This article is from the June 2024 edition of SDPB Magazine. See past issues HERE.
The South Dakota High School Rodeo Association is celebrating 75 years of operation, 75 years of sportsmanship, education, family bonding, heritage, and opportunities. According to their website, the SDHSRA aims to "provide an opportunity to participate in the highly competitive and rewarding sport of rodeo while offering a stepping stone for our students to move on to other "arenas" after high school graduation, be they rodeo or academic arenas." South Dakota joined Texas, New Mexico, Montana, and Louisiana as the National High School Rodeo Association charter states in 1949.
We had the opportunity to speak with Penny Schlagel, secretary of the SDHSRA, who gave us some insight into the organization.
"I grew up by Raymond, South Dakota," says Penny. "My parents were both super involved in high school rodeo growing up. My dad actually started the first East Region South Dakota High School Rodeo. He was the founder and producer of that rodeo for over 25 years. I recently took over as a South Dakota High School Rodeo Association state secretary last fall. So, while I'm not new to the association, I'm new to the role."
Penny tells us how high school rodeo started—stating that a couple of kids from Texas moved to New Underwood, South Dakota, in 1947 with the idea for the school district to host a high school rodeo. While the school district wasn't on board, the American Legion took the steps, and just a few years later, in 1949, South Dakota was involved. The first South Dakota State High School Rodeo Finals were held at New Underwood in 1949. South Dakota is a charter member of the NHSRA, helping to start the organization in 1951. The NHSRA is a South Dakota Non- Profit Organization and South Dakota High School Rodeo is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. Penny states South Dakota has always had "a strong foothold with rodeo."
While Penny is just starting her career as a secretary, her knowledge and passion for the program go far beyond it, and she speaks more about how it impacts the youth of our state.
"One of the big pillars of high school rodeo is education. Kids who are members of the High School Rodeo Association can apply for scholarships worth over $70,000. Because of that, because of college rodeo, I hear kids say all the time, 'I wouldn't have gone to college if weren't for rodeo.' They can go to tech school or a fouryear college. Then, those kids go on and do things where they support the industry by working for vendors and doing other things like that."
Ann Sundermann has served as the Executive Secretary of the SDHSRA for nearly 20 years. "I like to present the importance of the association by showcasing the quality of our athletes and their abilities - not only in the arena, but outside the arena, as well."
"The responsibility and humility that it takes to participate in the organization makes well-rounded, very employable individuals down the road," says Ann. We are extremely proud of the youth in our organization, and feel they are the cream of the crop when it comes to responsibility, accountability, kindness and competitiveness. They accept correction and constructive criticism and use that to improve themselves. They also understand that in order to succeed in the arena or in any other venture, it takes hard work and determination. They understand the level of commitment to do such things while caring first for their animals, and then concentrating on themselves. These traits carry over to their everyday lives and experiences.”
Penny states that rodeo not only has an impact on the youth but also a lasting opportunity for involvement.
"High school rodeo is a stepping stone to other rodeos, whether it be college rodeo or just continuing to do rodeo for fun. You don't play pickup basketball when you're in your sixties, but horses and rodeo is something you can do forever and ever. I go to team roping, and there are 80-year-old men still roping." She continues, "My lifelong friends are my rodeo friends. My very best friend is one I met when I was ten years old at a rodeo."
Penny has two big goals for the future of the SDHSRA. One of them is growing membership.
"High school rodeo in South Dakota is strong, and I'd like to grow our membership back up. We are at 515 members statewide, which is a lot. If you look at it nationally, we are third behind Texas and Oklahoma. We have a lot of kids, and we want to continue that involvement. But when I talked to Bud [past SDHSRA secretary], he said the highest number he remembered was around 800. It would be great to crank that back up there and get kids involved again."
Another goal Penny shared with us is the ability to support kids in their future endeavors, including college and business.
"I would like to see support for kids' business ideas. Education has been great to me. However, I have a lot of friends who didn't go to college and have really great businesses that they grew, and I'd like to see high school rodeo potentially start to support that. Possibly through mentorship or even a grant, something to help somebody get started in a related business. I'd love to see that. Whether these kids want to be an electrician, plumber, or photographer, I think a kid could put together a decent business plan."
Ann talks about the rodeo’s successes and what we can look forward to in the upcoming season.
“SDHSRA State Finals Rodeo in Fort Pierre, SD is the 3rd largest High School Rodeo State Finals in the nation. It takes place over five days with five actionpacked rodeo performances in addition to three Cutting and Reined Cow Horse performances. We are excited to be able to bring the High School Rodeo Finals to Fort Pierre again in 2024, celebrating the 75th year of SD State Rodeo Finals. The SDHSRA youth competing members encompass a diversity of backgrounds and ethnicities from the entire state of South Dakota. The rodeo athletes compete for their chance to represent Team South Dakota at the national level.”
"SDHSRA wants to raise good, quality kids that are respectful and competitive. Really, it's a big family atmosphere. I always say it's a traveling circus; it's a big campground where everybody has horses, dogs, kids, and bikes. It’s so much fun."
- Penny Schlagel