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The Natural Horseman – NFR Bound
By Steve Stevens
With the National Finals Rodeo upon us, I can’t tell you how excited I am. “My heroes have always been Cowboys,” as Willie always sang. I have been blessed over the years to get to become friends with some of the all-time great legends of rodeo. I hate to be so obnoxious as to throw names around but what the heck. I have been blessed to spend time with the great Casey Tibbs, Larry Mahan and my mentor, World Champion Steer Roper Kenny Call.
When I started rodeoing I’m not sure what aspirations I had. I just knew I wanted to be like them. Man, oh man, I wanted to be a cowboy so bad. Not from watching westerns, but from watching the guys in the arena. I couldn’t imagine a cooler occupation than riding bucking horses and chasing steers. I never imagined that twenty something years later, I would live a full time life of a cowboy and be able to instill those values I have learned in my children. The men above and others (including my dad who forced me into a cowboy hat every chance he got since I was a baby), these men acted as guides through my cowboy/rodeo journey.
I got on my first real bucking horse at a rodeo at the age of nineteen, (which is a late start, especially for someone who didn’t grow up riding horses), and I was addicted. I filled my PRCA card four years later. I dedicated the better part of twelve years to riding saddle broncs. I was sure one day I would have my chance to compete at The National Finals. Some may have called it a fairy tale, but to me there couldn’t have been a bigger highlight in my life to qualify for something so grand. Obviously now years later… Getting married, having kids and earning friendships have topped that long ago dream ten times over.
This was me on NFR bronc, Candyman owned by Benny Butler at Burwell, Nebraska. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)
There was one big problem with my Finals dream and that was that I wasn’t a very good bronc rider. Oh sure, after years of doing it I covered my fair share of broncs and the values I learned going down the road taught me more than I could have ever imagined. At best I was ok on a good day. But I loved it. The different towns, the camaraderie between the guys, the constant hustle from rodeo to rodeo, the trying times, the friends. The friends. There is a certain bond you make with guys when you are going down the road.
On NFR bronc, Rock n’ Ronnie owned by Western Rodeos in Sonora, California. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)
Rodeo gave me the confidence to do what I do today training horses. It taught me how to try; to never give up, how to get dirty. To get up and stand tall and above all, it gave me such an appreciation for the athletic ability and power of the horse. I got to ride all those horses…. Well I should say, I got on all those horses, I didn’t ride all of them. But they all had so much to teach me.
I could have never dreamed that eleven years after entering my last rodeo I would find myself invited to go compete during the National Finals Rodeo. It’s not the big show, but for me—what an opportunity. From December 6th to the 9th I get to compete at The Colt Starting Challenge U.S.A championships being held in Vegas during the NFR at the Cowboy Christmas at The Convention Center. I finished third overall this year in the colt starting standings and now I get my chance to compete for a World Championship where all my heroes have ridden before.
Oh, I know I’m just starting a colt. It sure isn’t getting on ten of the best bucking horses in the world, but for me, in its own strange way, my dream has come true. Except now I get to experience it with my beautiful wife and my two amazing children who weren’t in the picture when I was chasing broncs.
Maybe because of my age and experience I can tell you I don’t take this opportunity lightly and will do my best to take in every moment. I always dreamed of being able to say I was NFR bound so here it goes: “I am NFR bound!”
By Barry Whitworth, DVM
In January, I attended the Oklahoma Veterinary Conference. While waiting for one of the sessions to start, a classmate of mine commented how many of the attendees walk with a limp, used a cane, and/or have damaged hands. We all agreed that working with animals is hard on the body. In general, anything associated with farming and ranching is dangerous.
Most farmers and ranchers know that agriculture is a dangerous occupation. According to United States Bureau of Statistics, workers involved in agriculture, forestry, and fishing had the highest occupational fatality rate in 2022. The fatality rate of 23.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers for this group is much higher when compared to the overall occupation fatality rate of 3.7 per 100,000 FTE. Most of the agriculture-related fatalities are associated with transportation, such as tractor overturns, and vehicle crashes, but a fair number involve livestock.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Jesse Kader
Comfy and keep it western. That’s the name of the game this month. It’s hot and who wants clingy clothing? This jumpsuit is perfectly comfortable and relaxed without forfeiting the fashion. Dress it up or keep it casual. See this and more at www.jessesjewelz.com.
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Noble Research Institute Expands New Program Offering Farmers and Ranchers the Essentials of Regenerative Ranch Management
The educational program has been expanded to three new locations, empowering ranchers and farmers to monitor and improve the health of their land, livestock and livelihood through regenerative principles.
ARDMORE, OK–September 12, 2023 – Noble Research Institute announced the expansion of Essentials of Regenerative Ranching, a new educational program designed to help ranchers enhance and restore the land, making it more resilient and reaching livestock grazing goals through regenerative management. Essentials of Regenerative Ranching provides producers with practical tools, hands-on experience and guidance to make data-driven decisions to decrease costs and improve profit.
The Essentials of Regenerative Ranching course has been expanded to three new locations in Texas and Oklahoma. Registration is open now at www.noble.org/essentials. Seating is limited, so early registration is recommended.
Texas A&M
College Station, Texas
October 17 – 18
O.D. Butler, Jr. Animal Science Complex
Noble Research Institute
Ardmore, Oklahoma
October 31 – November 1
Pavilion Center
Texas A&M
Kingsville, Texas
November 7-8
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center
“Program participants gain working knowledge and experience of monitoring and improving the health of their soil, grazing livestock more strategically and making informed financial decisions,” said Hugh Aljoe, Noble Research Institute’s director of ranches, outreach and partnerships. “We use a mix of classroom and field work to send producers home with the tools they need to begin making changes on their ranch.”
Farmers and ranchers navigate uncertainty from weather, fluctuating market prices and escalating costs of inputs. Many producers are seeking new tools that offer greater control and reduce their operational uncertainty. Through this course, ranchers and farmers will calculate their financial situations, determine initial stocking rates, carrying capacity and grazing goals.
“The course is well-suited for ranchers of all experience levels and all types and sizes of operations,” Aljoe added. “No matter your situation, this program will transform the way you think about your ranch.”
The Essentials of Regenerative Ranching program allows producers to overcome obstacles, become more informed problem-solvers and increase the productivity of their grazing lands. By participating in this program, ranchers join a community of like-minded producers who are shaping the future of ranching and leaving a lasting impact on their land and families. “If I had known what I learned in this course when I started my regenerative journey, I could have avoided some key mistakes,” said Tana McCarter, a rancher, and Essentials attendee. “I left with the tools I needed to monitor my soil health and financial progress. I’ll now have the right data to make informed decisions on how to meet my regenerative goals.”
Noble Research Institute is an independent nonprofit agricultural research organization dedicated to guiding farmers and ranchers in applying regenerative principles that yield healthier soil, more productive grazing land, and business success.
At Noble, researchers, facilitators and ranch staff work together to share with farmers and ranchers the skills and tools to regenerate the land in a profitable manner. Noble is focused on the regenerative management of the nation’s grazing acres, which directly impacts pasture and range environments, wildlife, pecan production, and livestock production. Regenerative management recognizes that each decision made on the ranch impacts the interactions of the soil, plants, water, animals, economics and people. Noble’s 14,000 acres of working ranch lands provide a living laboratory on which to demonstrate and practice regenerative principles and ideas to deliver value to farmers and ranchers across the U.S.
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