You do not have to be raised on a ranch to be a cowboy.
Thirteen-year-old, roper, 4-H member, and cowhand-in-training, Sam Fodge can attest to that fact. Sam’s mother, Sally Fodge, teaches at Yucca Elementary School, and his late father worked as a deputy with the Eddy County Sheriff’s Department. From the time that he was just a few years old, Sam showed an interest in animals, particularly horses and cattle. The Fodges did not own horses or cattle when Sam’s early interest began, and they did not plan to own any later on down the road either. At the time, young Sam simply begged his folks to take him to the Eddy County Fairgrounds Arena to watch rodeo events to indulge his love for the large creatures. Sam would climb a rung or two up on the fence to watch the bronc rides, the bull rides, and the ropers for hours on end.
As he grew, his love of horses and cows also grew. Watching at the fairgrounds no longer satisfied him the way that it did when he was small. So, despite the expense, his mom began taking him to riding lessons. At lessons, Sam showed a knack for working and riding with horses. Both his mom and his instructors observed his talents and began looking for the next step for Sam on his learning excursion. That is when Sam started working with Prospect Yearlings. Prospect Yearlings is a program within the 4-H Club. Young’uns and Yearlings is the name of the local program that practices for the prospect yearling show at the county fair. At Young’uns & Yearlings, Sam and other local youths perform groundwork with yearling horses during their regularly scheduled meeting times. Groundwork is the practice of a set of routine exercises members complete while standing on the ground with the horse wearing a halter and a long lead rope in front. Young’uns & Yearlings helped connect Sam to yearlings in need of training and gave him a home to do his work. Through the program, he learned how to advocate for himself, making his own way pursuing his passion.
A few years later, Sam is now the proud owner of TWO yearlings. Sam plans to show one of the yearlings, Kit Kat, at the Eddy County Fair. Learning and helping others are the spirit of the program. Kids do not have to be experts with animals to learn to work with them; they just have to be connected to community members who are willing to teach and nurture their passion. This connection helped Sam’s confidence as well as his expertise.
Sam’s skills with horses improved, and he took up roping as another equine hobby. Through his brother-in-law, Jake, Sam met a father and son roping duo, Justin and Liam Olguin. The Olguins invited Sam to practice with them. Jake ensures that Sam makes it to practice. Jake and Justin also helped Sam in the tricky search for a roping horse. Liam and Sam are now roping partners with Liam working as the heeler and Sam as the header. The two roped at the Gunslingers Roping Event in March at the Eddy County Fairgrounds and are looking forward to more roping events this summer.
When Sam is not in the arena, he hangs out at the feed store learning all he can about another aspect of horses and cattle: nutrition. Spending time at the feed store gives Sam an entirely different perspective of the business behind caring for animals. Sam often chooses to stay at the feed store rather than shop with his mom because he is constantly in pursuit of learning more about horses and cattle.
