above: M-SRA member, Lori Tierney – Sugar Creek Photos
story by Terry Rhodes
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” That quote has a lot of meaning to Lori Tierney and she strives to live by it every day. “I believe in this 100% and the preparation that I do in my roping and working my horses is part of that. It is a true passion for me. I believe that the amount of effort you put into something is what you will get out. I do that kind of preparation so when I get to the rodeo no matter how the cards fall I am satisfied with the results”
Lori has been in the Mid-States association 12 years and has served as event director for the breakaway roping for the last few years. You’ll find her in just about any event that includes throwing a rope, and sometimes barrel racing. “I’m kind of a closet barrel racer.”, she admits with a laugh. She likes the association because of the great people that are in it. “In the summer we travel all over the state each week. I feel like everyone is family; everyone supports one another. We have rodeos in a lot of little towns and the committees that put them on are great.” She is also in the KPRA, NSRA, and WPRA.
The Tierney name is well known in rodeo so it came quite naturally for Lori to get an early start in the arena. “My dad calf roped and team roped so it’s always been part of our family. Growing up on a ranch, I have always been around horses and roping. I did some junior rodeo and 4-H. I had a rodeo scholarship and went to Garden City Community College for two years and transferred to Southwestern Oklahoma State University and got my degree in social work.”
In roping, horse power is everything and Lori has a couple of great horses; Bueno and Charger. “Bueno was raised by my cousins, “Tierney Quarter horses.” Which is neat since they live right down the road and I travel with my cousin, Ginalee to many of the rodeos and ropings. My ‘B’ string horse, Charger was a raffle horse that I won in college and he’s turned out to be a really neat horse.”
Her home is in Broken Bow, Neb. with her family. Her parents are Larry and Kathy Tierney and she has an older brother, Cole. Lori says that she’s had several people helped in her rodeo career but none more than her father. “He’s turned out thousands of calves for me and he’s given me every opportunity to succeed in the arena. Jan Brown has always been a big influence and supporter. She took me under her wing when I was just starting out and has been big a supporter. I have a good friend, Lacey Baehler that is one of the most positive people I know. I think we push each other to bring out the best in each other. Those friendships are irreplaceable. There are so many people that have helped me.”
Lori’s work week is a mix of jobs and duties that keep her on the run. She’s a secretary for Power Solutions part of the day, runs cattle with her dad, does day work, rides horses, and teaches a Zumba class. “I love to dance, so Zumba is an opportunity to share my passion and hopefully inspire people. I’m lucky I have a really awesome balance in my life with all different avenues. I get to live my dream everyday! I’m pretty simple really. I love to rope, dance, am a huge Husker football fan and love to enjoy life!”
