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It’ll drive a cowboy crazy, it’ll drive the man insane, and he’ll sell off everything he owns just to pay to play her game. And a broken home and some broken bones is all he’ll have to show for all the years that he spent chasin’ this dream they call rodeo.
— Garth Brooks
KENNEWICK — There's something about climbing on the back of a bull or dropping down onto a steer that drives grown men to give up just about everything they have for one more ride.
Erik Johnson is not that man.
The steer wrestler from Eltopia spent the last 11 years building a business and raising a family before he felt he was financially secure enough to get back out on the road.
"It's awfully difficult to make a living just rodeoing," said Johnson, who will compete Saturday at the Horse Heaven Round-Up. "It's tough to make mortgage payments, make ends meet, to have a family and build a business that is long term. There are no guarantees rodeoing.
"I've made $43,000 or so this year, and I'm breaking even. I have a business on the side to support my family, but there are a lot that don't have much at all and it makes it hard."
The 62nd edition of the Horse Heaven Round-Up opens tonight and runs through Saturday at the Benton Franklin Fairgrounds.
In 1999, Johnson was on top of the world, finishing second to Cash Myers in the PRCA steer wrestling rookie standings, earning $22,054.
His career earnings -- which includes that $22,054 -- are $68,662 before this season and he's has never made it the National Finals Rodeo. But that could all change with a couple of good weeks on the road.
"That's the goal," said Johnson, who is sitting 18th, just $1,363 out of the top 15. "One steer at a time and hope
and pray I get on a roll. I earned some money at some big rodeos and Ellensburg and Bremerton are coming up."
The top 15 competitors in each event qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December, and Johnson believes he has a shot this year after picking up a good horse.
"I bought a black horse -- Chainsaw -- from Linda Thomas of Pasco," Johnson said. "That horse is fantastic, that's why I'm rodeoing so much this year. You get one that has the heart and it's a blessing. There is a big difference between a horse and a super star."
Johnson, who turned 36 on Tuesday, owns and operates Johnson Enterprises, a custom hay business in Eltopia.
The business not only supports his family, but also helps with the rodeo expenses.
"It would be nice if we were compensated an hourly wage for drive time and practices," Johnson said. "I've saved up a bit so I can rodeo and stay out there. Being gone and the late nights are the hard parts. My kids are older now and can come with me. I've wanted to do this for a long time. The Lord told me the time is now."
This year, Johnson has won titles at the Cold Lake (Alberta) Stampede and the Cheney Rodeo, and a career high $43,123.
He made $2,226 two weeks ago between Hermiston, Omak and Loveland, Colo.
"It's all about getting to the NFR," Johnson said. "The hammer is down from here on out."
