CORPORATE COWBOYS They wear suits by day but when the

CORPORATE cowboys

There’s a header and there’s a heeler. If your knowledge about team roping ends there, read on. The sport has a long and passionate history in Canada. Beyond that, here’s why some downtown businessmen enjoy turning steers, year after year.

By Jenn Webster, Photos by Twisted Tree Photography

The discipline of team roping is a rodeo event that pairs teams of two cowboys together in a race against the clock. One rider is known as the “header” and is responsible for catching a steer in their loop, with one of three legal head catches. The other rider is the “heeler” and must catch the steer by its hind feet, after the header has caught and “turned” it slightly to the left.

There are penalties associated with horses coming out of the starting box prematurely – at rodeos a string barrier is used, whereas jackpots typically feature a five-second electric eye. Heeler ropes are stiffer than head ropes. Riders are ranked in handicaps of two to ten (ten being the best), for both heelers and headers. Also, team roping is the only rodeo sport in which men and women can compete together equally. Riders are ranked through a global system that tracks an individual’s times and how much money they have won – the horse isn’t a factor in the ratings. Using the rankings and the handicap system, governing team roping associations can even the competition and create fair divisions. As the sport has grown exponentially over the years team roping has also become its own

They might don suits by day, w but these southern Alberta businessmen can’t wait to get out of the office and into the arena. (L to R) Dale Valentine, Sam Johnson, Roy Anderson, Asa Johnson, Chad Smith and Cory Jacobson.

event, not always hanging off the roster of rodeos. Each year, ropers aim their sights at the World Series of Team Roping, typically held in Las Vegas, NV, as one of the pinnacle events of the year. To enter, ropers must have qualified for the right to run at the World Series by winning $2,500 or more during the competition year.

Like many other equestrian sports, team roping is an event that evolved from working ranches. It has a practical origin, as cowboys were often required to rope and restrain an animal that required doctoring. These days, there are thousands of amateur ropers who contend for millions of dollars in prize money, at ropings all over the world. While the potential winnings are a big draw, here’s why five southern Alberta businessmen can’t wait to get out of their offices and into the arena.

BRIEF TIMELINE OF TEAM ROPING IN CANADA:

2000 The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) takes Team Roping under its umbrella.

2001 The CPRA invites the sport of Team Roping to the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR).

2008 The purse for Team Roping at the CFR increases to $158,000, attracting many American teams also capable of competing at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) .

2016 Canadians Levi Simpson (Ponoka, AB) and Jeremy Buhler (Arrowwood, AB) become World Champions by winning the Team Roping of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR).

2019 The Calgary Stampede makes plans to add Team Roping into the 2020 Calgary Stampede Rodeo roster.

ROY ANDERSON Turner Valley, AB Owner, Bench Oilfield Consulting

Handicap: 6

He’s mainly a Header, but Anderson is a Heeler as well.

Horses: JIMMY a Quarter Horse

gelding, age 14. DODGE also a Quarter Horse

gelding age 15.

Why Does He Rope? Anderson runs a pipeline facility consulting firm and supplies consultants to major oilfield projects in western Canada. His work schedule starts to pick up in the fall and winter, which suits his roping season perfectly.

“Roping is a great recreational sport,” says Anderson. “You can compete with our handicap system at a pretty high level with your peers. I still have the need to compete. With work, team roping fills that void for me.”

Anderson says he loves team roping because it’s a sport he can do with his family. “Both of my daughters, Macey and Reagan are involved. They rope and barrel race. I also have two boys but roping isn’t their passion.”

After moving to southern Alberta from Vermilion, AB, almost seven years ago, Anderson met Sam Johnson. “He invited me to come roping in their arena and I’ve been roping with them ever since.”

Competitors don’t have to stick with the same partners and as such, Anderson has entered team roping events with various partners over the years. These days however, his main two are Asa Johnson and Chad Smith. Although he’s not sure of his lifetime earnings total, Anderson has won the Lakeland Rodeo Association (LRA) year-end championship a couple of times. He’s also had a lot of success at the World Series level in Canada.

“I’ve qualified for Vegas every year in multiple categories, but haven’t been to the World Series since 2015. My work schedule means I’m always busy with work during the time that event runs,” he says.

Why Does He Rope?

