story by Michele Toberer
Giving back in rodeo is a common occurrence, as you hear many stories of some cowboy or cowgirl taking the time to share their ability with a youngster. Life comes full circle as the one that was shared with, goes on to share their knowledge with another youngster, and the rodeo way of life continues on. Talking to Aug Silverman of Cedar Springs, Michigan gave another example to that common theme. Aug grew up in Kent City, Michigan, where his dad taught him to rope the dummy. At 9 years old, while roping the dummy at the Cow Camp Rodeo in McBain, Michigan, Aug and his dad were approached by a cowboy, Pat Porter, and the course of Aug’s life took a turn. Pat Porter was a team roper that spotted potential in the young cowboy, and invited Aug and his dad to come rope at his arena about 30 miles west of their hometown. For years, they continued to visit Pat’s arena, where Aug learned to rope calves and steers. From the age of 13 through 18, Aug spent 3 days a week on the road with Pat and his wife Jane, entering team roping jackpots and rodeos across Michigan and neighboring states. Aug had his own horse that he entered breakaway roping on, but Pat would let Aug use one of his heel horses so that he could head for him in the team roping. “They helped raise me, I’d be with my parents four days a week, and with them for three.”
Aug attended Kent City High School and competed his junior and senior years on the Michigan High School Rodeo Association team, qualifying for nationals both years in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His senior year, he placed in the top ten heelers in the country. Following high school Aug graduated from farrier school in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and came back to Michigan where he has made his living as a certified farrier. Once Aug had returned from school, he spent much of his time helping his siblings rope. Aug is the oldest of four children, two sisters, Sarah and Queen, and a brother, Sam, who is 11 years younger than Aug. Although he had primarily heeled as a team roper, he began heading for his sisters and brother, teaching them all he could about heeling. Aug became very involved and ended up taking the reins of the MHSRA as the president for six years, while his siblings were members through their high school years.
Aug didn’t compete much these next years, and had sold all but one of his horses before marrying his wife, Mindy, in 2011. Mindy is a junior high school art teacher, who is also a barrel racer and has several futurity prospects she is currently working with. On their first wedding anniversary, Mindy gifted Aug a 3-year-old mare named Willow, and Aug quickly went to work turning the 15.2, buckskin Quarter Horse into a heel horse, regardless of the fact she is much larger than many typical to the job. Mindy and Aug live in Cedar Springs with their horses and two dogs; a Border Collie named Willie and a Miniature Australian Sheperd named Whip. Aug appreciates all Mindy does to support his rodeo aspirations, and the time he is away from home shoeing and competing.
Over the years, Aug has been proud to rope with some great headers, spending many years roping with Rob Pyne, and now heeling behind Brian Bucholts and his brother Sam Silverman. They all practice at a neighboring arena owned by Randy Fisk, where they share in a roping co-op, leasing steers, and sharing their love of improving their roping skills.
Aug joined Mid States Rodeo Association two years ago, and 2017 brought him those full-circle moments that many dream of. He and his brother, Sam, qualified for the 2017 MSRA finals in October, winning the final round and placing in the average. And back where it began, at the Cow Camp Rodeo grounds, the place Aug had won his first-ever buckle in 1986, he was able to experience winning the 2017 Cow Camp team roping buckle with his brother Sam, and the rodeo circle of life continues.
