by Hailey Dixon -WSRRA Media Coordinator
Chelsea Todd is the 2017 NFR WSRRA Steer Stopping Champion. She currently lives in Elko, NV with her husband Donny Todd. She is defiantly busy working part time as med staff for HHDS and also a full- time nursing student at GBC. She loves to rope with friends and family. Chelsea has quite the array of winnings under her belt, including NVSHSRA champion breakaway roper, and also the NHSRA Breakaway Champion. In 2005 she had the honor to be the first women to ever win the National Little Britches Rodeo Team Roping with her husband. She credits all of her success to her parents, grandparents, and husband for always believing in her and pushing her to do her best. Here is a little behind the scenes of her life in the WSRRA.
When did you first become interested in steer stopping and what attracted you to compete? I have always been interested in roping, it was my passion, but when I moved to Elko NV with my husband we went to a Ranch Rodeo and I told my husband that I should be doing that.
What WSRRA win are you most proud of and why? That is hard, I would have to say this last year 2017, I came in to the finals setting 5th place and thinking I had no chance at winning the finals and if I did I would have to win all three rounds. I knew going into it I had to rope tough and hope for the best.
Describe your early rodeo experiences, first as an observer and then as a participant. I have always competed in rodeo from when I was JR rodeoing, High school, Little Britches, and college. I grew up watching my parents and knew that it was my life to rodeo. I knew if I worked hard and was dedicated I would succeed and win championships.
How did you learn about the WSRRA and what do you enjoy most about the association? I learned about the WSRRA when I moved to Elko NV, all my past rodeo family that I competed with in high school were competing in them, and at first, I would just go watch all my friends compete, then after everyone telling me I should just enter them and become a member. I love how this association has so many events all around the world and keeps the western tradition of rodeo alive.
Name five things you take with you on the rodeo trail. I would have to say my husband, my number one-horse Rambo, feed for my horse, and my ropes.
Tell us about the horse that you competed on at the 2017 WSRRA Finals. Wow, Rambo is very special to me, my family and I raised him from a baby. He had such a personality as a baby and still does. He gives me 110% every time we compete, I know that all I have to do is worry about myself, and he will do his job. Rambo is 17 years old and still acts like a four-year-old. He has won me many championships and has stuck by my side.
What are your goals, and what would you like to accomplish in the WSRRA?
My goals are to win as many rodeos as I can with Rambo while he is with me, and hopefully my kids will have the honor in riding Rambo as well. I would like to make it to the WSRRA finals this year and try and win the Steer stopping again in 2018.
If you qualify for the 2018 WSRRA National Finals, what would you do different if anything this year? I wouldn’t do anything different, I work really hard every year to rope as well as I can and practice as much as I can. As long as I am roping and with my husband Donny having fun that is all that matters.
