Nothing was stopping this mumma’s baby growing up to be a cowboy!
Rodeo mums. There’s something special about them, and we are all so thankful they ignored the warnings of that famous song!
We are celebrating Rodeo Mums, starting with Cloncurry’s Kylee Ferguson, a famed rider and mum of three in Cade, Kolt and Brandee.
Kylee is a five-time Australian APRA junior title holder, was former Miss Rodeo Australia, is the reigning Road to Rodeo Open Barrel Race winner and also leads Australia’s Youth Rodeo Organisation (YRO).
She was just 12 when she first fell in love with rodeo after watching her cowboy father Cliff McIntyre in action.
“One of my most memorable wins was the Open Barrel Race at the Mount Isa Rodeo in 1986 while still a junior,” Kylee said.
“Doing that lap of honour with the blue ribbon is one of the biggest rodeo honours. There were no Buckles for the girls in those days, now there are, and I still have that ribbon.”
When asked what it’s like being the mum of Cade, one of Australia’s most talented young cowboys, Kylee said it was busy!
“This is his last year as a junior with the Australian Professional Rodeo Association and he has set himself a few big goals.
“As long as he pulls his weight at home, keeps his schoolwork up to date when he is away and helps contribute when he can, we do our best to help him achieve them.”
At Road to Rodeo last year, 17-year-old Cade was the busiest cowboy of the day. He rode in five events and took the title for two – Junior Steer and Junior Barrel – and his rides in the 2nd Division Bull, the Saddle Bronc and the Open Team Roping, cemented him as a leading cowboy of the future… not that there was ever much doubt about this third-generation rodeo rider ever making it!
He’s competed in America 10 times since he was nine years old, winning the Mini Bull Ride that first year and taking a slew of Buckles there since. Yeah, he’s a cowboy alright!
Cade said he couldn’t thank his mum enough for taking him from rodeo to rodeo, organising itineraries and supporting his passion to ride.
“This year we will all be together competing in Mount Isa, and being together as a family makes mum super happy, and when she’s happy, we all are!”
Kylee said Cade’s heart had always been in rodeo.
“I think it’s just something that once it’s in your blood – it’s hard to shake off.
“I also think the friendships that they make in rodeo last forever, and he has friends all over the world just from being involved in the sport he loves.
“I love that we all get to compete together and have the same interests, and that our teenage kids still like hanging with their parents.
“I didn’t realise how special that was until somebody pointed it out recently,” she said.
Chasing that chute rush? Dust off those boots, grab your hat and purchase your Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships and Mount Isa Mines Rodeo tickets when they go on-sale Monday the 13th May 2024.
