Beyond the Arena: A Conversation with Noel Harper

Step into the world of rodeo media with Clay Noel Harper, the 26-year-old Editor-in-Chief of Rodeo Life magazine who's reshaping how Western stories are told. Born into what many consider "rodeo royalty," Clay Noel shares her unique journey from college rodeo competitor to becoming a respected voice in rodeo journalism.

With remarkable humility, Clay Noel opens up about growing up in a family deeply rooted in the Western way of life. Her father, a retired bullfighter turned renowned Western artist with a secret passion for Sasquatch hunting, instilled in her the importance of giving back to the industry that gave her so much. This mission has guided her career from New Mexico State University through positions at Cowboy Channel and now as an independent media professional balancing editorial leadership with sideline reporting at major rodeos across the country.

What makes Clay Noel’s perspective particularly valuable is her insider-outsider position in the industry. Married to professional saddle bronc rider Joe Harper, she provides intimate glimpses into the challenges rodeo athletes face—from judging inconsistencies to the physical toll of competition. Yet as a media professional, she maintains the analytical eye needed to tell these stories authentically. Her passion for showcasing the human element of rodeo shines through as she discusses memorable interviews, including her final conversation with bareback rider Trenton Montero before his tragic passing.

Clay Noel’s insights about rodeo's evolution are particularly fascinating. She discusses how modern competitors approach their sport with professional athlete mindsets while maintaining rodeo's gritty spirit. She celebrates the industry's growing inclusivity while emphasizing what makes rodeo unique—particularly its recognition of animals as athletes in their own right.

Whether you're a lifelong rodeo fan or just curious about Western culture, Clay Noel’s story offers a compelling look at an industry balancing tradition with innovation. Subscribe now to hear how faith, family, and flying hooves have shaped one of rodeo media's rising stars, and discover why her voice is helping preserve the authentic stories of the American West.

Instagram:

@clay_noel25

https://www.instagram.com/clay_noel25?igsh=OHU3OXY5azBsNzhj

Shoutout to :

Mrs. Clay Noel Harper

Joe Harper

Rodeo Life Magazine 

The Barry Family 

The Manning Family 

Miles Barry

Wiley Coyote Karas 

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Raising Awareness:

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Mental Health 

Chapters

• 0:28 Meeting Noelle Harper
• 5:36 The Harper Family Legacy
• 17:21 Journey to Editor-in-Chief
• 27:50 The Changing Face of Rodeo Media
• 37:12 Behind the Scenes: Contestant Stories
• 51:16 Finding Balance: Ranch Life and Rodeo
• 1:06:53 Future Plans and Final Thoughts

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:28

Playing Noel Harper, how are you?

SPEAKER_02: 0:30

I'm good. How are you?

SPEAKER_00: 0:31

Pretty good. It's kind of weird with the Harper. It used to be, you know, the rodeo royalty the Pacific Northwest, right?

SPEAKER_02: 0:40

Yeah, I guess. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 0:41

Wouldn't you consider the royalty that name?

SPEAKER_02: 0:45

I wouldn't call it that, but I think it's just, you know, to me, my family is just my family, and we're just part of it, you know. So I wouldn't consider it that.

SPEAKER_00: 0:54

But I uh, you know, now that it's fair week, everyone's been saying that, and it's just I guess to other people, but I obviously obviously am not in their eyes looking at me, so right, but it is royalty because you know, you have two brothers in it still, right? Three.

SPEAKER_02: 1:10

Three, three, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:14

See, see, I I only knew of two.

SPEAKER_02: 1:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:18

So, but I I hung out with Manning and Clealum, right? That's how you pronounce it. Everybody says I Cleelum. Clealum.

SPEAKER_02: 1:26

Yeah. Clealum. Okay.

SPEAKER_00: 1:27

Yeah, I I I hung out with him just knowing, you know, with Wiley, because I did a run with him. I did two runs this uh this summer with Wiley, and I'm like, oh Manning's here, I've been watching him for years, and they come to find out, and I'm like, what? Still did not know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 1:42

So well, yeah, so I've got my oldest brother is Ryan Wilson, and he's kind of a young kid that came from a rough start from the west side and came over, and my parents scooped him up. And I was about six years old and he was 18. And so I call him my brother because I was raised with him, you know. And then I've got Ryan Manning, who's my half-brother, that no one knew about until I was six years old. And Ryan Manning was 16 and approached my dad and said, I'm your son. My dad was like, Oh. And then my little brother Miles, who you guys previously had on here. So Miles is great.

SPEAKER_00: 2:17

He surprises me every time mom in and around. When I know he's gonna be uh fighting, I I just get you know, I just get excited. But when I was at uh Grandview recently, he's all like, I'm waiting for the coffee, you know. Shout out to Mama Java, Mama Java Java, Java. Yeah, I love her. We started at the same time, and uh I support her, definitely support her, and you know, she supports me, she knows me. And he's like, Hey you, I'm like, I look and I'm like, not even expecting anybody, right? And it was Miles. I'm like, Miles, man, this is why I love you, dude. So yeah, shout out to Miles. I've been seeing that, watching him since he was a kid, and not knowing Manning was family. I I told Wiley, I was like, Man, I've been watching for years. That's him, you know? And I'm like, what? It's a it's different, it's different seeing him in the ring when you're in the stands and then it right in person with the kids and the wife and everything else. And shout out to the little one. That little one's feisty, she did a good job. Yep, I told my wife was like, that girl's tough.

SPEAKER_02: 3:21

Yeah, she's she's the spitfire of my two nieces, and but isn't it always the youngest one that's a spitfire, though? I mean, Miles is way more the spitfire than I am, and he's younger than me. You might just call him more Onri. I don't know. Or Farrell or Wild. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00: 3:40

The runt of the litter.

SPEAKER_02: 3:42

I don't know. Miles is taller than me. I don't know if we can call him the run.

SPEAKER_00: 3:45

Barely, barely. So shout out to Miles, shout out to Manning and his family, his loving family, and uh no during the run. I learned a lot and I continue to learn a lot. One thing I did learn, I like the small rodeos better.

SPEAKER_02: 3:59

Oh, interesting.

SPEAKER_00: 4:00

I don't like a lot of people and uh BF, like with the fair just ever so growing, and then getting right into the stands and people just wanting to sit wherever they want when you got you know seats and stuff like that. And it's a little too much. So it's like I went with the family yesterday and I was not under the influence, but I I can see why people want to go to the under they're under the influence, you know.

SPEAKER_02: 4:26

So I'm like, ah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, there I mean, each committee brings something so different and cool to their rodeo. I mean, I'm a part of Basin City and like was there when it was started five years ago, and that one's just unique all the way around, like throughout the entire country. It's one of the really unique rodeos, just with it being a grass hill. Well, and it's grown so quickly because it started as kind of a middle finger to our governor in 2020.

SPEAKER_01: 4:51

Yeah, yeah, I gotcha.

SPEAKER_02: 4:52

And but the fact that there's no normal grandstands, that it's all everyone brings their own lawn chairs, but you get big name rodeo contestants there, like we had uh world champion Riley Webb there in the tie-down roping, and I mean just all those kind of people, it brings such and with it being such a small community, it brings such an interesting, unique environment.

SPEAKER_00: 5:11

So there's a question that I've asked uh other, you know, people interviewees and everything else that people think people outside of the rodeo world, you know, people who just you know by standards and everything else think Yellowstone brought rodeo world up. I feel their stance during COVID brought the rodeo world up. Is is that the way you think? Or like what what are your thoughts? Yellowstone, Kevin Costner, you know, politically, I mean, you know, doesn't align, but I don't I don't see that guy bringing rodeo world to where it's at now.

SPEAKER_02: 5:48

Yeah, I haven't actually heard your take. I like that though, that COVID, just with it, you know, a lot of rodeos trying to stay open and stuff during COVID and being like everyone has their own right to make their own choices, and whatever your choice, that's fine. Just don't shove it on me, kind of a deal. I can I I appreciate that. I like that stance, but and I'm not trying to get political. No, no, no, you're fine.

SPEAKER_00: 6:08

But I I I felt like uh, you know, PBR, all them got bigger because they did a Johnny Paycheck. Yeah. This job and it shoved it. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02: 6:19

Well, and I think I so I used to work for Cowboy Channel for about a year and a half. And then when that my time there had ended, I went and got a job at the College National Finals producing their opening ceremonies. And there they don't have Cowboy Channel there. At least a couple years ago they didn't. Yeah, they had ESPN, which is not a rodeo network, you know, and so I it and I'd interned for them probably five years prior when I was still in college and for the the college national finals. But now having been with Cowboy Channel that's strictly rodeo, and then now also seeing it from the ESPN standpoint, it gave me a whole new appreciation because as someone that was raised not only in the rodeo world but also in the ranching world, yeah, we get very protective of our industry in the sense of like, you know, growing up watching Disney Channel and you see the gingham shirts and the really awful straw hats, and and you're like, it's not it's not like that. Like you it frustrates you to have it misrepresented, right? But ESPN gave me a whole new outlook on it because it was bringing in new people instead of just where Cowboy Channel kept a lot of the same people at that point in time. Yeah, ESPN was bringing in new fans to rodeo. And a lot of people obviously hate a lot of I shouldn't say hate, but there's some people on the ranching and rodeo side that don't like Yellowstone because again, it misrepresents, it dramatizes. I have, and I like it. I'm but I also like drama TV, so it doesn't bother me, but I don't compare it to our industry, you know. I just with that, I'm like, you know what? We need to start welcoming people with open arms. Like if you fell in love with the Western industry because of Yellowstone or or any of Taylor Sheridan's, you know, world, yeah, good on you. We're so happy and thankful to have your butt in the seats at the stands, but now maybe here's how you were miseducated.

SPEAKER_01: 8:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 8:09

But do it in a loving, kind way of like not just you're ignorant and this is why, but like, okay, maybe you should know it's not as dramatized as you know.

