It’s that time of year again……the lights will come down tonight over the hallowed grounds of the Thomas & Mack and for 10 nights the top 15 Cowboys and Cowgirls in the world standings will fight for gold. A gold buckle that is. I myself am frantically packing as I type this…. this year I am headed to Vegas not just a a fashion influencer but even cooler working with the social media coverage for well known Pro Fantasy Rodeo, Rodeo Vegas, and Reachoutwest. Owned by good friend and Steer Wrestler KC Jones.
BUT before I got here Vegas was a place I left to before school was out to watch my Dad work. From the outside looking in Vegas is all pretty lights and shopping with a little Rodeo at night. For the Cowboys and their families it’s crunch time. It’s work, work and more work. I am often asked where my favorite places to eat in Vegas are and the best shows to see. I would not have clue. I know about the music they’d play I can still hear when my Dad entered the box. The Grand entry that electrified the room and watching my Dad and other guys I have known my whole life carry those flags with pride. The trips to the Gold Coast because that meant Dad won. The signs we held up hope to be shown on the big screen. I know about autograph signings and the back parking lot of the Thomas & Mack where you kept half your clothes in the trailer because it’s too much work to haul a whole families closet to the hotel.
I know about begging to go the M&M factory, and FINALLY being taken to see the fish at Mandalay Bay when your extended family comes into town to entertain the #Rodeokid for the day.
Or waiting for your Cousins to show up and then (unwillingly) being left at your grandparents room for the night. Even Rodeo Kids don’t get to see all of Vegas.
But you’ve heard my confessions…..what about those other Rodeo Kids? So I decided to ask World Campion Steer Wrestler Frank Thompson’s kids…Zane and Madison about their childhood spent in Viva Las Vegas, and get their insight on a world that also has provided for their lives.
Zane is living in Altus, Oklahoma, where he is college rodeoing for Western Oklahoma State, he shoeing some horses to get by on that college budget and goes to circuit rodeos. Madison is a High School Sophomore in their hometown of Cheyenne Wyoming and is a major athlete. Their Dad retired professional Steer Wrestler Frank Thompson won the World in 2000 the same year my Dad won the average in the Calf Roping. Although Madison was pretty little she has distinct memories and Zane who’s close to my age feels it’s shaped who he is as a person today. Here’s what they had to say.
How old were you when your Dad went to the NFR??? How many times???
Zane: My mom was pregnant with me in 1997 and dad won the world in 2000. Then he made it in ‘03 and ‘04.
Madison:I was 1 in 2003 the third time he made it, and I was 2 the fourth time.
How is it different being there as a rodeo kid? That’s your dad’s job so you are there for work. Give us that insight only you have.
Zane: It was really exciting being there to watch my dad, and even being that young I was nervous for him. I remember sitting in the stands with my mom and her getting real nervous.
Madison:I don’t remember when my dad was entered, but even after when we went I’ve always watched him stay in the industry to better it working doing his own thing, with the PRCA and CFD.
Where did you usually stay???
Zane: We always stayed at the New Orleans. That’s where all the bulldoggers stayed.
How about skipping school??? Did you go all 10 days?!!!
Zane: No, I would stay at my grandparents’ for the first couple rounds then we’d all fly out there.
Our dad’s had schedules they had to be on…appearances, autographs, then the rodeo! What did you do as a kid there???
Madison:My Mom, Zane, and I did the usual Cowboy Christmas, M&M store, the Coca Cola Store and had to start getting ready for the round pretty earlier.
Zane: I sat on my dad’s lap through a lot of autograph stations, and I got to hang out with him a lot in those places. I got to see a lot of cool things at a really young age.
What are some of your favorite NFR memories????
Madison :The shopping, and walking up the stairs to the arena.
Zane: The World championship dummy roping, at Cowboy Christmas.
The go round buckle presentations at the Gold Coast were always a lot of fun.
I remember Bob Tallman asking me what I was going to do with all of Dad’s money and I told him we were going to buy some calves and torture them.
What’s your favorite part of the rodeo??? NFR is known for its grand entry and the distinct music they’d play???? Any memories of that???
Zane:Yeah I remember one time we made signs for the grand entry, my dad was carrying the flag. I still remember the music they played during the grand entry. As young as I was I remember feeling the intensity in the building.
Madison: I Love the drive to the arena and walking to the arena. I’ll never loose those moments.
Your favorite thing in Vegas as a kid!????
Madison: Cowboy Christmas of course! Then and now!
Zane: Getting to be around that many cowboys and exercising horses with dad before the performances. You know your Dad and I took some laps on Grumpy quite a bit. You don’t just get those memories everyday.
How has the NFR changed since you were watching your Dad there????
Zane: The payout has changed a lot, but not much besides that. It’s the best rodeo in the world.
What about the first time you went back after your dad was retired???
Zane: I remember thinking that no matter what it takes, I need to get here someday. And that’s what I’m doing right now: working to get there.
Madison: Less stressful for sure. Hahaha my Mom would probably agree.
What does the NFR mean to you!???
Madison: So much, knowing what every person did to get there and how difficult the sport is it means so much more
Zane: It’s the World Series of rodeo. It’s where we’re all shooting to be one day and where we’re all working to get.
I know Zane, Madison, and I will joke and snap chat or send pictures of our dad’s NFR replays (maybe make fun of?) 😉 and we’ve heard all the re ride stories we can…. but I asked what’s it like being able to watch your dad’s career back like that??? Hearing those stories???He was so successful and you watched it first hand and getting to see it today remind you of those moments???
Madison: Watching my dad on the reruns or hearing the ole “rodeo road” stories, is so fun i was really little so i don’t remember that much but knowing that those moments were so special.
Zane: I think as rodeo kids we have a whole different view of the finals and the way of life we grew up in, I know I do for sure, we got to see first hand how big of a deal it was to make the finals. We understand how important it was that we got to go to Vegas. It’s sacred to us. It’s VEGAS. To hear us talk about it…it’s different.
How has your dad’s career effected your life, what has it shown you what do you take away from that time????
Zane: Nothing in this game is easy I can remember Dad practicing before it was time to head out to Vegas….it was snowing and he was running steers. It is a lot of work. He was gone, a lot…he had to be…your Dad had to be. My Mom kept up what needed to be taken care of at home. It’s not an easy life. It’s a good one though. In the end it is all about family, we know what’s important.
Madison: Growing up in a living quarters doesn’t sound like fun but, having so many memories and just knowing that’s the only way i would want to be raised.
What can you say about growing up in the professional rodeo world????
Zane: It is an amazing sport with amazing people I can’t imagine a better way to grow up.
Madison: Being surrounded by very successful people my whole life has taught me so much. Also the sense of family in the rodeo world is the best. Knowing what the cowboys sacrifice to go the finals, i just hope that the sport continues to go in the right direction and outsiders continue to respect it and understand what it actually means.
Finish this sentence “You might be a Rodeo kid if………”
Zane: Every time dad won good in a round you knew Christmas was gonna be REALLY REALLY good!
Madison: If you know “get in the truck” is code for slack probably didn’t go very good.