There are a lot of perks to being a rodeo cowboy — particularly one that wins.
There’s the thrill of hearing the whistle after outlasting a rank bronc. There’s the intrigue of seeing the country, traveling from rodeo to rodeo. There’s the prize money that can keep you from punching a time clock. And there’s also the fame and attention, often from pretty girls.
But 14-year-old bareback rider Colt Simmons isn’t that interested in those aspects of the sport. Young but mature beyond his years, Simmons is riding to pay tribute to a lost loved one.
Wearing a shirt with the name “Shae Dawn Simmons” embroidered on the back, every time the boy nods his head for the chute gate to open, he rides for his sister, who was killed June 1, 2008, in a car accident.
A second-generation bareback rider who calls Kellyville, Okla., his home, Colt Simmons said Thursday evening at the Cowley County Fair that his father knew first-hand about the dangers of riding broncs and the beating the body can take. He didn’t want Colt to follow in his footsteps, but members of the next generation did.
“He rode for 17 years, but he didn’t want me to do it,” Simmons said. “My sister was always telling him he should let me and that I’d be good at it.”
After Shae died, the stubborn father decided to honor his late daughter’s wishes and let Colt ride.
“I got my pro card for Christmas, and I’ve been riding ever since,” he said. “I’ll rodeo whenever possible.”
After competing in Winfield Thursday evening, it will be on to rodeos at Yale, Okla., and Copan, Okla.
Simmons took the top spot in the age 15 and under broncs division at the youth roughstock event sanctioned by the Kansas Junior Bullriders Association with a 66-point ride to outscore second-place Pecos Bain who scored 59.
With a riding style that resembled that of the top hands in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Simmons said he doesn’t necessarily look up to any particular rodeo star.
“I’m not really in it for that. I look up to my sister,” he said.
Thursday’s rodeo competition featured several bronc riding divisions, and started out with the crowd-pleasing eight-years and under bronc riding. There youngsters strapped a bareback rigging onto Shetland ponies who did not necessarily want to have the youths aboard them.
All the competitors Thursday were 21 years old and younger.
Another fan favorite was the mutton busting. The two youngest riders were twins Wyatt and Wade Martin of Dexter. Both — who are just a little over a year old — did exhibition runs in the event in which lads do their best to stay aboard a sheep for eight seconds.
The sons of experienced saddle bronc rider and fair board member Grady Martin, each held on as their father held them and ran alongside them.
Grady said he didn’t want his kids to be afraid of animals as they got older. Grandmother Donna Martin admitted she was a little nervous when watching them, though she felt there was a limited risk as long as Dad was there to keep them out of danger.
More rodeo action will return to the grandstand Sunday and Monday evenings, as riders in the International Professional Rodeo Association and American Cowboys Rodeo Association compete.
Results:
8 and under broncs: 1. Ty Pope, 63
10 and under broncs: 1. Ben Harth, 61
12 and under broncs: 1. Jesse Pope, 70
15 and under broncs: 1. Colt Simmons, 66; 2. Pecos Bain, 59
21 and under broncs: 1. A.J. Yokum, 66
Mutton busting: 1. Koltin Hevalow, 77; 2. Wyatt Bird, 72; 3. Jackson Shultz-Ward, 69; 4. Colton Brines, 53
Pee wee calves: 1. Ty Pope, 75
Senior calves: 1. Adam Wrenn, 73; 2. Holt Ganzel, 64
Steer riding: 1. Jesse Pope, 75.5; 2. T.J. McKierman, 68
Junior bulls: 1. Zach English, 68; 2. Bill Sumerour, 60
Senior bulls: 1. Jesse Tillman, 79.9; 2. Jordan Sammons, 68; 3. Triston Boor, 61; 4. Cody Decker, 60.5
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