ProRodeo Sports News - June 26, 2020

STOCK CONTRACTOR GRILLE WITH AMBER BAILLIE

How have things been at the ranch? Kirsten: The last time we bucked at an actual rodeo was on March 1. Like everyone else, rodeos we were going to be a part of were canceled. But there’s always still work to do. Our fences look better than they have in quite a few years. We’ve been able to spend more time with our 4-year-old horses, taking our time (training) with them. For guys who’ve wanted to practice, we were able to go to the Crowley County Arena in Ordway (Colo.) on three occasions, we had a practice for them. It was a good opportunity for us to buck some of our young horses and find out what they can do, and it gave cowboys a chance to practice for when rodeos open back up. Has your schedule picked up with traveling to rodeos? Kirsten: We leave Friday (June 26) for Prescott, Ariz. That will be our first rodeo back. Frontier Rodeo has asked us to come with a load of horses to Dodge City (Kan.). Hopefully we can go there at the beginning of August for a perf. That might be our extent for rodeos this summer. What else have you been focused on? Kirsten: At the end of last year, we started a new business at the ranch called Vold Rodeo Ranch Excursions. When the rodeos came to a halt, I was hoping we’d have more bookings, but people seem to be wary about traveling. We’ve had a few people come through, and they’ve really enjoyed it. Hopefully down the line it will pick up. I think there’s an avenue where we can host people who want to visit a place that’s out More than 20 years ago, Kirsten Vold, the youngest daughter of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Harry Vold, began taking over her dad’s longtime rodeo stock business, Vold Rodeo Company. Initially, she had her sights set on law school and living away from home. But at 25, she returned to her father’s ranch near Pueblo, Colo., to build on the legacy he began six decades ago, breeding and raising PRCA award-winning stock. Recently, Kirsten spoke with ProRodeo Sports News on what she’s been up to during the pandemic and on her business goals for the future.

KIRSTEN VOLD

in the open with fresh air. I got the idea last year to do something when we’re at home that would give rodeo fans the opportunity to come and see how the animals live in their habitat and what really goes on in their ranch life. I hope the ranch excursions will keep rodeo alive because many people can’t go to a rodeo right now. We allow guests to be as involved as they want to be. They’re able to ride the horses and help with feeding if they want to. With how COVID-19 has affected the industry, do you plan to structure your business differently in the future?

Kirsten: Maybe in that I would like to be more diversified. If anything, I’ve learned not to put all my eggs in one basket. As far as how (Vold Rodeo Company) is going to do things differently, we’re not breeding as many livestock this year and I’m keeping my numbers low. We don’t want to get more animals than we can feed and have put buying and trading stock on a standstill for 2020. In the future, we’d like to pursue more ranch excursions. How big is your ranch? Kirsten: It’s 20,000 acres. I’m on 15,000 of it. The ranch itself is owned by me and my siblings. I inherited Vold Rodeo Company three years ago when my dad, pictured at left, passed away. Why has being a PRCA stock contractor been a good fit for you? Kirsten: I love this business and was raised in this business. I was raised with these animals and raised on this ranch. I can’t imagine anyone else taking care of these horses, bulls or living on this ranch besides me. What is something you’ve kept with your business that was important to your dad? Kirsten: That when we give our word it is good and that we don’t necessarily need a paper trail. We hire people on the phone and will

do verbal contracts. He did it that way and I do it that way. I hire somebody, I tell them what I’m going to pay them and that’s what I’m going to pay them. The fact that he built up a reputation like that, I’ve tried very hard to continue that. What are some of your main goals right now? Kirsten: My short-term goal is to keep all our animals fed. We’re also very understanding with rodeo committees and their situation. We didn’t want anyone having an event this year and losing so much money that they couldn’t have their event in future years. The overall goal is that everyone gets back to work. I have a lot of friends in this business, and we’ve all been going

Harry Vold in 1994

Vold Rodeo’s Sun Glow at 2019 NFR

through it together. It makes you closer as a rodeo family. It’s a pretty cutthroat business sometimes, but this has made us realize that we all want to survive it together and will do whatever we can to help each other do that.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/26/2020

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