story by Siri Stevens
Matt Dewetering from Mitchell, Ontario, is leading the IPRA World Standings in the steer wrestling. The 25 year old learned how to steer wrestle from his Uncle Ed Dewetering. “He’s a stock contractor (Big Easy Stock Contracting) up here, but he used to steer wrestle. I went to his place for a while and started competing in junior steer riding, and he kept hounding me to come back and I did.”
Matt grew up on a farm, his family raised beef cattle. He was 14 when his father, Ben, passed away and the family moved into town. “I was very active on the farm, that’s why it was so good to have my Uncle take me under his wing.” About five years ago, Matt started entering IPRA rodeos, he competed at his first IFR last year. “It was great – and I hope to keep going back.” He won the Canadian IPRA in 2017 and 2018.
“Matt is a natural and pound for pound he’s stronger than anybody,” said Ed. “He’s a real athlete and is very dedicated. He comes out three or four times a week to practice.” Ed started steer wrestling when he was 37. “I saw it one day around home and thought well I should be able to do that. I won my first rodeo with a 3.6 – I’d never jumped a steer before. I thought it was pretty easy.” Since then, Ed has opened his place up to help the next generation of steer wrestlers. “We drag on sticks and have steer savers and horse savers – I train young guys all the time. I’ve always had a pair of bulldogging horses to mount them on. Matt was one of those guys. He’s well on his way.” Ed goes to haze for Matt as often as he can. “I provide timed event stock for two rodeo companies so that keeps me pretty busy.”
Matt spends about half his year in the US, but still competes in Quebec often. “I head south in the spring and fall, leaving the snow behind,” he said. He travels with his girlfriend, Madison Dow, who competes in barrel racing. His Uncle comes along to haze for him and they also travel with Tim Kemp, who is sitting second.
“I also have a phenomenal set of horses – Smokey and Jack – that belong to my uncle. I hauled them all summer long,” he said. The group will haul up to 2,000 miles a weekend making the rodeos, some in the states and some around home. “I don’t like the driving, but I like to rodeo, so that offsets it.” His favorite rodeo is St. Tite. “It’s crazy – the atmosphere – so many people. When the tractor works the arena, everybody gets up and dances. That’s the rodeo that will set the standings for the IPRA.”
Matt has a great support system behind him. His mom, Jo Anne, his sister, Emily, and brother, Jeremy support him on the road. “I’m very blessed,” said Matt, who works construction when he’s not on the rodeo road. He went to one year of electrical engineering, but college wasn’t for him, so he got a job in construction. “I’m gone to a rodeo every weekend, and my boss works with me if I have to have time off.”
