28 minute read
REGION X
830.798.7755 • sarrington36@yahoo.com
RENEE WEITZ
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PO Box 40 • London, Texas 76854 512.332.6731 • weitzrr@gmail.com
254.290.4965 • jerrywrighthomes@hughes.net
SECRETARY - STEPHANIE SHOEMAKER
6500 CR 1202 • Cleburne, Texas 76031
817.648.2728 • texasregion10@gmail.com
STUDENT OFFICERS PRESIDENT - SAIGE SEALY VICE PRESIDENT - MAKENZIE DOWELL SECRETARY - CHAINEY WEITZ
STATE DIRECTORS / REGION OFFICERS BRANDON JONES
194 CR 427 • Lorena, Texas 76655
254.833.0251 • crystal_jones1991@yahoo.com
PERFORMANCE REPORT
THE RIGHT DIRECTION
By KATY WEBB – Performance Reporter
As the last few rodeos for the 2020-2021 season are coming quickly so is spring time! After all of the recent cold weather that has brought a lot of power outages, record setting cold temperatures and heavy snow and ice I think that I can speak for everyone when I say we will be happy to have some warmer weather. With only a few more
rodeos left before state the A - Game will be brought. The Region X scholarship was postponed to February 26th; I hope all of the seniors try to apply for this amazing scholarship.
A few days ago I heard a sermon that the preacher of the Carthage Cowboy Church spoke about. He related how getting ready for the winter storms was the same as how we need to prepare and be ready for the return of Christ. Mathew 24: 44 says that “ therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” The bible tells us that Jesus is coming when we least expect it and we have to be prepared. Just like we prepare and get ready for the cold weather we need to start living by God’s word and preparing for when the return of Jesus happens. With all the many signs that are occurring with our country and its unpredictable future, we should pray that God leads us in the right direction.
We all need to try to encourage each other to be the best we can be not only in the arena, but in everyday life. It’s up to us to make the best of not only this year but each and every day. Good luck to all Region X contestants along with all other THSRA contestants as we wrap up the 2020-2021 rodeo season!
ELIZABETH BARTA OF REGION IV
by Jacqueline Knox
The Whataburger Whatakid is selected due to their ability to excel both in and out of the rodeo arena. Whataburger is proud to recognize a THSRA member from each of the ten Regions who truly upholds the title “Whatakid!” One of the nominees will be chosen at the State Final Rodeo in June as the Whatakid of the Year. In recognition of this accomplishment they will receive free Whataburgers for an entire year!
Congratulations to the Whatakid of the month, Elizabeth Barta! This eighteen-year-old senior from Fort Worth, Texas is a beast in competitions. In the arena, she competes in barrel racing and pole bending. Of the two, she likes competing in barrels more.
Elizabeth rides two horses, Dobie and Cupid. Dobie, a 22-year-old quarter horse, is her barrel horse and one of the biggest reasons she is still riding today. She recalled how Dobie once jumped out of his stall while she was cleaning it and she had to chase him all the way across the building. Elizabeth rides poles on Cupid, a 16-year-old quarter horse. She loves how both of her horses have their own big personality, and that she can have fun with them.
Elizabeth got involved in rodeo because of her cousin, Jared Barta. “I grew up around that side of my family a lot and was always around horses. I thought that I might as well just do it too,” Elizabeth said. So, she started practicing and competed in her first rodeo when she was in eighth grade. At that time, she had no idea how much she would grow to love rodeo. “It is one of those things that you start just for fun,” Elizabeth said. “But then it just gets to the point where you are so competitive and want to be the best. I didn’t expect to get as far I have.”
In addition to THSRA, Elizabeth also competes with the Barrel Racing Association of Texas (BRAT).
Elizabeth said that her favorite rodeo is always the state finals. She has qualified for state three times in pole-bending. This year, she is currently sitting second for barrels with only two rodeos left and is hungry to compete again at the state finals. Elizabeth also mentioned that her greatest achievement is placing in the top 20 average for poles her freshman year of high school.
