9-24 IAN Ranch to Roping
From setting irrigation to stardom.
So often we hear about how kids who grow up on farms and ranches are bored with the rural life and want to head for the big city. Presumably, it is because life on a farm or ranch is boring. Well, that doesn't have to be the case. It turns out that something as simple as having a horse around the farm can lead to a huge career as is the case with professional rodeo roping star Matt Shiozawa. I had a nice chat with him."Junior rodeo age, I think I was 10 years old when I got my first pony. We started practicing and going to some junior rodeos, mostly local ones, Idaho Junior rodeo Association and some little britches rodeo's is kind of where I got my start. I moved into a high school association and then on from there. What was it that led you to say I am going to concentrate on my roping? As much as anything, I thought I had a chance to be successful. The interest level was there but a realistic factor was that I had a chance. I had some success in high school and was able to meet some of the top guys as a kid, hangout and rope with them, they were friends. So roping it was.
