My Journey is NOT Just My Journey

My dream has come true. It is starting to hit me. I have made the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas! I reached my goal and I am excited about it. I feel blessed and honored to be here. It has been such a journey, and looking back, it’s amazing to see how everything has worked out.

My view driving into the Las Vegas Strip as a contestant for the first time! Pretty sweet feeling…

Nine years ago I picked up my first rope. I was fifteen years old and my dad told me to help him take ropes off at the stripping chute while he was roping one day. From that point, I eventually moved into High School Rodeo my senior year of high school. After finishing up in high school and about to graduate, I set goals. I wanted to become a professional team roper and to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, so I set out a plan to get there. Going through the amateur ranks of rodeo, entering pro rodeos on my permit, and starting to have some success, I was able to progress and earn my Pro Card three years ago. Golly, what a journey. It really is such an incredible blessing. Through the stepping stones of progressing in rodeo, I have finally made it. I can officially say I am a National Finals Qualifier in Team Roping! I could not have done it without help. There have been a number of people that have been with me along the way, and I am not going to be able to write about them all but they all know who they are and I am extremely grateful for them.

My brother Thomas and his wife Caroline

First of all, I would not be here if it were not for the gifts from God that have been given to me to be responsible for. I have never seen God more in my life than anywhere else besides roping. He has been so evident to me throughout this journey. My dad is next. I definitely could not have gotten here this early in my career if it was not for him. He started me off and has supported me every step of the way. My family back home has given me endless amounts of support. The random phone calls when I am on the road and the times I get to just chill with them when I am home has been so crucial. One key person to my success this year has been my girlfriend, Liz Larsen. I tell her she’s my good luck charm, and I aint kidding! We have been together for a little over a year now. I went to my first official rodeo of the 2013 season in Allen, Texas on November 8 of 2012. I missed at that rodeo. Liz and I went on our first date a week later and the very next rodeo I went to after our first date I won money at! She turned my luck around immediately! She has literally been with me through the biggest year of my Team Roping career. I have finally made the Finals and the only major difference in my life is her! She must be a huge reason for me making the finals this year! Outside of my immediate support and encouragement from God and my family, I have some close friends that have been nothing but positive for me. From my friends Rick Cain and Mike Trent that would run thousands of steers with me on their off time, to my dads friends that would come to rodeos all over the country to watch and support me while I am competing, I am thankful for them. My friends from high school that have been with me ever since I started and have been able to watch my dream unfold as I progress in rodeo, I am grateful for them. Also, to the Saints of Royal Park Lane that have been not only supporting my rodeo life but have been pushing me closer to God every week and stretching my relationship with Christ, Thank you. This list is not full. There have been people along the way that have helped me in many different ways. I have needed help on the side of the road, I have needed places to stay, and I have needed guidance and advice in rodeo all the time. Those people are not on here. I am grateful to everyone that has helped me along the way but it is just hard to recognize everyone in one short blog.

From left to right: our good friend Emily Utz, myself, and my girlfriend Liz.

​ As you can see, there have been a number of people that have been in my life and right along side of me through this journey. All have played a very important role to my success in team roping. One thing I have learned through all these people helping me is that no one gets anywhere without a little help along the way. If you ever have the opportunity to help someone along their journey, TAKE IT! You never know where they will end up or the type of impact they might have on the world. Thank you all for reading my blog. I just wanted to put together an informal thank you to recognize the people in my life that have helped me through every different step of which it has taken me to get here. I will be posting more blogs throughout my time here in Vegas so stay tuned to this site or my fan page on facebook to keep up with me out here. DH