Meeker High School alumnus Kasey Rosendahl qualified for the Western States Circuit Finals Rodeo last weekend in Loveland, Colorado, in the saddle bronc riding event. Rosendahl graduated in 2017, and started riding broncs that summer, then earned a rodeo scholarship to attend Casper College, receiving a degree in 2023.
Rosendahl possesses two traits found in all true cowboys, a strong faith in God and humbleness to go with it, as witnessed in his reply to the question of how many broncs he’s been on and why he does what he does:
“Hard to say how many broncs I’ve been on, I used to keep track but have lost count,” Rosendahl replied by text. “I’ve probably gotten on at least 500-600 horses, got bucked off most of them for the first few years. This was my best year and I was only bucked off a few this season. I competed in about 50 rodeos this year.”
According to Rosendahl, he rode on a professional permit this season and had to win money against professional cardholders to earn a card and a qualification to ride in the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo.
“This was my first circuit finals qualification and it was definitely an awesome experience,” Rosendahl texted and included video of his rides in the three performances, where he rode the full eight seconds, two of three times.
“I’m extremely blessed to reach this kind of accomplishment, especially considering the fact that I should have been done rodeoing after my spine surgery in 2019. It’s amazing that I still get to chase my dreams after the circumstances that I have faced. I thank God every single day for making it possible for me. It’s just amazing what you can accomplish if you work hard enough and have faith. I have a lot of good support in this community and the friends and family in my corner have really helped make it happen. I love tough competition and this years field of bronc riders were extremely talented. Then combine that with the best bucking horses in the circuit, and you get a recipe for a really great show and a ton of adrenaline. I’m just glad I got to be part of it and hope I can continue to be part of it in coming years.
“Why we do it is hard to explain to somebody who hasn’t done it. The amount of adrenaline and satisfaction is like nothing else. It’s like a drug. It’s extremely addicting and you’ll sell anything you own and make huge sacrifices just to get to one more rodeo. But it’s something I’ve never ever heard anybody say they regretted.
Rosendahl rides with two titanium rods along his spine following surgery for scoliosis.
“Yeah, I shouldn’t even be riding, God is the only reason,” Rosendahl said.
BOBBY GUTIERREZ Photo
Kasey Rosendahl of Meeker is achieving great success as a bronc rider despite a 2019 surgery to correct severe scoliosis. Two titanium rods run along his entire spine.
BY BOBBY GUTIERREZ
