YOUR AD HERE »

Shayne Porch named as 2010 NRCA pick-up man

Courtesy photo/Heidi Porch2010 NRCA Championship Finals Rodeo pick-up man Shayne Porch, Wanblee, SD, and his crew of pick-up horses that he, and cowboy bronc riders, rely on to help him get the job done. Horse are, from left: Goofy, Charlie, Trigger, Sachet, Spanky and Chi Chi.

Ten miles Southwest of Wanblee, on the south edge of the Badlands of South Dakota is where the 77 Ranch is located. And it is here you will find 2010 Northwest Ranch Cowboys Association Championship Finals Rodeo pick-up man Shayne Porch training and developing his string of seasoned and upcoming pick-up horses as he goes about his third-generation responsibilities of managing the cattle and horse ranch he and his wife, Heidi, along with their young daughters Shaylee (2) and Haylee (5 months), own in partnership with his parents Ralph and Diana.

Porch, born and raised on the ranch as the saying goes, knows what it takes to raise and train good ranch horses that will perform in the arena as well. Although he admits that if he finds a good one, he’s not afraid to buy him.

“About 50 percent of the horses I pick-up on right now are home-raised and the rest are horses I have bought because I saw the potential in them, both as a pick-up horse and an all-around, solid ranch horse.”



All-around and solid is also a fitting description for Shayne Porch. As a youngster he started his rodeo career in the arena steer wrestling, team roping and calf roping at the 4-H and high school level. While in high school he represented South Dakota at the 1993 National High School Finals Rodeo as the SDHSRA Reserve Champion Calf Roper. That same summer after graduation Porch purchased his first NRCA, SDRA and INFR cards and hit the rodeo trail hard. In 2002 he was rewarded for his efforts, representing the GPIRA (Great Plains Indian Rodeo Association) at the prestigious Indian National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling.

Porch admits to having always admired good pick-up men and their horses and the year 2001 saw him launch his career as a pick-up man, utilizing his string of solid ranch horses.



“The late Jeff Waln and Waln Rodeo Company gave me my first shot at picking up bucking horses. I will always be grateful to Jeff and Janelle for giving me the opportunity to get started. And I am fortunate that there have been many other stock contractors that have given me the opportunity to gain even more experience.”

Since that beginning, Porch has been selected to pick-up eight consecutive SDHSRA Finals Rodeos (2003-2010), the SDRA Finals in 2008 and 2009 and returned to the INFR in Las Vegas, NV, as a pickup man five straight years (2005-2009 ).

This will be his first appearance at the Northwest Ranch Cowboys Championship Finals Rodeo.

“I am very honored to be selected by the cowboys,” said Porch, “and I am really looking forward to working with Jim Wilson.”

Dealing with bucking horses always involves a certain element of danger and risk, never knowing if or when a wreck can occur, so we asked Porch what his feelings were about that potential hazard.

“It’s always an adrenaline rush when I go in the arena. Fortunately, I have not been in any major wrecks, but always go in knowing anything could happen.”

And what about his wife Heidi? How does she handle knowing that at any moment Shayne, in his chosen vocation as the bronc rider’s best friend, could find himself in a serious career or even life threatening wreck in the blink of an eye ?

“The girls and I enjoy traveling with Shayne and being part of the experience but, I always get a little nervous when he goes into the arena. I am comforted by the fact that he is always on a good horse that he trusts to help him get the job done. I always know the cowboy will be safe.”

Which parallels Shayne’s philosophy of what it takes to be a good pick up man.

“When things get serious in the arena you have to know you are on something good that you can trust to help you get the job done. You’re only as good as the horse you are riding.”

Ten miles Southwest of Wanblee, on the south edge of the Badlands of South Dakota is where the 77 Ranch is located. And it is here you will find 2010 Northwest Ranch Cowboys Association Championship Finals Rodeo pick-up man Shayne Porch training and developing his string of seasoned and upcoming pick-up horses as he goes about his third-generation responsibilities of managing the cattle and horse ranch he and his wife, Heidi, along with their young daughters Shaylee (2) and Haylee (5 months), own in partnership with his parents Ralph and Diana.

Porch, born and raised on the ranch as the saying goes, knows what it takes to raise and train good ranch horses that will perform in the arena as well. Although he admits that if he finds a good one, he’s not afraid to buy him.

“About 50 percent of the horses I pick-up on right now are home-raised and the rest are horses I have bought because I saw the potential in them, both as a pick-up horse and an all-around, solid ranch horse.”

All-around and solid is also a fitting description for Shayne Porch. As a youngster he started his rodeo career in the arena steer wrestling, team roping and calf roping at the 4-H and high school level. While in high school he represented South Dakota at the 1993 National High School Finals Rodeo as the SDHSRA Reserve Champion Calf Roper. That same summer after graduation Porch purchased his first NRCA, SDRA and INFR cards and hit the rodeo trail hard. In 2002 he was rewarded for his efforts, representing the GPIRA (Great Plains Indian Rodeo Association) at the prestigious Indian National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling.

Porch admits to having always admired good pick-up men and their horses and the year 2001 saw him launch his career as a pick-up man, utilizing his string of solid ranch horses.

“The late Jeff Waln and Waln Rodeo Company gave me my first shot at picking up bucking horses. I will always be grateful to Jeff and Janelle for giving me the opportunity to get started. And I am fortunate that there have been many other stock contractors that have given me the opportunity to gain even more experience.”

Since that beginning, Porch has been selected to pick-up eight consecutive SDHSRA Finals Rodeos (2003-2010), the SDRA Finals in 2008 and 2009 and returned to the INFR in Las Vegas, NV, as a pickup man five straight years (2005-2009 ).

This will be his first appearance at the Northwest Ranch Cowboys Championship Finals Rodeo.

“I am very honored to be selected by the cowboys,” said Porch, “and I am really looking forward to working with Jim Wilson.”

Dealing with bucking horses always involves a certain element of danger and risk, never knowing if or when a wreck can occur, so we asked Porch what his feelings were about that potential hazard.

“It’s always an adrenaline rush when I go in the arena. Fortunately, I have not been in any major wrecks, but always go in knowing anything could happen.”

And what about his wife Heidi? How does she handle knowing that at any moment Shayne, in his chosen vocation as the bronc rider’s best friend, could find himself in a serious career or even life threatening wreck in the blink of an eye ?

“The girls and I enjoy traveling with Shayne and being part of the experience but, I always get a little nervous when he goes into the arena. I am comforted by the fact that he is always on a good horse that he trusts to help him get the job done. I always know the cowboy will be safe.”

Which parallels Shayne’s philosophy of what it takes to be a good pick up man.

“When things get serious in the arena you have to know you are on something good that you can trust to help you get the job done. You’re only as good as the horse you are riding.”