story by Siri Stevens
Elaine Lewis, from Victor, Montana, is the current Ribbon Roping Director for the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association and has been a member since 2012. She has been competing at barrel racing and rodeos for the past 13 years hauling her red roan Vegaswoods Turnnburn “Cowboy” and her Toy Australian Shepard Cedar. Currently she is working two new horses Vegas Wooden Cash “Cisco” for barrels and Rockstar for break-away roping, a new event for her. As the Ribbon Roping Director, Lewis states “I am learning… I have learned about the calves and what the ropers need, as well as ground preparation for the runners.” With all this in mind, she is preparing for the favorite crowd pleasing event.
Elaine owns Urban Montana Salon & Boutique in Montana and has been self-employed for over 27 years. She is the mother of three living children, grandmother to three, and a survivor of the loss of her oldest daughter. Elaine grew up in the suburbs of Houston, Texas romping around in neighboring barns until she bought her first horse when she was 18. Her daughters were her focus as they competed in gymkhanas, junior rodeos, and open barrel races. It wasn’t until they were grown that she began venturing out on her own competing at barrel races and rodeos in the Northwest.
After her oldest daughter, Erica, passed away in 2011, Elaine didn’t get back on a horse until the spring of 2012. With the encouragement of her youngest daughter Riley, she entered the NSPRA Montana Circuit and ended up winning her age group for Circuit Champion in 2012. With that win, she ventured to Fernley, Nevada to also win her first Ribbon Roping and All-Around buckle. This event was her first experience with ribbon roping and helped her to the All-Around win. Elaine continued traveling with Cowboy on a personal journey to work through her grief. She ended up in Estes Park, Colorado where she met new lifelong friends, Chuck Bowling and Christine Secheli, from Napa Valley, California. At that time Chuck was the NSPRA President and Christine the Ribbon Roping Director. This was the beginning of her new journey in learning her current position as Ribbon Roping Director and becoming an active member in the NSPRA. After qualifying for the 2012 SNFR, she ended the season as the 40’s Reserve Champion Barrel Racer. In the 2016 season Elaine and Cowboy also earned the Yearend 50’s Champion saddle, another proud accomplishment driven by what she calls “Erica, her Angel”.
Elaine’s new direction in life is more unusual than most would understand. She tries to live each and every day connected to her children: Joseph, Michael, and their families residing in Florida, and her daughter Riley and family in Montana. Through their support, Elaine has found confidence in herself and her new relationship with Stoney Neufang, a true Arizona raised cowboy. Elaine and Stoney met at a Senior Rodeo in Estes Park, Colorado and formed a shared love for what they do. Together you will find Elaine and Stoney traveling with their small herd, Cedar, Cowboy, Cisco and Rockstar.
“My goals are to keep moving forward and take each day as graceful as possible. I want to be an example for showing strength in living for today, taking adventures instead of waiting for them… stopping and smelling the roses along each road.”
