Earn Your Spurs: Exploring the Cowboy, Horses and All Things Western

Scott Haynes grew up on a ranch in Northeastern Montana where his family grew wheat and raised beef cattle. During his childhood, Scott developed an affinity for both ranch dogs and western cartooning. Today he has combined those two interests to create the Roadie The Ranch Dog children's book series. If you have young kids on your Christmas list, this book is a must-buy item!

Paige Nicholson, Miss Rodeo Mississippi 2013 and Miss Rodeo America 2014 talks about her upbringing, how she got involved in rodeo queen pageantry and what kind of impact her experience as Miss Rodeo America has had on her personally and professionally. Get the inside scoop on the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, which concludes on December 6th when Miss Rodeo America 2015 is crowned.

Unlike most professional rodeo cowboys, Kelly Timberman didn't move up through the ranks of Jr Rodeo and High School rodeo before winning a world championship in bareback riding. In fact, he didn't get on his first bareback horse until after he had graduated from high school. Kelly's story proves that hard work and determination are what it truly takes to win. We talk about his rodeo career, his role as Production Director with the Professional Roughstock Series and he gives his advice on how to get started in rodeo.

John Harrer is the host of the Whoa Podcast, all about horses. For such a horse enthusiast, it's hard to believe that he hasn't been riding all that long. And he taught himself the basics of horsemanship by watching Clinton Anderson and other natural horsemanship clinicians on RFD-TV. In this episode, John talks about how he got started with horses, the mistakes he has made along the way, and offers tips for others who are interested in getting into horses themselves.

Chelsey Stimson is a veteran of the US Navy, a military widow, and an avid barrel racer. Having been a horse lover since childhood she knew she always wanted to have horses in her life, but it wasn't until after the loss of her husband, Navy SEAL Tyler Stimson, that she learned just how much she NEEDED horses in her life. Chelsey uses her barrel racing to serve as a voice for other military widows and veterans' organizations and is passionate about helping others get started with horses.

Alex Cord is a horseman, an author, a stage actor and a movie star. He appeared in more than 30 films including several westerns and 300 television shows. Perhaps most notably, he played Archangel on the hit series Airwolf.

JJ Harrison has been a rodeo clown for 10+ years. He has entertained crowds at the Reno Rodeo, St Paul Oregon, the NILE and many others. In 2012 he reached the pinnacle of his profession when he was asked to work the NFR. JJ talks about his career, his atypical foray into the rodeo world, and why his job is not always as easy as it looks.

Hannah-Beth Tems is just 16 years old and a senior in high school. She just started a non-profit to help kids get started in rodeo called Dare to Be a Cowboy. Hannah-Beth doesn't come from a rodeo family herself, so she knows how difficult it can be to get started in that world. Now that she is established herself, it is her dream to help other kids develop their skills and live their own rodeo dreams.

This beautiful blonde rodeo gal has been cleaning up in the arena for her college rodeo team at Utah State University and on the amateur rodeo circuit as well. She competes in both the barrel racing and the breakaway roping, is the captain of her college team, and is pursuing a career in motivational speaking.

Oh, and did I mention her main mode of transportation, besides her horses, is a wheelchair?

Wiley Petersen was hooked on bull riding at 10 years old with dreams of becoming a professional bull rider. For anyone who has followed the PBR, you already know he went on to do just that.He qualified for 10 PBR World Finals events and has over $1.4 million in career earnings.In addition to being a great bull rider, Wiley is also an ordained minister and an NASM personal trainer. Wiley retired from bull riding in 2012 and today helps young bull riders develop their own skills.