Look Out

The Ones to Watch This Rodeo Season

Story by Kara Snider; Photos by Alycia White, of Echo Photography

Full of action and adrenaline, Rodeo season is one of the most anticipated times of the year in Central Oregon. Everyone, big and small, from all walks of life, loves a good rough’n’ tumble rodeo! There are two groups of people who enjoy rodeo season: The Watchers and the Riders. For the Watchers, the local rodeo is time to pack up the kids, head down to the fairgrounds and have a romping good time watching cowboys and cowgirls fly down the arena and through the air. And then there are the Riders. The Dreamers. The Winners.

Christian Radabaugh is a high school senior who competes in steer wrestling, calf roping and, his personal favorite, team roping. “I love the partnership in team roping, there’s nothing more amazing than when the whole thing comes together,” Christian said. His accomplishments include winning State Champion in Steer Wrestling in 2007 and 2008, awards that opened his eyes to what he could achieve. When asked what distinguishes him from other riders he replied, “Growing up on a ranch, definitely. It taught me how to be a better horseman than most other riders. I try to understand the cattle and communicate with my horse. It helps us work better as a team.”

Christian’s greatest inspirations are his dad, who taught him to be a hard worker and put his family first, and his freshman-year football and basketball coach, Brad Kudlac, who trained him to never give up in sports. This invaluable advice has transferred over to Christian’s work ethic in both life and rodeo. In addition to receiving his pro rodeo card, his future goals include obtaining a business degree.

You can look for Christian in rodeos like The Hermiston Rodeo and The State Finals in Prineville this year. Make sure to cheer him on!

A senior at Crook County High School, Bailey Corey is a passionate competitor in goat tying, breakaway roping, and barrel racing. “I can’t really explain it, but the passion was born in me. There’s something inside that just craves rodeo,” she states while discussing her love for rodeo and what inspires her to ride. “My mom always wanted me to watch videos with her so we could learn the perfect barrel pattern. And my dad (Clint) inspires me to live a life of integrity. I want to be like that.”

With a social spirit and easy-going attitude, it is often misconstrued that Bailey’s riding ability comes easy to her, although she would say otherwise. “My main problem is my concentration. The hardest thing for me is staying focused right before my ride. I’ve had to work so hard at that.” She strives to be an attentive rider, committing to practice twice a day with her good friend and training partner, Kc Loper.

Bailey has already received a scholarship to Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, but is also considering attending college in Walla Walla, Wash., for a degree in Human and Equine Massage Therapy. This year, she hopes to qualify for Nationals, which is one step closer to her dream of competing in the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). She wants to succeed in rodeo, but never wants to lose her “love of the game” mentality.

Riding bulls and broncs is nothing short of a calling in Tyler Beeman’s life. Tyler’s father, Bill, took him to his first rodeo when he was only two weeks old. The dream was sparked. At four years old, the dream ignited when his father put him on the back of a horse for his first time. Bill later became Tyler’s trainer along with Clint Corey. Both men helped mold Tyler into the rider he is today. “They taught me to give it my all every time. If it doesn’t work that time, I just do it over and over until it does work. They never let me give up.”

The National High School Finals was one of Tyler’s favorite events last year. He sees that experience as a stepping stone to help him achieve his goal of one day qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo – a dream that was inspired by two of his rodeo heroes, Bobby Mote and Cody Jessee. He also hopes to attend Western Texas College and then transfer to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to study chiropractic therapy. When asked about the one thing Tyler hopes never changes about his character and personality he replied, “My positive attitude toward everything. If I have a bad run, I’ll just get through it and overcome it. That goes for rodeo and life.”

If you want to get to know a little spitfire of a cowgirl, sit down and talk with high school junior, Kc Loper. A girl who knows exactly what she wants, Kc will be an unstoppable force in the arena this year. When asked what attracts her to rodeo she replied, “It’s the only sport where it’s just about my own personal capability. I can’t blame anyone but myself if I mess up, so it makes me work harder to be a better rider. It’s a job, not a party.”

