The Genes Are in
the Jeans
By Gina Covell Many families have interests and talents in common, but not too many can boast more than one top-caliber rodeo professional in the family tree. Two legendary rodeo families who can are the Cervis and the Etbauers -- perennial standouts at RODEOHOUSTON™. The Cervis
Mike Cervi Sr., who owns and operates the largest rodeo company in the history of the sport, has been the stock contractor for RODEOHOUSTON for 28 years. Mike Cervi Sr. began his family's involvement in rodeo as owner of two of the top rodeo stock companies -- Beutler Brothers & Cervi Rodeo Company and Cervi Championship Rodeo Company. Cervi has been the RODEOHOUSTON stock contractor for 28 years and still supplies the bucking horses and bulls, as well as the steers and calves for timed events included in each rodeo performance. Because scoring in rodeo bucking events, such as saddle bronc, bareback and bull riding, is 50-percent dependent upon the performance of the animal, the quality of the stock is critically important. The stock contractor must provide strong, superior animals. "Mike Cervi brings an unparalleled level of professionalism and expertise to each rodeo performance," said Bob Tallman, one of the RODEOHOUSTON announcers. Cervi has a history of delivering winners. Two of his horses hold National Finals Rodeo records: Skoal's Rio Bravo for a 90 point saddle bronc ride by Billy Etbauer and Brown Bomber for a 90 point bareback ride by Billy Laye. Additionally, Cervi's company has furnished more stock for the NFR than any other contractor. His son, Mike Cervi Jr., a team roper, and Mike Jr.'s wife, two-time world champion barrel racer Sherry Potter Cervi, have been around livestock their entire lives. Mike Jr. helped his father with rodeo production during his high school summers. He graduated with a history degree from Sacramento State University, which he attended on a football scholarship. He did not even begin team roping until the end of his college career in 1991, starting with a few jackpot rodeos each year. By 1999, however, Mike Jr. ranked 16th as a team roping header prior to the NFR, leaving him only one slot short of qualifying for the event. "I have always been a competitive person," said Mike Jr. "I love the fact that rodeo allows me to be my own boss and that I don't have a 9-to-5 job. I have a 7 p.m.-to-10 p.m. job instead. It's a great way of life."
Exceeding $1 million in rodeo earnings and garnering two world championships, barrel racer Sherry Potter Cervi has proved herself to be one of rodeo's top women competitors. Being on the road, however, is not always green pastures. Traveling with four horses and two dogs is not an easy feat. This is especially true for the younger Cervis, who now reside in Marana, Ariz., and only spent one and a half months at home in 1999. When traveling, they live out of a 29-foot trailer -- 12 feet for them and the other 17 feet for the horses that help make a living for them. Thanks to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's "buddy-up" rule, which allows a husband and wife to perform at the same rodeos, the Cervis are grateful that they are able to travel together. Sometimes togetherness is not easy. Sherry said, "If you get angry, the 1,000 miles to the next rodeo can be quite a long haul. The travel to and from each rodeo is definitely the greatest challenge in our careers." Not only are they on the road constantly, but they cannot stay just anywhere. They must look for fairgrounds where horses are allowed, which limits their options. Another major challenge for rodeo competitors is avoiding injuries. Mike Jr. sustained a compound fracture in his leg once and considers himself lucky not to have experienced any more injuries. "Our sports are hard work, but we chose this life for ourselves, and we love it," he said. "[RODEOHOUSTON] is definitely the best competition," said Mike Jr. "The best ropers are here. It is all about how well you compete during this Show." When asked what his next career goals were, Mike Jr. quickly said, "to make the National Finals and to stay healthy." The couple agrees that driving 100,000 miles per year is taxing on the body and the mind. "It takes a lot to make the Finals, and that means sacrificing time away from family and friends," said Sherry. The couple said that the rodeo culture is like one big family. "I think that the rodeo is a great atmosphere for raising children," said Mike Jr., although the couple doesn't yet have children of their own. "It makes them take on more responsibility, on average, than other children." They also mention that the rodeo family is very supportive of its members. "We don't think of it as competing with the other people in the circuit," said Sherry. "We go out each night and compete with ourselves and our best record." For Sherry, that record is difficult to beat. She won the world championship in barrel racing in both 1995 and 1999. In addition to her top earnings title in 1999, she also won "the average" at the NFR, meaning she had the best combined times in her event after all 10 go-rounds. At the 2000 RODEOHOUSTON, she claimed first prize with a purse of $16,497.36. Sherry won $245,369 in 1999, and her career earnings exceed $1 million. Sherry has been competitive her entire life and began barrel racing in junior high. In addition, she found time to play high school basketball. Her father produced rodeos for 10 years, and both her mother, a barrel racer, and father, a calf roper, have been to the NFR in their respective events. "I truly love barrel racing," said Sherry, who joined the Women's Professional Rodeo Association in 1986. "My best horses are getting older, so I will be training some younger ones. In the future, I would really enjoy training horses for both myself and others to barrel race. I do see myself as always riding." Mike Jr. considers being married his greatest accomplishment, and second is coming close to making the NFR. When asked how long he plans on continuing his career, Mike Jr. said he will keep participating as long as he remains healthy. He also said that he enjoys the stock aspect of the rodeo and would like to follow in his father's footsteps by working in rodeo production again with him in the future.