SPEAKER_01: 8:18

Right, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 8:19

We don't put nails in the flank straps or whatever, you know. And so I think it's caused it. I mean, we've seen the industry just boom. I mean, it's cool to be a cowboy and a cowgirl, and that's been now multiple years. I mean, what was it, New York Times or Forbes or one of those bigger magazines, like even had a huge article in it. Maybe it was Vogue, I can't remember, that said like the year of the cowgirl. So it's interesting to see all these non-Western industries that are just zooming in on it.

SPEAKER_00: 8:48

Yeah, you said something, but not so much to say. But the rodeo industry is very accepting, and that's what I want to bring up. Like, you know, here I am, I was like, I don't want to wear my getup, I don't want to do it, I'm not gonna do it. It's too hot to do that. So I'm wearing Lululemons and uh uh a coaching shirt that you know that I got at a local uh invitational in Spokane. But your family know who I am through my wife because you know, dental stuff and everything else, but you guys know where I sit and and how I like to, you know, positively portray the rodeo scene, you know, just positive all around. You guys have accepted me for who I am and not even bat an eye or look the other way, and that's why like when I think of Barry family, I'm like, man, you guys, I love you guys, like seriously, and and it's great to see, you know, run into Miles and then him saying, Hey, you, you know, when I'm with my kids, and then you know, go to the NFR. Because there's two stops I go to the NFR. Well, number one, I go to the bars and watch this stuff. I don't I don't I don't go to pay the thousands of dollars just to sit in the bleachers or in the stands or whatever, but I go say hi to Del Brisbee. You know, he was gonna be on the podcast, didn't you know? Oh really? Yeah, it's a long story. Uh but uh but I always stop at your dad's uh art uh little art booth, and I always talk to him, and it's just amazing just to, you know, he he'll be talking to all the bigwigs, and then he sees this guy who's wearing Lululemons right now, you know what I mean? Shorts, and and uh you know, very accepting and understanding, and we can just chop it up, and you know, I'm all like, hey, I need to get it on podcasts, need to get you on, need to get you on. Where's mom? You know, where's the the lovely lady? And she's always doing her thing. But yeah, I mean, when I say royalty, I mean I really do. It's like you when you see them, you're like, okay, those are big time.

SPEAKER_02: 10:49

Oh yeah, they're my parents are iconic, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 10:52

But they don't even they don't even consider themselves. But here I was watching him, you know, get miles in that last rodeo that he did, right? And thinking that, you know, he's just a fighter. But then dad pops, he has a whole nother side of him. He flies planes now to wherever he wants, which is cool. And then he's quite the artist.

SPEAKER_02: 11:18

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 11:18

Never have thought that.

SPEAKER_02: 11:20

Yep, he wears many hats, and he always has. I mean, literally and fit like and metaphorically. And I mean, I can't even tell you how many ball caps and cowboy hats are laying around their house, but right. So that's what I mean, literally and metaphorically. But he he's never been one that sat still. He you know, he didn't grow up from a lot of money, and so what they would do, you know, he he was in Wyoming when he was little and stuff, and so Wyoming winners, they were all stuck indoors, and so my grandmother would give him a pencil or a paintbrush and say, Have at it, you know. Yeah, and I believe there were even times where like that was their what they gave as Christmas presents and stuff was whatever, and he'd be sitting in class just daydreaming and and be doodling and whatever, you know, just typical boy that couldn't sit still, and and now the other thing too that no not many people know about this is he is kind of closeted, kind of not closeted, a huge sasquatch. He's a believer. Oh, so so so big.

SPEAKER_00: 12:22

Like I'm gonna I'm gonna have him on just so we can talk about it.

SPEAKER_02: 12:24

Yes, oh yeah. We like we tease him about it to some degree, but I mean he found like a Bigfoot cast and has recasted it, found a map, pinned where that footprint was found, and then gives that map and the recast to people as gifts. So like I believe there's one hanging up at Jackalope's bar. There might be one at the Long Branch, I can't remember for sure, but for sure at Jackalopes and at a couple different people's houses and stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, Lori, she's awesome.

SPEAKER_00: 12:55

Yeah, she's done a great job at Long Branch.

SPEAKER_02: 12:58

Oh, yeah. Everything's just great. Didn't know that. Okay. All right.

SPEAKER_00: 13:01

But but he's more into the chalk pastels.

SPEAKER_02: 13:05

Pastels. Okay, sorry, sorry. No, you're good.

SPEAKER_00: 13:08

Sorry.

SPEAKER_02: 13:09

I know it's it's like sometimes I don't even and he started out with watercolor for a lot when I was little. And then he does some bronzes too, so claywork and stuff like that. But but it pops.

SPEAKER_00: 13:21

The art that he's doing lately, it pops, and it's more in the western style.

SPEAKER_02: 13:25

Yeah. Well, it's always been in the western style, but it yes, he does more of like a like he did mine for our wedding. I told him I was like, I want you to do a painting of me and my husband, like a little collage. So like me running barrels, my husband riding bucking horses.

SPEAKER_01: 13:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 13:40

And he what he does is he will take photos, and then he only uses what's in the light. Anything in the shadow, he doesn't usually portray in the photo, and he uses black paper, and so it all those bright colors just pop so well.

SPEAKER_00: 13:53

That's what I meant. It looks more western, you know. Yeah, because I I didn't know until I saw him in last year's NFR. But he also, guys, uh the listeners, the people that aren't rodeo enthusiasts that are giving this a shot, he also has made a ton of posters for Roundup.

SPEAKER_02: 14:10

Yeah. Yeah, he did Pendleton Roundup for three years, but it's not only Pendleton. I mean, the old Horse Heaven Roundup logo with the bucking horse, that was based off a painting he did. And then, yeah, he's done he liked the old Wrangler tour bullfight, he did some of their posters, which was kind of like pre-bullfighters only. He's done a ton of wine labels, and I know that Goose Rage Winery is now redoing like some of his and turning them into wine labels, like some of his ones that weren't for their artist collection. He's done things for the ABBI, which is like a bucking bowl kind of industry. They he did an award for them. He's done OMAX Stampede. I mean, just so so many. Jack of all traits. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 14:56

With with that, I mean, you're not too far behind.

SPEAKER_02: 15:00

Oh, in what way?

SPEAKER_00: 15:02

I I mean, you got you're a lot of hats. Yes, but you yeah, you probably don't wear it until rodeo time, right?

SPEAKER_02: 15:09

Well, it depends what we're doing that day, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 15:11

Your your you know, wife, congrats, by the way. What, two years now? Yep, two years. Yeah, a little over two years. See, I know. Mr. Harper, saddle bronch rider. Yeah, he's gonna be circuit final.

SPEAKER_02: 15:22

Yep, yeah, he'll be at circuit finals. I think he's currently sitting probably third or fourth in the the circuit right now. So he's headed for probably his fifth or sixth circuit title, hopefully.

SPEAKER_00: 15:30

It's crazy. Yeah, crazy from Nevada.

SPEAKER_02: 15:33

Yep.

SPEAKER_00: 15:34

I I watch a lot of rodeo, so the only one that I knew from Nevada that normally comes up here is Cra Erickson, Shane Erickson.

SPEAKER_02: 15:41

Oh yes, yep.

SPEAKER_00: 15:42

He's everywhere, he's amateur and then pro. I don't know how I don't know how they do it.

SPEAKER_02: 15:47

So he actually lives in the same valley as us now. Him and his wife moved there and bought, so there's a an old rodeo family from like the eight, maybe seventies. Yeah. 70 or 80s. And they were like pre-the-bauer family in the in terms of saddlebronk writing, because the right now you have the rights, right? That are all brothers. Right. Before them, you had the Eppbauer family. Yeah, yeah. And then before them, you had the Marvel family. So Joe Marvel is a world champion Saddle Bronck writer, and Shane and his wife actually bought their place there in Paradise Valley. And then one of the Marvel brothers that didn't go to the NFR, he was more his name's Pete Marvel, and he's actually got family down in Hermiston, but he was more of like a ranch cowboy that loved ranching, that liked rodeo, but loved ranching. Okay. And so he never went to the NFR, but he's actually our closest neighbor, like a mile off from where we live in in the Nevada's home.

SPEAKER_00: 16:39

Yes. Besides Kenoway. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 16:41

Yeah. Rodeo's in. Yeah, we go back and forth quite a bit, but yeah, Nevada's home right now.

SPEAKER_00: 16:46

Wife, traveler, the editor in chief.

SPEAKER_02: 16:49

Yeah, Rodeo Life magazine.

SPEAKER_00: 16:51

And uh personality on TV when you can.

SPEAKER_02: 16:55

Yep.

SPEAKER_00: 16:56

And in rodeo.

SPEAKER_02: 16:57

Yeah, more so. Not more rodeo. I don't really do a whole lot of non-rodeo. I mean, my parents raised me to always give back to the industry that gave so much to me. And for me, that was always educating people on the Western industry and the contestants and stuff. So sideline reporting is just one of the many ways that I like to do that.

SPEAKER_00: 17:16

I like that sideline because I I'm gonna age myself and uh your mom and dad will probably understand. But I I consider you, and this is uh it's not a bad thing, Pam Oliver of the rodeo scene.

SPEAKER_02: 17:27

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00: 17:28

Dad dad probably be like, uh, probably somebody different. But who's the lady that worked uh dancing with the stars?

SPEAKER_02: 17:34

The the new Aaron Andrews. That that was the first one that came to my brain. Yep.

SPEAKER_00: 17:40

But which thank you. They dwindled that, they don't do that so much, the sideline uh broadcasting anymore. But so when I say Pam Oliver, I'm bringing back like the the 90s, early 2000s before they started fading into you know, taking it away. So I would consider you Pam Oliver. Well, thank you. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 17:59

It's probably higher than I think of myself, but thank you.