“Because I’m addicted!” Johnson says, flat out with a chuckle. “I’ve always been very competitive. Roping is something you can compete at for a long time. I’ve been doing it since about 1990.”

With urban and rural properties to sell mostly in the MD of Foothills, Johnson admits his job has to come first. “But roping is my passion. It’s time consuming to do a good job of it of course, but I like to rope all year round.”

In the past, Johnson played a lot of hockey and dabbled in other rodeo events. “I loved sports,” he says. “I’m competitive, so once you’re into sports – you like to win!”

Johnson made the short-go in the World Series of Team Roping in Vegas, twice. Last year with his son Asa as his partner, Johnson came back as the 14th highest team. He also made the short go in the 11 division with partner Doug Waddel five years ago. However, he says that his personal best is probably the time he came second in the Canadian Team Roping Association (CTRA) finals (again with son Asa), in the 10 division.

Handicap: 4

Johnson is mostly heeler, but he’s a 4 Header as well. (At one time, Johnson was a 6 – a fact of which he’s very proud.)

Horse: CHICKEN is Johnson’s

main mount. The grey Quarter Horse gelding has been in the Johnson family for 10 years. He’s been high school rodeoed on, and roped off from Fort St. John, AB, to Casa Grande, AZ.

SAM JOHNSON Turner Valley, AB Realtor in MD of Foothills

“It was a memorable experience, that’s for sure! Asa and I were winning it, with only one team left to go. And the remaining team was Asa and Barry Black… So Asa jumps off of his head horse and jumped on my heel horse for his last run – and they ended up beating me!” he laughs.

“It was phenomenal though, watching my kid do so well. I’m getting teary eyed just thinking about it! Asa won first heeling for Barry and second heading for me. They had saddles up for prizes and other great stuff. And to top it off, my wife had bought us previously as a team in the Calcutta – and then she won that as well!”

Johnson gives his wife, Myrla, a ton of credit for keeping his and Asa’s horses going so well and looking after them on a daily basis.

Aside from watching his son excel in the sport of team roping (Asa, age 24, is a 7 Header and an 8 Heeler,) Johnson enjoys the sport for the camaraderie it provides and time spent with friends.

“The sport affords me the opportunity to hang with a really good group of friends who all rope. It’s a great group of people. We have fun. We’re all very competitive and it’s a good time,” he says.

Handicap: 5+ Header,

5+ Heeler

Horses: SPIDER is Smith’s

grey gelding, age 18. TUCKER a 13-year-old chestnut gelding, and the youngest of his string is a palomino gelding owned by Chad’s wife, Shelly, named FINN.

CHAD SMITH Mossleigh, AB Lead Operator for Taqa North

Why Does He Rope? “I just really enjoy everything about it,” Smith says. “I love being around horses and working to improve your horsemanship and roping is very rewarding,” Smith says. “I used to rope calves (as well), but I was never really athletic enough for calf roping,” he laughs. “I started team roping because my cousin Shayne used to rope and I would watch him at jackpots. There were a bunch of guys around home that were interested in getting starting roping so Shayne and (my Uncle Ron) put on a roping school at our arena when I was about 15. We lived in Beechy, SK, so we started going up to Brian and Vicki Braun’s arena. They had a winter roping series at the time and it just picked up steam for me.”

Smith and his cousin were involved in the very first year of high school rodeo in Saskatchewan and after that, he went to work for Joe Saville in Consul, SK.

“I fell in love with it. That was my circle of friends. We went to ropings and rodeos and were training horses – I just never quit,” Smith says. “I met my wife Shelly through a friend who roped which was the best thing that happened to me! She’s been so supportive over the years, I can’t thank her enough. Now our daughter is getting interested in roping so she’s getting in the truck every chance she can.”

Now as a lead operator for the oil and gas company, Taqa North, Smith oversees well site operations from Highway 2 south (in Alberta), all the way to Saskatchewan. He’s also a devoted husband and father of two. So how does he make time for roping?

“Well honestly, I don’t make as much time for it as I would like to. We run a

few cows at home as well so there’s always something to do on the ranch. And we just have a little crew of dedicated people. Most of us all have a job as well, but we try to get together one to two times a week to practice. We’re not making a living roping – most of us have a daily job so you work around it as best you can,” Smith states.

That includes during the winter. When the weather forces him indoors Smith participates in ropings with clubs in High River and Okotoks.

