story by Kyle Eustice
Clovis, New Mexico native Shad Mayfield went to his first Natioal High School Finals this past summer in Wyoming. The excitement in the 15-year-old’s voice is palatable and it’s obvious rodeo is everything to him.
“I’ve been into it my whole life,” said Shad. “My dad always rodeoed so he got me going when I turned 7.”
His father, Sylvester Mayfield, has made it to the NFR Finals twice (1985, 1987) and it’s something that clearly impresses Shad. He wanted to follow his dad’s lead and take up roping. Shad calf ropes and team ropes, and after three years in the NMJRHS, he’s finally in the NMHSRA.
“I first wanted to ride bulls, but I started not to like that as much,” explained Shad. “The bulls kind of scared me when I was little. I rode calves and steers until I was 12.”
Shad soon realized he preferred calf roping and decided to pursue that full-force. “I really like the athletic aspect of it,” said Shad. “It’s easier and my dad knows it inside and out, so he can teach me.”
Shad is intrigued by the competition aspect of rodeo and the amazing opportunities rodeo has presented him. He stays in shape by “tying a lot of calves.”
Shad went to junior high at Texico Junior High and is a sophomore at Texico High School, just a 10 mile drive from Clovis. His mother, Jo Ellen Mayfield, just happens to be a teacher there. “She keeps me in line,” joked Shad.
Although he just wants to rope, he is going to attend college as a backup plan. He dreams of winning the World Championship in calf roping, but realizes he has to be 18 before he can join the PRCA. He’s been in the NMJRHS for three years and joined the NMHSRA his freshman year of high school.
“I really like the community,” said Shad. “We go to events every weekend. I can be hard to juggle sometimes, but I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve done it pretty easily.”
Although his mother has never rodeoed, she knows a lot about it by filming all of Shad’s events and paying close attention to what he does. His sister Shelby Mayfield, 17, also barrel races in the NMHSRA, so rodeo is always prevalent in the Mayfield household.
Shad’s biggest accomplishment was winning the NMJRHS nationals in 6th grade in the ribbon roping category.
“It was pretty awesome,” said Shad. “My sister ran my ribbon so we won it together.”
Every day, Shad takes care of the horses and cattle on his family’s small ranch. They have 20 horses on the property, but Reno is his favorite.
“I like his color and he always works well for me,” said Shad. “I also have others I ride, but he’s my main horse.”
Although Shad used to play basketball and football, he quit once he got to high school to focus on rodeo. He’s especially grateful to his sponsors, which include Impact Gel, American Hat Company, Willard Rope Company, and Tres Rios Silver.
“It’s my life and I love going on the road every weekend,” said Shad. “I like winning, too. I just expect to rope smart and always try to do my best.”
