Sam Lewis is the steer wrestler you never saw coming who just appears with a buckle on his belt like he was born with it. Born and raised in a small town in lower Alabama, Sam’s family raises beef cattle. He knew his way around a cow, but hadn’t ever done anything with horses. Blessed with very supportive and loving parents, 15 year old Sam went to his mom one day and said he’d like to ride bulls.
He got on his first bull at a rodeo and while it wasn’t pretty, he was hooked. He began practicing during the week and finding ways to improve his rides. Before long, his hard work was paying off, and he found himself winning a year end rodeo in the Mid-south Little Britches Rodeo Association. He went on to be the Reserve State Champion in the Alabama High School Rodeo Association. While he was really enjoying the ride, he hung up his bull rope this past February because a new passion had popped up that he wanted to devote himself to: steer wrestling.
Sam had been exposed to the event when he was younger in the form of chute dogging (throwing steers off the ground) and attended a clinic in Robertsdale, Alabama years ago to learn more. At the time he didn’t think it was fun at all and thought he’d stick with bulls.
When he started college at the University of West Alabama (where he currently attends and competes on the rodeo team) he had some friends who were steer wrestling and thought it would be a good way to hang out. He practiced a few times with them and one day his friend Kent Jordan brought his older horse out and Sam jumped his first steer off a horse–managing to catch and throw him, a big deal for a beginner.
If you ask Sam how he learned to ride horses, he’ll tell you he really didn’t. He just got on that day and keeps figuring it out as he goes. In fact, he told his buddy Kent he’d have to warm up his horse for him because Sam didn’t know how to do it. When he asks folks what many might consider to be basic horse questions he reminds himself he knows his way around a cow as good or better than anyone, and the horse knowledge is coming.
Sam’s first steer wrestling horse was an older horse named Uno who Sam describes as a once-in-a-lifetime horse. He wasn’t the fastest but was a great babysitter and wanted to make sure Sam didn’t get hurt. After the last college rodeo of the year last season Sam had been planning to retire Uno, but sadly, Uno colicked and passed away that very next day.
In the aftermath of this loss, Sam began trying out different horses. A friend of his was training at PRCA steer wrestler and saddle maker Pat Hooper’s place in Athens, Texas, and told Sam he ought to go out there. So Sam went to Athens and Pat found the perfect fit for him in a horse named Maaco.
Maaco is a big-boned, strong horse that can take the hauling of someone like Sam who loves to go up and down the road. Plus, Maaco is fast and can take him to the next level, already helping him qualify for several finals in the short time they have been together. They are in the running for several additional finals and hoping to make the top 15. They are also preparing for the start of college rodeo season, with their first rodeo being 13 hours away in Marshall, Missouri.
Sam’s short term goals include making the college finals, the PCA Finals, and the NCPRA Finals. After next year, he plans to transition to PRCA rodeo and make a race for the NFR.
While Sam admits he’s still human enough to have those days he wants to lay on the couch and watch a movie, most days he eats up the steer wrestling, and credits God with the opportunities he has. It felt like it just fell into this lap and the talent was already within him, but Sam wants to hone his skills and be the best he can be.
One of his special focuses is on physical fitness. He spends a lot of time in the gym and enjoys joking about workouts with new friend Pat Hooper. As important to Sam as the physical side of the game is, he also values the mental side, and is always trying to improve.
He’s competitive and believes in his God given abilities, but also doesn’t want to take for granted the opportunity he has to pursue it. Sam loves the moment when gets a tight head catch and his feet hit the ground. That’s when the horse did his job and it’s all up to him.
Sam practices with the rodeo team Monday-Thursday, focusing on footwork, groundwork, and making full runs on horses. He works on the side helping with a farm and farm equipment sales, and finds time to focus on his schoolwork too. He is majoring in environmental science and is interested in the opportunities that exist in that part of Alabama both in the pulp and paper industry and in the agricultural industry.
Sam’s got a general zest for life, and enjoys traveling, which comes in handy when you’re burning up the rodeo road. He’s also fallen in love with horses and the bond that exists, stating he knows horses, not dogs, are truly man’s best friend because of the level of trust that forms between a horse and rider.
As he looks to the future, he is excited about the horsepower he’s got in Maaco, and is ready to do the work and see his success this season. He’s especially grateful for his parents, Jeff and Rebecca Lewis, and their love. They are so supportive of the lifestyle and enjoy watching him do what he loves, coming to all the rodeos they can.
Sam’s discovered a new dream and is living it out, with his feet firmly on the ground and his eyes set on the task at hand.
All photo credit to respective photographers.
