story by Lily Weinacht
Pacen Rowe of Sedalia, Colorado, is sitting seventh in the CSHSRA tie-down roping standings going into the spring season. The 18-year-old experienced several setbacks when his rope horse, Steve, fell ill and passed away last fall, but CSHSRA National Director Dirt Terrell stepped in and provided him the horsepower to finish the season. “He’s helped me out with my horsemanship, and when I was in need of a horse last fall, he jumped forward and said I could use his,” says Pacen. “He’s really helped boost my confidence and push me to the next level. I am so grateful for his help and support.” Bellamie Presley, a family friend, was also instrumental in Pacen’s rodeo career, teaching him how to tie-down rope in seventh grade and working with him through his sophomore year.
Tie-down roping has been Pacen’s main event all through high school, though he team ropes as well and he competed in other events like mutton busting when he first started rodeoing. Pacen competed in junior rodeos and roped in junior high in eighth grade before moving into the CSHSRA. He also hopes to start heeling again in the team roping this spring. “I think what I enjoy the most (in tie-down roping) is the horsemanship you have to have with your horse. Your event doesn’t work unless you are synced together and everything works smoothly,” he explains. “I like the hard work and the determination it takes to compete and overcome obstacles. I’ve wanted to get better every year and I think that’s really what has pushed me to continue to grow as a roper. I love practicing because it helps make you better.” He also had the opportunity to meet one of his favorite professional tie-down ropers, Marty Yates, when he went to watch the 2018 WNFR. “The thing I like most about him is how fast he is—he’s consistent and fun to watch.”
Practice over the winter was sporadic for Pacen with his current horse situation, but he’s used the time to search for a new tie-down roping horse. When he is visiting his dad, Shelby Rowe, during school breaks, he likes helping him with his cattle and enjoys most ranch work with the exception of calving in the middle of the night. When rodeo season picks up, he travels with his mom, Amber Ellerman, and other family to his rodeos. He likes that this has kept their family bond strong, and Pacen always looks forward to state finals in Craig. “I think the town is really nice, and they put on a pretty good rodeo.”
A senior at Mountain Vista High School, Pacen says he hasn’t developed senioritis yet, and enjoys math, where they’re studying trigonometry functions. He also learned to weld in high school, where one of his favorite projects became a smoker made out of a 55-gallon drum with semi truck exhaust pipes for the smoker. Pacen has his college search narrowed down to three universities, and he plans to college rodeo while majoring in animal science with a minor in business. “I’ve thought about the veterinary side, but I’m not 100 percent sure yet if that is the direction I’ll go or not,” he says. “For rodeo this year, my goal is to make it to Nationals—I was really close last year. For college rodeo, I think the biggest goal I have would be to get Horse of the Year. To me, that would be a really big accomplishment. My bigger goals are to make the College Finals, graduate from college, and then eventually carry on my family legacy and make it to the NFR. I just thank God and my family every day for helping me chase my dreams, and for always being right beside me while I do!”