In the spring after Kc’s 8th grade year, tragedy struck her family. Kc’s stepfather passed away from pancreatic cancer shortly before Nationals. Having taken so much time off to care for him, Kc’s mother was unable to make the trip to Gallop, N.M., where Kc would be competing. The only option Kc had was to hitch a ride with a barrel racer. Surrounded by people she barely knew, she was forced to work harder than ever to prove to her mother that she was serious about rodeo. Now Kc looks forward to returning to Nationals every year, reuniting with the close friends she made that summer. Kc hopes to attend West Texas A & M after graduating high school next year. Her goal is to be a multi-sport athlete, continuing in volleyball and rodeo. Her one hope is that she never loses her passion in life.

Jason Havens is a talented PRCA bareback rider from our very own Prineville. Shining in his event, he has dominated at rodeos such as the WNFR, Lewiston, and the Calgary Stampede. Jason is no stranger to “bringing home the bacon” and “cashing in the chips” when it comes to competitive rodeo.

Looking to riders like Clint Corey for inspiration and training tips, Jason has learned to set himself apart from other bareback riders by being consistent and maintaining a positive attitude and approach to the sport. “I try to stay in the best possible physical condition, which helps me ride at the top of my game. Being healthy is so important in order to be successful.”

When asked what events most excite him in the upcoming season, Jason replied, “I always look forward to the big rodeos. It’s my chance to get on some of the best horses in the world. The year just flies by and before you know, it’s time for finals in Vegas. I’m just going to make the most of each day and enjoy the season.” Winning the world title is always number one on Jason’s list, a goal he focuses on each time he competes.

If Jason could offer any advice to younger competitors, it would be to never give up on their goals. “Not everything you do is going to be easy and rodeo is definitely one of those things. There will be times when you want to give up and just go home, but those are the trials that separate the good athletes from the bad. Learn as much as you can from the riders who are winning. There is a reason why they’re successful.”

Now brand new parents, Jason and his beautiful wife Brook love spending every spare moment with their new son, Finn. In his free time, Jason keeps himself busy with drywall jobs, cutting wood, and working on their house. “When I’m at home, I don’t really like to relax much. I always try to have a project to do.” With a degree in Fish and Wildlife Biology, he also enjoys spending as much time as he can fly fishing on Oregon’s scenic waterways.

Steven Peebles is a cowboy who knows what it takes to win in the world of rodeo. A team roper and bareback rider, Steven has won awards like first place in the regional Northwest Intercollegiate Rodeo, two time High School Finals Champion, and tying with his trainer, Bobby Mote, at the Columbia River Circuit Finals – taking first due to his overall high score. Steven said he would not be where he is today with- out Bobby Mote. “Having Bobby train me was such a privilege. Not very many people have a world champion to work with when they’re starting out. He was always there to help me when I had questions. I couldn’t be any more thankful to him for teaching me pretty much everything I know about the sport.”

Bob Sailers, Steven’s uncle, was the man who first inspired Steven to start riding bareback broncs. Encouraging him to pursue his dreams, Bob provided work for Steven when he needed money to get back on the road and into the next rodeo. Steven said that his uncle deserves credit for his unwavering perseverance in rodeo.

A defining moment in Steven’s life was when he qualified for the High School National Finals his junior year. Unfortunately, alcohol was discovered in his and his teammates’ hotel room and they were immediately sent home. “I don’t like to talk about it much. It was really hard for me to come home to everyone with them knowing what happened. It was a huge embarrassment and it changed me a lot. I look back now and I know it was a good thing because I learned so much. It totally changed my outlook on taking rodeo more seriously and being more dedicated.”

Because of this character-building experience, Steven is able to offer his own motto to young competitors thinking about entering the world of pro rodeo. “Just stay focused and don’t ever give up! Set your goals high and don’t let anything get in your way to achieve them. Stay away from the bad stuff that WILL distract you from your goals.” Steven hopes to always remember to be thankful for his life in rodeo. His future goals are to work as hard has he can, saving up his rodeo money to one day retire and open his own business.

Currently sponsored by Saddle Up in Redmond, Steven is always looking for more upstanding businesses to represent while he’s on the road. This is a young man that any business owner would be proud to support. If you are interested in becoming one of Steven’s sponsors, contact Prineville Territory for further information. If you want to see Steven in action, tune into the Dodge National Circuit Finals in April and cheer him on!