PAFRA member, Danny Stewart
– Brian Gauck
story by Angelia Kerkhoff
Danny Stewart is a 22 year retired Unites States Air Force MSgt/E7. He was assigned to numerous installations in Mississippi, Alaska, and Georgia. In addition, while assigned in Georgia, Danny spent the majority of his time traveling for temporary duty to destinations around the globe, staying anywhere from 30 to 180 days at each installation.
Although Danny had been around horses most of his life, while in the military and traveling so much, it was difficult to take care of them, so he put his desire to ride full time and rodeo on hold until he retired. Once retired and after returning back to his home state of Alabama, he began to search for a horse ranch to raise American Quarter Horses. During this time, he met his wife Janine and they purchased and have built their dream together, the Wildhorse Hideaway Ranch. Here they raise, breed and sell American Quarter Horses. He was introduced to the rodeo community almost by accident at the local feed store, when he met Kenny Ellison who invited Danny to watch the team roping at the Ellison Ranch in Calera, Alabama. Danny was immediately hooked and since 2009 has been learning and perfecting his team roping skill with his horse Cowboy.
Because he is such a patriot and loves his country so much, when Danny found out about the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association (PAFRA), he saw an opportunity to combine his love for his country with his love for the sport of Rodeo. He joined PAFRA in 2013, and competed on the heading side of the team roping event at the World Finals, winning the Rookie of the Year award that year. Coming back in 2014, he placed third in the World Standings, and is currently competing heavily getting ready for the 2015 World Finals in Midland Texas. He also serves as the Secretary for the PAFRA Association, maintaining our membership, and serving as one of the key members of our Executive Committee.
Since retiring from the Air Force in 2004, Danny has worked as a Cisco Senior Network Engineer, currently with the largest water utility in the State of Alabama. He and his wife also are the owners/operators of www.AlabamaRoping.com website giving competitors in the rodeo community a place to find events that are happening anywhere in the southeastern United States.
Danny and Janine have two children and one grandchild. Danny’s son has followed in his father’s footsteps and has been serving in the Air Force since 2006 His daughter shares his love for animals and is enrolled in the fall at Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College to complete her studies in Veterinarian Medicine.
Danny believes that the Cowboy lifestyle is a lifestyle that should live on forever. Danny says “he loves being around the horses and cattle more than anything, and being able to combine this love and lifestyle with others who have served their country and compete in rodeo, well there just isn’t anything better.”