Elizabeth is so thankful to THSRA for bringing her some of her best friends. “We have all grown so close,” Elizabeth said. “Most times when I go to region rodeos, I don’t stay in my own trailer. I stay with the girls I have met and known the last four or five years. That’s as much family as we could be.”
She also talked about how willing everyone is to help out those that they are competing against. “I had half of my tack break on me during my pole run at the last rodeo, and I had countless people offer me whatever I needed to make safe runs,” Elizabeth said.
In addition to rodeo, Elizabeth takes her academic very seriously. She is in the top 10% of her class and has consistently been on honor roll throughout high school. Elizabeth is also a threetime student of the year for her high school. At school, her agriculture classes are always her favorite. Currently, she is taking practicum in agriculture, which is how she has an internship at an equine vet clinic in Grandview, Texas.
Additionally, Elizabeth is a member of National Honor Society, FFA, and A.V.I.D. (advancement via individual determination) club at her high school, Mansfield Legacy High School. She also does some community service through her school. During her free time, Elizabeth loves to play around with photography and take photos.
Because of her schedule, Elizabeth chose to go virtual with her high school this year. She usually starts her day by doing her online classes, both the ones through her high school and the ones through her local community college. After that, she will either work horses or go to work at the equine vet clinic. Then she works on her homework to finish out the day.
When asked what her motto on life is, Elizabeth said it is “do no harm but take no bull.” She saw this on social media her freshman year of high school and knew that’s what she wanted her life motto to be. “I am very outgoing and will stand up for myself without a doubt, but I also have gone through things that make me turn into a little more of a timid person where I won’t stand up for myself,” Elizabeth said. “So, it is a wakeup call to me to remember that I can protect myself and stand up for myself.” Elizabeth really looks up to her mom, Rachelle Barta. When Elizabeth was two years old, Rachelle beat stage three pancreatic cancer. “Stage three has about a 5% chance of living,” Elizabeth said. “And she did it with a toddler none the less.” Rachelle is now going on her 17th year cancer free! Elizabeth talked about how her mom is always there for her. “We are really close,” Elizabeth said. “My mom is the thing that has kept me going over the years.” Elizabeth recognizes the sacrifices that come along with having horses. “I have sacrificed a lot of my time and energy from a social standpoint,” Elizabeth said. “I don’t get to spend the night with my friends or hangout during the weekend as much as others do. But horses is what I chose and what I love to do.”
In the future, Elizabeth plans to attend Tarleton State University and major in animal science. She hopes to get her vetineray tech and equine reproduction certification, so she can work as a vet tech for a breeding center. “I want to help further the sport of rodeo and give back to the horses and the community that made me the person that I am,” Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth is honored to be this month’s Whatakid!
SPRING FASHION
NNothing like a major Texas snowstorm to get us counting down the days until Spring and Summer have officially arrived! With everyone trading in their warm clothes for fashion made for the sun, we rounded up the hottest trends of 2021 with a little help from some of the brands we love the most.
