BUSINESSWOMAN RUN Deerman Take Care of Business to Win NFR Open Breakaway Title By Joe Kusek I nterns don’t get much leeway in the workplace. While Maddy Deerman had already approved the issue with Human Resources before taking the job with the Mewbourne Oil Company, she was a bit hesitant approaching her manager of taking some days off in mid-July.
This was an important internship for Deerman who wants to be a petroleum geologist someday. She had already put rodeo, “My passion,” she said, on the backburner to work in the company’s exploration office in Midland, Texas. “I’ve always been steadfast putting education before rodeo,” said Deerman who is on schedule to earn her master’s in geology from Texas Tech in May of 2024. She earned her degree in Geo Science from Tarleton State. Manager Corey Mitchell had no problem with Deerman’s request with one stipulation: “You have to win.” Deerman returned from the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a trailerful of prizes after winning the breakaway roping. “I guess I get to keep my job,” joked the cowgirl from Hope, New Mexico after her biggest WPRA victory. “One of the most exciting things I was able to show my co-workers the belt buckle.” Deerman roped her way through the progressive rounds at the Norris Penrose Event Center to loop her final calf in the 3.0 seconds to win the four-competitor final round. She earned $15,624. The NFR Open features the year-end and Finals champions from professional rodeo’s circuit system. Deerman qualified by sweeping the Turquoise Circuit year-end and Finals last November. “I knew when I was going up there the goal was to win,” she said. “With the format, I didn’t need to be the fastest, I just had to catch.
Every time we had a practice set up, I worked on taking smarter, higher percentage shots. To rope smart. I always try to be in the moment. Not think too far ahead. “This was a big thing for me. With working this summer, this maybe will get me into the top 50 and the winter rodeos for next year.” Deerman opened with a 3.9 in the first round aboard Yeller, her 14-year-old horse that had carried her to the Turquoise Circuit titles. She switched to Whopper, her 14-year-old bay gelding for the final three throws. “Whopper is my go-to horse for a fast shot, which I thought I might need to have for the progressing rounds,” Deerman explained. “I got on Whopper to shave off some time. I am more of an aggressive and faster roper on Whopper.” The family purchased Whopper, registered as Lady Polka and by Prince of Polka and out of Howleys Lady Pay as a three-year-old. He was originally used on the family ranch. “I started riding him in junior high and didn’t get comfortable on him until my junior year in college,” she said. Deerman was 2.6 in the second round and the average time of 6.5 was enough to advance her to the field of eight. A 3.5 in the semifinals tied for second. After the first two ropers in the finals – KeAnn Hayes, of Blanchard, Oklahoma and Kendal Peirson of Wardlow, Alberta missed – Deerman delivered in muddy conditions. “I made a businessman’s decision,” Deerman said. “I just had to be sure and catch and at least get second.” Taylor Munsell, of Alva, Oklahoma had a loop of 2.1 seconds but broke the barrier. continued on page 21 Once in the final four round Maddy Deerman stayed focused on the challenge at hand. The two previous ropers ended with no times, so Deerman made a businessman’s decision to catch as worse case she would finish second. She caught in a time of 3.0 seconds and after the final roper broke the barrier the NFR Open title was hers. Goal accomplished. Photo by Tanya Hamner
Maddy Deerman arrived in Colorado Springs, Colorado with one goal in- mind to win the NFR Open Breakaway Roping title. Mission accomplished. Deerman knew with the format she didn’t have to be the fastest in every round but to be consistent and throw high percentage shots to catch every calf. Photo by Fernando Sam-Sin
AUGUST 2023 WPRA NEWS 19
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