Meet the Member
Jeremy Stadheim
story by Lindsay Welchel
Northwest Ranch Cowboys Association bulldogger, Jeremy Stadheim, 39, spends his days enjoying God’s creation. That’s how he describes his work on his family ranch just south of Reeder, North Dakota. It’s a place where he can be outdoors to soak in the sun and avoid the monotony of a desk job. No doubt it’s hard work making a living as a rancher, but Jeremy doesn’t seem fazed by the task.
“It’s certainly pleasant. It pays off,” he assures. He runs Hereford cattle and some sheep on the place that’s, “big enough to stay alive.” That’s how he jokingly describes the size of the property.
Jeremy’s responsibilities go beyond ranching as a father of five children, and a husband to wife Carrie. The children range in age, but there is his oldest son Pitch, twin daughters Kyan and Kinley, son Stone and the baby Rainn.
The family spends a lot of time on horseback, but it’s primarily Jeremy who rodeos. That’s his only true hobby in the rare free time he has.
“I just got started team roping and bull dogging when I was in high school. I went to high school rodeos, and when that was over I kind of quit team roping and stuck to bull dogging,” he explains.
It’s a sport that includes benefits outside of the arena for Jeremy. He does it mostly for the camaraderie, seeing old friends and traveling. He’ll typically begin rodeoing around the Fourth of July and not stop until around Labor Day. During that time he’ll try to hit as many of the NRCA rodeos as possible.
According to wife Carrie, Jeremy and his traveling partners all are very supportive of one another. “They really do help each other out with everything,” she says, and explains that though their ages range, they all pitch in and keep each other’s notes and push steers for their buddies. “When one wins, they all cheer. There is nobody feeling sorry for themselves. A victory for one is considered a victory for all.”
Carrie is also quick to add that the men are all quality horsemen. “They take good care of their horses. They understand them and ride them so well. They work hard and live simply.”
The competition aspect of the sport is another of the perks, and it’s proved fruitful for Jeremy, a multiple finals qualifier. He won the finals in 1998 and then again this last year in 2013.
But winning isn’t everything, and for Jeremy, the opportunity to do what he loves has greater ties to tradition and the western way of life.
“Society as a whole is getting so far away from rural activities that we’re kind of losing touch with what built this country, and I just think that rodeo is one of those things,” Jeremy says, and adds of the importance that the sport continues, “it’s a good way for kids to learn self-control and competition and how to move forward in life.”
And Jeremy would likely agree, that what better way to move forward than on the back of a horse?