Up North: Heart Of The North Rodeo
Posted at: 07/09/2012 9:13 PM
| Updated at: 07/11/2012 10:46 PM
By: Laura Kennedy
lkennedy@wdio.com
For Robin and J.W. Beck, rodeoing has always been a family affair.
"I grew up around rodeo. My dad - he rodeoed," J.W. said.
"I went as a kid. It0's something I've always done and keep doing," Robin said.
The Moville, Iowa natives spend their summers traveling around the Midwest rodeo circuit.
"We're pretty much gone all weekend every weekend and then go back to work on Monday," Robin said.
With their 14-month-old son, Tyan, along for the ride.
"He's a good traveler and cheers us on," Robin said. "It's a lot of fun."
On this night, they found themselves at the Heart of the North Rodeo in Spooner, Wisconsin. J.W. is a team roper, and Robin is a barrel racer. They take turns keeping an eye on Tyan and getting the horses ready to compete.
"Exercising your horses, making sure they're ready to go. They're athletes too," J.W. said. "They have to be on their game as well as we do."
"It makes it a little more challenging with a one year old," Robin said. "We kind of juggle him back and forth and he might have to warm up my horse for me but it's a lot of fun."
J.W. says rodeo can be a humbling sport, and it helps to have family around for a little pick-me-up after a long day.
"The thing about being on rodeo is you get tired and wore down. It's not always fun," he said. "I have my family with me, my wife and my little kid. It makes it all worthwhile. If you don't do good you walk in there and your little boy smiles at you. He doesn't care if you did any good or not."
The Becks expect we'll see their son join the rodeo ranks sooner than later.
"Probably mutton busting one of these years," Robin said.
"I imagine so. He loves the rodeo," J.W. said.
As any cowboy or cowgirl could tell you, a love for roping and racing is in the genes.
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