story by Lindsay King
Originally born in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, Brett Christensen, a 27-year-old self-taught header now resides in Alva, Oklahoma. Starting when he was just six years old, Brett learned how to rope and has not looked back since. He went to one roping school as a kid but learned from watching top ropers. “Growing up, rodeo and anything to do with horses was what I was interested in and what I really wanted to do.” Brett’s sister Savanna was also on the rodeo trail but stuck with barrel racing. She attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and now trains barrel prospects in Tulsa. While in the KHSRA, Brett team roped, calf roped and rode cutting horses. He qualified in all three events for the high school national finals in 2006 and 2008. However, as he headed off to Northwestern Oklahoma State University to pursue a degree in agricultural business, he decided to focus entirely on rodeo and quit riding cutters. It was an easy decision for Brett to make, roping was and continues to be his favorite event. “I’ve always admired the passion and dedication that he has for roping. His focus and skill has been something I’ve been impressed with and tried to emulate since we were kids,” Savanna said. Brett graduated in 2013 and started down the professional rodeo trail. Starting in about April until November Brett can be found at a rodeo. But when he is home he works for his dad, helping with his many rental properties across Oklahoma as well as the small family feed yard in Alva.
Brett practices with his neighbor, Shannon Frascht, a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo team roper. “He is a pretty great neighbor to have. He has taught me a lot about horses and rodeo.” The horse aspect of rodeo is Brett’s favorite part. “I like working with horses and just being around them in general.”
Two years ago Brett was the CePRA year-end champion header and was reserve champion this past year. His favorite rodeo to compete in to date was the All-American Pro Rodeo Finals in Waco, Texas. Brett has made the PRCA Prairie Circuit Finals five different years. His next goal is to win the Prairie Circuit and head to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. The small town of Medicine Lodge did not provide Brett with any close-by ropers to look up to when he was learning. However, Brett now has Shannon to look to for advice when it comes to roping and working with his horses. “Shannon has taught me a lot about what it takes to keep these horses working.” As far as an amateur rodeo associations go, the CePRA has some of the best payouts and is ran smoothly, according to Brett. Most of the rodeos are close to Alva, making for easy trips.
