story by Lily Weinacht
Callan Connelly of Ogallala, Nebraska, has held his card with the NSRA since he was a freshman in high school, the same year he switched from the timed event end of the arena to roughstock. Today, 11 years later, he continues to compete in the saddle bronc riding, the second generation of his family to rodeo. “My dad team roped when I was younger, so I started out roping. Then I got on steers and started riding bulls until my brother started riding saddle broncs,” says Callan. “It was easier for me to get into that event since he was already doing it. I chose saddle broncs because it was way easier than hauling a horse around, and I broke something basically every time I got on a bull,” he recalls with a laugh, “plus I didn’t like having my hand tied into a rope. I decided to have my feet tied in instead of my hands.”
He went on to college rodeo for North Platte Community College, where he met his future wife, Alaina, in the rodeo club. She grew up in 4-H and showing horses, and now she and Callan are encouraging their own kids, Briley (five) and Clay (four months), into the horse world. “Briley loves going to rodeos on weekends, and if we don’t go to one, she’s questioning why not,” Callan describes. “She’s interested in horses, but we live in town, so we get her around them when we go to my folks’ place.” Callan’s older brother, Chad, recently retired from bullfighting, while their younger brother, Clint, rides bulls in the M-SRA and NSRA. Their mom, Lavonne Connelly, started barrel racing again in the NSRA this year. “If we have a close enough rodeo, my parents come out to watch,” says Callan. “My dad, Vince Connelly, has been the most inspirational to me, and my brothers have helped me out over the years too. I’d say the thrill of rodeo keeps me motivated – plus I love to travel, and the atmosphere of rodeo life. I’m kind of hooked to the lifestyle!”
When Callan’s not marking out broncs, he pursues his other passion of restoring cars and working in an auto body shop. He’s the shop manager, and also does painting and body tech. “I went to college for it, then took a few years off to ranch. I wasn’t planning on it as a career – I was just planning on cowboying, but this pays better!” He’s also restored two Ford pickups – a 1968 and 1978 – while he has his own 1929 Ford sedan he plans to restore in the future. “I got lucky on that one. My boss was looking at cars for the shop to restore and saw that one and told me about it,” says Callan.
The Connelly family also enjoys trips to the lake in the summer, and spending time with friends and family when they’re not rodeoing. One of Callan’s favorite NSRA rodeos is Bridgeport, Nebraska, during the Fourth of July. “The crowd gets into it, and they have a neat firework show that winds up our Fourth since we’re always gone that week. And one of my favorite horses is River Bend of Boots and Phillips Rodeo Company. I’ve been on him twice and he bucks really good for me. He’s a really nice horse, and one that you could get quite a few points on if you ride him right.” Callan has qualified at least five times for the NSRA finals. “I’d like to win the year-end for M-SRA and NSRA, and someday go pro,” he finishes. “I want to thank everyone, especially my wife and my mom and dad and brothers, for helping me along the way.”
