Meet the Member Cayden Floyd
story by Lillian Landreth “I love the competition and you meet so many more people through rodeo than other sports. Those are the top two […]
Riggin Shippy at the 2018 SDHSRA State Finals - Cowboy Images
story by Lily Weinacht
“There’s nothing more I want to do than make a living riding bulls. Someday I’d like to be a world champion,” says Riggin Shippy. The 17-year-old bull rider from Colome, South Dakota, took home his first state title last season as the 2018 SDHSRA Bull Riding Champion. “I was sitting second coming into the finals, and I’d set out that spring and told myself I was going to win state. I don’t think you can win unless you’re planning on it. I won the first round, and that was probably one of my better rides I’ve ever had and a pretty good feeling. I was second in the second round and I was the only one to cover in the short round, so all you can do is ride what they run under you.”
Riggin’s debut at the NHSFR was equally exciting for him, and although he didn’t make the buzzer either round, he enjoyed the experience. “I’m definitely looking forward to going back this year and coming home with that saddle. It’s always cool to meet all the new people from all the different places, and the atmosphere is crazy with all the different people and fans.” In 2018 Riggin was also the reserve state bull riding champion in his 4-H rodeo association for the second consecutive year, and his SDHSRA title earned him a spot at the 2019 20X Extreme Showcase Rodeo in February. “I have a lot of respect for the animals and know how athletic they are, and I love the adrenaline rush it gives you. There’s no better feeling than stepping off an 1,800-pound animal doing something that really should be impossible—it’s a pretty good feeling.
“I look up to my buddy Denver Jochem,” Riggin adds. “He rode bulls when he was younger and met my dad, and over the years he’s helped me and my little brother out, pushing us to be the best bull riders we can be. And I also give all the glory to God for this because He’s the only reason we’re able to do this, I believe, and that helps me out a lot too.” Riggin and his 14-year-old brother, Riley, also have ample opportunities to practice on their dad’s bulls. Randy Shippy rode bulls and now operates the Midwest Bucking Bull Association, along with raising bucking bulls. From April through October, the siblings and their parents, Randy and Jennie, produce a bull riding each month at their arena, and they’ve also taken bulls to the PBR Finals. “Whenever we’re not in school or wrestling practice during the wintertime, we’re running bulls through and working them,” says Riggin. He also works on his drop barrel or stationary barrel daily, and rides and jumps his horse bareback. His 7-year-old sister, Charlee, also loves to ride, and runs barrels at junior rodeos.
Like the individual sport of bull riding, Riggin also enjoys the individual sport of wrestling through Colome High School. Last year he was a state qualifier, and he’s working to finish his senior year with another qualification. He’s also considering college rodeo. “Wrestling keeps me and my brother pretty busy, and after that we’re back to riding bulls full-time. Either we head to a rodeo, or we’re at home bucking bulls or fixing fence. We have about 100 head of bulls right now,” says Riggin. “This year I plan to win another state title, and take that national title too. Then later on in the future, I’d like to be a world champion.”
story by Lillian Landreth “I love the competition and you meet so many more people through rodeo than other sports. Those are the top two […]
story by Lillian Landreth Layni Stevens of St. Lawrence, South Dakota, won the goat tying at the 20X Extreme High School Rodeo in January. This […]
story by Lillian Landreth Dale Lee Forman won the barrel racing at the 2022 Wrangler 20X High School Rodeo Showcase in January. The 18-year-old from […]
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SDHSRA PRACTICE RODEOS:
RODEO DATE ENTRY DEADLINE LOCATION
April 23-25 2021 April 12 New Underwood (at Rapid City)
April 30, May 1-2, 2021 April 15 Triple Crown Rodeos-Burke, Geddes
April 30 & May 1 Burke
May 2nd Geddes Rodeo
May 7, 8, 2021 Three Rivers Challenge – Kadoka, Wall, Philip
May 7, 2021 April 19 Kadoka 1 & 2
May 8, 2021 April 19 Philip (at Wall)
May 8, 2021 April 20 Wall
May 9, 2021 Call in Entries May 2, 3, see entry form for details Faith
May 28, 2021 May 20 White River
May 22, 2021 May 10 Martin 1 & 2
May 29, 2021 May 14 Timber Lake
May 29-30, 2021 May 21 Oelrichs 1 and 2
May 31, 2021 May 21 Clark
May 31, 2021 May 13 Lemmon
All Entry Forms can be found at sdhsra.com, forms, entry forms
REGIONAL QUALIFYING RODEOS:
Entry deadlines April 15th *YOU MUST CHECK IN BY CHECK IN TIME OR STOCK WILL NOT BE DRAWN FOR YOU!
June 4-6, 2021 Huron, Highmore, Wall, Buffalo
June 11-13, 2021 Watertown, Winner, Sturgis, Dupree
JUNE 15-19 – STATE FINALS RODEO – STANLEY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, FT PIERRE, SD
See sdhsra.com, rodeos, state finals, for detailed schedule and qualifier information. Schedule will be updated if there are schedule changes. You are entered unless you call and say you will not be coming, please do this immediately
*Queen Contest
see sdhsra.com, rodeos, state finals
JUNE 20, 2021, 8:30 AM CDT,
Mandatory NATIONAL QUALIFIER Awards Ceremony and National Meeting
JULY 18-24, 2021 –
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FINALS RODEO, LINCOLN, NE
***New or Revised Entry information for rescheduled and postponed rodeos is on sdhsra.com, schedule. If any doubt – call that Rodeo Secretary before you enter***