2 minute read
OFF R ROCKER
Helping Make Sure Rodeo Competitors Are Not A Dying Breed
Written by: Kelly McCoy
Shane Holland was riding his first steer during a Five Star Rodeo event at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie, Florida. “Eight seconds is an eternity when you’re sitting on a bull,” the Florida native says of the experience at age 19.
That was in 1996. But it wasn’t long before Holland figured out he would do better on his feet, so he started bullfighting as blue-and-white-eyed Bullseye. From riding and fighting bulls to raising them, Holland experienced every aspect of the most dangerous rodeo sport.
In September 2019, after 20 years of being out of touch, Facebook reconnected Holland with an old friend from high school—Rickelle Mathis. While catching up on life’s twists and turns, he shared his dream of helping a new generation of kids rodeo by designing a Western wear brand that would use its profits to help ease the burden of competition costs.
Mathis, a schoolteacher and mom to 9-year-old Will, knew nothing about rodeo. But she was a skilled graphic artist and had the business savvy to help the couple get started.
When the March 2020 coronavirus quarantine was imposed, it provided a unique opportunity to work from home and to build Off R Rocker. They started the clothing brand with their kids so that they could see how genuine passion, great ideas and hard work could become a business that helps other kids chase their dreams too.
Tuff Holland (12 years old) loves the artwork side of the business. Tripp Holland (10 years old) and Will Mathis (9 years old) are in operations, aka the mailbox team. Masey Holland (6 years old) is the contest coordinator. In just a year, Off R Rocker has gathered almost 5,000 Facebook followers … and each day it grows a little more.
(clockwise from top left) Fisher Creason aboard a bull, barrel-racer Kaylee Croyle with Koko, Tuff Holland at the Sunset Feed booth during its 60th anniversary, and Masey riding daddy’s shoulders while he promotes the September 4 Bulls, Barrels and BBQ at the Clay County Fairgrounds.
When talking about the momentum Off R Rocker has had this year, Rickelle Mathis says: “We’re not the only ones that are Off R Rocker. When we shared our story with Sunset Feed in Miami, Florida, they immediately jumped onboard and were the first brick-and-mortar store to carry our line.”
Three months after starting Off R Rocker, the team was sponsoring 16-year-old AJ Class of Bell, Florida, a saddle-bronc rider, bull rider, team roper and steer wrestler representing Florida for two consecutive years at National High School Rodeo Association competition. Sponsorship from Off R Rocker, Class says, “is pretty much the only reason I was able to go to my first National High School Rodeo Finals last year. Their continued support and love have felt like being part of a family, not just a team. This is just the beginning of my rodeo career; I hope to be off my rocker for a long time!”
By December 2020, less than nine months after opening Off R Rocker, their youth competi- tion team had grown to 12 competitors from across the country, including Kallie Class of Bell, Florida, and Kaylee Croyle of Coconut Creek, Florida.
Off R Rocker’s sponsorship was pure motivation for Kaylee. “The most meaningful part of being on the Off R Rocker team during the worst season of my life,” she says, “has been their support. They’ve kept me motivated, and their faith in me has kept me working hard in the practice pens until I can return to competing.”
Off R Rocker opens its sponsorship applications in October and announces competitors selected for the team in December. Announcements are made on their social-media pages (@offrrocker). Applicants answer questions about what rodeo means to them, and commit not only to competing, but to keeping up their grades.
On September 4, Off R Rocker hosts its first Bulls, Barrels and BBQ that features red-dirt country music by the Luke Langford Band at the Clay County Fairgrounds. Ticket proceeds go directly to the 2022 Off R Rocker Youth Competition Team. FCM
