By Lily Weinacht
Eric Logan began his rodeo career at the age of eight in his backyard arena in Yampa, Colo., a career that will reach its pinnacle when the cowboy achieves his goal of backing into the box at the WNFR. The 17-year-old will start filling his PRCA permit in April after his birthday, along with finishing his senior year in the CSHSRA, which he hopes will end with another trip to the NHSFR in Gillette, Wyo.
Eric won the year-end all-around title in 2015 and is currently third in the all-around standings for the 2016 season, competing in steer wrestling, tie-down roping, reined cow horse, and team roping as a header. Steer wrestling is unquestionably his favorite event, from the rush of adrenaline, to the coaching he receives from 1996 World Champion Steer Wrestler, Chad Bedell. “He has helped me tremendously with my steer wrestling and mental game for rodeo,” Eric explains. “My family has known him for years, and he lives only 30 minutes away. Both my parents have really helped me out,” he adds, “from getting me started in rodeo, to driving me, helping me practice, and giving me confidence.”
Like any rodeo athlete, Eric is grateful for every trip to the pay window, but the atmosphere of rodeo itself brings him back, and the priceless time he spends with his family. “My parents (Mark and Jeannie Logan) used to show horses, but now they’re usually chasing me and my brothers between rodeo and sports,” says Eric. “Most of the time, one of them has to stay home to watch our cows, but in the summertime, we try to all go together.” Eric has two younger brothers, Jace (15), and Kody (12), who both compete in rodeo. “Now that I can drive, my brothers and I go find a place to practice where there’s no snow. We live outside of Yampa, where we keep most of our horses, and then we keep most of our cows on our ranch in Toponas.”
Eric and his brothers are in charge of checking pastures and looking after cattle in the summer, though Eric admits irrigating their meadows is his least favorite job. “It gets tedious, and in the morning, the water’s a bit chilly,” he explains with a laugh. “Not much excitement goes with that job.” He prefers the excitement of practicing, often going up to Chad Bedell’s arena with his steer wrestling horse, Gabe. “He’s helped me out with all my success, and he gives me a good shot every time,” says Eric. “My team roping horse, Skeeter, is one my family raised, and my little brother also uses him, so he’s a big part of our family. Princess is my calf and reined cow horse – she used to be a show horse, but I trained her for roping a few years ago.”
A senior at Soroco High School, Eric has four hours worth of Ag. classes every day. He’s learned to weld in shop class and built a chute for checking cattle, while he and his classmates recently brought in a small gas engine, which they tore down and fixed before putting it back together. He also played football last fall and finished basketball season a short time ago. The remainder of his time goes into hunting with his family, working with horses, or roping the dummy.
“I plan on going to college and rodeoing, and I’d like to major in Animal Science,” says Eric. “I want to use those skills to come back and work on my family’s ranch. My other goal is to make the NFR. I’m hard-working and really motivated. Putting in the hours – lifting weights and spending time in the practice arena – is what I do in order to win.”