SPEAKER_00: 18:02

Why is that? Why is that? Because you know, seeing what you know, last night, like we talked off-air, it was just nothing but ads after ads. Need a break from the ads, you know, and having you know, not the entertainer, you know, do his thing, and if you get a certain entertainer, they do the same thing, specialty act, yep, yeah, yeah, yeah. And so, like, seeing you was like a fresh uh breath of air, you know, because it was different. You were interviewing the person, anyone, you know, that would want to talk, and it was just like, wow, I wanted to get to know more of the rodeo athletes. So you brought that to another level, but then when I when I don't get it, I'm like, okay, where's Noah? You know.

SPEAKER_02: 18:47

Yeah, well, thank you. Yeah, no, I think for me, my mom always said, like, the moment you quit learning is the moment they should put you in the grave. And which is kind of harsh, but like that's what I grew up hearing. And so I I've had great, I mean, amazing friends and mentors. Like Katie Lucas is a dear friend of mine, and she was actually one of the bridesmaids in our wedding a couple years ago, and she's one of the top talent at the Cowboy Channel now. Amy Wilson's a friend too. I mean, Steve Kenyon, him, he started announcing when my dad started fighting bulls, and he's been a longtime mentor. Yeah. Becky Mabston did a lot in our circuit for a lot of years, and so I just have so many people that I look up to. I mean, even Kennedy Riggs, who's here at the Horse Heaven Roundup with Cowboy Channel right now, she was a past Ms. Radio America, one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. And she is a year younger than me, and she's just killing it. I mean, there's so many great people, and so I think it's one of those things that like you're always gonna be striving for more because you know you can just keep getting better. Well, thank you.

SPEAKER_00: 19:42

I try to be you're you're you're saying everybody's accomplishments but yourself. I mean, considering I don't know your age, you don't have to say it, but you're editor in chief. A lot of people either know or they have experience. And I I don't know, for your age, don't know your age, to be editor in chief says a lot.

SPEAKER_02: 20:04

Yeah. I mean, so I'm 26 is is my age, and I'll be 27 on Christmas this year.

SPEAKER_00: 20:10

But mom's 30, correct?

SPEAKER_02: 20:13

Yes. Yep. Yes, yes. Maybe, maybe at a times two. No, my mother, so on on a side note, my mother's aging very well. She'll be 62 this year, and she looks like she's 50.

SPEAKER_00: 20:26

And that's why Mr. Harper was like, mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02: 20:28

Yeah, that's probably part of it. And my dad, who's three years younger, still looks awesome too. But my husband. So my husband's seven years older than me. So he's 33.

SPEAKER_01: 20:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 20:37

And he, a lot of people say he looks younger than I do. And so I think when we go to have kids, yeah, we're gonna, our kids are gonna look like babies for their entire life.

SPEAKER_00: 20:46

But then it looks like Miles is aging more than your dad.

SPEAKER_02: 20:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 20:52

Yep.

SPEAKER_00: 20:54

Well, faster. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 20:55

Faster than that.

SPEAKER_00: 20:56

Yeah. So yeah. Editor in chief, when you were given that opportunity, I mean, how did that come about?

SPEAKER_02: 21:02

Honestly, just by the grace of God, it was just kind of something that I was looking for a position that I could still, because we have a ranch there in Nevada. We run about 350 head of Limflex or no, yeah, Limflex cows. Um, so they're like an Angus and limousine cross, and they work really well for a high desert where we're at down there. And I still wanted to be able to do my own sideline rodeos. So now that I'm not with Cowboy Channel, I just do it all as an independent contractor essentially. And so that gives me the flexibility to pick my weekends, pick my rodeos, you know, pick what rodeos I want to go to my husband.

SPEAKER_01: 21:40

She's that good.

SPEAKER_02: 21:40

I don't know about that, but she's that good. I get to go with my husband and I needed something that was gonna go on the road with me. And so Rodeo Life had actually reached out to me to be, I started out as their social media manager in May of last year of 24. And then they were just kind of going through some changes, and they said, Do you have any interest in being an editor? And I was like, when I got my degree from New Mexico State University, I got it in journalism, but I made sure I got a little bit of everything.

SPEAKER_01: 22:06

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 22:06

So broadcast, editorial, yeah, photography, videography. I didn't do graphics, and I wish I would have, and I didn't really do a whole lot of website building. And those were the two that if I could go back, I would definitely learn more about those, especially in today's world. But and I I hadn't written, I mean, I I did a lot of social media managing for only at the event, so only at rodeos before I went to Cowboy Channel, and then that's kind of where I started doing sideline reporting just for social media, and then that turned into doing it on the big screen for some rodeos, and then I went to work for Cowboy Channel as associate producer, so TV producer. Yeah, yeah, and then was promoted to a producer, and then I learned so much in doing that, like because I had to sit and as I'm producing, I have to sit and watch my friends be on air and be like, oh man, she asked that question so great. And so I learned a lot of organization from that, but because of that, I didn't write a whole lot, you know. And so when they asked me if I wanted to step in and help the editor-in-chief at the time, I was like, Yeah, sure. I mean, I'd love to learn from her. It's a new skill. Like, I I would love to do it. And then that quickly turned into me being promoted as editor-in-chief. So it's been a and it's only a two-year-old magazine. So it was previously rodeo news and then was bought out in thick. Yeah, yeah. Our our we've been getting thick with some of them. I'd say about anywhere from 150 to 180 pages this year. But and yeah, it just it it became something that I can take on the road with me. And and we're all remote all over the country, and it's a faith-based Western magazine. So we cover everything rodeo.

SPEAKER_00: 23:43

With all the titles, with all the contracting work and everything else, and you get your say on where you want to be. What's your favorite, your favorite gig, best gig that you have?

SPEAKER_02: 23:56

I mean, it's so, you know, different rodeos, I do different things. So obviously Kennewick and Basin City are two of my favorite that I love doing sideline interviews at. But I'm this year with Cowboy Channel being here, I'm just doing social media work and helping build up the Horse Heaven Roundup page. And so, but my favorite place, if I can't be in the arena at rodeos, is here at Kennewick. There's a little triangle that kind of builds from the way the buck and chute split.

SPEAKER_01: 24:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 24:20

And I always tell people I was like, I was born and raised in that triangle. I met my husband in that triangle too. And so that's I mean, Kennewick and is always one of my favorites, and then also Basin City too. Pendleton's always so cool because they bring me in to help with their social media for the week. And that one, it's just such a unique environment being on the grass because I'll mic up contestants as they're sitting there watching the rodeo. And then, like one year, last year, actually, I had I think it was Rocker Steiner and Cole Franks who traveled together. They were both mic'ed up, and then I think it was Clayton Moss sitting behind us, and this bucking horse is coming at us. And so you're like scrambling to your feet, trying to get away. My sister-in-law standing next to me with a camera with her, she was there doing photography, and so I'm like, I've got my hand on her back, trying not to run over her, you know, as I'm like watching for the horse. And then I feel something like push my back, like in front of the horse. And I'm like, oh my gosh. And thankfully that horse ended up just going by me and I didn't get ran over, but I felt his nose touch my elbow, this bucking horse, and and then Clayton Moss, I think it was Clayton Moss, goes, Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I think I pushed you in front of that bucking horse. And so it's just such a unique environment. So it's hard. I mean, I've got such family and emotional ties to some, but I'd say those are probably some of my three top ones. When I was with Cowboy Channel, I got to co-produce the NFR Tailgate party in 2022. That was really cool. Just to go more in depth with everyone. And then my first year with Cowboy Channel, I got to associate produce, or maybe that's not the correct title, but I stood in the tunnel where Amy Wilson and Janie Johnson stood and got to watch the rodeo from right there. And that as someone who wants to do the NFR one day, that was one of my highlight moments, you know.

SPEAKER_00: 26:07

Why isn't there more sidelining?

SPEAKER_02: 26:11

You know, this is such a weird I shouldn't say weird. It's such an interesting time in the Western industry, especially after the passing of Patrick Gotch. And now Teton Ridge has bought the Cowboy Channel, and there's so many unknowns about Teton Ridge. And some people are really strict on their rodeos, on the time frames. Some people they just don't have the funding to be able to pay someone.

SPEAKER_01: 26:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 26:37

And some people just don't want it, which is understandable too, again, for the timeline and whatnot. But and some people just don't have anyone in their area that wants to do it, or that it can do it to a quality that fits their standard.

SPEAKER_01: 26:51

Okay.

SPEAKER_02: 26:51

And there's miscommunications with Cowboy Channel on whether or not they're sending someone and stuff, and they're navigating, you know, the new buyer and everything like that with Teton coming in and trying to figure out what works and what doesn't work. And so it's just it's an interesting time because everyone wants Cowboy Channel. And if they can't have Cowboy Channel, that doesn't necessarily mean that they have someone there that is capable of doing it.

SPEAKER_00: 27:13

So well, going back to editor in chief, uh you wouldn't. I I was surprised that your your dad, I acquired this from dad, right? He told me all about it, like you know, you're you're the boss. And I was like, Oh, really? I was like, Well, how much I he's like, No, take don't say anything, take it. But he it was like one of those proud dad moments, like you can see like with after our talk, you can just see him just light up more, just saying, Look at, you know, not it's not just me, it's my kids too. And I totally, yeah, yeah. It's it's cool. You guys come from a great place, you guys have great heart, and I'm very appreciative of you guys. Thank you. And I was telling Wiley on the last run, because oh my god, I don't know how we did it. I never fall asleep in a car, but I'm not driving, right? So we go Centralia last weekend, we go to Port Angeles, and then Hepner and Goldendale, and one of those days, it's all it becomes a blur. Yeah, so I told him, I was like, Yeah, I think uh I'm gonna get uh Noelle on. And I was like, he's all like, Really? I was like, Yeah, man, I've been wanting her on, I've been wanting the whole family on, you know. And but uh I was like, you know, I owe a lot, and I should be saying this towards the end, but I owe a lot to you because after the Miles uh episode, you messaged me and said all the positive things. And your your message is the reason why I continue to put athletes on, rodeo athletes, just because I I see where you're coming from, but it was just uplifting that you know, a guy who considers himself an outsider, or then now it's like people like I know you, I know the voice, I don't know you personally, but I hear the voice, and you're you're the podcast guy. And no, now I know the podcast guy, I'm known as the podcast guy. But before, you know, a lot of my listeners were runners and mountain climbers and everything else, and then they saw that I was doing athletes because we're all the same.

