Sidney Carey has been rodeoing for more than 10 years. The 18-year-old from Huron, S.D. climbed the ladder from junior rodeos, to junior high and high school rodeos. This is her final year competing in the SDHSRA and she has ambitious plans for the coming rodeo season.
Sidney competes in barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending, breakaway roping, and team roping as a header. Out of those five events, breakaway roping and goat tying are her favorites. Both of Sidney’s parents, Blaine and Paullyn Carey, have competed in rodeo as well. Sidney is very thankful for the advice and support of her parents, as well as what she has learned from her uncle, Shawn Carey, and from the family’s friend, Jody O’Brian. “She inspires me to do my best,” said Sidney.
The Careys make their home about five miles north of Huron. Sidney has two younger sisters – Kallie, 16, and Tatum, 11. All three sisters compete in 4-H rodeo and the National Little Britches Rodeo Association. The Carey family has 16 horses and three dogs, along with roping calves to practice on in the summer. The entire family spends a good deal of time in their arena during the summer. The Carey sisters’ team roping partners come over and they spend the evening roping calves, tying goats and working their horses. “We keep it pretty fun,” Sidney said. She and her sisters also have competitions between the three of them, either roping the dummy or practicing roping tricks. Sidney’s rodeo horses include Griz, her team roping horse, and Kimmy, her all-around mare. Kimmy was trained by Shawn Carey, Sidney’s uncle.
Sidney is a senior at Wolsey-Wessington High School. Math and science are the subjects she enjoys most, and she is also very fond of playing sports. Earlier in the school year, Sidney played volleyball, basketball, and ran cross country. Additionally, Sidney is in 4-H, which she has been a part of since she was eight. On top of 4-H rodeo, she does home living projects, which has included making picture frames, using lasers to etch designs onto mirrors, and even making a trophy table which Sidney put her belt buckles in.
If she had a day with no obligations, Sidney might spend it sleeping in and riding her horses, but it’s more likely that she’ll be up early to load horses and haul to a rodeo or jackpot. One of Sidney’s favorite rodeos in the SDHSRA is the Watertown Rodeo. “It’s a good rodeo, and afterwards all of the kids go to Thunder Road and do cart racing. It’s pretty intense,” she said with a laugh.
Highlights of Sidney’s 2013 rodeo season include winning fourth in breakaway in the South Dakota 4-H finals rodeo, even after she broke out, having originally been positioned in first. At the same rodeo, she received the Never Quit Award, given in memory of Shirley Gerard. Of her goals for 2014, Sidney said, “I would like to win the all-around at most of the rodeos I go to, and win a saddle in any of my events.” Sidney is also working to qualify for the 2014 NHSFR. She plans to rodeo more with the SDRA in addition to competing on the South Dakota State University (SDSU) rodeo team this fall. She will be filling her semesters with rodeoing and earning her degree in civil engineering. As she pursues her dreams for the future, Sidney explains what drives her to rodeo. “It’s mostly the people, and the friends that you make. I’ve grown up around it, and it’s a way of life for my family.”
