story by Kyle Eustice
To say Negley, Ohio native Pamela Bowersock, 34, has her hands full would be an understatement. With a six-month old baby, Statler, two step-children, Patrick and Iyza, her position with the ACRA as the Barrel Racing Director, a ranch to take of, and her role as a fiancé to saddle bronc rider Sean Prater, her schedule is packed.
Based in Muskogee, Okla., Pamela moved to be closer to Sean in 2009 after meeting in East Lansing, Mich. at a rodeo event in 2008. They plan on getting married as soon as time allows.
“We run a ranch with 800 mama cows,” explained Pamela. “We rodeo on weekends. Having Statler has made things more challenging, but I’ve got a good support system. Lyza is a huge help and so is Patrick.”
With familial support intact, she’s been able to be a member of the ACRA since 2012 and stepped into her role as director in 2015. She makes sure everything is done for each racer and if they have any issues, she takes them to the board to resolve them. She is also on the award and banquet committee.
Growing up in Negley, a small town with one stop sign and around 400 people, Pamela’s parents, Richard and Jeanie, encouraged their daughter to follow in their footsteps; both of them barrel raced. She and her twin sister, Maria, bought their IPRA cards when they were 12-years-old.
“We ran horses, trained and were on the road all the time,” said Pamela. “We had an indoor arena and had events there my whole life.”
Pamela’s sister is currently involved in the industry, as well. She trains race horses in Penn. in the summer and in Tampa, Fla. during the winter months along with her son Gavin, 11. Their parents are still living in Ohio, but in the town of Wellsville, where her mother Jeanie runs barrels at 64-years-old. Her father Richard retired from training race horses, but is heavily involved in his construction business. They always provided their daughters with excellent horses, although Pamela has lost count of how many horses she’s ran.
“People always ask how many horses I’ve ran, but I have no idea,” said Pamela. “Right now, we have three barrel horses and several ranch horses we use on a daily basis.”
Pamela’s family lives and works on the Cross Creek Ranch, and has six cattle dogs that work with them—Millie, Peanut the Cattle Dog, Dally, Spy, Max, and Shy. She doesn’t really have time for hobbies.
“I don’t care to do anything else,” admits Pamela. “We really enjoy starting young horses and what free time we have, we want to spend it with the kids. Our family is all that matters. Taking care of a ranch, rodeo and kids are full time jobs—even on the weekends.”
Pamela has made the ACRA Finals three times, but her traveling days have slowed down a little. Sean has won the IPRA World Championship three times in the saddle bronc riding category and won the ACRA four times. With his career in full swing, she is being as supportive as she can while juggling all of her responsibilities.
“I run when we’re close to home now,” said Pamela. “We don’t travel much anymore, but when we do, I’m there to cheer him on. Family is more important right now. That’s what we love about the ACRA—lots of rodeos close to home.”