SPEAKER_01: 29:13

Yep.

SPEAKER_00: 29:13

And believe it or not, some people don't want to believe it. A lot of people are believing it, and the people that are believing it are the rodeo guys. Yep, and so the only difference is that you guys have an animal between you and the ground. Me, I'm just you know, the animal. And so got a lot of hate from that, and I had a lot of uh listeners go away, but I've gained so many uh rodeo listeners that it's it's uplifting, and and I always go back to the message of when you sent after Miles, and I was just like, Yeah, so you you've helped me out. Oh you know, and I'll here I am, I'm 43 years old. So you know what I mean? And so yeah, with with your message and and the the Miles uh episode really uh hang. High, and so it's it's I'm very grateful that you're here. Oh, well, that's so sweet. Yeah, well, thank you. Yeah, yeah. So, one question not your brother, not dad doing the multiple hat jobs that he does at the rodeo, you know, not your husband. Who's the one person that you enjoy watching? Not your husband. Oh gosh, that you don't miss that you know he's there or her, and you have to watch.

SPEAKER_02: 30:31

Oh, I there's so many. I mean, just like you were talking about athletes, we've seen such a shift in the way that rodeo contestants take care of their bodies. You know, everyone loves JB Mooney because he is one of the last of his kind as far as that old school rodeo. So you look at him and it's like looking back at the past. But now you have the Rocker Steiners and the Stetson Wrights and the Wayland Bourgeois and Taylor Broussard and even Trent Montero, too, they take such good care of their bodies and they're treating themselves more like athletes.

SPEAKER_01: 31:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 31:05

And so it's it's such an interesting shift going on that it's just so fun to watch a lot of them. And uh from working behind the scenes, a lot of them have become buddies, you know. Yeah, like Taylor Broussard, Trent Montero was my husband's best friend growing up, and then Trenton was one of my friends. One of the first friends I made at college was his younger sister. Unfortunately, we lost him in a bareback riding accident two years ago, but and he was one of the groomsmen at our wedding, and he and his wife Maria are actually one of the reasons that my husband and I got together.

SPEAKER_01: 31:36

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02: 31:37

And then come to find out that not only before I knew my husband Joe, how I knew Trenton, Joe had grown up with Trenton, and then come to find out my dad had rodeoed with Trenton's dad, Glenn. And so it was just like all these little, not to quote Taylor Swift, but these little invisible strings, you know, that had us all tied together.

SPEAKER_00: 31:53

It's okay. And it's okay. I've I've noticed a lot of the the rodeo athletes, especially those guys Terraps and Taylor Swift and all those other girly girls.

SPEAKER_02: 32:06

And Trenton was that way too. We loved Trenton for that. But and so then when Trenton passed, his wife Maria asked my husband and I to be godparents to their son that was a month old when Trenton died. And so it's it's so and then also Taylor Broussard is Trenton or is Noah's our godson, it's his other godson. And so there's so many people like it's like watching my family compete. So it's hard to pick one from a past barrel racer. I love watching Cassie Mowery and her story. I think her story at the NFR last year. Someone put like one of Noah Khan songs that call your mom to her walking up on stage and receiving her, which is making me like choke up now. Yeah, receiving her gold buckle and then seeing one of my dear friends, Katie Lucas, do the interview while Katie's pregnant with their first child. And it's it's just such a beautiful story having known that Cassie had lost her fiance last year and had won Kennewick here. And just, I mean, it it's such a Cinderella story, and she's just so phenomenal. But then I have friends too that are out competing, so it really is hard to pick just one because there's so many incredible athletes and great people, but then there's also ones that get overlooked, especially in the rough stock end because of the judging system. Like our judging we want to say our judging system in the PRCA is the same across the board, and it's not, unfortunately. There's politics that come into play, whether you like it or not. Hopefully I didn't just shoot me or my husband in my in our feet, but you can tell.

SPEAKER_00: 33:33

You can tell.

SPEAKER_02: 33:34

Yeah. You can tell last night.

SPEAKER_00: 33:35

Yep, yeah, you can tell it every night. Yeah, you can tell if they don't say certain things, do certain things, uh, or they're not a name.

SPEAKER_02: 33:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 33:44

They turn.

SPEAKER_02: 33:45

And well, and it's so hard to because a couple years ago I was I interned for Wrangler Network before Cowboy Channel got as big as it was. And then I was working for Wrangler Network again as a freelance contractor for a while. And so they sent me to it, would have been the Cinch playoff series when it was in Salinas when Salinas was in September. So four years ago now. And my husband used to travel with Chase Brooks and Sage Newman and Tyrell Smith and a lot of those Montana boys. And so I'm sitting there getting content, and my job is to film all of these rides and runs. And so Chase Brooks goes and he's spurring this horse down to be like 91. I mean, to win the round or maybe even win the rodeo kind of a deal. And it was in the short go. And they call him saying that maybe it was, I can't remember what side it was, but saying that he missed his markout on one side. Yeah. And I had the video of that side that showed he did not miss it. And it's hard with all those guys, and even you know it's bad when even Casey Fields was still going at that time, he came up to Chase and I kind of overheard their conversation. And Casey goes, Dude, I do not think you missed your markout right there. Yeah, and then again I had it on my phone and so I showed Chase, and I'm like, You did not miss your markout. So it's so hard in those situations without a replay.

SPEAKER_00: 34:59

People listen to this podcast. Sure, you want me to listen.

SPEAKER_02: 35:02

Yeah. I mean, but that that you know Hunter Greenup's run last night. I missed that one. Yeah, yeah. I I will say I missed that one. Oh no, no, bareback riding. You're talking bareback riding. No, I did not miss that one. Sorry. Yes, yeah. There's there it it happens. You can see when they're really trying to get someone there, whether it's to the finals or to the short round and stuff. And so it, I mean, and it's discouraging. A lot of these contestants get burnt out on it, and that's why they quit. Yeah. Because it's such a broken system.

SPEAKER_00: 35:33

And the more you get involved, the more you see people quit than join. It's it's sad.

SPEAKER_02: 35:39

Yeah. But and I asked my husband, because as a wife watching my husband get judged, you know, as a barrel racer, I didn't have to get judged. It was me and my horse, you know. Right. And fastest time wins, and you didn't have to worry about judging as much. And so now to and same with bullfighting, like as a cowboy protector, you don't, it's not like you're getting judged unless you're going to a competition kind of a deal. So now to be with someone that's that's their whole deal, is getting judged. It's discouraging for me as a wife to watch my husband and be like, Man, you got screwed on that horse. And I'm his biggest critic too. Like, I am, hey, you need to be doing this better. Hey, you need to be Yeah, yeah. But I I do it in the, I mean, and I'm sure most wives do, I do it in the sense of like, I want him to do good. I know what he's capable of, and he does a lot. And so it's hard when he's doing everything right, but the judges just don't look at him. And there's a whole other deal too, where like my husband was out for about two years because of injuries. He just had, I mean, he broke his leg, came back from that, had a blood issue from the broken leg, can't like had to have a third surgery, came back from that, broke his back like six months or no, broke his wrist a month later, came back from that, and then broke his back, and then came back right before we got married two years ago. And so he's out, and when that happens, it pretty much resets their qualifications. Like they're it they're no better than an 18-year-old on their permit at that point.

SPEAKER_00: 36:58

Is he still enjoying it?

SPEAKER_02: 37:00

He is. Yep, he is. He's right now his goal is to just keep building up his qualifications so that he can get into a lot of the winner rodeos because there's a lot of like Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio. Yeah, like my the last two years, my husband's won not only our circuit finals, like as far as the year end goes, but also the average at the circuit finals.

SPEAKER_01: 37:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 37:20

And so he won and won a couple rounds too, won ten thousand dollars. That money counts towards the new season.

SPEAKER_00: 37:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 37:28

And so he was sitting probably seventh in the world come November and December. And but a lot of those big rodeos down there in Texas don't count circuit finals money. So even though he was sitting, you know, like I said, around seventh in the world, they didn't count that money, so he couldn't get in. And so it's just it's it's an interesting time to see. And I asked him, I go, why do we keep doing this? Like I it it breaks my heart watching you not like strive so hard and work so hard and not see the results that we want to see. And he goes, ultimately, our my glory doesn't come from whether or not I get a gold buckle, it comes from Jesus. And that's what I'm doing it for. He's like, I'm doing it for obviously he enjoys it. I'm doing it for the Lord, and I'm doing it to provide for my family. Gotcha. And we love the industry, there's no other industry like it. No, so that's why we keep coming back, even when it is tough.

SPEAKER_00: 38:22

So, my question to you being who you are and the family that you have, what got you into journalism? What got you into that? Because I I I went to college for communications, so journalism, all that stuff, radio. I did a lot of radio, that's why I continue to do this, and this brought back the radio days. So, what got you into that, considering you know what your family's all about?

SPEAKER_02: 38:46

Yeah, again, I think it just goes back to my parents always said to give back to the industry that's given so much to me.

