story by Michele Toberer
Kenneth Glick is 20 years old and will never forget his first International Finals Rodeo, storming into Guthrie, Oklahoma leading the rookie saddle bronc and rookie all-around cowboy races and leaving with those titles all wrapped up. He was the only rookie bronc rider or rookie all-around cowboy to qualify for the IFR50 and made his mark on the Lazy E Arena floor, finishing 3rd in the 2nd round and 5th in the 4th round of the finals. Although his rookie season was full of lessons, qualifying for the IFR50 his first year out was an exciting accomplishment for Kenneth.
Born and raised in South Carolina, the saddle bronc and bareback riding competitor gives credit for his start in those events to his family and their horse-trading business that sparked the rodeo interest. “My dad, Reece Glick, and I traded horses, and that meant I rode a lot of wild ones. I never really looked at horses like some people, for me the wilder they are the better it is. I had fun with it, and when I was in high school decided to take my skills riding horses that buck to the rodeo arena.”
Kenneth’s senior year of high school, he was the 2017 South Carolina High School Rodeo Association champion bareback rider, champion saddlebronc rider, champion steer wrestler, and champion all-around cowboy. He also won the saddlebronc title as a sophomore in the association while he attended Wren High School. He had played baseball until his sophomore year, when he traded his cleats for spurs. Kenneth also wrestled for the school his freshman through junior year. He dabbled in team roping and calf roping, but the adrenaline of bucking horses has always been his passion.
After high school, Kenneth attended Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas. He competed on the rodeo team in both saddlebronc and bareback riding while taking general education classes. He hit the IPRA rodeo trail after leaving Kansas and spent his rookie year entering as many rodeos as he could. “I really enjoyed it and I’m glad I went as hard as I did my first year out. It showed me a lot about how humbling the sport is and was a big eye opener to the ups and downs you can have in rodeo. I wasn’t expecting the pressure to be as strong as it was at this level. It’s not like in high school and college rodeo where you have 10 or 12 rodeos for a season. I went to 30 rodeos in a row, in one month; going to a new rodeo every day, it was definitely something to experience.”
Kenneth has always looked up to Eddie Parlier who would often help him and his dad with horses a hair too wild for the young cowboy. “Eddie’s a world champion saddlebronc rider, and when I was younger, and we were trading horses we’d see Eddie at the horse sales. My dad would pay Eddie to get on some of the big horses to take some of the buck out of them for me; then, I’d take them home and finish them. He’s always been someone I looked up to, and it was great competing alongside him at the IFR.”
Kenneth’s mom is Susan Finley, and he has two younger brothers, Coedy, 18, Thomas, 16, and one sister, Lillian, 7. He’s the only one in the family that’s been drawn to the rodeo arena, but his family is supportive of all his rodeo aspirations. “My brother Coedy went with me on a month-long rodeo run through the Midwest this summer during the 4th of July run. I really enjoyed having him with me and helping drive.” Kenneth also receives incredible support from his girlfriend, Brittany Vickstrom, and their 18-month-old daughter, Kinley Jo.
Kenneth works for Metro Mont where they build pre-stressed concrete panels for large construction projects. He practices on his spur board at least three times each week and is planning to hit as many rodeos as possible in the 2020 season, focusing on saddle bronc riding. “I really want to make the IFR51 and finish in the top 10 saddle bronc riders. I love rodeo and being able to live a dream and make money doing it.”
