Meet the Member Fayth Lynch
story by Lindsay Humphrey Spending time in the rodeo arena is just one of many places you’ll likely find Fayth Lynch on any given day. […]
Grady Kirkes competing in Artesia, NM - Pounding Hooves Productions
story by Lindsay King
Though rodeo is in Grady Kirkes’ blood, he recognizes the blessing he’s been given to travel all over New Mexico, and the U.S., to rope calves. The 18-year-old is the youngest of Ross and Creta Kirkes after his two older sisters Jessie, 26, and Shelby, 24. “My dad is my coach. He helped my sister win an all-around title at high school nationals so I guess his tactics are proven,” said the high school senior. “My dad is a dang good coach, he knows how to break things down for me. It is amazing how his mind works.” His affinity for calf roping is rooted so deep that he has never actually considered pursuing another event in rodeo. “It’s unfair for me to say it’s a harder event than the others because I haven’t really tried anything else, but I truly think it is. Calf ropers are a dying breed, there just are not as many of us doing it anymore.” Grady cites the difficulty, and expense, of finding the right horse for the event as a major contributor to the decline.
The third-generation cowboy grew up on the corner of his neighborhood roping calves with his friends. It’s his lifestyle. It’s also a life his mom stepped into. “My mom didn’t grow up around rodeo like my dad did. But she has been around it long enough, and got my sisters through it, to know what is right and wrong in the calf roping. She is super encouraging, she believes in me more than I do probably,” he said, quickly adding that his parents are his biggest fans.
Living in Carlsbad makes for long drives across New Mexico, this is easily Grady’s least favorite part of competing in the NMHSRA. “The stock are really good and that always makes it fun for a calf roper. A lot of people might think not many good calf ropers come from here but Roy Cooper, Glen Franklyn, Jimmie Cooper and many other world champions and NFR qualifiers came from New Mexico.” It’s these high caliber calf ropers that Grady credits with upping the ante for calf ropers in high school in the state. “The top guys from New Mexico can hang with the top guys from anywhere. Lucky for me, you are only as good as your competition.” Of course, superb green chili wherever he competes is another perk of living and roping in New Mexico for Grady.
Finishing in the top five calf ropers at state finals for the past three years is both humbling and frustrating. However, he did finally make it to nationals last year. “Talk about the crying hole, fifth place at state finals is it. Though I did finally get to experience nationals. It did not go well for me, but I did rope decent in the jackpots up there.” Though each of his accomplishments in rodeo makes Grady proud, there is one moment standing out from the rest. It happened two years ago when Grady was in a match roping against his long-time rodeo friend Bryce Derrer. “We have gone at it all over the place together, sometimes he wins and sometimes I do. But this match roping was the best I have ever seen and it was fun to be part of.” It came down to the final calf, Grady needed to lay down a wicked-fast time of 7.8. He was 7.9. “I was proud that I could make such a good run when the pressure was really on. It’s still a little annoying that it only came down to a tenth of a second, but that’s just roping.” His next big goal is to qualify for the American, but also to simply make the best run he can on every calf. “If I have a calf I can be seven on, then I want to do that. Basically, I just want draw lopers and go fast. But winning the American would be pretty neat, I could go to a lot of jackpots on a million bucks.”