SPEAKER_01: 38:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 38:54

And I think there's after having lived around Fort Worth area, like I lived tucked back in Weatherford, so I wasn't even in the big city, but I missed having horses. I missed ranching, I missed those days out just pushing cows. I think there's something good, so good for your soul to be working with animals. And it's given me a lot of peace and a lot of joy in my life. So for me, I wanted to protect and promote that industry that had given so much to me. And the best way that I knew how to do that was to educate people on the contestants, on the stock, on the industry as a whole. And so just kind of like what I said earlier with the whole Yellowstone effect, right? Like our job now is to welcome people in with open arms and maybe correct them on how they might have been taught wrong, you know, and and help other people fall in love with the industry because there's a chance that in a hundred years it might not be here. I I pray that that's not the case, but I mean, we just we live in a world where you know technology's winning and stuff and and the old ways are dying out. Yeah. Nothing like that.

SPEAKER_00: 40:00

I mean, from from from the way you guys travel, the way you guys live on the road, the way you guys perform, I mean, the way you slack. I mean, come on. It's a lot, yeah. It's it's a lot to do with uh, you know, the the animals, you you, I mean, okay, so you when did you have that niche? When did you know you were gonna do that? You were gonna follow your dream.

SPEAKER_02: 40:25

Oh gosh. You know, my dad always said, do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life.

SPEAKER_01: 40:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 40:30

And so it's kind of hard to go find a mediocre office job that I just am eh on when I grew up with someone always telling me that. And so I when I was in college, I and again, I knew I wanted to promote the industry. Then I get to college, I'm like, okay, how do I want to promote it? Do I want to do it through social media, through writing, through broadcast, through, you know, whatever. And I always then when I graduated college, which I college rodeoed for New Mexico State as well, my coach was Logan Corbett, who was almost an NFR bareback writer, and now he works for Champion Living and coaches on other people and stuff. And it then when I graduated college in the start of the pandemic, so June or May of 2020, I was like, okay, I want to go tell the story of rodeo however it needs to be told, whether it be any of those facets. But then I got to Cowboy Channel and it helped me navigate. Oh, like I was doing sideline stuff before Cowboy Channel, but I just that was the part that I was like, if I'm gonna do it, I want to be at the top of the industry doing it. And for me, I like having conversations with people. I'm not, I'm my I call myself an extroverted introvert. If I'm around people I I like the industry I know and I have a purpose of being there, I'm super talkative. If I'm just by myself, I'm really quiet.

SPEAKER_00: 41:52

And so I understand.

SPEAKER_02: 41:53

Yeah, so I love the like one-on-one conversations that you get to have with those athletes and like even the little behind the scenes, like last night, Cade Sonyer, he comes out and what did he say? He said something like, Man, I feel like Garth Brooks after that horse. And I was like, Well, hang on, what part? Like, what do you mean? And he was like, Well, because I rode that that horse was a piece of crap, and da da da. And maybe I shouldn't be saying that, but no, yeah, um, he They're their worst critic. Oh, yeah. But then he said something, I was like, Well, what part of Garth Brooks? And he goes, Well, maybe more Toby Keith should have been a cowboy, and his hat was all crinkled and stuff. And so it's like all those little like, and I had Kennedy Riggs, who's here doing sideline for Cowboy Channel. Her sister is there filming for their little like double K digitals and stuff, their social media page, and she was filming all this conversation, and I was like, Oh, you need to do this, this, and this with it. Like, it'd be so cool. And so it's all those little like hidden moments and stuff that are so cool. So, like the year Trenton passed, I was doing Basin City and it was my last interview. I didn't know it at the time, but it was my last interview I ever got to do with him. And his wife was still pregnant in due that month, due in July. And I said, What's this legacy you want to leave for this child? And someone got a video of it of the back of us, and actually one of my best friends did, and that's one of my most precious moments I'll ever have just because not knowing that that was gonna be my last interview with him, you know. So yeah, okay, yeah. So it's just it's just a built-up of all of those hidden relationships and communication moments that you get to have with people that I'm like, let's show more of this.

SPEAKER_00: 43:29

But okay. Will you still be doing this when you have a family of your own?

SPEAKER_02: 43:35

Um that's been the question of the week to some degree. Yes.

SPEAKER_00: 43:40

For me, because I'm a family guy, I have three girls, so I I have the rights, I somewhat, to ask that question. So no one put me to it.

SPEAKER_02: 43:49

I would love to be, you know. I think after having just seen Katie Lucas and Janie Johnson both pregnant at the NFR in 2020, they were both due like December, January, and well, actually Katie was due in March, but she ended up having their son Hadley in January. It's it's really cool to see, you know, women that are at the top of the industry be pregnant and be killing it out there with families and newborns and all that stuff and living their dreams and promoting the industry. So I'd like to say yes. Okay. I, you know, like I said, I think there's just so something so good for your soul to be in God's creation and working with God's creation. And and that's I think part of what keeps me coming back to the industry and or not even coming back, just unable to walk away.

SPEAKER_00: 44:32

And uh do you think you'll ever walk away? Or will you be in the game like mom and dad?

SPEAKER_02: 44:37

I mean, you could ask my dad the same question. Yes, like we he say, like I might retire from bullfighting. Like for my dad, he's retired from bullfighting, but he hasn't walked away from rodeo, so I don't think I I ever will in that sense, you know.

SPEAKER_00: 44:50

Just seeing him on the on the dirt yesterday. Yeah, he's he's a commander. Oh, yeah, he's a commander. So not in a bad way, I'm just saying he knows.

SPEAKER_02: 44:58

Yeah, yeah. And I mean, here he's on the committee, and but he's also the Roughstock shoot boss, too. So he's telling those guys when they need to start pulling their saddles or their riggings or you know, and telling them, okay, you're first up, you're second up, you're you know, and telling them when to go, kind of a deal. But then like Clayton Bigelow two nights ago, he had a horse, and that horse, I don't know what happened, I didn't quite see it, but the gate came open too soon before he had nodded. So that horse started backing up with his butt. And so him and Ryan Wilson were my dad and Ryan were like put trying to push the gate closed because Clayton hadn't nodded yet. Yeah, and so it wasn't a declared start. And so at one point they had like seven different people trying to push against this horse to get the gate back closed.

SPEAKER_00: 45:39

And so something happened last night, something similar. I think it was uh during steer wrestling that something was ready.

SPEAKER_02: 45:46

Gotcha. Yep. Oh, yes, yep. I remember seeing that now. Yeah, he declared probably halfway down at the arena that it was uh foul basically on him.

SPEAKER_00: 45:56

Yeah, okay, on him. Okay, okay. Yeah, yeah, it's it's it's it's it's weird, you know, the re-rides and not re-rides. Yeah, it's just yeah, yeah, it's it's weird how that works.

SPEAKER_02: 46:08

Yeah, there's that's the thing that I uh one of the things I love about the industry because people are like, you could go football, you could go, and my parents tried to get me to do the local news, and even in college, all my professors were like, you can't report on rodeo, and it didn't matter if it was photography, broadcast, journal, like whatever. And I was like, kind of like, oh yeah, watch me. You know, like this is where my heart's at. This is the only thing I want to report on. And and within rodeo, you can narrow in on one sport and still never know everything.

SPEAKER_01: 46:35

Right, exactly.

SPEAKER_02: 46:36

And so to have, you know, so many events now, and then when you get junior high in high school in college, there's even more events than there is in professional rodeo. So it's just cool.

SPEAKER_00: 46:45

Speaking of blink of an eye, 1.8 record yesterday. Oh my gosh. I was telling my wife, I'm like, they make it look easy. It is crazy. What what was her name then?

SPEAKER_02: 46:56

Bailey Bates. Yeah, I was taking photos of her beforehand because we're actually gonna have her in our magazine next month or next issue. My goodness, 1.8. Yeah, I mean, just just crazy. And she had actually switched horses too. I can't remember what one she'd been riding before, but her that horse she was on last night was Reno. And I mean, and if you go back and watch that video, that horse kind of or not the horse, the calf kind of juke to the right. So for her to have caught that, like tells you how zoned in she was on that. And it's amazing. I mean, there aren't many things that we can do in our life in 1.8 seconds and be that successful.

SPEAKER_00: 47:30

Yeah, and and you know what's funny is everybody thinks eight seconds is the the time to beat, but when you go to steer wrestling and breakaway, it's like my goodness, a blink, and yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 47:41

Yep, I think the arena record in the steer wrestling there at Kennewake is three point one seconds.

SPEAKER_00: 47:46

Yeah, you're just out of the shoe.

SPEAKER_02: 47:48

Like, which we saw 3.2 in the second round, and and so yeah, there's but then and then you bring the barrier into play too of like they can't break that. So I mean exactly it the timing that they have to do. I was never roper by any means, and so the timing that they have to nail down just puts me in awe in that sense.

SPEAKER_00: 48:08

Yeah, and and speaking of the you know, just distinct, uh I mean you gotta you can't mess up, but like I asked uh a couple steer wrestlers why don't they do tie tie down? They're like, no, it's different, it's different. I'm like, How's it different? I'm like, I understand, but I'm like, bro, but if you can do steer wrestling, you can pretty much do tie down. They're like, no, no uh uh, uh-uh. No, no.

SPEAKER_02: 48:29

Well, and I actually for for content for Horse Heaven Roundups page, I went around and asked timed event contestants and rough stock contestants. So I asked the timed event contestants what rough stock contestant would be a good timey, and then I asked the rough stock contestants what timey would be it make a good roughie. And so all of the timed event contestants like Jesse Brown and Cash Enderley and Justin Schaefer, a lot of those guys were like, oh, Stetson would be great, or I can't, Mitch Pollack, like Caleb McMillan, which I mean he's an all-around contestant, he does it all, so it was kind of cheating, but he goes, Mitch Pollock would be a good one. Someone said Garrett Smith, who was a NFR bull fire or bull rider that is now turned calf roper. And then I you go and ask the ruffies, and they're like, oh, none of them could do it. None of them can switch over. And then at one point, at one point, Taylor Bruce Art said, Well, I bet if you got a calf roper he could that was like kind of gritty, he could ride bulls. And then I go and and asked a couple ruffies if you had to switch ends of the arena, what event would you do? So I asked Clayton Sellers that and he goes, Oh, I mean Clayton's an NFR bull rider and PBR like bull rider, and and he goes, Oh no, I I definitely do tie-down roping. And I was like the one pretty boy bull rider, you know, because you kind of get the cliche not the cliches, but you can definitely tell which one's the pretty boy sports from time to time. So yeah, it was just ironic.

