story by Siri Stevens
Wendi Maez lives in Center, Colorado, where she works as the county administrator for Saguache County. “I just got appointed December 10,” she said. “I’ve done it for 13 years as a co-administrator and now it’s easier.” Wendi grew up in the Larkspur area of Colorado. In 1975 her family moved to the San Luis Valley. “There are a lot less people and the mountain views are amazing. The pace of life is slower down here,” said the 56-year-old mother of two sons. Dustin (35), and Kyle (31) and wife to Randy. Wendi works five days a week, and spends her spare time secretarying rodeos for CPRA. They live on a small ranch and Randy takes care of all the chores. “We live in a huge farming community and we live on the corner of a farm.” They have three horses, a miniature donkey, four dogs and no cats.
Wendi grew up rodeoing, competing in barrels, poles, and goat tying. She was part of CSHSRA as well as National Little Britches. When she was done with high school, she started working at a grocery store, then a radio station, and then came to work for Saguache County, a job she has held for 35 years. Her love of rodeo led her to become a secretary. “I love the rodeos and the challenge of secretarying,” she said. She works four to five rodeos for CPRA, and another 10 open rodeos for Shane Burris.
She started secretarying as a way to stay involved in rodeo. “My mom Shirley secretaried the Little Britches rodeos my family produced in the San Luis Valley for years. When she retired, I took it over.” She has been to the Little Britches Finals in Oklahoma twice as a division secretary. “My kids got out of Little Britches and it was an easy transition.”
She has no plans to crack out herself again. “I don’t have time and I have two grandsons moving into rodeo (Kasen 4; Kyle’s son and Bexen 3; Dustin’s son). They love to ride – they have their own horses and live close enough on the same county road to spend time together.” She wouldn’t change a thing about her life. “I love my job, the secretarying and my family. We have a pretty good life.”
