story by Michele Toberer
The International Professional Rodeo Association gives members like Lindsey Wentworth a reason to travel the country as she and her family attend multiple high-caliber rodeos, competing against some of the best. To a third-generation cowgirl like Lindsey, being on the rodeo trail is as much like home as a house with a white picket fence. Lindsey began traveling with her grandparents, IPRA gold card members Dick and Lois Cory, as they worked as professional rodeo performers up and down the east coast, wowing the crowds with their whip popping and trick roping performances. Dick, who also sang and often announced at rodeos, was also a calf roping competitor, sometimes announcing up until minutes before his time to run and stepping back behind the announcer’s stand once he tied his calf. Lindsey stepped into their act when she was just 5, and she and her brother, Ronnie Heid went on to have their own act, performing at many rodeos as they were growing up.
Lindsey competed in high school rodeo, just as her mom Shawna did growing up, and she had quite a bit of success as she competed in multiple associations. But, becoming an IPRA member in 2017 was like coming back home for the cowgirl whose grandparents became members of the association in 1965. She ended up second in the 2017 IPRA Cowgirls Breakaway Roping Rookie of the Year standings, qualified for finals, and it was an exciting final performance as it came down to the last breakaway calf to determine the champion, Lindsey finishing in 5th place overall. “Starting out, I didn’t have any real plans to make the finals, but it worked out that way and I was glad I was able to.”
Lindsey is married to professional rodeo clown and entertainer, Mike Wentworth, and they are both IPRA approved contract acts. They are on the road throughout the season with their son Chisholm, 7, and 3-year-old daughter Hadley. Chisholm is Lindsey’s great-grandmother’s maiden name, dating back to the Chisholm Trail, and Chisholm Wentworth has already made his rodeo debut, competing in junior rodeos and as part of Lindsey’s rodeo act, as a 4th generation rodeo performer and competitor. Cowgirl Lindsey shares a taste of wild west skills, as she performs pistol spinning with her Colt .45, whip popping, and trick roping from both a board and the back of her horse, as she spins a 55’ loop around her and her palomino gelding, Money.
While dating in 2006, Mike tried to give Money to Lindsey as a gift, but she wanted to buy him in case the relationship didn’t last. However, once they were engaged in 2008 and she saw the relationship was destined for forever, she accepted the gift and went on to train him for breakaway roping. “Money is a little road warrior, he handles being on the road great. I can use him for breakaway or my rodeo act, walk out of the arena and put the kids on him and he’ll babysit them.”
This summer, the family left home in Ridge Spring, South Carolina on June 22nd and stayed on the rodeo trail until August 3rd, and after a short bit home, they were back out again. “We love that you can travel so much with the IPRA, you can go nationwide rather than just regionally, and it’s so great to meet a lot of new people from all over.” Lindsey is currently holding the number one spot in breakaway roping and hopes to compete at the IFR again this year. With the couple performing at different rodeos along the way, it’s a balancing act to compete at as many rodeos as possible. “We travel together, so I can often only compete at one rodeo a weekend if one of us is performing at a rodeo. I’ll go as much as I can, try to make my runs count and see where that takes me. If I’m able to walk away with the champion title I’ll love it, but I’m just so glad for the opportunities I’ve been given so far. I couldn’t do any of it without my support system, my husband and family at home, I appreciate them all very much.”