story by Lily Weinacht
Blake Andis blazed new trails in his rodeo career during the 2017 season when he qualified for the NLBFR in Guthrie, Oklahoma, followed by the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio. The 16-year-old who hails from Albion, Indiana, won the youth division calf roping at Congress and placed fourth in the breakaway roping astride his horse Cowboys Reyboon 820, better known as Rambo. “That was my first time there, and I really just went out and roped and showed off my horse,” says Blake, who took home a bronze trophy. Earlier in the year, he competed at the NLBFR in tie-down roping, as well as team roping with heeler Mia Miller. He also enters the dally ribbon roping, though calf roping is his favorite. “I like the challenge and the fact that you have to have teamwork with your horse, and I like the competition.”
Blake picked up a rope for the first time about six years ago and rapidly built loops and confidence after he started taking lessons. He and his 10-year-old sister, Brooke, are the first in their family to rodeo, supported wholeheartedly by their parents, Mark and Julie Andis. Brooke also qualified for the 2017 NLBFR and competes in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, and goat tying. The brother and sister take turns practicing on the heading dummy and the calf dummy, while they have a small indoor arena to ride in at home. “Jim McCartney is the closest person to us that has an indoor arena and cattle, and he’s two and a half hours away,” Blake explains. “He’s helped me with my calf horse, and Cory Griffith is a roper who helps me out as well.”
Along with the NLBRA, Blake competes in the Midwest Youth Rodeo Association and the Michigan High School Rodeo Association, though he takes a short break in the winter between seasons. “We’re about an hour and a half from Michigan. Most of the rodeos are rainy, but we have a lot of IPRA rodeos here. The competition and the challenge that rodeo gives me motivates me, and the fact that I have friends I can rely on if I need anything. I’m just trying to become better and correct my mistakes and move forward.”
Rambo, who took Blake to the All American Quarter Horse Congress, is a bay gelding, while Blake rides his red roan, Roaney, in team roping, and borrows his sister’s Paint mare, Cowgirl, for ribbon roping. “I’ve worked with my bay horse some just touching him up, but he knew what he was doing when we got him,” says Blake. When he’s not with his horses, Blake enjoys hunting in the fall and fishing in the summer. The largest deer he’s shot was a five-point buck during bow season, though shotgun season is his favorite.
Blake also stays busy as a sophomore at Smith Green Community School. He particularly likes geometry and Ag. class, then heads home to take care of animals and practice. His main goals for the year are to qualify for the NHSFR and improve his calf roping, along with returning to the roping box of the Lazy E Arena for the 2018 NLBFR.
