story by Michele Toberer
Rodeo is an inherent trait of the Wahl family from Ottawa Lake, Michigan, and the essential nature of rodeo has been a part of the family for generations. Nick Wahl followed in his parents’ footsteps as a member of the Mid States Rodeo Association, where his father, Richard, once competed as a calf roper and steer wrestler and his mom, Sheilah competed as a barrel racer during their long rodeo careers. Nick’s older sister Veronica competed and later entertained the crowds as a trick rider alongside her husband Kenny Schappacher, who performed as a MSRA and IPRA barrel man. Nick and his younger brother Dusty compete in steer wrestling, team roping and calf roping, often roping together at the MSRA rodeos. “We started rodeoing at a young age, we didn’t really have a choice. I started roping at jackpots when I was 9 years old and at MSRA rodeos when I was 13. I’m 39-years-old now; it’s been a great association to be a part of all these years.”
Nick competed in the Michigan State High School Rodeo Association while he attended Whiteford High School, qualifying for the NHSFR in all three of his events. Nick and his high school sweetheart, Amy, have been married for 10 years and have two daughters, Shyann, 5-years-old, and Jolie, 23-months-old. Jolie was diagnosed with craniosynostosis at the beginning of 2018, so the couple put their rodeo aspirations on hold, as she went through a corrective neurosurgery. Thankfully, she came through with flying colors and the couple hasn’t looked back since. Amy is a barrel racer and team roper and feels fortunate to have been able to enter approximately 10 rodeos this summer. Nick and Amy stay busy raising their young daughters on their farm where they board horses, raise a small herd of longhorn cattle, and offer custom hay-baling as well as marketing hay for sale. Nick also works as a farrier, and general contractor and construction superintendent for commercial construction projects.
Although Nick is a three-event cowboy, his favorite event is steer wrestling. He is glad to be competing on his horse Jesse once again, “I rode Jesse, an Indian looking yellow horse, for over 10 years before selling him to a high school steer wrestler. Last year I had the chance to buy him back and we’ve done great together. He’s a versatile horse, I calf rope, team rope and steer wrestle on him. Last weekend I won two checks on Jesse; one heeling, and one steer wrestling.”
Nick has competed in multiple associations over the years, but because he’s not a big fan of being on the road, he appreciates that the MSRA offers so many local rodeos he can enter, often co-sanctioning rodeos with the IPRA. “I can easily go to nearly 50 rodeos a year, and there are close to 20 rodeos within 100 miles from the house. The quality of the rodeos is great, it’s hard to even say it’s an amateur association, because we get to compete against IPRA members at so many of the rodeos.”
Although Nick’s parents have retired from rodeo, they are still extremely supportive; his dad, who is his biggest mentor, still goes to watch his finals, and his mom tries to never miss one of the rodeos he or Dusty are entered in. His sister and brother-in-law have retired from rodeo and live in Florida, but he’s glad to have Dusty living nearby. “We have a small indoor arena, so we can practice year-round although winter is still a challenge and we don’t like to practice when it’s below 20-degrees. We like to help some of the local kids practice, and like promoting the sport.”
Nick is looking forward to the 2018 MSRA season finals in October, just 20 miles from home, where the association offers $2000 added money to each of the events. He is grateful to have been influenced by more people than he can list throughout his career but is especially thankful his wife has supported him through it all, even when she took time off after having their daughters. “Rodeo is a lifestyle for us and will be for our girls also. When we aren’t at rodeos, we’re taking care of horses and cattle, or making hay to feed them. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.”
