All-around honors, Twice earned, high school all-around cowboy heads to NHSFR

One of this year’s contestants heading to the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR), July 14-20 in Rock Springs, is senior Casey Sellers of Buffalo. Sellers will be competing in calf roping and steer wrestling.

Sellers recently won the all-around cowboy title at this year’s Wyoming High School Finals Rodeo (WHSFR), also placing first in the tie-down calf roping. 

This is Sellers’ second time winning both of these events. 

“It’s very rewarding being the all-around again. I’ve been working very hard towards that all year,” comments Sellers. “I just wanted to make sure that my senior year was just as good as my junior year.”

Sellers also placed third in steer wrestling at the state finals, which were held in Douglas June 11-14. 

Nationals

Since being named all-around cowboy, Sellers’ game plan is to conquer a national title in Rock Springs and hopefully have a shot in the all-around there, as well. 

“At Nationals, I’ll just have to see how everything pans out and see what I draw,” he says. 

To help prepare himself for the WHSFR, Sellers elicited some advice from World Champion Bulldogger, Frank Thompson.

“The best advice I’ve ever received is to just go and do my job,” states Sellers. “No matter what steer I draw I have to do my job, and that’s what I’m going to try and do at Nationals. I have to stay focused, get my calves tied down, throw my steers down and be smart about what I’m doing. Hopefully, it will all go well.”

Rodeo

Sellers mentions he began competing in rodeo when he and his brother were just old enough to hang on to a saddle horn. 

“My brother and I grew up around horses, and I love to ride and rope. It’s something we have a passion for,” explains Sellers. 

“Our parents got us involved in rodeo, and we decided to stick with it, practice it as often as we could and work to be the best we can be at it,” he adds. “I’ve been around rodeo my whole life, and I plan on continuing to be around it for a while.”

When asked what advice Sellers would give a new competitor to rodeo, he says to listen to everybody and try everything. 

“Rodeo competitors should always work to be the best and do their job,” states Sellers. “If someone wants to win, they have to expect it of themselves and prepare to win. They can’t just show up at the rodeo and expect to win without first preparing for it.”

Challenges

Sellers notes that one of his biggest challenges being a part of rodeo is finding the time and place to practice. 

“It’s a big deal for me to go and practice because I have to haul my horses to an arena. In another way, it helps me prepare for my rodeos because when I go to practice I have to make it count,” he says.

“When I go to practice I have to make sure that I achieve what I want, make sure my horses are running good and that I’m sharp and fix the things that I need to,” explains Sellers. “It teaches me to make sure my runs count and that everything is running smoothly.”

People

There are numerous reasons why Sellers’ loves rodeo, but he especially loves all the people he is able to meet. 

“It’s very meaningful to be around rodeo people because they are very supportive and want to help others,” he says. “I don’t know how many people I’ve met through high school rodeo, but I’m sure I’ll remember them all my life.”

Sellers also expresses gratitude to all who have helped and encouraged him along the way.

“I would like to thank Jake, Deb and Klay Ready for letting my use their bulldogging horse for the past two years,” expressed Sellers. “Also, I can’t help but thank Dean and Teigan Sinnerty for all their help and Dan, Brandi, Casey and Clancy Reimler for all that they have done for me.”  

Future plans

Sellers recently graduated from Buffalo High School and will be attending Gillette College this fall to earn his associate degree in business and compete on the college rodeo team. 

“I’ve been keeping tabs on how the Gillette team is doing at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR), and they are sitting pretty good to win this year,” says Sellers. “I’m excited, and I look forward to being a part of that and the team next year.”

Sellers also recently obtained his Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) permit and plans on attending and competing in a few rodeos this summer. 

“I’m just going to get my feet wet and see what it’s all about,” he claims. 

Madeline Robinson is editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at madeline@wylr.net.