NSRA member, Jeff Cover – Brian Gauck
story by Lily Weinacht
Jeff Cover from Ashby, Neb., competes on both ends of the arena in the NSRA as both a team roper and saddle bronc rider. The 23-year-old’s fascination with rodeo originated with his dad, Tim Cover, who team roped for many years before he started hauling Jeff and his brothers to junior rodeos. “Rodeo is really fun, and it’s a big family,” Jeff describes. “I have a twin brother, Matt, that I rope with, and I rope with my other brother, Chris, as well. I love practicing with them and getting to travel together. Plus, I love all the people I get to meet at the rodeos, and all the places we’ve seen around the United States.”
For Jeff, rodeo is an extension of his every day work with his family. His parents own a cattle ranch outside of Ashby, which Jeff and his brothers work on. “I really enjoy being horseback – riding colts or working cattle,” says Jeff. “I’ve grown up on ranching.” He names his family as his inspiration to rodeo. “I really look up to my dad and older brother for showing me how to rope and rodeo, and even though my mom, Kathy, never rodeoed, she’s a good supporter.”
The support of his family helped propel Jeff into the upper ranks of rodeo starting in junior high. He qualified for the NJHFR in team roping with Matt his eighth grade year after winning the junior high school state championship. He also went to the NHSFR in steer wrestling before winning the high school state championship in 2010 team roping with Matt, which sent them to the NHSFR their senior year. The two brothers competed on the Casper College rodeo team together for two years before transferring to separate colleges. Jeff graduates from Chadron State College in the spring of 2016 with a degree in Ag. business. He competes on the rodeo team in both team roping and saddle bronc riding, as well as tie-down roping.
During his summer break, Jeff competes mainly in NSRA rodeos, though he is also filling his PRCA permit this year. He is serving as the 2014 – 2015 NSRA saddle bronc director, and he is especially looking forward to helping pick the bucking stock for the NSRA finals in September. Jeff started riding saddle broncs in college – an event he’d loved since he was a child. In the team roping, his head horse is a nine-year-old gelding named Ed that the Covers raised and trained. Prior to roping on Ed, Jeff used Skeeter, a bay that he retired after last year. The Covers raise several horses on their ranch. “Then we start roping on them and see what they turn out to be!” Jeff explains.
Following the Fourth of July, Jeff anticipates his schedule opening up for more rodeos, though he’s also spending a portion of his summer break fishing. But given a day to spend however he chose, Jeff would readily pass the time with his toes in the sand, relaxing at the beach.
It’s more likely he’ll have his boots in arena dirt, however. “I’m going to more PRCA Prairie Circuit rodeos this year and I’ll see what I get accomplished there, and I also want to make the NFR someday,” he says. His main goal for the season is to qualify for the NSRA in both team roping and saddle bronc riding. Jeff has been competing in the association since he was 16, and aims to win both events in the same year. He finishes, “I’d like to thank all the committee members from the NSRA for putting on all the rodeos we get to go to!”
