Soo Line: Girls on the Go: Two Local Cowgirls Spend Summer Chasing Rodeo Dreams

by Soo Greiman 

Summer boredom is something RaeLynn Wildeboer and Aubrey Wulf know little about.

For these two local teens, summer means rodeos, horses, travel and countless hours of practice. One is serving as a rodeo queen while pursuing her own goals in the arena. The other has earned a trip to the Junior High National Finals Rodeo after spending years perfecting her roping skills.
Both girls are passionate about the sport, grateful for the support of family and friends, and determined to make the most of every opportunity that comes their way.

Two Cowgirls in Different Arenas Ride Fast Through the Summer
RaeLynn Wildeboer, 16, daughter of Dave and Heather Wildeboer, attends Union High School, where she is an exceptionally busy junior. At the La Porte City school, RaeLynn participates in volleyball, basketball and golf and serves as FFA chapter secretary and class president. Earlier this spring she participated in a Rodeo Queen contest held by Iowa Roughstock Rodeo (IRR), an organization she has been involved with for the past five years.

“The contest involved taking a written test, presenting yourself appropriately during an interview, responding during a question-answer time on horse anatomy and equine health, offering details about our rodeo association, giving a prepared speech, then riding our horses in a short horsemanship pattern while carrying a flag or waving the cowgirl salute.”

Elaborating on the speech portion, RaeLynn noted all four contestants were asked to select a question and speak on it for several minutes. She chose, “If you could pick someone in rodeo history to spend a day with, who would it be and why?”
“I told the judges I would pick Amberley Snyder, an American professional rodeo cowgirl and inspirational woman. She was active in rodeos all her life, but in 2010 was injured in a car accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She returned to rodeoing, competing in barrel racing as well as traveling around the country giving motivational talks.”

Among the responsibilities RaeLynn has as IRR Rodeo Queen is attending rodeos throughout the season, where she helps with breakaway roping by moving calves out of the way and holding goats in position for goat-tying contestants.
As a young rider, she has set many goals for herself and her horse, Fireball, some of which are reasonable, others not.

“This year I’ve focused on clocking a 16-second time in barrel racing. The same weekend I was crowned queen, we smoked that time! Another goal I’ve had for this year is to catch a calf in breakaway roping.”

The cowgirl credits her family for supporting her rodeo interests, noting that her mom, Heather, and great-aunt Donna have been at every rodeo she has entered.
“I couldn’t be more blessed to have them in the crowd.”
Others she gives high marks to for their assistance are her Nana and Papa, Jaci and Nick Soska.

Two role models RaeLynn admires include Mindy Noble, who has helped her gain knowledge and confidence in her rodeo career, and Cassi Creed, who she says, “Stepped up and helped me get all dolled up for the Queen Contest. She offered advice about clothes, hair and makeup and helped me achieve my goal.”
Explaining she could not have experienced the success she has had in rodeo without the help of others, the last individual she expresses gratitude for is her mom.

“She has shaped me into the young lady I am and drives me to wherever a rodeo is. Even though she’s scared of horses and isn’t afraid to admit it, if I ask her to tack up my horse, she does. She is my biggest role model because she has always been by my side and never gave up on me.”
Aubrey Wulf, daughter of Derek and Dresden Wulf, will begin her freshman year this fall. The pursuit that has kept the 14-year-old busy is perfecting her skills in competitive roping events.

This cowgirl can swing a rope.

For the past six years Aubrey has spent weekends in the spring, summer and fall participating in rodeos.

“Most of my roping happens at one-day county fair rodeos around Iowa.”
What she is anxiously anticipating now is the breakaway roping competition in Guthrie, Oklahoma, June 20-27. Through a point system, the Iowa cowgirl earned her way to compete in the Junior High National Finals Rodeo.

“I was able to qualify for nationals through the Iowa Junior High Rodeo Association by being among the top four qualifiers for an event. Five rodeos are held in the fall and four in the spring, each one at a different arena in Iowa.”
Breakaway roping requires speed, timing and precision. After a calf is released and given a head start, the rider pursues it on horseback, swings a rope overhead and attempts to catch the calf around the neck. The clock stops when the rope breaks away from the saddle horn, signaling a successful catch.
Anxious to talk about her new horse, Aubrey explained that for the past few years, including last fall, she roped off Rita, a dependable paint horse, but realized a new, more powerful horse would be beneficial. Earlier this year the Wulf family conducted a search for a new rope horse. It took them far and wide.
Eventually they found Tap.
It was a perfect match.
“I spent the next months working on getting to know him. He’s super sweet and tries his hardest every time, so he’s fun to ride. He even has a sliding stop, which is really cool.”

After only a short amount of practice, Aubrey and her new steed competed in their first junior high rodeo earlier this spring, placing fourth on the first day and first on the next.
Having accumulated more than 100 points during two junior high rodeo seasons, she placed second in the breakaway roping event. That qualified her and Tap for the National Finals later this month at Guthrie, Oklahoma, inside the renowned Lazy E Arena.

“I reached the goal of making it there!”
Nearly unstoppable, the spunky cowgirl has no plans to let her lariat cool off after the Junior High National Finals Rodeo. Her newest goal this summer is to qualify for the finals of the Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association, which will require her participation throughout the season.
In spite of that busy schedule, Aubrey is also a member of the Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team and serves as president of her 4-H club, the Hudson High Achievers.
Giving credit where it is deserved, she says her parents are a huge part of her success.

“They drive me to practice and to all the rodeos, push calves and help me in the box.”
Two others she recognizes for their support are P.J. and Drake Foutch.
“They have taught me everything I know. I rope at their place all the time.”
Competitors in every sport often have a role model to watch, and Aubrey is no exception. Hers is well-known breakaway roper Josie Conner.
“She is an amazing roper and only 23. Already she has won over a million dollars. I’ve met her several times and found she’s a really nice person as well.”