W
e all have dreams
to one day become
something great, not
only for ourselves but for our
families. What we do not dream
of is becoming an inspiration to
the rest of the world.
By
Erich Rogers has
angelee become a local hero
lillian here on the Navajo
Nation. He is a Professional Rodeo Team Roper
from Round Rock, Arizona.
When The RESource
interviewed Rogers, via telephone, and asked what it felt
like to go “Pro,” the label of being a Professional Rodeo competitor, Rogers humbly stated
that he had no words to describe the feeling of his dream
come true.
Rogers is of the Towering House Clan born for the
Red Running into the Water
Clan. He grew up on the Navajo
Reservation with parents who
are ranchers, which requires
caring for cattle and horses,
hauling water, and spending
their last dime on buying hay.
What’s more, it’s through his
ranching lifestyle where Rogers
developed a daily routine of a
6
july Volume 1 Issue 007
skill he’s become quite good at
– Roping!
Jumping into the truck
with his dad, Waylon Jennings
playing on the radio, heading
out to the next rodeo knowing
he was going to see his friends,
was one of Rogers’ favorite
childhood memories. Going to
It wasn’t until his Indian Junior Rodeo Association (IJRA)
competition, where he won his
first saddle that resulted in his
strong passion to win. Anxiously, Rogers joined his Round
Rock High School Rodeo team
giving him more experience.
Rogers reminisced about his
rodeos was simply fun for Rogers.
At age ten, Rogers decided to enter his first roping
competition. It was here that
he realized his knack for the
sport, so he continued to rope
throughout his adolescence.
December school-nights, as a
child, asking his dad to wake
him in time to watch the Team
Ropers in the highly televised
world renowned Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR)
at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The
WNFR can be referred to as the
Super bowl of Rodeo, where
only the nation’s top 15 compete for the “world” title. The
WNFR is organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) and competing
in the WNFR became Rogers’
ultimate dream.
Rogers’ mission to the
WNFR was in motion when he
received his PRCA card at the
age of eighteen. Only the top 15
“headers” and “heelers” in team
roping earn a trip to the WNFR.
Team roping consists of a twoman team, Rogers’ team mate is
Cory Petska. Rogers and Petska were friends for many years
prior to becoming teammates.
Rogers stated that, “Having a
good friendship is what makes
a great partner in team roping.”
Although Rogers loved competing in rodeos, there were challenges and several times Rogers wanted to quit.
“Rodeo is hard enough
already. If you don’t win one
weekend, you don’t have money to go next weekend,” Rogers
said about the challenges of being in the rodeo circuit.
He added, “You have to have
need ad space? call (928) 871-1181 or email [email protected]