By Lily Weinacht
Marley Berger of Udall, Kan., has been riding horses since he was no more than knee high. He began his rodeo career when he was nine, and today, the 14 year old competes in the KJHSRA in tie-down roping, ribbon roping, and team roping as the heeler with his friend Cadon Remington. Marley is also a chute dogger in the KJRA, but tie-down roping with his King grass rope remains his preferred event. “I’ve had a lot of help in it from my friends, and since my dad didn’t want me to ride bulls, I started roping calves, and I really like it!”
Marley, whose ultimate dream is compete in the WNFR, plans to build his rodeo career on the timed event end of the arena. His great uncle, Bobby Berger, is a world champion bull and saddle bronc rider who competed in all three roughstock events, and has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, and most recently, the PBR Ring of Honor. Bobby has been a great source of inspiration to Marley, who has done several school projects on the 22X NFR qualifier. “I want to follow in his footsteps, as well as my mom and dad’s. They rodeoed, and my mom has competed in the IFR,” Marley explains. Further inspiration comes from his uncle, Shane Henderson, a steer wrestler who opens up his arena to local competitors to practice both chute dogging and steer wrestling every week. “My family kind of does it all!” Marley says happily.
The Berger family lives just outside of Udall, their home made complete by eight horses, two dogs, and several cats. Marley has two sisters, Libby (11), and Samantha, who is now married. Their parents, Monte and Kristy Berger, help coach during practice, which Marley takes very seriously. The family loads up their horses several times a week to practice tie-down roping at a friend’s arena. “I want to keep winning and doing good in rodeo, so I work at it all the time,” says Marley, who recently won all-around cowboy in his age division at the KJRA Salina rodeo, while Libby won all-around cowgirl. Marley’s roping horses, Little Ricky and Dunny, are two of his best friends. Little Ricky took his previous owner, Kevin Lloyd, to the PRCA Prairie Circuit finals, and is now Marley’s mount in the tie-down and ribbon roping. Dunny, Marley’s team roping horse, came from Samantha’s father-in-law. “Dunny is really good, and he does his job well,” says Marley.
Thoroughly enjoying his summer break, Marley plans to spend the bulk of it rodeoing or practicing with Libby, but he also enjoys playing basketball with his friends, which he also plays during the school year. Fishing at his grandparents’, who live next door, is another favorite pastime. The first week of July, Marley and his grandma and grandpa Spencer are going Striper fishing on Lake Texoma in Texas. Last year, their annual fishing trip took them to the ocean in Alabama, and Marley and Libby also travelled to Las Vegas, Nev., in December for the first time to see the WNFR with their parents.
Recently competing at state finals in all three roping events, Marley is savoring his last summer of junior high rodeo, though he is looking forward to high school rodeo as well. “I think the competition will be even tougher!” Marley also plans to compete in college rodeo when the time comes, and adds, “I want to make it to The American and the WNFR, and try and win a gold buckle.”
