story by Siri Stevens
Brian Dunning was the KPRA year-end open team roping champion header. “I roped with a lot of different people last year,” said the 41-year-old teacher from McClave, Colorado. Brian teaches Physical Education K-12 in McClave – there are 280 kids in the school. He is the athletic director and coaches girls basketball. His wife, Rachel, is the principal of the school. “She’s my boss.” Both of their children, Jacob (9) and Sydney (12) go to the school as well. “About four years ago we all got in the same building – it makes it nice,” he said. “Sydney played junior high basketball this year, so I was her coach.”
Brian was raised in Granada, Colorado. “My family ranches and farms.” He picked teaching as a career path in high school. His mentor was his high school coach and he wanted to be like him. He has been teaching for 15 years – his school is a four day school which gives him weekends to rope or rodeo.“I’m pretty dedicated to the athletic program so I focus on that from October to March. Right now, I’m starting to get things going for roping – getting my horses legged up and looking where to enter. I go to about 60 PRCA and amateur rodeos each summer.” His efforts paid off last year with a double championship – he also won the CPRA Team Roping Championship. He has made the Mountain States Circuit Finals for several years. “Last year when I won the year ends, it was pretty special. I had some great partners throughout the way and a lot of comradery with the team ropers. I enjoy my time in the summer. I’m addicted to the competition.”
The #7 Elite roper has his parents to thank. “They were very supportive of me and took me to the National Little Britches rodeos. My Uncle Greg Seufer, was a roper and helped me a lot. Once I got to college I was fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of guys that roped really good and we did well and I learned a lot.” He was the College National Finals Champion in 1998.
“I’m very fortunate that I have a family that is supportive of me and allows me to go and do what I love to do in the summer.” Rachel and his kids spend their time with sports and visiting family around the nation. They go with Brian to some of the bigger rodeos like Cheyenne. “They like to ride and are involved in sports.
Brian has competed for many years and is impressed with the quality of competition at the amateur rodeos. “The KPRA is so professionally run. They have great leadership at the top – Leon and Tina have done great things to make the KPRA better over the last few years.”