Lone Star Love 10X Straw hat from Charlie 1 Horse in 3 ½” downturn Brim with a yellow velvet ribbon and antique Star pin. $65 | Charlie1Horsehats.com
Men’s Wrangler® Contrast Trim Western Two Snap Flap Pocket Shirt in Blue $49 | wrangler.com Hooey Recess Backpack 25 Liters, Fits Most 15” Laptops, Patented Hat Strap, Rain Cover, Side Pockets, Organizer Pockets $34.99 | getyourhooey.com
Here is a quick list of what to look for:
• Sorbet inspired pastel tones • Head scarves for the ladies • Yellow and bright blue will be your accent pops of color this year from handbags, hats and shoes • Bring on the fringe and put it on our bags this Summer • Bubble gum colored shirts • Draped jewelry means lots of layering • Bridgerton inspired florals • Eyelet blouses • White boots • 80s are coming in hot with bubble sleeves making a comeback • Athleisure wear
continued on pg 42
Hooey Lunchbox Soft construction to compact, Insulated & wipeable interior, Internal mesh pocket, Adjustable shoulder strap $19.99 | getyourhooey.com
Bracelets outlawspirit.com
THSRA Logo Cap $20 | chgraphics.com
Hy O Silver Buckle hyosilver.com
Everly Boots buckfergesonoriginals.com
Leather Backpack outlawspirit.com Moab Crew Loose Fit, cropped dolman long sleeve knit sweater with drawstring hem. $72 | Kimesranch.com
Boots from Bottom to Top: Dan Post, Idyllwind, Dingo, Idyllwind bootbarn.com Cowboy Cut® Work Western Chambray Long Sleeve Shirt $29-$32 | wrangler.com Wrangler® 20X® 01 Competition Jean in River Wash $54-$56 | wrangler.com
Wrangler® Blanket Lined Denim Jacket in Faded Indigo $79 | wrangler.com
Hooey Lunchbox Soft construction to compact, Insulated & wipeable interior, Internal mesh pocket, Adjustable shoulder strap $19.99 | getyourhooey.com Hy O Silver Cross hyosilver.com
20X Dakota Ridge Straw hat 4 ¼” brim available in precreased or open crown styles. Features an all around 2 tone vent pattern and a drilex cloth sweatband. $140 | Resistol.com
20X Cedar Canyon Straw hat 4 ¼” brim available in precreased or open crown styles. Features an all around sawtooth vent pattern and a drilex cloth sweatband. $140 | Resistol.com
Azetec Hoodie Pullover hood with drawcords and pouch front pocket. Raw edge detailing with small horn embroidery at lower left chest. $82 | kimesranch.com
Farrah Driftwood Pants buckfergesonoriginals.com
continued on pg 44
SPRING FASHION Ad Index
American Hat Company Buck Fergeson Boot Barn CH Graphics Hooey Hy O Silver Kimes Outlaw Spirit Resistol Wrangler 55 41 37 25 29,39,56 48 47 44 35 04
Hooey OX Backpack 40 Liters, Fits Most 15” Laptops, Patented Hat Strap, Rain Cover, Side Pockets, Reflective Daisy Loops $64.99 | getyourhooey.com Layton Hood Long sleeve, hooded pullover with unique dip-dye color blocking. Embroidered outlier at chest with leather patch and draw cord stops. $80 | Kimesranch.com
Shirt: Shyanne Vest: Understated Leather1 Pants: Show Me Your MuMu Boots: Idyllwind bootbarn.com
Hard to Handle 10X Straw hat from Charlie 1 Horse in 3 ½” downturn Brim with a green velvet ribbon and antique Cactus pin. $65 | Charlie1Horsehats.com
Find Your Outlaw Spirit
Custom silver & leather Goods
JUNIOR HIGH
RODEO IS UNSTOPPABLE
By CASPER RINGELSTEIN – TJHRA Region VIII
The Spring of 2020 really changed our lives. The rodeo world was buzzing, and we were just getting started. State finals and nationals were in our sights and we were focused. Unfortunately, the global pandemic had different plans for the rest of the world. COVID came through in full force and continues to haunt us still. Many have recovered but this nasty virus has broken our hearts and claimed the lives of many friends, family and loved ones.
I try to be a “glass half full” kind of guy and I try to see that the pandemic has taught us a lot of valuable lessons. When the world went on lockdown, it was truly a time of forced family fun. Many of us learned what was most enjoyable. And what was most important. We learned to slow down and take time to appreciate the little things.
You see, sometimes the roadblocks make us stronger. They teach us to look outside the box and create new ways to accomplish the goals that we set out to achieve. While at home, where we were staying safe, we kept busy perfecting and sharpening our skills. We didn’t let a pandemic stop us, we kept going pushing along. We are unstoppable.
Rodeos were rescheduled, reinvented and even cancelled yet it didn’t stop us. We accepted the fact our state finals looked very different than it ever had before. We accepted the fact that Junior High Nationals were cancelled. We just kept pushing on. Why? Because we won’t let a roadblock stop us – we adjust to the changing times. Look at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Did we ever think the most prestigious rodeo of all would be moved out of the bright lights of Las Vegas? Now, I know we all loved a little Texas NFR but there was just something missing without the bright lights and ringing of slot machines. The Junior World Finals and Vegas Tuffest Rodeos were held but not without lots of changes and rules that were necessary for the events to occur. What did we do? We adapted to the changing times because we kept our eye on the prize. We kept pushing along. We are unstoppable.
