NSPRA members, Kelly & LIbby Wampler – courtesy of family
story by Terry Rhodes
Kelly and Libby Wampler make a good team. Whether they are in the arena competing in the ribbon roping or working in their construction business, the team gets it done. “We do commercial business remodeling and renovations in downtown Houston. Libby is in the business and keeps the books does scheduling and keeps up with everything else. Some of it we contract out.” Libby says, “My job in the business is to keep him busy.”
Kelly has been in the NSPRA since 2010 and Libby since 2012. They’re also in the Texas Senior Pro Association and will get to upwards of 60 rodeos a year. Kelly is also in the Ultimate Calf Roping Association. Libby states, “Ribbon roping is something we can do together and we’ve really had a lot of fun doing that. We really like the people we meet and the rodeo family is like no other. It’s a good group of people to be around.”
Kelly grew up in a rodeo family and was swinging a rope about the time he started to walk. “My dad roped calves and my older brother and sister rodeoed. I was in a youth rodeo association and rodeoed in high school. I went to a junior college and then to Texas A&M and rodeoed there on a rodeo scholarship.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in ag economics. Kelly says that he was fortunate to have had his parents, Dub and Norma support him in his rodeo and in life. “My dad was my biggest influence. He helped me with my practice and hauled me many miles. He’d come home from work and work the chutes and untie for me.”
Kelly developed his roping skills by going to youth rodeos and smaller open rodeos, or jackpots. “As I got better, I’d go to the bigger rodeos. I learned a lot by just roping with better ropers and getting help from them. That’s one thing about rodeo; guys are always willing to help you become better. I bought my (PRCA) card and did that for a few years.”
Having a great horse is a big part of calf roping and Kelly says he has one. “My good horse is 18 and she has won TSPRA Horse of The Year three times. She’s running bred; she’s by a Bar Face stud and out of an Easy Jet mare. She’s quiet in the box, scores good, and can run.”
For Libby, the opportunity to become active with horses came when she was in her 30’s. “My love of horses goes back to when I was a kid, but I didn’t get my first horse until I my son was about 10. I started off riding in a drill team that performed at rodeos. From there I started to run barrels and haven’t looked back. Kelly got to rodeo all his life and now he gets to haul me around.” Libby has a 7-year-old mare that is showing some great promise and may be the one that Libby has been looking for. “Miley came home in Miley trailer and she has caught on really quickly. I’m very excited about her and I have big plans for us.”
Libby learned her barrel racing by surrounding herself with successful people. “When you’re a novice there is so much to learn. So I have friends that have taken me under their wing to help me out. Rosanna Kettler has been a big help to me in learning this.” Her next goal is to start breakaway roping and with a calf-roper-husband to help out, it should be easy to do. “Kelly is a great teacher and very patient. So he’s been helping me get started with that.”
Kelly and Libby live near Magnolia, Texas north of Houston. “Our mailing address is Magnolia, but we live near Tomball.” Leisure time might be doing a little pond fishing but more likely it’s going to friend’s to rope and socialize.
