story by Terry Rhodes
Nearly all rodeo associations rely heavily on volunteer help from its members. The National Senior Pro Rodeo Association is no exception and there are many members that do more than their share. One such individual is Shawn Hastings. The event director for the tie down roping , Kyle Jumper is quick to name Shawn as someone that is a contributor. “He is really beneficial to our organization and we’re proud to have them on board. He’s been to the Finals a couple of times and is always helping out.”
Shawn is starting his third year in the Senior Pro association and likes being a part of the group. “I like the camaraderie at Senior Pro rodeos. Everyone contributes. There is a wealth of knowledge from all these experienced guys and gals. Most have been around the sport their entire lives. They have seen it all. They have a deep understanding of the finer points of the sport. I have been very impressed to watch them rope and handle their horses. We sure laugh a lot at all the rodeos. They have great attitudes and that makes it a fun group to be around. If you have an opportunity to get involved with Senior Pro Rodeo, it’s a very fulfilling experience.” He is also in the PRCA, GCPRA, and World Series of Team Roping.
He says that his father, Dave Hastings has been his biggest influence to him. “He’s always been there in the practice arena and still is to this day when I’m working to tune up my horse or improve areas of my roping. He still has an eye for horses and notices subtle changes or things I can do to improve. He has also been a positive support to me and my family in and out of the arena. He’s been that good example of how to live a good life.”
With his father roping calves it the PRCA, Shawn picked up the same sport as a young boy. “We would take three or four weeks in the summer and go to Cheyenne, Estes Park, Salt Lake, Ogden, and other rodeos up north. While other kids were going to Disneyland, we were rodeoing. I started off in the Arizona Junior Rodeo Association and then participated in high school rodeo. I did rodeo while I was in college at ASU; they didn’t have rodeo scholarships so I rodeoed independently.”
For Shawn the biggest highlight in the arena came at the World Series of Team Roping Finale in 2011. He and his partner, Michelle Rezzonico won the #10 and split $200,000. “I prefer to rope calves but I haven’t had the chance to rope calves for $100,000.” With Michelle doing the heading and Shawn heeling, the team roped four head in 35.51seconds. They came to the short round as second high call to inch out the high call team.
Shawn and his family live in Gilbert, Ariz. He and his wife, Becky have four daughters; Breanna, 18, Ashlyn, 16, Amberly, 15, Brooke, 12. “All four are involved in school sports. Amberly ropes and we go to a few ropings and team rope together. She runs barrels, poles, breakaways, and ties goats. She made the Junior High National Finals last year.”
During the week Shawn is a real estate broker and deals with farms, ranches, and land. Leisure time is spent on the golf course, at the lake water skiing or watching the kid’s games. Goals are to spend time traveling with his wife and watch his girls start and raise their own families.