We are grateful to the sponsors, the volunteers, the parents, the stock contractors and so many others for keeping going. They made changes and adaptations so that we could all chase our dreams and for that we are grateful. If there is one thing I have learned, the rodeo way of life is very different determined. We are resilient and we chase after our dreams no matter how big or how small. We chase after our dreams no matter what gets in our way. We are unstoppable.
As we venture on through this new “normal” that we all face, we will adapt to the changes and the regulations because we have respect. We are thankful for the men and women have made sacrifices so that we can chase our dreams. We will keep pushing along. We don’t quit. We don’t give up. Why? Because we are unstoppable!
STUDENT OFFICER SPOTLIGHT: TJHRA VICE PRESIDENT Kamryn Robison
Hi, my name is Kamryn Robison, I am 14 years old and I am Texas Junior High Rodeo Associations Vice President. I started competing in rodeo when I was 9 years old. In TJHRA region IX, I compete in breakaway, team roping, and ribbon roping. This year is my last year in Junior High and I have enjoyed all three years. This year I have really enjoyed being Vice president, even though we have not had the same experience because of Covid, I have met many people and have made a lot of friends. I have attended one board meeting and all the officers got to pick the saddle and buckle sponsor, which I thought was so cool, because I got to be behind the scenes. Even though this past year has been difficult, I have still had many fun memories with my rodeo family. I want to thank all the board members and sponsors for everything you have done for our rodeo team we all really appreciate it.
Hey y’all, it’s your 20-21 TJHRA Princess from Region IV, Dixie Tabb! This past year has definitely been one for the books. Being the TJHRA princess has been even better than I had imagined. I have had the opportunity to meet so many great people and traveled all over Texas and surrounding states representing the TJHRA.
So far I have traveled to 7 of the 10 regions, meeting new people and catching up with old friends. Brice, Kamryn, Drew, and I all attended the Texas Junior High board meeting in Halletsville, Texas. There we picked out Buckle and saddle for TJHRA 2021 state Champions. In November, I attended the United Professional Rodeo Association finals in Sulphur Springs, Texas to cheer on the competitors.
COVID-19 has definitely made this year different and more challenging than I think any of us could have imagined. However, one of the coolest things I have been able to do as Miss TJHRA is all thanks to COVID itself! I attend the 2020 National Finals Rodeo, Junior NFR, and 1st annual National Finals Breakaway competition in Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas. This was my first NFR trip making it that much more special.
More recently, I traveled to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to represent at the Miss Rodeo USA competition. I will be attending Region 8 and Region 6 in February and Region 5 in March. Thank you to all the Sponsors we would not be where we are today if it wasn't for y’all. I am so excited to see what these last few months of my reign of Miss Texas Junior High Princess has in store for me. I am wishing you all Good Luck for the remainder of your season!
STUDENT OFFICER SPOTLIGHT: TJHRA SECRETARY Drew Ellen Stewart
Drew Ellen is a 7th grader at Normangee Middle School where she participates in basketball, volleyball and track. She is also a straight A honor roll student and a member of the principal’s leadership counsel. She was also been selected as a student of the month and Prestigious Panther in the past. She is a member of the Franklin Track Club where she has qualified for state 3 years and medaled several times including winning the gold medal in 10u girls High Jump in 2018. Drew is also a member of the Normangee 4H club where she participates in Photography and showing swine projects. She has won Grand Champion Swine 2 times and has been either Grand or Reserve Champion Junior Showman every year since she started showing pigs.
