Billy, make their home in Bakersfield, Missouri. A small rural community just minutes north of the Arkansas border. Billy rode bulls in the Arkansas Cowboys Association (ACA) in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. After completing his bull riding career, he started team roping. Kellie was competing in barrel racing during this time as well. Billy was working at Cloud 9 Ranch located in Caulfield, Missouri, while Kellie was finishing college. In 1993, Kellie graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work.   They were also busy during this time, raising their two children, Johnny and Taylor. Johnny rode steers for a while and he team roped. However, his interests moved to hunting and fishing. Taylor continued to rodeo and she competed in Little Britches and ACA rodeos in goat tying and Jr. Barrels. This year she was rookie of the year and finished sixth in cowgirl barrels, reserve champion in goats, and third in all-around for cowgirls. “Rodeo is a great way to raise your children. We spent many hours traveling many miles with our kids going to rodeos. There was a lot of talking, singing, joking, and yes even arguing but would not have changed a thing! Rodeo helped them to learn to be responsible, respectful, and to know what you put into something is only what you will get out. Billy and I consider ourselves very successful in that we raised two wonderful children who have morals and values and continue to say yes ma’am and yes sir. They both have respect for others and are so kind hearted. Although Johnny stopped rodeo in his early teens, he wants his little girl Ellie, 4, to have the opportunities to rodeo. She already has a huge love for horse. Billy has worked for Missouri Department of Transportation for 20 years and Kellie is a juvenile officer for the 37th Judicial Circuit of Missouri for 18 ½ years. Billy and Kellie both stopped participating in rodeo while they were raising their children. They are returning to the ACA as contestants this year and are looking forward to team roping together.

    Kellie stated that she is honored to serve as the secretary for the Arkansas Cowboys Association. “I believe the finals was a great success this year and am looking forward to an even better rodeo year in 2014,” she stated.

  • Matt Paulsen

    Matt Paulsen

    Matt Paulsen is the vice president-elect for Mid-States Rodeo Association and he’s looking forward to the job. “I want to be available for members to talk to me about concerns or issues related to the association. I’d like to be that ‘good listener’ and help out when I can. I’ll try to do my best to help the members as best I can, and always keep my door open to them.”

    He first joined the association in the mid-’90s. “I was riding barebacks in my younger and not-so-smarter days. I got out for a while and rejoined in 2003. Now I compete in the mixed team roping. I like the Mid-States Association for all the great people you meet and friends you make. We’re pretty well located so we can get to most of the rodeos in a day and be back home that night. My wife, Tracy lives and breathes rodeo and she gets to 50 plus a year. I get to probably 20 or so a year.” The couple has two young boys, Coy, 3 ½ and Kip 1 ½ that go along, “…I’ll go just to keep an eye on the boys. We try to make it a family event. Tracy competes in the barrels, breakaway, and mixed team roping. We rope together in the mixed team roping and since I’m a southpaw, I heel and she handles the head side.”

    Visualizing the run before hand is a big part of his preparation for a run. “I try to see those feet coming back to me so I get in time with the steer. The biggest factor in roping is the mental part of it. If you don’t think about roping two feet, you won’t do well. For me it’s the mental prep that makes a good run.”

    Matt got his introduction to roping through a high school girlfriend. “Her dad roped quite a bit and he got me started. I think I was sophomore then. In college some buddies convinced me that  I’d make a bareback rider and I went to a Lyle Sankey bareback school. Eventually I moved to just team roping.”

    Today Matt has abandoned his old superstitions. “When I was riding barebacks, I’d try to wear the same socks, shirt, pants, and underwear…the whole nine yards. But it never helped, the next pony you’d draw would be totally different. Being mentally prepared would have done me a lot more good than wearing the same underwear.”

    Matt barely finds time for rodeo between his ranch and farm operations and his duties as bank president. “I’ve been here for seven years. Things have been good here in the ag economy, our business is 80 to 90 percent ag-related. I’m not the kind of bank president that goes to the golf course at 4:30. I’ll go bale hay, work cattle, or go roping.” His experience working on ranches and feedlots combined with his college education in agriculture provided a solid base for his career in banking. “I think my work ethic that I developed has helped me also. I’ve worked pretty hard to get where I’m at and I’ve had a lot of help from a lot of good people. It’s been a heck of a journey.”

