Introducing Heather Jo Robertson… Rodeo Wife to PRCA Steer Wrestler Alex Robertson

Alex’s highlights of rodeo career:

1998 Oregon High School Rodeo State Champion
Joined NPRA in 1999, rodeoed as an Amateur on and off since ’99, won countless amateur rodeos
2000 bought permit for PRCA
2000 won Coulee City WA
2000 won  St. Paul OR
2001 joined PRCA as member
2002 won Sublimity OR
2004 won Coalville WA
2004 Columbia River Circuit Finals Average Champion
2005 DNCFR qualifier
2005 won Farm City Pro Rodeo, Hermiston OR
2006 won Sublimity OR
2009 won Poway CA
2010 won Prineville OR
2010 won Springville CA
2010 won Salinas CA
2010 won 2 rounds at the All American Finals in Waco TX
7 time Columbia River Circuit Finals qualifier

Heather Jo, tell us how you became a rodeo wife and if you were involved in rodeo before you married Alex?

Alex and I met at my local gym in Nephi, Utah in July 2006. He was in town for our Ute Stampede Rodeo. He and his traveling partners came in for a morning workout. Lucky for him I was working that morning! Alex and I started texting and calling each other not to long after that. In 2007 I moved to Bend, Oregon, where he lived, and in November 2008 we were married. The extent of rodeos in my life before meeting Alex was attending the Ute Stampede yearly, and that was it.

How many miles do you and Alex log a year?

The best answer for this question would be, TOO MANY!

How often do you go to the rodeos and do you stay more local or make the long hauls as well?

Alex and I try to stay together as much as possible. The last couple of years he has rodeoed hard, so has been gone A LOT. Unless I have things going on at home or in Utah, I typically am on the road with Alex. We are expecting our first child this coming April, so next year I’m sure will be different. Less traveling for me, but me and the baby will still try to get to as many rodeos as possible.

ETA: Heather Jo and Alex welcomed Sophie Anne Robertson on April 8th.

What does it take to get the rig ready to leave?

It can be a lot or a little, depending on the length of the trip. It basically is like getting ready to go camping. Clean the trailer, pack the bedding, clothes, and all of the other essentials. The hardest is probably when we hit the road for a couple months at a time, it feels like we pack the entire house. Then, of course, there is all the stuff that Alex takes care of. Loading the hay, grain, shavings, horse tack, and checking the trailer’s water and propane. It can all be a headache.

What stresses do you have being a rodeo wife?

I think I stressed a lot more when I was newer to the rodeo world. Now it’s just normal life to me. But, I am a big worrier, sometimes the guys will go days with little sleep and cover thousands of miles. I probably stress the most then.

Tell us what your life is like while Alex is out on the Rodeo Road?

I am pretty lucky! If Alex is on the road and I’m not with him, I usually am on a quick trip home to take care of some things, or I am in Utah visiting with my family. Then back on the road with him! The few times I have stayed behind when he has hit the road it can get hard. We are lucky we live in the time with so many ways to communicate, cell phones, emails, etc, it’s easier to be together when really apart. I remind myself, when I am home and he is on the road, that he’s on a business trip, many families deal with that inside and outside of the rodeo world. You just learn to cope, and countdown till either he gets home, or I fly out to meet him somewhere.

How does life change when Alex doesn’t perform well?

Alex and I just try to take it one rodeo at a time. In Steer Wrestling there are so many things that can go wrong that are out of Alex’s control. We just focus on improving what’s in his control, and taking that to the next rodeo. Every athlete deals with losses, you just go on!

What is your role as the motivator or do you both motivate each other?

I think we both motivate each other to stay positive no matter what. My biggest job is to support Alex through his good and bad performances.

Being a rodeo wife, what are some of the new adventures you have faced in this lifestyle?

Rodeoing is totally different from a 9-5 job, even for the families of the cowboys. We travel all over the states looking for the next check to win, and have a lot of fun doing it. Every rodeo is a new adventure. Some of the best rodeos are places that most people wouldn’t pick out on a map to take a vacation to, we are lucky to get to go experience them.

Tell me a pet peeve you have about your role as the rodeo wife?

Videotaping!!! In my life, the wife’s first duty at a rodeo is videoing the runs. I’ve taped almost every time I’ve been to a rodeo with Alex since we met. It is pretty important for him and his traveling partners to be able to watch, critique, and learn from their performances. It might be a good thing to keep me from being nervous when it’s Alex’s turn, but, half of the time I couldn’t tell you what Alex’s time was two seconds after he gets up off the dirt from throwing down his steer.