Currently the Region 9 TJHRA Secretary and the TJHRA State Secretary HER HORSE LINEUP INCLUDES:
Barrel horse “Nikki” KN Showmethemoney | Pole horse “Rosie” Peptos Pink Lemonade Goat Tying and Breakaway horse “Dewey “ Pocos Hickory Joe
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF HER MOST RECENT RODEO ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
2020 Vegas Tuffest World Champion 12u Barrels. 2020 National Quailfier TJHRA barrels 2020 All around rookie of the year Region 9 TJHRA 2020 Pole and Barrel Champion Region 9 TJHRA 2020 Qualifier Mike and Sherrylyn Johnson Vegas Tuffest in 12u barrels 19u barrels and 12u goat tying 2019 Qualifier Mike and Sherrylyn Johnson Vegas Tuffest in 12u goat tying 3X Junior world finals qualifier in Barrels (2018-2020) 2X Junior American Qualifier in Barrels (2020- 2021) 2021 Junior American qualifier 19u goat tying , 15U Goat Tying and 19U Poles 2020 and 2018 KKRFV champion junior division - Texarkana Qualifier 2019 KKRFV champion junior division - Marshall Qualifier Patriot Young Guns Reserve Champion 2020 2020 Reserve Champ Wrapn3 Extreme Youth Super Stakes
2020-2021 JUNIOR HIGH STATE DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE BOARD
NATIONAL DIRECTOR CHRIS WOLFE
PRESIDENT SCOTT SHOOK 214-403-4638
281-437-8214
1st VICE PRESIDENT JOE RICHARDS 806-676-5970
2nd VICE PRESIDENT SHANE HANCOCK 254-379-3516
DELEGATE 2 YEAR TERM DAVID FREEMAN 832-221-1253
DELEGATE 2 YEAR TERM LANCE GAILLARD
DELEGATE 2 YEAR TERM ERIC HUSTON
DELEGATE 1 YEAR TERM BRAD DYER
DELEGATE 1 YEAR TERM JILL MURRAY
SECRETARY ANNE DOLLERY 806-898-3748
817-368-0159
832-928-1647
903-348-4356
979-412-2551
STATE DIRECTORS
Region I MONROE TIMBERLAKE 806-344-6846 KEVIN MCCREARY 806-674-5601
KYLE ANDERSON Region II JUSTIN CLINTON 432-631-0300
KELLY WOOD
432-940-1136 CHAD CURRINGTON 806-786-9016 Region III JOHN ROBERTSON SHANE CRISWELL WESLEY WHITE 817-475-6377 325-347-2656
Region IV JOHNNY YOUNG, JR 903-249-1647 PAIGE ALMON 903-681-6592
BRIAN LOGAN 903-348-1740
Region V RICHARD BALDWIN 936-332-5466 STACEY MARTIN 225-505-7645
SHANE PASCHAL 409-673-1676
Region VI CHARLES HENRY
979-221-4450 DENNY PATTERSON 832-330-3054 CLAY OHRT 361-571-1040
Region VII AMBER BASS
979-255-2458 LANDON EHLINGER 281-389-2784 DAN SIMPTON 936-870-5779
Region VIII BEN ELLIS 361-701-1886
JUSTIN SPEERS CASS RINGLESTEIN 210-885-0902 Region IX POPPA CALHOUN RUSTY MCCARTHY BO WILLIAMS 979-422-3105 936-206-4051 979-220-5898
Region X SISSY PENNINGTON MATT SILAR ZAC THOMPSON
STUDENT OFFICERS
PRESIDENT BRYCE EHLINGER V.PRES KAMRYN ROBISON
SECRETARY DREW ELLEN STEWART
PRINCESS DIXIE TABB 254-472-0133 cwwolfe630@gmail.com
scottcshook@yahoo.com
joe@diamondcattlefeeders.com
shanehancock74@yahoo.com
chlfreeman@yahoo.com
lsgaillard@yahoo.com
duaneoverton6113@gmail.com
braddyer@live.com
murrayarena@hotmail.com
texasjuniorhighrodeo@gmail.com
monroetimberlake@gmail.com kevin@mccrearysales.com
jlquarterh@gmail.com woodrodeogirls@yahoo.com ccurrington@sundowwnsb.com
jrober5729@att.net kodyhorses@yahoo.com
jpyoung75486@gmail.com epaigealmon@yahoo.com
r.baldwin147@icloud.com nextlevelgoattying@gmail.com spaschal@paschalweld.com
crossfireexpress@att.net pattersondenny@gmail.com ohrt6@hotmail.com
amberbass@greatertexasfoundation.org landon@6Econstruction.com dansimpton@yahoo.com
ben_ellis78@yahoo.com
cass.oasis@yahoo.com
calhounpoppa@yahoo.com rust@RDMContracting.com dwilliams@midsouthenergy.com
matt.silar@patriotinsp.com
JACK KAHLA OF REGION V
by Jacqueline Knox
The Whataburger Whatakid is selected due to their ability to excel both in and out of the rodeo arena. Whataburger is proud to recognize a THSRA member from each of the ten Regions who truly upholds the title “Whatakid!” One of the nominees will be chosen at the State Final Rodeo in June as the Whatakid of the Year. In recognition of this accomplishment they will receive free Whataburgers for an entire year!
