Print
Email Story
KENNEWICK — At 40 years old, Stran Smith can keep up with guys half his age.
The tie-down roper from Childress, Texas, has proved that time and again this year, ranking second in the world standings with $87,134 -- about $7,300 behind leader Trevor Brazile, 33, and $4,000 more than young roping sensation Tuf Cooper, 20.
"I think the travel gets harder," Smith said of nearly 20 years on the rodeo circuit. "The hardest part was leaving home, but now that we have a bus, home is wherever I am. My family travels with me. I have boys, Stone and Scout, and my wife Jennifer does stuff for ESPN, so she's out on the road, too. We've had it set up this way the last two to three years and it has taken that one variable out of it for me.
"As for the physical part, you get the wear and tear of 20 years," Smith continued. "I try to address that by being strategic in workouts and keeping my body in shape to minimize injuries. That's one way I've tried to fight father time. I think I'm more fit now at 40 than I have been in my life. If I do this, I want to be 100 percent. I hope the desire to go will leave me before my body gives out."
Smith is one of several older cowboys on the PRCA circuit still living their dream, but what is more impressive is that some are still in the top 15 of their events and headed to Las Vegas in December for the National Finals Rodeo.
Bareback rider D.V. Fennell, 36, is ranked 12th in the event, while Monty Joe Petska, 48, who has made 14 trips to the NFR, has slowed a bit, but won a team roping title at the Pendleton Round-Up in 2008.
"You take a beating every day," said Fennell, who has earned $54,843 this year. "I had two surgeries a couple years ago and I feel better than I did 10 years ago. If I feel good and I'm still beating these young guys, I'm going to have my name in the hat. Age brings a lot of wisdom."
For Petska, rodeo has given him life experiences and lifelong friends.
"You get to be around horses. I've met a lot of interesting people and I've made a lot of good friends," Petska said. "I've been to Australia three times, I've been to Brazil and I have friends all over the place. We hunt, fish, rope and hang out. A lot of people, that's what they do when they retire -- see the world. I started at 18 and I've had the opportunity to do things most people never will."
Cooper said he admires the work ethic of the older generation.
"I learn so much just by watching them," said the
No. 4-ranked Cooper, who will rope Wednesday at the Horse Heaven Round-Up. "I think it's cool that Stran is 40, in the best shape of his life and roping better than he ever has. Ever since I got out here on the big circuit, he has helped me out so much. Just being around him for 5 minutes or 15 hours, I learn so much just from him being the person he is. It's so cool just to hang out with him."
Smith, who also will compete Wednesday at the HHRU, won $50,000 at RodeoHouston earlier this year and won the Treaty Day Celebration & PRCA ProRodeo in Window Rock, Ariz. During his first 15 years on the PRCA Circuit, he earned more than $1.6 million. Last year, he earned $61,996 and finished 17th in the world standings, just two spots out of the top 15 for the NFR.
"I had a torn meniscus before Houston earlier this year, but I went to Houston and won," said Smith, who has qualified for the NFR 10 times, winning the tie-down title in 2008. "I've been competing on it all year. I will deal with the pain until January."
Smith and his wife are expecting another child and he said family obligations likely will signal the end of his career.
"I think I will always want to compete, but the year-long physical and mental grind I might not miss so much," he said. "My boys will not want to do this forever and when that happens, I will be ready for the next stage of life."
Fennell joined the PRCA in 1994, but it wasn't until last year that he decided to hit the road full-time, and it's paid off.
He made nearly half of his $282,267 career earning last year -- $130,976. He earned his first trip to the NFR, placing fourth and finishing ninth in the world standings.
"I spent 10 years rodeoing around the house just paying bills," said Fennell, who makes his home in Neosho, Mo. "I decided if I wanted to rodeo I had to get out with the big guys. Last year was a blessing and a good time. I hope this year is better. I have great expectations with things to come. We still have a few weeks of good rodeos left."
Even though Fennell is 36, his young traveling partners -- 2009 bareback rookie of the year Steven Peebles, 21, and 2008 bareback rookie of the year Jared Smith, 22 -- had a little fun at his expense last year at the NFR, presenting him with a rocking chair.
"I got them back," Fennell said. "I gave them jars of baby food. I give them a hard time every chance I get."
Smith said he admires the rough stock competitors. "The strain they put their body under, it's unbelievable how they can do that every day," Smith said. "My event, is more agility and technical, where as rough stock, especially in bareback, their horses are trying to jerk their heads off. After years of taking that abuse, I don't see how they continue to do it. If I have a horse that bucks with me, I sell it."
Cooper grew up in a family of champion ropers, but has an appreciation for the rough stock events.
"D.V. is one of the guys I watch because of his age," Cooper said. "It just shows you how much hard work you have to put in and how much he has to put in to still win. You sit back at 20 and think, 'I have a lot of work to do.' "
Petska, from Turlock, Calif., joined the PRCA in 1980 and has roped with some of the best in the game, including Turtle Powell and Tee Woolman.
"I love to rope and I love horses," said Petska, who runs roping schools and teaches lessons during the offseason. "It's what I do. Even when I go on vacation, I rope. Most days I have a rope in my hand."
That passion has led to a good career and many good paychecks. Petska has won more than $1.7 million in 30 years on the circuit, including $32,025 last year.
"The average person makes so much more now," said Petska, who still has several key sponsors, including Purina Mills and Resistol hats. "Thirty years ago, trucks were $10,000 and now they are $50,000. If you are going to make it, you still have to tend to it."
Petska said he takes a little ribbing about his age from time to time, but knows it's all in good fun.
"One thing about cowboys, is once you put your boots on, you are all equal," he said. "You have the same opportunity as the next guy."
