Roping Makes His World Go Round

The career of the Durant, Okla. cowboy is team roping, and his employment has been steady this year. VonAhn is poised to enter the region’s pro rodeo championship, the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kansas City in October, in first place in his event.

If he and his team roping partner Nick Sartain can come away with a 2009 title in the Prairie Circuit, he and Nick will be headed to the National Circuit Finals Rodeo, where a pickup truck is awarded to the event winners and a pile of money is up for grabs.

That’s what any good career man is looking for - a high salary. And this year has been good to VonAhn. He and Sartain won the team roping titles at rodeos in Garden City, Kans. and North Platte, Nebr. this year, and placed third in Phillipsburg, Kans.

He and Sartain have divided their time between competing at rodeos in the Prairie Circuit – the states of Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, and at pro rodeos across the nation.

That strategy has worked. The two have not only positioned themselves to compete at the regional level, but they are ranked as #6 (Nick) and #7 (Kollin) in the national rankings, where the top 15 from their event will go on to compete at pro rodeo’s world championship, the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas this December. Money won at the NFR would be a nice end of the year bonus for them.

For VonAhn, roping is not a hobby or a pastime, but a career. He trades and trains horses, “but my main income is roping. That’s what makes my world go round,” he said.

Being able to rope competitively as a team is something that comes easily to VonAhn and Sartain. The two started roping together a few years ago and they get along great. “We’re not like a bunch of the guys (team ropers) who drive separate,” VonAhn said. “We’re in the same rig and we’re splitting costs.” And when one of them messes up and doesn’t catch the head or heels of the steer, there are no pointed fingers. “If he would happen to miss,” VonAhn said of Sartain, “I understand it. It’s not because he’s at home sitting on the couch. We’re putting out the effort it takes to do it, so he could miss and I’m not going to say anything about it because I know he’s trying as hard as he can.”

VonAhn describes his team roping with Sartain as being as close as brothers. “In our free time, we hang out together, go golfing or whatever. If you want to get to know somebody, get in the truck and go (travel) with him 300 days out of the year and you’ll know the sucker when you’re done,” VonAhn laughed. “I’m glad we get along so good, because it could be miserable. It’s as enjoyable as it could be.” And more enjoyable after a good day of work at the rodeo arena and a championship trophy.