community
march7
2019
7
The Life of a Rodeo Roper continued from front page
also allowed.
Pedersen says he attended some rodeo schools
to learn more from experienced competitors and
competed professionally on the Northwest rodeo circuit
for several years. When daughter Sheyanne came
along, and his career as a parts manager at Aero Air
in Hillsboro got more serious, Pedersen slowed down
a bit and competed in more amateur events. He has
regularly competed at the Columbia County Fair Rodeo
in St. Helens, has competed at the St. Paul Rodeo, and
even traveled to take part at the Pendleton Round-Up
several times, among other regional events. He says
he’s won a horse trailer, several saddles, belt buckles,
and other prizes when competing. In 2009 he competed
professionally on the Columbia River Circuit where he
finished 4 th at the end of the season. He helped coach
Sheyanne through her high school years, helping her
qualify at the state competition for the national regional
competition in breakaway roping in her senior year.
“I did more rodeos with Sheyanne because I wanted
to experience it with her,” says Pedersen. Sheyanne
is now a junior at Pacific University in Forest Grove
where she is studying to be a dental hygienist and
occasionally competes in college rodeo events.
Since Sheyanne graduated from high school,
Pedersen began competing again more seriously. He’s
currently riding a horse named Nevada, a 21 year old
quarter horse raised on his dad’s ranch in Montana. He
recently retired his old horse, Blaze, now 30 years old,
who also came from the ranch in Glendive. “I grew up
training horses and Blaze was the best horse I’ve ever
had,” says Pedersen. “We’ve had Blaze since he was
three years old,” adds Susan. “Dale competed on him
and then retired him, and then we used him to teach
Sheyanne – Blaze is great teacher. Two foreign ex-
change students here in Vernonia have also used him to
learn and compete.”
“Team Roping is really huge in the United
States,” says Pedersen. “Out of all the rodeo events,
it’s one of the biggest, because you don’t get off your
horse and you don’t get jostled around as much. You
have people in their 70s who are competing in team
roping. There’s team roping events all over the place.
We’ve traveled up and down the I-5 corridor.”
Pedersen says there are two different associa-
tions that sanction and hold team roping events. He
recently started competing in the World Series of Team
Roping, which limits the number of entries and has
higher entry fees, which in turn increases the amounts
and chances to win prize purses.
“One of the things I really like about team rop-
ing is that you have so many different elements,” says
Pedersen. “You have yourself
ceived a time of 8.5 seconds,
and your horse, you have your
a very good time, which al-
partner and their horse, and
lowed them to get another try.
you have the steer.”
On their third attempt they did
This past year Peder-
even better and scored 7 sec-
sen competed at two regional
onds. At this point they had
competitions sanctioned by
the 2 nd best time in their group,
the World Series, one in Pas-
and had one more chance to
co, Washington and the other
get back into the finals for the
in Wanatchee, Washington
big prize money. Pedersen
with his roping partner and
once again caught the steer
good friend Paul Erikson.
quickly, but Heryford unfor-
Pedersen is the header and
tunately missed his throw and
Erikson is the heeler on their
they were eliminated.
team. At Pasco they competed
“It was a great experience,”
against 145 teams and finished
says Pedersen about compet-
in 5 th place, winning $1,200 in
ing in the nationals in Las Ve-
prize money. At Wenatchee
gas. “It’s a beautiful facility
Susan and Dale Pedersen in Las Vegas
they again placed 5 th out of
and a really well run event.”
at the World Series of Team Roping.
160 teams, winning a $1,300
Sheyanne will turn 21 this
purse. Those two wins qualified Pedersen and Erikson year which will allow her and Dale to compete together
to go to Las Vegas and compete in the World Series of as a team this upcoming season in some events. “The
Team Roping national competition in December.
tricky part is that Dale is a header, and he taught Shey-
Just before the nationals, Erikson developed a anne to head, so Dale is going to have to learn to be the
blood clot in his leg and ended up having his lower leg heeler and switch ends,” says Susan. “I’ve roped for so
amputated, and was obviously unable to compete. Ped- long and I’ve almost always been the header, but it’s
ersen was able to find another partner who qualified, providing me with a new challenge,” adds Dale. “My
Loren Heryford from Yamhill; Susan and Sheyanne dream now would be to win a saddle with Sheyanne as
also went to cheer Dale on. Total prize money was my partner.”
$2 million, with 660 teams competing for the $350,000
He says his roping partner Erikson is planning
top prize. The Team Roping nationals took place at to come back and compete this year, after getting fitted
the same time as the National Finals Rodeo was being with a prosthetic. “He’s really got a great attitude,”
held, so it was a really fun time to be in Las Vegas if says Pedersen.
you’re a cowboy or cowgirl.
The Pedersens currently have seven horses on
Teams competed in six groups of 110 teams their place in Vernonia. Dale continues to teach young
each, with the top 10 teams advancing to the next roping competitors in the Vernonia area, if they are in-
round. Scores are based on a combined time in two terested in learning the sport. He and Sheyanne have
runs. In the first round Pedersen made his throw but been practicing two days a week this winter, driving to
Heryford missed his, so they received no time, but still indoor arenas in preparation for the upcoming season.
had a chance to get into the consolation round. In the In the summer they’ll lease five head of cattle so they
second round both partners made their throws and re- can practice in their arena at home.
Grey Dawn Gallery
879 Bridge St. (503) 429-2787
• LOGGING
• LAND CLEARING
• ROAD BUILDING
Photography - Bronze
Jewelry - Glasswork
Pottery - Custom Framing
www.greydawngallery.com
Featuring the finest in northwest art
Visit US today for
all your financial needs!
We saddle shoe. Do you?
Muffy’s
503-828-2047
Specializing in Privately Owned Timber
bigsbylogging@yahoo.com
Poppino Painting
Josh,
Juli, Teresa,
Margy
Josh,
Teresa,
Lisa, and
Laura
905
Bridge
Street
905 Bridge Street
(503)
(503) 429-6271
429-6271
950 Bridge Street
Vernonia, O8 97064
503.429.5050 or 866.524.5050
www.muffys.com
World Headquarters Vernonia, Oregon
Bigsby Logging
503-429-7101
Tim Poppino
19025 Woods Road
Vernonia, OR 97064
usbank.com
Licensed
Bonded
Insured
CCM#90548
Member FDIC
V ernonia C hristian C hurch
Everyone is welcome in our vibrant & active community!
Sunday
Worship Service
11:00 am
Pastor Sam Hough
410 North St.
Vernonia
MIKE PIHL
LOGGING CO., INC
Free Estimates
Specializing in Private Timber
• Youth and Adult Sunday School
• Evening Youth Groups
4th-6th Grade
Junior & Senior High
• Home Study Groups
• Outdoor Ministry
Christian Bow Hunters of America
Annual Sportsman’s Banquet
office@VernoniaChristianChurch.org
503-429-6522
mplogging@frontier.com
1984 mist drive
po box 321
vernonia, or 97064
503-429-1470
cell 503.789.1268
fax 503.429.0252