SPEAKER_00: 49:51

He's filling his bucket, yeah. It's funny, it's funny. The the more you know, I I did the runs, I'm gonna continue to the run. I uh I've um before I was diagnosed with cancer, I was gonna get my media card, right? Not well, start amateur. Like I want to stay amateur because that's what I like. I I like seeing those those boys become men, you know, and become the people they are. But but yeah, they they got quite the personality of most of them. And it's just like it's funny. And and and I'll I'll tell you the two boys that I were impressed, not the ones that I I did the run with, but the the two boys that just caught me by surprise on how how they manage, how they, you know, their demeanor, the way they do it, the McFarland boys.

SPEAKER_01: 50:41

Oh from Idaho.

SPEAKER_00: 50:43

Yeah, you know what I'm talking about? Yep, those boys are different, but like it it it's it's pretty funny because they're they're like you know, the high school boys, yeah, but they act like grown men. And I'm like, I was just impressed just sitting there talking to them, and I'm like, Well, who are these guys, man? Yeah, they they they talk like they've been in the business for 50 years, you know, and it's just like but they're not even 20, they're not even 19.

SPEAKER_02: 51:08

Yeah, I mean, that's what I mean. They're a different breed nowadays, and it's awesome to see. I mean, they're just so they were always dedicated, you know, but it's a different type of dedication now that a lot of those contestants have.

SPEAKER_00: 51:20

Yeah, impressive the resume already. Yeah, it is it is it is crazy, you know, like with Wiley and then you got Zane and and you know, the college boys too. I really like the college groups out there, and you know, and gonna hit you right on that eventually soon. But yeah, it's it's it's cool to see that you know who the jokesters are and everything else. And to this day, I I I still feel the biggest jokester right now and always has been, even before you turn pro, Elaine Vaughn.

SPEAKER_02: 51:54

Oh, I love Lane. Wave on. So Wave Long. I've got to tell this story. So uh um Grand Cooley this year, I was interviewing Calgary Smith, who's past Pendleton champion out of Hermiston area, oh technically Adams, but and his older brother Kane Smith used to ride bulls and stuff. But and so I'm interviewing Calgary and his team roping partner, and I think it was Justin Farber that he was roping with there. And I go to ask Calgary. I was like, what you know, you've seen a lot of success with your, you know, Canadian national finals title, your Pendleton Roundup title. Like it's just kind of been a like what was the catalyst for this? And I specifically said the word catalyst, and he kind of had this stern, you know, because some of them get act like they can't smile on camera and they get all straight faced. So I was like, What was the catalyst for that? And he gets this smile on his face, and he goes, I don't know what that means. Like on camera as we're doing this interview. I just and he sm it lightened him up and he smiled. And I was like, Calgary, how did you get your start? Like, what started this snowball effect? So then I end up having to interview Lane that night. And he goes, Well, what are you gonna ask me? And I was like, Well, I you know, I don't know. Sometimes it just comes out when it comes out. And I was like, I'll probably ask you about your bull ride and maybe something else. He goes, Okay, but just don't ask me anything with big words. It was so stinking adorable.

unknown: 53:15

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 53:16

He's he's just a sweet, like sweet kid and and just very dedicated and yeah, got a great demeanor about him. Nice, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 53:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 53:27

Yeah, he cracks me up.

SPEAKER_00: 53:28

Yeah, but you you don't see it that often though, because there's uh but when you do, it's like, hmm.

SPEAKER_02: 53:34

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 53:35

But when I say often is a lot of people behind the shoots have their game face on, they don't want to mess around. But then you know, you got Lane, and then you got some other people joking around with them, you know. Yeah, it it it's it's fun to watch. It's fun to watch.

SPEAKER_02: 53:48

And it's I mean, all of those events, like I know a couple years ago it was very controversial at the NFR when they caught Rock or Say in the F, where it's like, what do you F and want from me? Yes, and it's hard because rodeo's always been presented as a family friendly friendly sport, you know, and as a Christian, I'm not that's not one of my it's not a word that's in my vocabulary, and but then from a TV standpoint, it adds drama, right? And we live in such a society that we're consuming so much stuff that it adds drama to a sport where there was drama, but if you weren't in the niche of it and like knew the stats and all that, you might miss it. Yeah, and so I think it added something in that aspect, and so you see a lot of those guys that are now starting to show more personality because it works, yes, sales, it works, yeah. I think I mean you really see it in the PVR and the bull riding, but there's a lot at stake, you know, at some of those rodeos. Now to win a round at the NFR is like$30,000 to win the round.

SPEAKER_00: 54:46

Could you imagine?

SPEAKER_02: 54:47

And I mean, even you get down to I really wanted to do a story on Cassie Mowery after her win last year because it it really could have been it's one of those top moments for me, like up there with Taff Hiedeman winning the world after Lane died, you know, because when you go down and look at the numbers, which I wish I had them all right here in front of me, because it's so just like crazy. Yeah, Haley had like, and don't quote me on this, but Haley had like five round records, and then Cassie came in and set two more, and then going into the finals, they both hit barrels, I believe, going into the finals in the 10th round there at the NFR, and they were$10,000 apart. And Haley had been riding sister all week, and then you see Cassie go, and she is winning the round, or maybe she didn't win the round, I can't remember, but she nails it, does exactly what she needs to do on Jarvis on that horse, which that horse was only five years old at the time, and then you see Haley come in and she's not on Sister, she's on J Lo that I believe is owned by Ivy Conradado Sabins. Yeah, and you're like, Whoa, what why did this get changed? Well, and and that's kind of me. Like, I think in order to promote the industry, you have to be a fan of it, right?

SPEAKER_01: 56:01

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 56:02

And so it was just like, yeah, and now also Cassie Haley has the two fastest times inside the Thompson Mac ever. Cassie comes out and whips one too, so now she's got the third fastest time ever. I mean, just all these random little records that you're like, oh my gosh, this is crazy to see. And but it adds so much, like so many layers to it, and especially having Cassie like had lost her fiance in I think it was June or July of that year, you know, and then the devastation of that. But then to come back and and win, not and it's I mean, that's a tight pin there at the NFR. So and Jarvis was like five years old, which is so young.

SPEAKER_01: 56:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 56:43

And so to come out there and and run all 10 rounds at at that age of a horse is just phenomenal. And so to me, I'm like, someone needs to, we need to get someone in here to make a movie of this because it's just so like such a Cinderella story that is made for on screen kind of a deal. You don't have to add drama to it because it was already there, you know. I know I'm like, who can we call to and so it's just it's such a I mean, you really just have to be such a fan of of whatever you're doing for it to be. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 57:15

Well, this is the only sport that acknowledges the animal as an athlete. And you guys know the name, like you're spit, you know, and you the more you get involved with it, the more you understand, like dogs, animals, they're yeah, yeah, yeah. And it all, you know, you can't just get somebody that just started animal-wise. Yeah, you can get the the big points, you gotta have the big dog to get the big dog points. And then it's it it's the more you understand that, the more you understand the game, and it's the the game is huge, yeah. It's just yeah, and and it's funny how they draw it too, you know, because when the big names draw the big name dogs, animal, it's just it's like okay, it's gonna be a big event. Yeah, that maybe eight seconds, or you know, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 58:07

Well, I mean, and even with horses too, like you know, 10, 15, 20 years ago, you see Sherry Servey come out on a dark palomino, and you're like, oh, that's stingray. That's that's an iconic horse. Yeah, or you know, I mean, there's just so so so many now that you're like, these horses are just as much of the athletes as we are. We couldn't do the whole event of rodeo wouldn't exist without these animal athletes, and it's so just interesting to see that connection. And a lot of those guys, especially on the rough stock end, they know, you know, they know, okay, I've got, you know, whatever horse from whatever stock contractors say, like borderline untimely from Calgary Stampede, I've got him. You can't dink around with him in the shoe, you have to sit on him and nod, or like, you know, I've got Sergeant Whitney from Calgary Stampede. Okay, you gotta, and uh again, don't quote me because this isn't correct, but you gotta sit on her in the shoe, just sit there and pet on her. She just likes a little bit of attention before you nod your head, you know, like you you start to learn the personalities, like Flying Five, Donnie Hudzel, who we lost last year, and his family, they have this really cool stud, which he's kind of getting older now, but his name's Major Huckleberry, and they would bring him to Kennewick. And so when I was probably middle school or high school, where we park our trailer, the bucking horses are all right there. And because he's a stud, they had him separated and stuff. And and I started going by, and every time I'd walk by, he'd stick his nose out at me.

SPEAKER_00: 59:35

And I was like, That's funny.

SPEAKER_02: 59:36

Oh, okay. So then I start petting on him. And I mean, he wouldn't do it every time I walk by, he wanted attention. And I'm like, that's really cool for this big old beefy stud to be like, hey, I just want a little bit of you know, just yeah, they they know, yeah, they've got so much personality. Like, we've got some foals on the ground right now at my grandma's house, and she just bred to the first time to streak a fling, which is a phenomenal barrel racer. And then she's got another one. She really likes her Frenchman's Falcons, which is owned by Marion Butch Knowles in Hermiston, but has been a voice of the NFR for many years, you know. And yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:00:11

And um Hermiston has a lot of athletes there.

