story by Lindsay King
The 2017 ACRA Rookie of the Year, Halle Tatham from Pryor, Oklahoma, loves how quickly breakaway roping is making a name for itself in rodeo. “Not a lot of people seem to know about the event, but the girls are working hard to change that. It is really competitive these days and I think it is starting to move up in the rodeo world,” said the 16 year old. Halle also barrel races but likes the fast-pace and amount of focus breakaway roping requires. “Going into the ACRA finals I had a goal of catching all three calves. I was able to do that, win the first round and finish second in the average. It was a really good year for me.” Halle has two younger brothers 13 year old Blake and 19 month old Tate.
“The ACRA is a great association to be a part of, they know what the competitors want, and they work with us to make it happen.” Most of the rodeos are just out Halle’s backdoor in north east Oklahoma. “I was intimidated when I first started, but once I got into the groove of things I felt more comfortable with the other competitors.” Jimmie Beth Hefner is one of Halle’s rodeo role models, and also an ACRA competitor. “She grew up with my mom and has helped me learn the ropes behind the scenes, because I did not know what was going on when I first started in a bigger association.” Her kindness and willingness to help are everything Halle aspires to be. “My parents, Travis and Allyssa, have been my biggest inspirations in life. They have driven me all over the world it feels like and they always push me to do my best.” Halle is looking forward to her favorite rodeo coming up in May: Rodeo Miami. She has basically restarted by competing on younger horses and her overall goal is to make it back to the finals on them.
The Claremore Sequoyah sophomore spends the rest of her time playing basketball and competing with her FFA chapter. “Playing basketball not only keeps me in shape to play but I think it also makes me a better rodeo athlete.” Her second favorite hobby is giving speeches and serving as sentinel in FFA. “I did a speech over cattle production last year. I try to keep my topics focused around the world of rodeo.” Science is easily her favorite subject in school, she likes learning about the environment and what we can do to better our world. “We are learning about natural disasters that are going to happen and how we can help slow them down or even prevent them.” Halle plans to pursue a career in the medical field while continuing to rodeo both in college and beyond. “My uncle coaches the men’s basketball team at Southern Methodist University, so I follow that team and then OSU basketball of course.”
Halle has a habit of holding her breath as she gets into the roping box or coming down the alley and continues to do so throughout her run. The best advice she gets before each run is simply to breath. Her proudest moment so far is when she won the first round at the AFR this past December. “I remember I was so nervous I was shaking when I walked in the box. There were a lot of fast runs that night and I knew I had to just calm down and make my run. It was tough, but the Lord helped me through it. Christ has been a big part of my success both in rodeo and in life, I am very thankful to have him in my life. I live and ride by Romans 8:18.”
