PAGE 6 • INNOVATION — GROWTH — DIVERSITY 2010 S T H
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S A S K A T C H E
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O By Gail Jansen U
T Southwest family leaving its mark on rodeo circuit
The McLeod Family, of Waldeck, doesn’t just have a passing interest in rodeo, they eat, sleep and breathe it every single day. With Dad Scott now in his 23rd year of roping in the Canadian Cowboy Association (CCA), and sons Tuftin, 15, Tyce, 13, and Tee, 11, following in their father’s footsteps, it takes Mom Tammy to be the one who organizes them all. “The kids have practically grown up with ropes in their hands,” says Tammy. “They’ve all been on horses from a really young age, and have always roped, just like their dad. Me, I’m the one that’s more behind the scenes, making sure they’re fed, filling in all the rodeo entry forms, doing all the call backs and organizing four very busy rodeoing schedules, to make sure they’re all at the right rodeo at the right time with the right partners. It’s like a full-time job, all on its own.”
She also works full-time at SGI, but the extra time spent with rodeo is worth it to Tammy. It gives the McLeods family time each weekend, but also helps the boys learn life lessons. This past summer, Tuftin and Tyce had a chance to compete at both the Saskatchewan High School Rodeo and the 62nd Annual Canadian High School Rodeo that features students in Grades 6-8 (junior high division), and Grades 9-12 (senior high), from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. In the Saskatchewan finals, Tuftin along with partner Jared Parsonage of Maple Creek, took first place in the team roping competition, and won a buckle at Canadians, which qualified them for the National Finals in Wyoming.
An added feather in the family’s cap is that Tuftin is only the second 15-year-old to ever rope at the CCA finals — an accolade he shares with only one other cowboy from Alberta.
With a practice arena in their backyard, every day after school all three boys will practise for their next rodeo, weather permitting. Dad works the gate while Mom videos so they can review the tapes to see what they’re doing right and where they need to improve.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The McLeod family enjoys competing in rodeo. From left: Tammy, Scott, Tyce, Tee and Tuftin.
For younger brother Tyce, the Canadian Finals brought with it the chance to shine, winning three first-place finishes in the junior high division. They included team roping with Riley Hayes of Val Marie, ribbon roping with Bari Phillips of Cabri, and tie-down roping. Tyce also placed third in goat tying. It was an impressive result considering he only entered four events. He was also named his division’s All Around Cowboy.
Although the high school season has wrapped up, the boys and their father continue to rope with their eyes on a new prize: winning the coveted CCA finals at Regina’s Agribition this coming November. Scott and Tuftin have teamed up together this year to compete in team roping events and are currently sitting at the top of the leader board.
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Every Friday night, the family packs up the truck and horse trailer, and heads out for a weekend of competing. Sometimes, they’ll attend as many as three rodeos in one weekend, thanks to the sponsorship the family receives from local companies. So what does rodeo mean to this busy family? “It’s totally family time,” says Tammy. “We have living quarters in our horse trailer and we’re together all weekend, every weekend. It’s huge, but it’s fun. We’re doing what we love to do, and in the end, they’re getting rewarded for it.”
Those rewards include buckles, cash prizes and even scholarship money.
“The thing with high school rodeo is that they have to have good passing grades in order to be allowed to compete, and there’s absolutely no alcohol or drugs allowed...” points out Tammy. “With all the time we spend together, you never hear our kids say, ‘aw, do you have to be with us?’ We’re just always together and it’s just a given. Sometimes at this age it’s not cool to hang out with your parents, but they don’t mind because it means they get to rodeo, and that’s what it’s all about.”
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