Matt Doherty at KJHSRA rodeo in Garden City, Kansas - Jeff Frazell

Meet the Member Matt Doherty

by Lily Weinacht

Matt Doherty started rodeoing when he was 8, and today, the 13 year old from Kim, Colorado, competes in breakaway roping, ribbon roping, and goat tying. He team ropes in other associations like the NLBRA and USTRC, but enjoys breakaway roping the most. “I like the speed, and I want to tie-down rope someday,” he says. “I like the atmosphere of rodeos, and it’s something that I can do in college and later on in life.”
Practice is a family affair for the Dohertys, with Matt’s dad, Joe, coaching and running chutes for Matt and his brother, Sean. Their mom, Lisa, videos their runs, and their grandpa, John Doherty, comes to help as well. “My immediate family lives on the ranch we call Mesa de Maya, and my grandparents live on The Red Rocks Ranch. It’s seventeen miles away as the crow flies, but it can take an hour to drive to their house. My Grandpa John and Grandma Carolyn rodeoed in college – he roped and she ran barrels and tied goats – and they come to watch our rodeos. I like having the space around us, but I also like the people here,” Matt adds. “They are very welcoming and friendly, and it’s more like a giant family than a small community.”
The Doherty family runs Red Angus cattle on their ranch, and Matt helps with feeding animals and any other chores around the property, though he admits fixing fence is not one of his favorites. He rides several of his brother’s horses in his events, along with his black horse, Digger. “I can tie goats and breakaway and ribbon rope off him, but my favorite horse is Timon. You can do basically anything on him, and he’s part of the family. He’s named after Timon in The Lion King, and he first belonged to tie-down roper Reese Riemer. I also ride Sean’s horse, Magic, in breakaway and goat tying.”
Matt is an eighth grader at Kim School, one of about 50 students ranging from elementary through high school. “A few kids rodeo, but the big thing in our school is basketball,” says Matt. He plays for the Kim Mustangs, which was undefeated going into their tournament. Matt joined his first rec. league as a second grader, but he’s been playing ball since Kindergarten. He also enjoys Ag., and recently finished a review on career choices. “We went over groups like Ag. Business and Animal Systems. A specific job I’m interested in is ranch manager, since I’ve been ranching my whole life. We’ve also been doing wood working in shop, and eventually we’ll get into welding.”
Once home from school, Matt rustles up a snack and takes care of homework and chores. He enjoys hunting deer and elk with his dad and brother, and recently started playing the bass guitar. Similarly, Sean is teaching himself the guitar, which helps the brothers motivate each other.
“This year, I’d like to make it to the National Junior High Finals and do well there,” says Matt. “I also compete in the NLBRA, and I’ve been to their finals four times. They were the first major association I was a part of. Eventually, I’d like to college rodeo and maybe someday join the PRCA, but as far as school goes, I want to get good grades and keep playing basketball.”

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