story by Lily Weinacht
“Everything I talk about is rodeo or horse related. It’s a passion for me!” says 13-year-old Shea Grogan. The cowgirl from Fort Collins, Colorado, took her passion to the national level this summer, competing in the NJHFR in goat tying her rookie year. “I had two pretty nice ties in the first and second rounds at Nationals, but I missed the short-round by two people, which was tough. But it was awesome to be there, because I couldn’t do it without the help of my family and sponsors.” Shea is motivated to rodeo in a variety of ways, from representing The Centennial State, to working with her horses and competing for her family. “My parents (Chuck and Jennifer) didn’t grow up with horses, so I want to do my best for them,” Shea explains. “And my horses are in rodeo just as much as I am. We’re a team – I drive them to do their best, and they drive me to do my best.”
The first of her immediate family to rodeo – also competing in the CJRA and NLBRA – Shea looks up to her cousin, Justin Pollmiller, a bareback rider in the PRCA. “He’s a great person, and really focused on rodeo. I want to be like him, just in a different event. I showed horses when I started riding, but when I decided I wanted to go faster, we met the Dickens family, and they introduced me to rodeo and help me with goats. The Conrado sisters and their dad have been a huge part of my life, and Kelly Kennedy Joseph works with me in barrels.”
Goat tying is Shea’s favorite event, and she also competes in barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping, and ribbon roping, running for Kody Logan of Yampa. “I love knowing that I can trust my horse with my life, and that I can get off in the goats and he won’t hurt me.” She ties goats and breakaway ropes off Dusty, her mom’s horse, and does barrels, poles, and team roping on Rockstar, an 11-year-old Appendix that she bought from her cousin Jenny. “He’s my best friend and my baby,” says Shea. “We also have Annie, my retired goat horse. She was my very first horse, and she used to belong to the Dickens, so all the Dickens kids rodeoed on her. They’re all great horses, and I couldn’t ask for any better teammates!”
Shea boards her horses just a few minutes away, while her family also has three dogs, and a turtle belonging to her 10-year-old brother, Karston. “I bought him a dog for his birthday since he goes to all the rodeos with us and he’s not a rodeo guy,” says Shea. “I also call my close friends my brothers and sisters, like Ella Zonneveld and Barrett Schlieker.” She practices several times a week with Barrett, and ties goats in the backyard with her dad, who videos her runs and helps her catch mistakes.
An eighth grader at Boltz Middle School, Shea began the school year as a Web Leader, one of 40 kids chosen to help introduce sixth graders to middle school. She also enjoys history and geography, particularly US History, westward expansion, and the Native American culture. She is currently writing a work of historical fiction about the settlers moving west from a Native American’s point of view. She’s also served as her school’s football manager, and ran track in sixth grade.
“My main goal is to be the national goat tying and ribbon roping champion next year, and I know with other, smaller goals, like tying 8s or 8.5s, I can achieve that,” Shea finishes. “I’d also like to be a horse massage therapist, and be the first girl to compete in the NFR in an event other than barrel racing.”
Shea extends her thanks to her sponsors; Mile High Trailers of Kiowa, Willard Rope Company, Pedersen Toyota of Fort Collins, Spradley Barr Ford, Aspire Sports Drinks, The Light Center, and 21st Century Humpal Real Estate of Fort Collins, Saddle Up Tack of Longmont, Circle A Family Rodeos, and Working Horse Magazine. Shea would also like to thank Professional’s Choice for awarding her the 2016 Female National Elite Equine Student Athlete of the year.