“There’s lots of places to rope in the winter. Of course, you’ve got to be pretty dedicated when it’s dark when you get home after work and have to hook up the trailer. Then you travel out and you don’t rope until probably 7:30 at night. By time your horse is cooled out it’s 10:00 pm. You’re not home until 11, so it takes a lot of dedication,” he says. “But it’s kind of one of those things that seems like so much work however, once you get there and can see the progress in your horse, in your skills and by God… you’re sure glad you went,” Smith chuckles.

“In my opinion, everyone has to have something they do outside of work. Whether you go rope or water ski – you have to get away from it all at times. Roping does it for me. I love the competition! I get to see all my friends. I catch up on their families. This just happens to be my thing.”

CORY JACOBSON Okotoks, AB Sales Manager, Nabors Drilling

Why Does He Rope?

“I like to compete. I’m very competitive and roping is great for getting my mind turned off from work. I enjoy my horses and the people associated around it. I like Bud Lights with the guys too,” he laughs.

Jacobson’s father was a calf roper and a team roper, therefore, he grew up immersed in the lifestyle.

Handicap: 5 Heeler, 5 Header

Horses: SWITCH is a red

roan, Quarter Horse gelding, age 8. WALTER is Jacobson’s newest addition, a four-yearold Quarter Horse, blue roan.

“When my dad passed away in 1996, I always wanted to go back to it,” Jacobson tells.

“My son played high level hockey so I spent a lot of time with him on the road. I enjoyed every minute of it. Then, one of my best friends runs a wagon on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WCPA) tour, so we spent a lot of summers travelling with them,” he tells.

Jacobson’s daughter, Kaitlyn, never really wanted to get involved in sports. She did however, take a real liking to horses on the wagon tour.

“I finally gave in and bought her a horse in 2013. She progressed very quickly and started to compete in barrel racing. I thought if I had to haul her, I may as well get back into it as well. So here we are,” Jacobson quips.

Why Does He Rope?

Valentine grew up in Claresholm, AB and started roping at the age of 10. He contended in three years of high school rodeo and in his final year, Valentine went pro as a header. He followed the Foothills Cowboy Association (FCA), and the Chinook and Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) rodeos. Back then, Valentine rode a white/grey horse named “Joe.” The gelding was pretty famous in roping circles at the time.

He figures he naturally gravitated towards roping, due to his upbringing on the family ranch. “Team roping is what you need to do to doctor steers. My dad did it a bit and I pretty much grew up with it. I loved rodeo – but I didn’t want to ride roughstock, so this was next best thing,” he laughs.

“Roping is a sport you can do from an early age, right up until you get old.”

Valentine ended up taking a 10-year

Handicap: 5 Heeler, 5 Header

Horses: CHANCE is Valentine’s

main mount these days. He’s a 13-year-old, light-coloured palomino gelding. Valentine describes him as a “stocky, little man” and a quick-footed athlete he uses for heading, heeling and calf roping. Previously, “Senior” was the roper’s good horse until about a year ago – now Valentine is trying to turn his sorrel gelding into mainly a heading horse.

DALE VALENTINE High River, AB Owns DV Welding

hiatus from roping, to try and develop his career. That’s when he started up his welding company. “I decided I should probably work. You’ve got to make money to play this silly game,” he quips.

There are many reasons Valentine got back into roping, once his company was established , and continues to do so now. He says the camaraderie of the sport was a big draw.

“It’s kind of like, one big family. It’s also pretty thrilling when you hear the announcer saying your name over the loud speaker, especially when you make the short round. There’s music blaring and your buddies are cheering you on. It makes you feel like a champ,” he says.

“Roping is my release. Since I’m running my own company, I work as much as I can and pick and choose the ropings I can go to and then work hard until it’s time to go again. It’s addicting! Once you win, you want to do better the next time.”

Normally, Valentine and his buddies would be aiming to go to Vegas as a year-end goal, but in 2020 that might not be possible. Therefore, the group hits the highest paying roping in Canada, as well as smaller jackpots. Anywhere they can get a chance to turn a few steers.

“Last weekend we were at a $40 jackpot per turn and this weekend, it’s $150 an entry per side. And it’s just because we love it,” he states.

“It’s such a family sport. Everyone gets together and the camaraderie is unbelievable. We compete against one another, but we help each other too.”