The Family that Rodeos Together, Stays Together

Article written by Rachael Ruybalid and originally published in the York News Times.

HENDERSON – There may not be many rodeos in these parts, but Henderson is home to two rodeo cowboys.

Brothers Miles and Ty Spickelmier spend every evening out on their horses practicing over and over keeping their horses in shape and their speed and skills sharp.

Weekends they spend driving all over the Midwest from New Mexico to Oklahoma competing in rodeos.

Having grown up on a farm, Miles started rodeoing when he was barely walking. He started mutton busting and riding sheep and then graduated to his own pony. He used to ride bulls but now he competes in steer wrestling and team roping.

His senior year in high school in Imperial, he was a state champion and qualified for nationals in Steer Wrestling and the All-Around competition.

The last two years when he was a student at Chadron State College, he places in the top three in his region and qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo.

While he now lives permanently in Texas, he’s back home for the summer rodeoing with his younger brother Ty.

Ty started rodeoing right away, he said.

“Miles needed a practice partner at home so I roped with him while Dad worked the chute,” he said.

He competes in the high-school rodeo circuit in calf roping and team roping.

“It’s fun…addicting,” he said.

Last year, he made it to nationals in calf roping. In junior high, he was a state calf roping and ribbon roping champion.

He was named the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association’s Rookie of the Year last year.

Tonight and tomorrow morning, he’ll be competing in the 2013 NHSRA State Competition. Currently, he’s ranked third in calf roping and sitting a mere three points out of first place.

He’s ranked 15th in the state in team roping.

Miles is now competing in the pro rodeo circuit. He’s working on buying his pro card.

After you win $1,000 in the circuit, you can buy your pro card. After you buy your card, all of the money you win from then on goes toward determining if you qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Nevada. The more money you win, the better your chance for qualifying, Miles said.

Both brothers want to make rodeos their career.

“Anyone can do it, it just depends on how you do,” Miles said. “You’re competing against guys who want it just as bad as you do.”

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Miles and Ty are the sons Wayne and Stannette Spickelmier.  Wayne works at Circle Five, and Stannette is the manager of the Henderson Food Mart.