SPEAKER_02: 1:00:15

Yeah, yeah. And then she also bred one to one of her friends who like used to show horses and stuff like that to one of their studs. And so she's got three babies on the ground that are so different bloodlines, like they're all related through their mothers, but their fathers are different bloodlines and all that stuff and completely different personalities. The little red realm that she gave us, we call her Lucille. She is so spicy and so sassy. And like, oh, like sometimes I I'm just like, oh, you're gonna be a handful someday. And then that little streak of fling Philly that she has is just so chill. Like, I can I mean, she's only four months old, and I can just drape myself over, and she just like takes it, you know. So yeah, and they've got such beautiful, unique personalities that it's kind of fun to learn about them and stuff and see how they go. Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:01:05

All right, couple questions. Go for it. I'm gonna ask you. Brother, probably gonna be like, all right. You you gave me this cookbook, right? But when you're on the road or when you were on the road before, hubby and all that stuff, right? Did you eat peanut butter jelly sandwiches? Or do you still eat them?

SPEAKER_02: 1:01:22

Oh, for sure. But I'm picky on this.

SPEAKER_00: 1:01:25

Okay, so there you go. Okay, so how do you build a peanut butter jelly sandwich?

SPEAKER_02: 1:01:29

So the bet if I'm gonna make it, actually, no, the best one, I can't make it because my grandma grows rhubarb and she would make strawberry rhubarb jam.

SPEAKER_01: 1:01:40

Really?

SPEAKER_02: 1:01:41

And I've tried to, I mean, same bread, same peanut butter, same jelly. Like I've tried to recreate one of her sandwiches, and it's just always better when my grandma makes it.

SPEAKER_01: 1:01:49

Yeah, with love though.

SPEAKER_02: 1:01:50

Yes, yeah, and but her jam is is the best. She'll send me with like six containers of it back to Nevada and it stays in my freezer until I eat it all.

SPEAKER_00: 1:01:57

So if Mr. Harper recreated it, it wouldn't be the same.

SPEAKER_02: 1:02:01

It wouldn't be the same. It'd still be good, but I mean, and even if I made it, it'd still be good, but it's not a good idea. Yeah, it's just it's different when grandma makes it. They're still good, but not the same.

SPEAKER_00: 1:02:12

Okay. Before running with your your husband, what was the music choice and your rig?

SPEAKER_02: 1:02:18

Oh gosh. My so my husband and I both have very eclectic taste, just very different. Yeah. I like they always say I I listen to sad girl music, but I like music that makes you feel something, right?

SPEAKER_00: 1:02:31

I gotcha, I gotcha. Emotion.

SPEAKER_02: 1:02:33

Yes. So whether it's worship music, whether it's Taylor Swift, whether it's 90s country, you know, it's it's such a a wide variety of stuff. So yeah, a lot of a lot of worship and like I said, Taylor Swift or like current pop, or I don't know. Lately I've been really going back to early 2000s and late 90s country. Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:02:54

Late nine.

unknown: 1:02:55

Okay.

SPEAKER_02: 1:02:55

Yeah.

unknown: 1:02:56

All right.

SPEAKER_00: 1:02:56

I gotcha, I gotcha. Now, with Mr. Harper, who controls your radio, the the music scene, who controls it? And what do you listen to?

SPEAKER_02: 1:03:05

So if we're headed to a rodeo, he controls it. Okay. Because he's got to get pumped up and ready to go. Right.

SPEAKER_00: 1:03:10

So he does get pumped up. A lot of them do, but then a lot of them don't.

SPEAKER_02: 1:03:14

Yeah. And so but now on Spotify, you have Spotify jams. And so we can both play music. So there isn't really one or the other that controls it. He likes a lot of like rock, some rap stuff too. Old, old Western, Don Edwards. Oh gosh, I can't think of the other gentleman's name now. Uh Ian Tyson. A lot of that type stuff. And but then he also likes a lot of Irish music because we're both. So he's Irish and Scottish, and then I'm Irish as well.

SPEAKER_01: 1:03:44

He likes that.

SPEAKER_02: 1:03:45

Yes. Oh, yeah. There's this one song that it's more of like a spoof, like funny song, and it's called The Sick Note. And it's really that one always has me giggling.

SPEAKER_00: 1:03:53

But yeah, I tried, I tried to bring metal in on that run, and their their sense of metal is like rock, like well, less than nickelback, right? Yeah. So I was like, well, I'm not bringing my speaker, I'm not gonna play my music on the speaker. So guess what? I was like, man, you gotta get pumped up. You know, you gotta get pumped up. It's like, why don't you do smelling salts? So we did smelling salts this last run, and it was the butt of the joke. And let me tell you, that was our way to pump up, and uh we were interesting, we were on that. But then when we were doing that, a couple days later, Matt Merritt puts a post on social media of smelling salts.

SPEAKER_02: 1:04:32

Oh god.

SPEAKER_00: 1:04:34

Have you done?

SPEAKER_02: 1:04:35

I haven't. Nope.

SPEAKER_00: 1:04:36

Okay. You know, you know, like you go into let's say a goat or a pig um at the fair the barn where they don't clean up after themselves.

SPEAKER_02: 1:04:48

Yeah, the 4 H area times 10.

SPEAKER_00: 1:04:51

It's straight ammonia.

SPEAKER_02: 1:04:54

Oh, yeah, no, I didn't sound like that.

SPEAKER_00: 1:04:56

That was that was fun. That was like the high highlight of our week. Because I was like, bro, you can get pumped up with other things, but man, like dude, you he's like, it was your fault. You told me to buy them. I'm like, bro, no, I didn't. I was like, music, and then yeah, he was like, but I bought smelling songs. Like, all right. That's funny. Yeah, yeah, good stuff.

SPEAKER_02: 1:05:13

Yeah, some of them are better when they just stay chill and quiet. Like, I mean, and it's the same with horses too. I had a horse that we bought from Billy and Holly Up Hour, and and I was young and dumb at the time and was used to horses being all anxious and ready before they go into the arena. And then he just walked in all chill, and I was like, You're not awake. And so then I started jacking him up and trying to get him all excited, and then I screwed him up because he was just one of those ones where they had trained him to just be chill and cool and could take off and would did his job well. And and so I think some cont uh the same can be said for contestants too. Some of them are just more quiet and still, and and I have to ask. I gotta ask.

SPEAKER_00: 1:05:54

What gets you in the zone?

SPEAKER_02: 1:05:56

It really depends. Sometimes it's I think it's just being around a lot of those contestants too, and knowing the stories and being excited about what you know, if if this contestant rides this horse, this will be the first time this horse has written been ridden all year, or like knowing the backstories a bit, or like when Trenton died, I was doing Walla Walla Frontier Days that year. And I got to interview some of the bareback riders.

SPEAKER_01: 1:06:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 1:06:27

Right. Uh that were like buddies with Trent. And so, like knowing that and being able, like I my thing is, and it's kind of a cruel, cruel joke, but me and one of my other girlfriends, we always love making people cry, and because it's great television, right? It's great to know that emotion and to even have that connection with a person too.

SPEAKER_01: 1:06:45

For me, real.

SPEAKER_02: 1:06:47

Yes. I I love that aspect of it. So, like at the NFR, this one's funny. At the NFR last year, it was blue night for the bearback riders. They all wear blue for Trenton Montero. And and so I'm in the media room and Jess Pope wins the round, and he comes in and I'm just doing some stuff for the magazine for their social media page. And I ask him, you know, what did it mean to win it tonight after losing Trenton and stuff? And and this had been a year and a half after, or not quite a year and a half after Trenton had passed, but uh Jess Pope was like still just like, you know, he was such a great human being talking about Trenton and stuff, and he starts crying. And then I start crying too because Jess is a buddy and and Trenton was one of our dear friends, and and so then I after the interview, I go up and give Jess a big old hug, and I'm like, Thank you so much. Then I walk off and go do whatever else I have to do. Well, when I walked off, everyone else, I was the first one to interview him, so everyone else started asking him. So he spent 20 minutes crying, I guess. And he finally told those guys, he was like, Give me a minute, like let me go collect myself and quit crying and then come back. And so then Jess ran into my husband later that week and he goes, Your wife sucks. She made me do this, then everyone else was making me cry. And but just to know that you have that kind of connection with someone, it it just draws people in so much more. It shows your heart and shows your the heart of the industry to fans. Yeah. So I that to me gets me jacked up. It it really just depends on what's going on in my life, you know. Sometimes I just feel like I need more Jesus, so I'm just blasting worship music and I'm like, Lord, you know, let let whatever I'm doing, you work through me in that situation. So it yeah, it changes. Yep.

SPEAKER_00: 1:08:28

Like prior to this, I was like, I don't want to start in the beginning. I was just like, it didn't seem like I was, you know, I was stumbling, wasn't stuttering, but I was stumbling. But then when we started getting real, it was just like, okay, we're good, you know? You always have those moments. That's why I had to ask.

SPEAKER_02: 1:08:43

Yeah, yeah. It's part of my job to as a sideline reporter to make people feel comfortable because you know, you shove a camera in people's face and a lot of them get quiet. Like my mom's not one to be on camera. She does not, and and my dad's used to it just through his career. Again, Miles is like, he'll do it, but it's not his favorite thing. Yeah, and so my job is like if I have someone that's younger that doesn't know, I said, Hey, this is just a conversation with you and I. You can just look at me. It's my job to bring in the third person that is the camera. You don't worry about that, just talk to me, kind of a deal.

SPEAKER_00: 1:09:14

And you can't just intimidating.

SPEAKER_02: 1:09:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:09:16

But then here I am in front of royalty. It's just like, you know, I'm like, okay, I have to get over it, you know. So you have that effect. Oh, thank you. You have that effect, yeah. Whether people want to believe it or not. So what is next? I know NFR, but what's this next run for you, your husband? Are you gonna be with your husband all the way?

