Keeping Stories Alive
At only 17, Kaydence Crawford recently signed to attend Ranger College and rope under the guidance of rodeo coach Llew Rust. She holds her own in competition, as was especially apparent in the race for the fastest time at the American against her stepmother Jackie Hobbs-Crawford. Her future as a roper is undoubtedly bright with the wisdom of fellow competitors and her parents surrounding her.
At nine years old, Erin Johnson swung her first rope. Standing out front of a barn with her father, she remembers the trademark of the Rattler ropes in those years before EquiBrand–a braided and waxed inch and a half tail that resembled its namesake’s warning mechanism. While no warning was apparent on this ordinary day, this rope sparked the foundation to form a very competitive roper who just a few weeks ago roped one in 1.9 at Fort Worth.
For a group of women just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, breakaway roping is providing hope in the face of one of life’s most daunting challenge–a cancer diagnosis.
Friends Beth Papotnik, Brian Ralicki, and Amy and John Lucsko recently started the nonprofit Breakaway From Cancer 2022 as a beacon of support for those battling cancer in the equine industry.
At the end of January, a young man named Austin Ashley was named Reserve World Champion and won the World Finals event for the Bullfighters Only (BFO) organization. To watch this talented bullfighter move is to observe impressive agility, consistency, and calmness.
If Mark Harrison was a superhero, his staying power would be his ability to reinvent himself. He is a man who has crossed continents, conference rooms, and cattle ranges in pursuit of a more authentic way of life for both cattle and people.
Lana Reynolds came by her nickname “the cow whisperer” the honest way– through years of hard work and learning bovine behavior.
Reynolds is a multigenerational ranch hand who considers it a privilege to carry on this cowhand legacy. Although she was born in California, she spent her childhood in Rapid City, South Dakota, seeing how life could be lived alongside four legged friends. Her grandfather was the type of man who was more often horseback than he was on foot. She never forgot these lessons and found the desire to take care of animals even after a stint in the city, she heard the ranch world still calling and soon returned to the industry full time.
Some folks are born with rodeo in their blood. Maybe it is genetic, or maybe it is a God-given surprise. Perhaps it is both. From the first glimpse of the arena lights, a stirring happens deep inside. When this is paired with a love of horses, passion is born.
Occasionally people have the opportunity to act on this innate passion from childhood, but many grow up in neighborhoods removed from the rodeo world. These individuals have to work extra hard and burn up the highway to make their goals and dreams come true.
When J. Storme was an infant, her grandpa was put in charge of watching her for a few hours. Unsure of how to handle the situation, he took her to see what he knew best: his cows. As they rode around in the pickup truck, he held her up to the window for her to take a look. This moment seems to have embedded itself in her heart, as she has been watching cows and working alongside her grandpa ever since.
Kelsey Gascon and Shelby Epperson are the women you know as the Trixie Chicks Trick Riders. They can navigate the air space around a horse’s back as though there is an invisible jungle gym that they are simply climbing upon. They bring speed and shock to audiences everywhere.
If you’re involved with western riding or rodeo groups on Facebook, you’ve likely seen the name, Lori Busch. The ultimate connector, cowgirl Lori Busch has taken her love of horses and people and combined the two to help folks engage their passions.
