by Lily Weinacht
Seth Anderson started his rodeo career at the age of five, the fifth generation of Andersons to be a part of the sport. His grandpa Dutch Anderson helped put on Little Britches rodeos, and his dad, Monty Anderson, grew up rodeoing and ranching. “I rodeo to carry on the legacy,” says 12-year-old Seth. “If your family has done it, then you have to keep it going! I’m also motivated by the thought of all my friends who have helped me, and the time I’ve spent working on my horses. I also like being on the road and being with my family 24/7.”
The cowboy from Larkspur, Colorado, competes in team roping, breakaway roping, and goat tying. He can both head and heel, but says heeling is more of a challenge. “I like to rope calves quite a bit, because if there’s a problem, I’m the one who has to fix it. But heeling is pretty darn close, too.” He and his team roping partner, Cooper Smith, are sitting second in the standings, and Seth practices daily, whether in the arena or roping the dummy in the garage. He also competes in the CJRA, ribbon roping with his partner, Ella Zonneveld, while he won the all-around saddle and buckle in the LBYA. “We have a trophy case that my sister, Hope, and I put our buckles in. I mainly wear my all-around buckle,” he says.
“I look up to my dad, because whenever I have a bad day, he’s always there encouraging me to do better. Dad is more of a team roper, and he’s always helping me with my horses and roping. Tyson Durfey has also played a big part in my life. I met him at Cade and Sarah Swor’s wedding, and he’s really a great and humble guy.”
Seth, Hope, and their parents, Monty and Denise Anderson, live on their farm outside of Larkspur. Seth helps care for the family’s goats, cattle, and horses, which include his rodeo horse, Cody. “He’s fifteen, and I do all my events on him. I’ve had him about five years now, and he’s a great horse.” Hope also competes in rodeo, finishing her senior year in the CSHSRA, and she and Seth practice and work together on chores. “I like that we have our family really close by,” Seth adds. “My aunt and uncle, Kristi and Dale Anderson, have their leather shop, Pro Rodeo Originals, down the road from us. They’ve helped me with my tack, and they’ve also done leatherwork for Miss Rodeo Colorado and Miss Rodeo America.”
A seventh grader at Mesa Middle School, Seth especially enjoys math, but works diligently on all his subjects. “You can’t just be great at one class and bad at the others,” he explains. “You have to be like an all-around cowboy and be an all-around student. I want to have good grades so I can get into good colleges and rodeo.” Once home from school, Seth finishes homework and chores before practice. “Then I’ll go out and do things with my dad like target shoot, fix things around the house like gates, or work on pickups.
“I’m working to make it to Nationals, and another one of my goals in rodeo is to win the CNFR and rodeo on the pro level. I’d like to rodeo full time and do a little ranching,” he finishes. “I’d like to thank my family most of all, and my friends, for everything they do for me. No matter if it’s feeding horses, giving me advice, or hauling me down the road, they’re always there for me.”
