story by Terry Rhodes
Just about everyone has a special time in the arena that stands out as one of the best of times. Dalton Pelster has his from a small open rodeo in Sumner, Neb. when he made one of those runs. “I was roping with Jerry Buckles and I have always looked up to him. He’s been all over and done it his whole life. There were some really good runs ahead of us; there were some 5’s and then a 4.8 and 4.9 and we were the very last team to run. We made our run in 4.6 to win it. It was a little rodeo but it was a really good run and it was fun to rope with him.”
Dalton has been in the Mid-States Rodeo Association for the last seven years and also holds cards in the NSRA, KPRA, and USTRC. His event is team roping and he works the heeling side. He likes the Mid-States Association rodeos since they are fairly close to home and that makes for going to a lot of rodeos. “The people there are good to work with and it’s just an all around good association to be in. I go to a lot of the co-sanctioned rodeos also.”
He grew up around ranching and it wasn’t long before he started into junior rodeo. “We would help friends and family with whatever ranch work needed done. I competed in high school rodeo and then I went to Lamar Community College for two years where I had a rodeo scholarship. They had a program called ‘Horse Training and Management’ that I majored in.” After college Dalton trained horses and rodeoed.
Dalton says that his father helped him in learning the basics of team roping. “I went to a few clinics on calf roping that were put on by Todd Graff. I didn’t go to any team roping clinics. I learned from different guys that would help me out.”
Preparation for the fast run means doing some visualization. “I usually know about how the set up will be, so once I find out what steer I’ve got I picture how I want the run to go. I try to stay positive and don’t have any negative thoughts.” And staying close to basics is important for Dalton. “I always try my best to keep everything fundamentally correct. I think that helps me out about as much as anything. I always try to have good horses to ride. Those two things are probably the most important to me.” Superstitions are something that Dalton avoids. “I try really hard not to have superstitions, but I’ve had a couple of unlucky shirts that I probably won’t ever wear again.”
Having great horses in team roping is a big part of any success. “I have a 10-year-old palomino that I have ridden for the last three years and a couple of younger ones that are starting to come along. I don’t have any preferences in bloodlines, just as long as they work well.”
Dalton, 33 says that his parents, John and Deb Pelster have been major guiding influences to him. He says that his rodeo coach from Lamar College, Shannon O’Brian was someone that helped him. “He helped with rodeo and with life in general.” Dalton says that his sisters, Kasey and Brandi are also a big part of his life. “They have always been there for me and I really appreciate them.”
He lives in Burwell, Neb. with his wife Billie. “She rodeos too and we enter in the mixed team roping. She’s a big support to me and I really appreciate everything she does for me.” He has a son, Cole, 14 and a daughter, Lainee, 5. During the week Dalton is shoeing horses. “I try to get all my work done in a four-day week so I can rodeo on the weekends” Goals are to rodeo more. “I haven’t won the Mid-States Year End Award and I’d sure like to do that.”
