TREENA MIELKE/Rimbey Review
For Bill Melaney rodeoing is a family affair.
The personable cowboy, who hails from Caroline enjoys being part and parcel of the rodeo action and has for many years, but what he finds most enjoyable is the fact his wife and son enjoy it right along with him.
Melaney, who is leading the CARA circuit in tie down roping, and finished the event first in Rimbey with a 12.8 time, is especially pleased that his wife, Sheryl and his 12-year-old son, Blayde travels with him.
He said Sheryl, who won a saddle two years ago as the top contender in ladies’ barrel racing, continues to compete in that event, and Blayde completes in junior breakaway roping and barrel racing.
“This is what we do as a family,” he said. “As you get older and don’t like the driving as much, the family is what makes it fun.”
Melaney, who moved to Canada from Wolfe Creek, Mont., comes from a ranching family and has rodeoed for much of his life.
He is pleased that his family love the sport as much as he does and believes that his son can learn a great deal from being part of the rodeo circuit.
“What you put into it, you get out of it.”
Melaney won a saddle in 2006 for winning the tie down roping competition in the CARA. He said the experience was satisfying.
“Being consistent in the main thing. Anytime you win it’s always nice. I had lots of very good competition.”
He is pleased that his son, who was the junior high point champion last year, is now leading in the breakaway and barrels competitions, and that his wife is holding her own in the ladies barrel racing standings.
“She was off to a slow start, but she’s getting going now,” he said.
Following the rodeo circuit is enjoyable, he said.
“Sometimes you run into old friends along the way. It’s like a little homecoming in lots of areas.”
The Melaneys travel to Hardisty and Viking to compete in the Lakeland Rodeo Association rodeos after competing in Rimbey last weekend.
Next weekend will see them in Carstairs for another CARA rodeo.
“Rimbey’s a good place. There is a lot of hard work behind the scenes and good committee work that goes into their rodeo.”