Anderson siblings compete in national rodeo events

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by Mark Cheffey

Three local rodeo stars–all Andersons–have been competing on the national level recently.

Sheyenne, Cooper and Rylee Anderson, all children of Shaun and Dawn Anderson, of Palmyra are busy at national of rodeo competitions. 

“They are busy these two weeks doing the hobby they all love,” said their grandmother, Kim Hanlin

Sheyenne, a 21-year-old student at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, where she is a senior nursing student, competed at the College National Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. June 11-19, and came away as the reserve champion in goat tying.

“We are pretty proud of her for placing second in the nation,” Hanlin said. 

While at Missouri Valley, she competes in the Ozark Regional College Rodeo which consists of five different states with the top four from each event in the region qualifying for CNFR.

She has qualified for the CNFR two times in goat tying and also competes in barrel racing and breakaway roping.

Cooper, a 14-year-old incoming freshman at PHS, is competing in the Junior High School National Finals in Des Moines, Iowa,  June 20 – 26.

While in school, Cooper plays on the football and basketball teams and competes in Junior High School Rodeo.

He competes in chute dogging, goat tying and team roping, along with his sister, Rylee, and is this year’s state reserve champion boy’s goat tyer.

Cooper, the 2021 Boys Rookie of the Year in the state, is  competing in chute dogging and boy’s goat tying at nationals.

Rylee, a 12-year-old incoming eighth grader at Palmyra Middle School, is also competing in the junior high school nationals in Des Moines, as the  state champion girls goat tyer.

She also has the distinction of being the 2021 Girls Rookie of the Year in the state.

Rylee’s other events are barrel racing, pole bending and team roping.  

While in school, she plays basketball, while competing in junior high school rodeo

Hanlin noted the time, effort and commitment all three show in the sport of rodeo.

Not only do they practice their events every day, but they also have to take care of their horses which are half the team while also completing their chores

and doing their homework.

“It’s not like just going out and shooting a basketball,” Hanlin said. “There is a lot of work in taking care of their horses.”

Hanlin said the normal routine for Sheyenne is to get up early, doing chores getting ready for the day, feeding and taking care of her horse and doing homework on top of practicing the events.

Sheyenne has been participating in rodeo since she was five years old and Hanlin said she plans to continue competing beyond her college career.

Hanlin said all three are blessed to have a facility to practice in every day of the year, the family owned Rockin’ A Arena west of Palmyra.

And, despite all the success they earn in the arena, Hanlin said the three are humble, while maintaining a strong faith in God.

Hanlin said she used to be more worried about rodeo injuries when her daughter, Dawn, was competing, but indicated she is more confident as her grandchildren compete, because of the way they’ve been trained over the years, and because their parents have provided good horses who do their part to take care of their riders.

“It is important to build a bond with your horse and the three have done so very well,” Hanlin said.