story by Lily Weinacht
“The connections you make along the way, and all the friendships and the responsibility you learn is pretty awesome, and it’s what really keeps me going,” says rodeo athlete Brooke Worman. The 18-year-old from Clearmont, Wyoming, is leading the goat tying in the WHSRA. “I enjoy taking care of my animals and meeting new friends, and being able to travel across the country and the state with my friends is pretty fun. This past summer we went down to Gallup, New Mexico, for the Best of the Best, and that was one of the coolest rodeos I’ve ever been to.” Brooke finished 13th in the goat tying at the Best of the Best—just one away from making the short go—and she plans to compete there again this year, as well as entering the IFYR.
Brooke’s ultimate goal, however, is to finish her senior year of high school rodeo with a qualification to the NHSFR. She competed in the NJHFR all three years of junior high and finished 9th in the goat tying in 2015. “Goat tying is definitely my favorite, and my stronger event for sure, but I like to breakaway rope too. In goats, I like all the different aspects. You have to do a lot and each run is really different, and there’s a lot you can’t control. I haven’t been breakaway roping as long as I’ve been tying goats, but I like that it’s the fastest event in rodeo. It’s pretty awesome when you have the fastest times, and you put in hours and hours of work for a two-second run.” Brooke also competes in the NLBRA and local jackpots, and consistently placed in the top 7 in goat tying at all of the WHSRA fall rodeos.
“I look up to my dad (Devin Worman) definitely. He’s been a huge supporter of mine for all of my rodeo career and goes to every rodeo with me and all the practices,” says Brooke, who started rodeoing when she was 9. Her dad rodeoed growing up, as well as in college. “My mom (Sage Worman) never rodeoed, but she helps me out a lot and drives me places, and she definitely supports it a lot.” Brooke’s 9-year-old sister, Rhagen, also rodeos. “It’s fun watching her grow up and helping her out. We tie goats together a lot and practice quite a bit.” Between rodeos, Brooke and her family also like to ski, as well as visit Arizona where her brother, Drew, is going to college.
Weekly jackpots keep Brooke and Rhagen competing through the winter, and they also help their parents run cows and 30–40 head of meat goats. Brooke does all her goat tying off of Slick, a 15-year-old black mare that took Brooke’s cousin Randa Clabaugh to the CNFR in 2010 and 2011. “I got her after my cousin graduated, and she’s the most consistent goat horse and always runs really true. She’s one of the best horses I’ve ever thrown a leg over for sure. I breakaway on a sorrel named Jag. He’s 14 and he’s super calm with a big, quick stop.”
When she’s not in the arena, Brooke spends much of her winter on the basketball court, playing for Arvada Clearmont High School’s Panthers. “I think rodeo has taught me to be really disciplined, and competing against myself in rodeo goes over to basketball, where if I mess up, I have to make sure I discipline myself and put in the extra work,” Brooke explains. A senior at Arvada Clearmont, she also enjoys math, and is interested in pursuing elementary education in college, along with college rodeo. “I definitely want to keep being consistent,” she finishes, “and keep placing in all the rodeos. And I’d like to make Nationals this year.”