    Matt, 39 makes his home in Primrose, Neb. He says that his wife has been his biggest influence to him credits her and her love of rodeo and horses for where they are today. “I’d have to say she is the bone in my back.” Goals for the future are to build his ranching operation and keep his options open for coming opportunities with his banking career. Leisure time is to rope or going to rodeos. “Those are my get-aways, to go down the road to rodeo and get forget about what you have to do next week.”

  • Sherri Odell

    Sherri Odell

    Taking the reins and whizzing through the cloverleaf pattern, Sherri Odell dominated the barrel racing competition in the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association (KPRA) and won her first year-end title by close to $4,000 above her closest competitor. “I have an awesome horse,” she credited to her animal athlete.

    Her 11-year old partner (Bully) has been a part of Sherri’s string since he was a two-year old and Sherri says that it has taken a lot of years to get him where he is today. “We spent a lot of time working cattle. Between shagging in the feedlots and ranch work, Bully and I have spent quite a bit of time together,” she said of the training process. “When I was younger, my parents would never buy me a started barrel horse and said that if I wanted to run, then I had to train my own and for that I am very thankful.” Her race horse has also racked up a reserve-champion title in the KPRA and a year-end title within the Texas Cowboy’s Rodeo Association (TCRA), along with winning Horse of the Year in 2010. “He finally decided that he would much rather run barrels and he has proven that,“ she said. Tearing up the competition, Bully created a cushion for Sherri in the 2013 KPRA standings and allowed for enough space to be turned out. “I didn’t even run him at the finals. Instead, I ran colts and gave Bully a little vacation,” she explained.

    Sherri has been a member of the KPRA off-and-on since 1993, where she qualified for her first finals. Since that time, she has been a finals contender four times. “They do a great job with the rodeos and ground conditions, but I was really impressed with the payout. They pay as well as the pro circuit rodeos,” she said of the organization and her $9,723 season winnings.

    The Liberal, Kans., cowgirl got her start in the arena through her parents and she was entering her first junior rodeos by the age of four. “I’ve run forever,” she said. While her dad (Melvin Odell) worked as a pickup man, her mom (Linda Smith) ran barrels. “Through my family, I‘ve always been around rodeo. It is something that I‘ve always done and I can‘t imagine a life without my horses,” she said of why she likes to rodeo. Both parents continue to be very supportive of Sherri. “Mom is very instrumental in my rodeoing. She helps with the daily grind of taking care of our 20 head of horses and, at times, will travel with me,” she said. While Linda lives with her daughter and will occasionally still run, her ranching father made the trip to the KPRA Finals to support her. “I was the first time that he has watched me rodeo in about 20 years,” she said while explaining that he has thought himself to be a jinx to her.

    Outside of rodeo, Sherri and Linda are partners in a cattle processing business (L and S Processing) that they started about 15 years ago. “There are a lot more women in the cattle industry and we have been very successful with our business,” Sherri said. The business partners have opened the door to Sherri’s husband (Ty Crutchfield, a team roper within the KPRA) and he has taken on a lot of the responsibility to allow Sherri to chase her dreams inside of the arena. “He doesn’t get to go as much, because of his support of me,” she said. The couple will celebrate their one-year anniversary in December and Sherri says that they have plans on spending it at a Denver Broncos game.

    A cowgirl through-and-through, Sherri’s list of associations expand into the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), where she has been a member since 1990. With only ten days of riding Bully prior to the 2013 WPRA World Finals, she was able to place in the second-go. “My goal has always been to make the NFR and hopefully 2014 will find us there,” she said and will travel outside of the Prairie Circuit that she designates.

    Setting a high standard for herself, Sherri still plans on hitting the KPRA rodeos as often as she can. Her and Ty plan on kicking off the 2014 season by hitting the “Gunslinger Series” and have hopes of coaxing Linda to go along with them. “She has fallen in love with one of the younger horses around here and hopefully we’ll get her to go as well,” she said.