story by Siri Stevens
Linkyn Petersek won the All Around and the calf roping at the SDHSRA Finals. He came in 5th in the reined cowhorse and 7th in the team roping. Linkyn attributes his success in the arena to hours and hours of practicing. He competes in four events – team roping, calf roping, reined cowhorse, and steer wrestling. “I’ve had a rope in my hand since I was able to walk,” said the 17-year-old from Colome, South Dakota. He will head to Guthrie in a few weeks to compete in the team roping and calf roping. It won’t be his first trip to the Lazy E – he’s been to a few of Chris Neal’s events, taking second in the 19 and under at the Rising Stars this spring.
Linkyn learned rodeo from his parents. “My dad and mom (Sara and RJ) rodeoed; both my grandparents as well as us live on ranches so I’ve been on a horse since I was probably 3.” He started roping calves when he was 7. “My dad helped me with all my horse power. When I first got started on the breakaway, he was a big help there. He’s always been there for me if I ever need anything.”
The family breeds and raises horses as well as Angus bulls. Linkyn has picked up little hints everywhere on training horses and his current horses have all come up through his guidance.
He’s riding Fly, a 7 year old mare that his younger sister, Libbie, won in a drawing at a horse sale as a filly. “I broke her and started roping calves on her and everything clicked.” The pair has clocked a 8.5 twice. His steer wrestling horse is Rooster, a 16 year old buckskin gelding raised on the ranch. “He’s our first colt crop we ever had. My Uncle Reed took him to some college rodeos.” He uses Ricky Bobby as his heel horse. “He’s 6 year old palomino raised on the ranch. I ranched on him until he was four and started heeling on him. He took to it really well.”
He works on the family ranch and likes calving and AIing calves. Linkyn will be a senior next year and goes to Colome High School along with about 300 other kids. His younger sister, Preslie (13) competes in rodeo; Libbie (15) plays basketball and volleyball.
For fun, he goes fishing and hangs out with friends, but most of his time is spent working on the ranch or in the practice pen. He is hoping to attend college somewhere in Oklahoma and major in Ranch Management and rodeo. “I’d like to try to make a run for the NFR.”