The Etbauers
Right at home in their rodeo lifestyle, the Etbauer brothers -- Billy, Robert and Dan -- are natural-born cowboys. Another great rodeo family is the saddle bronc-riding trio of Etbauer brothers, who have combined to win five world championships and are the only three brothers to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in the same event in the same year. Robert Etbauer, 38, of Goodwell, Okla., is the eldest and the most talkative of the humble brothers. A PRCA member since 1985, he has earned two world championships and 11 NFR qualifications. In 1999, his earnings were $90,694, and his career earnings exceed $1 million. When asked how he got into this sport, Robert said, "Our father wanted to be in the rodeo but did not have the opportunity. He made sure that my brothers and I had the opportunity. We grew up in 4-H in high school and have always loved being around horses. We can do a lot of things on horseback that other people cannot. The fact that we can make our living doing what we love sure does make life easier." Billy, 36, of Edmund, Okla., won world championships in 1992, 1996 and 1999. He set an Astrodome saddle bronc- riding record of 88 points at the 2000 RODEOHOUSTON. His 1999 earnings were $194,840, and his career earnings are closing in on $1.5 million. He also has 11 NFR qualifications and has been in the PRCA since 1988. "Rodeo has given us the opportunity to see places and do things that many people dream about," said Billy. Ironically, traveling is also the biggest challenge the brothers face. They sometimes attend as many as three rodeos in a day. Although the Etbauers take it easy and don't attend very many rodeos during the winter, the summer months can be very taxing. They once competed in seven rodeos in three days. "We had wives and children on planes going everywhere," said Billy. Robert added, "Most of the time it is tougher to try to bring the family than to leave them home. However, during the summer, we try to get them to a few performances. Other times, our wives are gracious enough to keep the children, houses and horses taken care of while we are traveling." Dan Etbauer, 34, also of Goodwell, Okla., is another brother well known on the circuit. This 10-time NFR qualifier was world champion runner-up in 1995. RODEOHOUSTON™ announcer Bob Tallman said that these brothers can take extreme pressure and still perform well and keep their families together. "They are the epitome of success in their sport," he said. When asked if the brothers ever get into arguments as a result of spending so much time together on the road, Robert commented, "We really get along well. We have had a few knock-down, drag-out fights over the years, but for the most part, we are there to support each other and cheer for each other. "What really makes my career special is that my family is all in this together," he said. "I would not be able to do what I do without the support of my wife. My family has spent their lives following me; now the tables are turning." Robert's children are forging their own careers in rodeo. His daughter is now involved in high school rodeo, and his youngest son has begun roping. "Now that our children are getting older and following their own dreams, I am excited to support them in return." As far as injuries go, Billy has undergone back surgery, and both Robert and Dan have had knee surgeries. The brothers consider themselves lucky and keep on going. Future goals for Robert include, of course, winning more world championships, as well as continuing to make a good living and having a nice life for himself and his family. Robert says that he will probably compete for a few more years and then follow his children's rodeo careers. Billy wants to continue being his own boss. "That freedom is what I love most," he said. "Enjoy life for what you can, and then help your kids to achieve their goals, whatever they may be. Our father supporting us is what got us where we are today, and we want to do the same for our children." Dan wants happiness and freedom just like his brothers. However, he is more focused on winning a world championship, because he has come so close but has not yet lassoed the title. "I probably have about five good years of saddle bronc riding left, but I don't think I will stop until I have obtained that championship. It really drives me," he said. "The epitome of success is family," said Dan. "Our family and friends have been extremely supportive to us, and that makes a huge difference in life. Of course, without the stock contractors and the fans, none of us would be here. The rodeo fan base is larger than the group of cowboys. "The reason for my career choice can be summed up in one phrase," he said. "When you have a good ride on a bucker, that is what it is all about. This career is like a dream come true, and we are very fortunate." When asked what it means to be successful, Robert said, "I believe in working hard for your goals and treating people as you want to be treated. If you do that, you will be truly successful in life." |
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