Congratulations to the Whatakid of the month, Jack Kahla! This 17-year-old senior from Jasper, Texas is a force to be reckoned with. He competes in calf roping and bulldogging. Of the two, he likes bulldogging a little bit more because it feels more natural to him.
For calf roping, he rides a horse named Boosie. “He is a fantastic horse,” Jack said. “I couldn’t ask for a better horse.” For bulldogging, Jack recently got a team of horses named Polly and Ernie. He said that they are both phenomenal horses that make an incredible team and he loves that they take care of him as much as he takes care of them. Jack went on to add that his favorite thing about his bulldogging team is that they cannot go anywhere without each other. “If you take one away from the other, they can’t stand it,” Jack said.
Jack said that he has been roping a dummy ever since he was four years old. “My dad rodeoed a lot when he was younger,” Jack said. “So did my grandpa and it just is a family deal. It is a sport that our family has loved for a long time” As he got older, he continued to rodeo and now he doesn’t ever want to get away from it. He is currently a member of THSRA.
When asked why he loves rodeo, Jack said that it is just the way he was raised. “It is who I am,” Jack said. “Being a cowboy is the majority of my life and it was what I was raised to do, what I love to do and what I will continue to do. It’s that simple; I love it.”
He loves that rodeo has taught him that no matter what happens there is always another day, another performance and another rodeo to make up for what happened. “If you don’t do good, dust yourself off and go at it again because it is not that big of a deal,” Jack said. “Everyone fails and everyone succeeds at some point.”
Jack said that his favorite rodeo was Shawnee 2018. He competed in both bulldogging and calf roping at the rodeo and said it was a phenomenal experience. “I had been in high school rodeo for two years already. So, I knew everyone, and everyone knew me. It was just a lot of friends and a lot of fun going on.” He added that in his opinion the main part of rodeo is enjoying yourself.
Jack feels like that at this point in his rodeo career he hasn’t really accomplished anything that is “out of this world. It is what I feel like I am going to accomplish that excites me more than what I have already done.”
In addition to rodeo, Jack takes his academics very seriously and is already taking college level classes. He said that his favorite subject is any type of science.
“Rodeoing as much as we do, you don’t really have a whole lot of time for anything else, but I really enjoy hunting, especially duck hunting and bow fishing,” Jack said. He also works as a farrier and enjoys riding dirt bikes.
On a normal day, Kahla starts his day early, waking up at around 5:45 a.m. He feeds all of the horses and checks on the ranch before heading to school at Jasper High School. Kahla is part of the work program so he gets out of school around 11:20 a.m. and then heads back to the ranch to exercise horses, shoe horses and do whatever else needs to be done at the ranch that day.
When asked what his motto on life is, Jack said it is “just go at it.” He explained that this helps him calm himself down before a run. “Whatever competition you are at or wherever you are, if you are nervous you just got to take a second and relax. I think ‘I am me. I know what I am capable of.’ and then I just go out there a do the best I can.” Jack really looks up to his father, Joe Glenn Kahla, and would consider him his hero. “My dad has given me all of the tools that I need to be successful and he is a fantastic dad,” Kahla said. Jack recognizes that he has made a lot of sacrifices to perform how he has in the rodeo arena. “Everybody has to make sacrifices to do what they love to do,” Kahla said. “To me that’s going to bed early so I can wake up early to take care of my chores on the ranch, or not hanging out with friends to stay at the house to practice. It is all things that are going to make me better in the long run.” In the future Jack plans to attend college with the hopes of one day becoming a veterinarian and opening up his own equine facility. While he is not yet sure where he wants to attend college, he does know that he wants to continue competing in rodeos in college. Jack feels really honored to be named this month’s Whatakid!
