Sadie and Tanner Stec love each other, but they can drive each other crazy, too. The twins, sister and brother from Bassett, Neb., are seniors in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association.
They get along very well, but there are times they argue. They’re both really stubborn, Sadie says, and they take after their Grandpa, John Stec. “We think our way is best.” But it’s nice to have a twin when it comes to practice time, because there is always someone with whom to practice.
Sadie is the older of the siblings, and competes in the breakaway roping, barrel racing, and pole bending. She loves starting out young horses and watching them develop. Her brother is the opposite. “He wants a finished horse he can go on. For me, I like to build them up.” The two spend a lot of time together in the summer, but during the school year, don’t see each other much. Sadie plays basketball, Tanner wrestles, and this year, they only have two classes together every day.
As a student at Rock County High School, Sadie is FFA treasurer, a member of the speech team, National Honor Society, and plays basketball. She competed at National High School Finals in the breakaway roping her freshman year.
Tanner, also a student at Rock Co. High, says the best part about school is “getting out of it.” Unfortunately, his schedule got messed up this year and he’s had to take band class, which is not his favorite. He’s playing the drums, which makes it a bit easier. Tanner wrapped up his wrestling career last month with a sixth place finish at state in Class D in the 138 lb. division.
Tanner, a tie-down roper, team roper and bulldogger, got his PRCA permit this January and has competed at three pro rodeos so far. This summer, he’ll be living with pro cowboy Garrett Nokes, traveling with him and “trying to better my roping.” Last year, he qualified for the Nebraska State Pro Rodeo Association and Mid-States Rodeo Finals. Tanner won the state tie-down roping championship his freshman and sophomore years, the steer wrestling title his junior year, and he finished fourth in the tie-down that year. He’s been to Nationals every year since he became a sixth grader.
This fall, Sadie will attend Hastings College and rodeo for them. She hopes to major in nursing and get her registered nurse degree. She works at the long term care facility in Bassett and enjoys it. Tanner isn’t sure where he’ll go to college, but he plans on rodeoing collegiately. They are the children of Roger and Sheri Stec.
