story by Siri Stevens
Tyler Foster grew up going to rodeos. “My dad (Earl) and Uncle Allen were both steer wrestlers and team ropers. They had a rodeo company (A bar K Rodeo) up here (Ontario). “We started going over to the states when I was 18 – we were going over there to IPRA rodeos. From the IPRA we joined the MidStates – they have a great Finals. We’d go to Ohio and Michigan and it worked out well.”
He started competing in high school in the bull dogging, bronc riding, calf roping, and team roping, winning the All Around for two years in high school rodeo. “I made the Nationals twice in Gillette (2005, 2006) – steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and team roping.” He started farming right out of high school. “We farm hay and a little bit of corn and beans, but mostly hay.” The family runs a cow/calf operation and has been busy getting calves ready for sale.
Tyler got hurt last August and his injuries have kept him sidelined until now. “I was bull dogging – it was going fine, the steers were running hard, I spurred my horse in the rib and he crow hopped and I hit the saddle three or four times … it felt like it was breaking me in half. They carried me out of the arena and we drove four hours home. It wasn’t that much fun. I got home and spent a day or two on the couch. I am taking some time off to heal up and get back at it in 2021.”
Not that there are any rodeos to go to. “They canceled all the rodeos in Canada for 2020 and we can’t cross the border anyway,” said the 33-year-old. Tyler has been married for two years to Britt and they have two children; a two and a half year old son named Lane and a daughter, Ella, who just turned one.
“Rodeo has taught me how to survive on the road and fix things yourself when you’re broke down. The best thing I like about rodeo is the family atmosphere. We’d take off running when dad opened the door and we’d go to anyone’s trailer and they welcomed you. You trust everyone there and it’s a great place to grow up in.”
“My wife sure thinks the bronc riding should come to an end. But I want to keep up with the bull dogging and the team roping. I won the world title in 2017 in the steer wrestling in the IPRA. I qualified for the IFR 12 times between the bronc riding the steer wrestling.”
He’s hoping to make a come- back story next year and plans to travel with three or four guys. “Other things take over though, we started a family and we’ll see where it goes.” He also lost his bull dogging horse last season. “She got respiratory illness – that was pretty tough. I’ve got a young one here and I got another horse, so now we are regrouping.”
“I miss rodeo; the atmosphere of competing and helping each other is like no other sport. I want the same thing for my kids. It raised me right I feel like and I want to keep going with it.”
