story by Laurie Dineen
Clyde has grown up on the ranch his great grandfather started and where his father was born in Elbert, CO. As a fourth-generation cowboy, he has learned about cattle, horses and the land it takes to raise them. This (soon to be) 18 yr. old helps his parents (Diamond and Paula) out with day to day chores in addition to going to school, riding and training horses and working on his rodeo events so he can compete to the best of his ability. “We run 100 head of cows, and my folks both have full time jobs off the ranch so it takes all of us pitching in to make it all work,” said Clyde. “I have an older sister, Shawna and an older brother, Caleb. My sister lives in Calif. with her family and Caleb lives in Elbert, but not on the ranch and he helps out when he can.”
Clyde learned to rope from his folks and his brother. “They are all headers, so I learned to heel. I head some too but I prefer heeling and I really enjoy it,” he stated. As a kid, his parents took him to the Little Britches Rodeos and he joined the CJRA when he was 13. “After the first (CJRA) rodeo, I was hooked. I have made some great friends and the level of competition is higher. I think I have become a better rodeo athlete as a result.”
Clyde competes in the mixed team roping, open team roping, parent/child team roping, calf roping and ribbon roping. At the end of the 2018 CRJA finals he was 4th in the Sr. Boys All-Around – placing 1st in the mixed team roping, 1st in the open team roping and 11th in ribbon roping. Looking forward to 2019 and his last year as a CJRA member, Clyde has set his goals high and with every intention of obtaining them. “I have won the mixed team roping the past three years with my heading partner Graycee Lay and it would be awesome to win it with her this year making it 4 years in a row,” exclaimed Clyde. “In the open team roping, I will be heeling for Braden Filmore this year. He will be a freshman and I would like to help him win the roping saddle his first year in the Sr. Boy division. Roping in the parent/child team roping with my mom is always fun and I’d like to win that with her. It will be a fun and exciting year.”
The horse Clyde has used the past 7-8 years is ‘a good one’. “My parents bought Roanie as a 4yr. old and they didn’t get along with him so they gave him to me to work on. I started training him for a heel horse and we really clicked. Together we have won 2 CSHSRA titles and 5 CJRA saddles. I also use him on the ranch checking cattle and branding. I am starting a 3 yr. old and training a handful of others that will help take some of the pressure off of Roanie.”
Rodeo has been a way of life for Clyde – whether in the arena or out on the ranch. “A lot of the skills I use in the rodeo arena I have learned on the ranch working cattle and horses,” he said. “But traveling and competing at rodeos has also taught me many life lessons including to be responsible not only for myself but for my animals and to not take things for granted. I have also gained a lot more respect for my parents as well and I am thankful for the opportunities they have given me and their support and encouragement for everything I have been able to do in my life.”
To all those that participate in the sport of Rodeo, there is a common bond and an opportunity to grow, mature and learn from others. “I have had the opportunity to learn from a lot of people over the years, but my mom, dad and brother have had the biggest impact on me,” said Clyde. “Clint Lay and Dale Atkinson have also helped me in becoming a better roper as has Shay Carroll. I always listen to advise. I believe you can never learn too much and that you can always learn a little from everyone,” he added. To help with some of the traveling expenses associated with rodeo, Clyde has secured several sponsorships and greatly appreciates their support as well including Cactus Ropes, High Plains Cattle Supply, TSG Auto, Montana Silversmiths, Rowan and Merrilyn Tyson. “I can’t begin to thank my sponsors enough for all the support they have given me.”
As a graduating senior at Elbert High School, Clyde is looking forward to continuing his education at Northeaster Junior College in the fall where he received a rodeo scholarship and will be competing on their rodeo team. After that he plans to move to Texas and get his ranch real estate license.
