story by Siri Stevens
Matt Askew has done it all – from competing to judging to committee man to president of the Idaho Cowboys Rodeo Association. He started competing when he was 13. “We farmed and ranched,” explained the 40 year old Emmett, Idaho cowboy. “I lived about half a mile from Stevens Brothers – a big stock contractor. They bucked horses out once a week and I would go over and watch. They talked me into getting on and I was hooked.” He started out riding bulls, and did that all through high school. His senior year he added bareback riding and team roping.
Matt went to Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, and under the coaching of Ike Sankey, he added steer wrestling to his roster of events, competing in all four events at the college level. He has been a member of the ICA since he was 15. Matt has four children, two daughters, Codi Anne and Madison, and two sons, Cole and Cooper. He is self employed, running two businesses. “I work on heavy equipment, weld and mechanic, and I have another business that provides food grade parts to processing plants.” He and his wife, Jeanna, keep busy with their kids activities which include showing livestock, FFA and sports – basketball, volleyball, and wrestling. None of his children took an interest in rodeo. “I never pushed it.”
Matt team ropes and judges. “I judge more than anything,” he said. “I get the same adrenaline rush as when I was competing. It makes a two hour rodeo go by in half an hour.”
He took on the job as president of the ICA in 2019, rising from the ranks as committee director to vice president over a 3 year span. “My goal is to run this like a business; I want to pay attention to the committee needs and the interest of the cowboy. I know what it takes from all angles to make an association work.”
The ICA is the only association in the North West to offer a Novice Program – called the Permit Rough Stock Section. It offers 14-16 point average rough stock to give the kids points towards a saddle. “It gives those kids a platform to break their 8 for their very first out.” The association offers a saddle year end in ranch bronc riding too.
The ICA is also doing an outreach program to all the schools and clinics around the area providing free or reduced memberships to those kids attending the schools.
Matt has had a lot of success over the years but the accolade he is most proud of all is winning the Charlie Stovner Memorial Award. “It’s an award given to an active ICA member that is the biggest advocate for the ICA; being the face of the ICA, helping the new people come on board.” Matt helped at several schools in the steer riding as well as being a constant voice for the ICA. The award is voted on from the membership.
“I hope to be a good president to help reflect the ICA in a good way – I want to see more membership, sponsorship, and anything I can do to promote this association that I have been a part of for 25 years.”
