Holding a strong passion for team roping has set deep roots for Clint Humphries in the Southern Rodeo Association (SRA). “I could rope every day and be completely happy. It’s my getaway time and my stress reliever,” he said. “Rodeoing offers the opportunity to see all of my buddies, while doing what we all love. It‘s just a good ole time.“ Competing in the organization for at least 18 years, Humphries can be found on both ends of the steer as he headed for Corey Honeycutt to capture the finals average in 2009. In the 2013 season, Clint finished in the top 20 of the standings – heading for Alex Brooks and heeling for Jason Tucker. “Going to a SRA rodeo is like going to a family reunion for me. I know and am related to three-quarters of the guys on the timed events side, but that just makes it that much more fun,” he said.
Growing up on a dairy farm in North Carolina, Clint had horses is whole life, but it wasn’t until 1987 that he bought his first roping horse and kicked off his life style choice. “I went down to Oklahoma City with a buddy who was looking for a horse. I wasn’t even looking, but ended up buying my first rope horse and the guy trusted me enough to make payments,” he explained. “I had always played with ropes, but it just snowballed from there.” Besides competing in the SRA, Clint also enjoys hitting jackpots. “I like to rope a lot, rather than just a few,” he explained. In 2009, Clint was the winner of a brand new truck for his efforts at a jackpot. “2009 was a good year for me, but luck was on my side that day,” he said modestly.
Clint had gotten his start in the Junior Southern Rodeo Association (JrSRA) and later progressed to the North Carolina High School Rodeo Association, where he qualified for Nationals and competed in Shawnee, Okla., in 1990 with partner Brad Stewart. “I’ve been roping for a long time, but it was one of those things that happened because I followed my friends,” he said. His brother (Caleb) took on the habit as well and is a former SRA roper. “Caleb is good, really good. He got so good, so fast, that it was imperative that he practice on a regular basis to compete at the level he was at, so he ended up hanging it up,” said Clint.
Thinking that rodeo was something that he had found, Clint discovered at the age of 16 when meeting his dad (Keith) that rodeo had actually found him. “I later found out that my dad had rode bareback horses back in the day,” he said. The family tradition is currently being carried on by his 11-year old daughter (Reagan), who Clint refers to as “Rea-Rea”. Reagan will compete in the 2014 JrSRA season as a quadruple event contender. “I never thought that my little girl would be interested in rodeo, because she was such a princess at first, but she started riding my roping horses and is really into it now,” said the proud daddy. “One of my favorite things about her is that she is very independent and tries to do everything by herself.” With two family members hitting the rodeo trail at full-force, Clint says that it is sometimes imperative to have two rigs on the move. “I would prefer to watch her compete, but when our schedules come to a cross road, I rely on trusty mom,” he said. While his wife (Amy) does not compete, she grew up in the grandstands, as her dad (Leonard Atwell) competed in the SRA in the calf and team roping. “Amy rides and ropes really well, but never went at it. She is a great supporter of us both,” said Clint.
Living in Lincolnton, N.C., Clint makes his living as a fire fighter for the Charlotte Fire Department and the owner and operator of Humphries Landscaping. His busy schedule can, at times, interfere with his rodeoing. “I haven’t been able to go as hard as some of the other guys, but that doesn’t stop me when I get the chance,” he said.
For the upcoming season, Clint says that his main priority rests in keeping Reagan going. “When I am able, I will be happy to go just a little bit,” he said. “That little girl has me wrapped around her finger and I am the happiest when Rea-Rea and I can just go out and play on our horses all day.”