story by Lindsay Humphrey Spending time in the rodeo arena is just one of many places you’ll likely find Fayth Lynch on any given day. […]
story by Lindsay Humphrey “I got bucked off a colt I had started, and I just watched him buck around the pen. I thought it […]
story by Lindsay Humphrey “Even when I was little, I can remember sitting at rodeos and wanting to barrel race,” said 16-year-old Ainsley Carter from […]
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October 11, 2020
Bareback
Lumpkin Tekota 40
Saddle Bronc
Charleston Oistin 20
Reined Cow Horse
Mitchell Sterlin 75
Priest Colton 68.5
Brandon Paige 55.5
Shiver McKinzee 51
Lynch Fayth 47.5
Harwell Clate 46.5
Morris Abby 18
Boys Cutting
Mitchell Sterlin 58
Priest Colton 45
Harwell Clate 42
Mirabal Joren 15
Team Roping
Hernandez Chilly 63
Montoya Juan 63
Candelaria Faron 63
Taylor Calvin 63
Mendiaz Luis 32
Reno Weslynn 32
Johnson Dakota 29.5
Ybarra Meason 29.5
Oldfield Roan 29
Runyan Colten 29
Martinez Laramie 24
Martinez Myles 24
Wood Trent 23
Martinez Cade 22
Oder Hadlee 19
Sullivan Quincy 19
Reno Bladen 15
Abel Rylee Grace 15
Mathis Dillon 15
Harwell Clate 14
Breakaway
Segura Evann 38
Sullivan Quincy 35
McCormick Tiffanie 34.5
Marr Shaeden 32
Jodie Kadin 30
Ledesma Avery 24.5
Abel Rylee Grace 23
Shiver McKinzee 23
Massey Bailey 22
Reno Weslynn 21
Bull Riding
Juarez Marco 36.5
Griego Cade 36
Griego Caleb 28
Garley Clay 10
Wood Damien 10
Chavez Joseph 9
Huber Trenton 9
Marquez Justin 9
Taylor Peysen 7.5
Girls Cutting
Morris Abby 74
Ledesma Avery 70
Shiver McKinzee 68
Wamel Jordyn 39
Calf Roping
Pacheco Dontae 59
Wood Trent 52.5
Harwell Clate 51
Mathis Dillon 35
Mullins Hayden 31
Oder Hadlee 25
Mirabal Joren 22
Reno Bladen 20
Burton TK 19
Cline Ike 15.5
Steer Wrestling
Harwell Clate 46
Mathis Dillon 28
Griffin Samuel 27
Tsosie Tydon 18
Cline Zane 18
Henio Dorien 9
Barrels
Tidwell Hadley 63
Ledesma Avery 63
Marr Shaeden 51
Reno Weslynn 44
McNiel Payton 42.5
Abel Rylee Grace 38
Detweiler Katelyn 31
West Kylie 29
Castagnetto Mia 17
Gutierrez Maddie 12
Goat Tying
Ledesma Avery 52
Massey Bailey 52
Abel Rylee Grace 48
Larabee Natalie 47
Reed Codi 39
Tsosie Tyra 37
Shiver McKinzee 35
Marr Shaeden 34
Tidwell Hadley 33
Reno Weslynn 23
Build a Cowboy Bareback Riding
Sanchez David 10
BOYS ALL AROUND
Harwell Clate 199.5
Mitchell Sterlin 138
Priest Colton 113.5
Mathis Dillon 78
Wood Trent 75.5
Candelaria Faron 66
Hernandez Chilly 63
Montoya Juan 63
Taylor Calvin 63
Pacheco Dontae 59
GIRLS ALL AROUND
Ledesma Avery 243.5
Shiver McKinzee 200
Marr Shaeden 180
Abel Rylee Grace 168
Reno Weslynn 153
Morris Abby 101
Tidwell Hadley 96
Wamel Jordyn 88
Massey Bailey 74
Detweiler Katelyn 72
BOYS ROOKIE ALL AROUND
Lumpkin Tekota 40
Mullins Hayden 31
Cline Ike 26.5
Martinez Laramie 24
Martinez Cade 22
Tsosie Tydon 18
Dennis Walker 18
Boutwell Brock 11
Wood Damien 10
Sanchez David 10
GIRLS ROOKIE ALL AROUND
Wamel Jordyn 88
Miller Teagan 50
Jodie Kadin 40
Tsosie Tyra 37
Ybarra Riley 34
Littleton Morgan 34
Etsitty Erin 26
Castagnetto Mia 23
Offutt Addy 23
Washburn Teagan 21