In part 1 in my series on the future of Rodeo I interviewed a great young lady and her dedicated father. Things change over time. Some things remain popular. Some things fade away. Some things are a flash in the pan, gone as soon as you blink. But being a rodeo cowboy/cowgirl is old as the hills. But if kids don’t want to rodeo, the noble profession will fade away. Last week Mike Solberg says that he sees interest in roughstock events picking up with the younger guys. With The PBR on TV 20 or so weekends a year and the 177,000 people going to Vegas every December for the NFR the sport is definitely growing.
Getting to the professional or even semi-pro level takes dedication. I heard a saying “Rodeo can make a millionaire out of a billionaire”. Children give up playing other sports and watching TV, parents give up free weekends and all available cash. So why do it?
This RodeoDad has 2 rodeo children. He keeps them in horses, boots, and ropes. They rodeo on the weekends going to other states. So he is working a full time job, raising money to put on a rodeo, practicing roping, riding with them, ranching and showing cattle. I call this dedication. But even more impressive is his children’s commitment at such a young age.
My conversation with RodeoDad
19114: Where are you from originally?
RodeoDad: Spring Grove Virginia.
19114: Where do you live now?
RodeoDad: Greencastle Indiana. About 40 miles from Indianapolis.
19114: Are you a first generation rodeo family?
RodeoDad: Yes
19114: What is your family involvement in rodeo, livestock, ranching, farming?
RodeoDad: We run 30 registered Simmental and Hereford cows.
Fun Fact: Simmentals in the 60s and 70s were spotted red and white or gold and white, but now due to selective breeding up and the desire for solid black cows the North American breed is 80% black and 20% red,
19114: How did you get involved in rodeo? Do/did you compete?
RodeoDad: No I don’t rodeo myself. Got started because kids wanted a horse.
19114: What animals do you own?
RodeoDad: Cattle, horses, and goats
19114: How old are your children?
RodeoDad: Greeley is 12 Gunnar is 9
19114: In which events do they compete?
RodeoDad: Greeley Barrel races, Pole Bending, Goat ties, and Breakaway Roping. Gunnar ropes.
19114: Do you have to get on them about practice, chores, homework?
RodeoDad: Greeley is very good about school work. Gunnar takes some pushing. They both are really good about barn chores. And we practice every chance we get.
19114: What other interest do they have?
RodeoDad: Gunnar loves flying remote planes. Greeley just wants to rodeo.
19114: How much of an influence do you think you are in their desire to compete?
RodeoDad: I’m very competitive.
19114: What is your goal for them?
RodeoDad: To hopefully learn that you can do anything you put your mind to.
19114: Would you still be involved in Rodeo if you were in another part of the country? For instance Maine or Massachusetts? Or still in Pennsylvania?
RodeoDad: I would say so. Yes.
19114: What would you say to a parent whose child wants to rodeo?
RodeoDad: Find organizations, support groups, be ready for the time commitment…it is a great way to raise a child. It takes a lot of time. To listen and learn every chance you get.
19114: How are you involved in rodeo beyond Greeley and Gunnar . What do you do?
RodeoDad: I help run the Midwest Youth Rodeo in Cloverdale, Indiana. I am tasked with awards and fundraising as a part of Garrett Millers organization. Right now I am working on putting on an Elite Youth Showdown in November over the Thanksgiving Weekend. I am currently working on obtaining sponsorships for the big event.
19114:You know that a lot of my focus is on the showing that there are cowboys and cowgirls in places that are not traditionally thought of when you think of rodeos, bull riding, show cattle, what would you say to the big organizations such as the PRCA, CBR to get more opportunities to these under served areas?
RodeoDad: There is a lot of talent out there that needs to be seen. Spend some time watching the young kids
19114: Do you think we will ever see a NFR (or possibly an ERA) National Champion from the Northeast? Why or why not?
RodeoDad: There are plenty of good rodeo people in the east but most all the rodeos are west so it will be hard but yes it just takes someone to believe in someone to get them going.
19114: Well you are certainly doing your part to get them out there.
19114: Who are your favorite rodeo competitors?
RodeoDad: Shane Hanchey, Tyson Durfey, and Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill.
19114: Good taste in champions. Everybody knows how I feel about Tryan and Corkill. And I ran all over Las Vegas and Dallas just to get to meet Tyson Durfey. I haven’t had the chance to meet Shane Hanchey yet, but the season is just getting going! Any words of wisdom for rodeo kids and their parents?
RodeoDad: Practice. Practice makes perfect. And spend the money for a good horse. It pays off,
My interview with Greeley, future Gold Buckle winner
(in my opinion)
Greeley was in the Top 7 at the 2014 NLBRA Finals 2nd go, NLBRA Top Hand Team. She has won 7 All Around, 4 Reserve All Around titles. Greeley and her horse Harley hold arena records in 3 arenas. She was the Rookie of the Year for the Cinch Jr High Team in Indiana. And best of all she is a A student and participates on the Math Bowl and Spelling Bowl teams. And she is only 12!
19114: How old were you when you started?
Greeley: 4
19114: What’s your favorite event to compete in? To watch?
Greeey: I love to breakaway watching pole bending is fun. It’s like an art watching good pole benders.
19114: Who is your favorite pro athlete?
Greeley: Sherrylynn Johnson
19114: How many animals do you have? What are their names?
Greeley: 20 goats, 5 cows, 5 horses. My horses are Honey, JuJu, Goldie, Fly and Harley.
19114: Do you think you want to compete as an adult?
Greeley: Yes!
19114: What do you and your friends do for fun?
Greeley: Dummy rope, ride bikes, and play games on phone.
Fun Fact: When I was young we played on the phone but that usually meant crank calls. Times have changed. (Does anyone remember-Is your refrigerator running? Well you better go catch it. Hahahahaha)
19114: Tell me about your day when you are at an event?
Greeley: Get horses fed, while they eat I get ready. Ride Harley my barrel/rope horse. She needs to be ridden down a lot. Practice goat tying or dummy rope.
19114: What advice would you give to other little girls that want to compete?
Greeley: Rodeo is not easy, it takes a lot of practice and patience. No matter what happens the only run that matters is the next one. Don’t let a bad run ruin your whole day.
19114: Those are some pretty wise words from a 12 year old rodeo star in the making!
Check out video of Greeley in last years National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals. Be sure to have the volume up and you can hear RodeoDad cheering her on!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euMV0MnZcX8&feature=youtu.be
I have lots of interesting interviews coming up exploring lots of different aspects of the Western World of Rodeo. Do you have any topics that you would like to read about? Just leave a comment below or email me at cowgirl19114@gmail.com. You can always find me on Twitter @cowgirl19114.
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