SPEAKER_02: 1:09:38

Not all the way. Sometimes just with because we ranch too. So, like he's up in Waterville tonight and possibly Court d'Alane. I'm not quite sure on on that one, but then he'll drive back here to Tri-Cities tomorrow night, or tonight, actually, and then have to hustle home to Nevada because they're branding cows Monday morning. They're branding calves. And but I've got a doctor's appointment up here, so I'm not going down there. You know, I've just got some other things up here I gotta do. And then Labor Day weekends coming up, and so I'm like, we're getting ready at the first of every other month. I have articles due to me, so I'm reviewing all of them and we're readjusting timelines because we just changed our printer with the magazine and stuff, and and so that readjusted my entire schedule. I don't know, I no longer have a month in between, so I'm pretty much going with the magazine itself from September 1st until January 1st. And then like just pumping out a whole bunch of magazine issues, and then within that, I'll go Pendleton Roundup and work with Michael Wright there to do social media stuff for them. I'll have our circuit finals in October and then probably go to the NFR.

SPEAKER_00: 1:10:47

Oh, probably probably like dad doesn't make you, no, oh like the magazine doesn't the magazine's just young enough that like we can pick and choose.

SPEAKER_02: 1:10:59

Yeah, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01: 1:11:00

So okay.

SPEAKER_02: 1:11:01

But the one one of the ones I'm also really excited for too is last year, Ben Londo, who's the coach, Cal Poly, the rodeo coach down there, he's from Oregon, or from Pendleton. Yes. Oh my gosh, that's where I wanted to go to school so bad. But they put on the breakaway, which is a breakaway roping on the beach, and so it's and it's not like the arenas all four sides, it's like three of the sides are fenced off, and then the fourth side is the ocean. The ocean, yeah. Like it is right there on the beach, and so and they buck a couple horses, and but they had me last year come do sideline interviews for their TV show that they post like it's more of a post-production type deal, and and they asked me back this year, and it's so cool. I love working with Ben, he's such a great, great person, and I see him at every year at the college finals, and I never got to rodeo for him, but like I'm 26 years old, I've been out of college for five years now, and he like him and my dad have known each other for a long time. And but even now to be contracted to work the college finals when I'm there producing their opening ceremonies, he's coaching like you're doing such a great job. And there's so many people that weren't even ever my coach that I'm like, I feel like I was your student because you're you've scooped me up and I'm an adult now, you know. And so I always love going down there and and working that. And this year it's a two-day event now, and they're having concerts there. So they're gonna have, I believe it's Tyler Bingham and maybe Midland, I think.

SPEAKER_00: 1:12:25

Midland.

SPEAKER_02: 1:12:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:12:27

Have you noticed they travel more than they used to? They go to the smaller shows. Yeah. It's interesting on how their route to fame, and then you know, they go to the they still or manage to go to the smallest of festivals. I'm like, Midland, okay.

SPEAKER_02: 1:12:42

Yeah, which I think is awesome to keep us grassroots a bit.

SPEAKER_00: 1:12:45

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Speaking of, did you see the prices of Zach Toff's concerts here? Oh I haven't.

SPEAKER_02: 1:12:51

I heard he's coming to Kenwick, but I haven't seen him. Two nights. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:12:55

Crazy, crazy money. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 1:12:57

Crazy money. Yeah. So my niece is obsessed with Zach. Like my youngest one that rode sheep last night. That's the name of the song. Yeah. And so my he did the NFR last year, you know, and my dad's there on the buck and shoot crew, and so and he's knows Zach's dad from, you know, obviously just being right down the road a bit. And so he runs into him. Hey, my granddaughter is a huge fan of yours. Can you do a video for me? And so Reese, who's like three at the time, goes, I'm marrying Zach Top. And so Zach, I mean, he was awesome. He films this video. Hi, Reese. This is Zach Top. I hear we're getting married someday. I can't wait to meet you, kind of a deal. Like just such a great sport about it and stuff. And yeah. Have you seen the theories about Alan Jack?

SPEAKER_00: 1:13:44

Yes. Yes. Yes. Those crack me up. But I I I can see it. I can see it.

SPEAKER_02: 1:13:50

Yeah, he's had a quick rise to fame, and I think part of it is just his his again, kind of like that 90s country type vibe, you know.

SPEAKER_00: 1:13:59

Yeah, they're bringing it back. And hopefully they keep it. Hopefully he keeps it. Hopefully, you know, they don't they don't change it in Asheville. I'm more of a red dirt person. Like I I I I love the red clay strays. And then when I go to the NFR, I they only been to Vegas twice. I've seen them twice. Yeah, so yeah, I normally will go to a concert and then just hang out on Christ Cowboy Christmas. What is the Lucesi's? Lucese brute boot brand. Is it Lucci's? Yeah, my my Tracy, my wife, downstairs was like, You're buying me something this year.

SPEAKER_02: 1:14:35

Just just don't get her into the old gringos, because then you'll really your wallet will really be hurting you.

SPEAKER_00: 1:14:41

Yeah, but no, I normally we'll see a concert and then go to Cowboy Christmas and that's it. Get my take. I just it's it's it's pretty fun to be around like-minded people. And uh that's how I feel like when I'm around the rodeo, just you know, people not a caring sight, just athletes watching other athletes.

SPEAKER_02: 1:15:01

Yeah, yeah. I mean, but they're here. There's bad eggs no matter where you go, and there's good eggs no matter where you go. So you do get them, they're just uh both different. I mean, even where we live in Nevada, small town, and they're small town drama. So and those are all ranching families, so they're everywhere, unfortunately. It's just part of it.

SPEAKER_00: 1:15:18

Yeah, I think the more you get involved, you see it. I I like to be the outsider, but I've I I see what you're saying. I see what you're saying, and uh, and it's just it's it's it's nice to be a little outsider, but the more in you're like, uh well, I'm an outsider, I can just shove that all the way. Yeah, so I'm saying if you know what I mean, like seriously, yeah, seriously, because I get a lot of hate because you know, Elaine Kimball, shout out, I don't want to shout her out, but I was I was at Grand Grand Grandview, you know, it was hot, and I was so I wore shorts, you know, khaki shorts, rodeo shirt, and hat, and she's like, look like an adventurer. I'm like, all right, so you're the reason why I got this like dress code, you know, before I get on like what can I wear? You know, what should I wear? Because if it's hot, I don't want to wear jeans. Yeah, I'm not a contestant, you know. I'm a bystander that likes the game. I'm not gonna just sit there and melt.

SPEAKER_02: 1:16:13

Yeah, so Wrangler's actually making some and cinches too, but we've always been a Wrangler family. Their ATG line is very outdoorsy. Oh, vent like yes, yep. I love for whether we're ranching or rodeo and I love that.

SPEAKER_00: 1:16:26

Yeah, yeah. So so I uh got to deal with AG gear.

SPEAKER_02: 1:16:30

Oh, awesome!

SPEAKER_00: 1:16:31

So like I got in more involved because of their pro gear, the you know, the the the wick, yep, sweat wick. But yeah, they they got some nice pearl snaps, and so yeah, yeah, I I wear their stuff, but still I guess that's not up to par. I don't care because you know I'm accepted, so that's all that matters. So, Clay, uh, how do you feel about this episode?

SPEAKER_02: 1:16:56

I like it. Yeah, it's been good.

SPEAKER_00: 1:16:57

How long do you think we've been on?

SPEAKER_02: 1:16:59

Well, I looked at my watch a second ago.

SPEAKER_00: 1:17:01

Yeah, so you gotta leave.

SPEAKER_02: 1:17:03

Well, no, I I just have a production meeting at four.

SPEAKER_00: 1:17:06

So is the only thing. And and I know, and that's why I'm so blessed and thankful that you came on. Yeah, and so that's why I asked that question. I'm talkative, so I know it's been a hot minute, but it's it's totally fine, but I I know it's rodeo week, and and I big rodeo week, the man is in charge, you know. You're doing your thing, and you know, you're here, there, everywhere in between, and you taking the time out of your busy schedule during this week means a lot. Oh yeah, you know, and like I said before, you're one of the main reasons why I I continued that. That and uh Hankinson the third. If you know Hankinson, I don't know Harmiston, no James Hankinson.

SPEAKER_02: 1:17:45

It sounds familiar. Okay, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:17:48

When when my dad was on his deathbed, he was helpful. He's like, Nick, do you really enjoy the podcast? Yeah, well, keep at it. So you are the main reason why I stayed in the rodeo just because of the words. So um Clay, I I appreciate you, I appreciate your friendship and me understanding the game, I appreciate your family. I have nothing but uh you know high praise for you and your family. And hopefully one of these days I get to meet Mr. Harper himself, and just you know, you know, I don't know, have a chit-chat. So a conversation.

SPEAKER_02: 1:18:20

So yeah, he's he's way more interesting than I am. He's into metal detecting and history, and oh yeah, he's he's we're both very nerdy on things, but he's way more interesting than I am.

SPEAKER_00: 1:18:30

You're humble, you're humble, right? This is a podcast uh episode of you, but you're a cheerleader, believe it or not. Yeah, yeah, I know it comes with territory, yeah, but just know what you've accomplished in this little time. Oh, well, thank you after college and even you know, before and during college. Look what you've done, you know. So start start tuning your own horn. If you can, it's okay, it's not you know frowned upon, especially in this room. But like seriously, you you're great at what you do, you bring people in and just know what you do. It means a lot to a lot of people that outside.

SPEAKER_02: 1:19:05

Yeah, well, thank you.

SPEAKER_00: 1:19:06

Anyway, it's been a pleasure. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02: 1:19:08

Of course. Thanks for having me. It's great. Yep, for sure. Yeah, yeah, promise.

SPEAKER_00: 1:19:13

Anytime. All right, because I just hit my fourth year.

SPEAKER_02: 1:19:16

Oh boy, yeah. No, anytime. Yep.