Farm & Ranch Family
The folks at McCoy’s Building Supply understand that it takes a lot of hard work and the whole family pitching in to get things done on a farm or ranch. That’s why we’d like to take some time out to salute Texas High School Rodeo Association families who are farmers and ranchers. In our monthly Farm & Ranch Family Spotlight, we’ll feature one family, sharing their story of how they work together as a family to make their farm or ranch successful. The spotlight will run for 10 months; each month will feature a different Region. Each Regional McCoy’s Farm and Ranch Family will receive a $100 McCoy’s Gift Card. The McCoy’s Farm and Ranch Family of the Year will receive a $500 McCoy’s Gift Card and will be announced at the 2021 THSRA State Finals.
The Lankford Family of Region V
by Jacqueline Knox
Congratulations to this month’s McCoys Farm and Ranch Family, the Lankfords! While their eldest daughter Chasidy (26) no longer lives at home, Rocky and Ashlia work alongside their son Dawson (15) in order to make their family business, Lankford Farm and Cattle, a success. It is such a success that they have been in business for roughly 18 years!
The ranch spreads over 225 acres in Rusk, Texas (Region Five). Additionally, they lease around 2500 acres. Originally starting with three cows, Rocky shared that they now have about 250 cattle on the ranch and bale around 1,800-2,000 bales of hay each year. They also do custom cow work, hay baling, and pasture mowing and spraying. Additionally, Rocky partners with Trey Hassell on an 800 head custom feed yard called L&H Feeders.
The everyday work varies depending on the season. In the winter, they are mainly focused on mixing feed for the yearlings and making sure they get fed. In the springtime, they usually start spraying.
The family has no hired help on the ranch, so everyone is vital part of the ranch operations.
Even though Ashlia works a 9 to 5 job in town, she helps out where she can. “Pretty much every afternoon and every weekend, or anytime she has free she is helping out on the ranch,” Rocky said. Dawson is also a huge help on the ranch. “He is a little farm kid,” Rocky said. “He likes just about all of it.”
While he helps out his dad with a lot of different ranch tasks, Dawson’s favorite is penning cows. Rocky commented that is probably because it is the most fun out of everything that they do.
Rocky started working on his grandfather’s farm when he was seven years old. He believes that he never had the chance to choose the ranching lifestyle because it chose him first. “I think (this lifestyle) chose me really,” Rocky said. “It is all I know.”
Rocky shared that in this lifestyle he has learned a lot about the cow business over the years, but a lot of his knowledge came from trial and error.
Rocky hopes that the ranching lifestyle has taught his children hard work and the importance of keeping their word. “Most farmers and ranchers are people of their word and that is something we have to carry on,” Rocky said. “That’s the way our grandparents and parents were. I mean if they told you something that’s the way it was.” The Lankford’s favorite thing to do as a family is either working cattle or going to rodeos. “That’s about all we do,” Rocky said jokingly. He added that they love doing that so much because both him and his wife grew up rodeoing. The whole family loves horses, so getting to ride horses all together is so special. They also love going to rodeos and have been for a long time. When she was younger, Chasidy competed in both TJHRA and THSRA. Currently, Dawson is a member of THSRA. He competes in team roping, calf roping and cutting. Rocky said that they love going to rodeos and staying the night. They also love the people they have met through THSRA. “The rodeo families and rodeo people are the best you can be around,” Rocky said.
Luckily, the Lankfords have two McCoys close to them in Palestine, Texas and Nacogdoches, Texas and they shop there occasionally. They usually shop there for lumber and other materials that would be used to mend fences and gates. The family is honored to be named this month’s McCoys Farm and Ranch Family!
