Taylor Broderson of Fort Macleod is attending Cochise College in Arizona on a rodeo scholarship. Photo by Ryan James Photography.
It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows Taylor Broderson to learn the 17-year-old Fort Macleod woman will compete on the U.S. college rodeo circuit this year.
The F.P. Walshe school grad is following her life-long interest in the sport to attend Chochise College in Arizona to compete in goat tying and breakaway roping.
“I was born loving horses and rodeo,” said Taylor, who started competing at the tender age of eight. “I am a third generation rodeo competitor. It is something that everyone in my family does and I couldn’t wait till I was old enough to do it too. Nothing compares to it.”
At Chochise College, a small school in southeastern Arizona, Taylor will focus on the sciences and work toward an associate degree with a plan to transfer to a university to study veterinary medicine.
Taylor wants to become a veterinarian, but is keeping her options open.
“Knowing how tough it is to get into vet school, I am keeping my options open and may look at pursuing another career in something related to animal sciences or pharmaceuticals.”
Taylor competed in high school rodeo from Grade 7-12, and also competes in the Chinook Rodeo Association and the Southern Alberta Riding and Roping Circuit.
Taylor qualified for the junior high and high school provincial finals each year except for Grade 11 when her season was interrupted by horse injury issues.
In addition to goat tying and breakaway roping, Taylor also competed in team roping and ribbon roping.
At the 2024-’25 high school provincials, Taylor went into the weekend in 27th place but worked her way to 13th overall by the end of the weekend.
In addition to competing in high school rodeo, Taylor served in executive positions and as a director for the Alberta association.
Taylor was awarded one of 10 National High School Merit Scholarships in Alberta, as well as an Alberta High School Rodeo Association scholarship, and the Bill Simpson 4-H Scholarship from Claresholm Beef Club.
Taylor was a Chinook finalist in each of the three seasons from 2020 to 2023.
Despite her success, Taylor wasn’t necessarily planning on competing in college rodeo.
“I wasn’t opposed to it, but was not sure if that was the path I wanted to take until I went and visited my brother in the fall of my Grade 12 year. I really enjoyed my time there and I decided that college rodeo was something I wanted to pursue.”
Taylor’s brother Teran, is entering his second year at Cochise College as a member of the rodeo team.
To keep her options open, Taylor sent videos and information about herself to four college coaches, with three responding with scholarship offers. The chance to attend Cochise with her brother won Taylor over.
“Chochise has a great reputation academically and has kids attending from all over the world for its aviation program, baseball and basketball teams,” Taylor said.
The Chochise College rodeo team is small with about 25 members but has been competitive in its region and nationally with numerous championship titles, particularly in goat tying.
“My rodeo coach is Lynn Smith, who is known across the country for being not only an outstanding rodeo competitor herself, but a top coach of goat tying and roping,” Taylor said. “I am very excited to learn from her.”
Rodeo team members live in private rooms with a shared bathroom in dormitories at Cochise College.
Taylor will be accompanied by her two horses.
Bones is a 20-year-old quarter horse Taylor used for goat tying and breakaway roping, and which her brother used for team roping in high school
“Bones is a solid, trusted competitor and always goes out and does his job,” Taylor said. “He gives me the same run every time and sets me up for success to do my job.
Also making the trip south is Winston, a seven-year-old paint that Taylor bought 1 1/2 years ago from the Bird family and Lazy B Time Event Horses out of Nanton.
“Winston and I finally just started to really gel as a team this past spring. Winston is proving to me that he is really going to be good at his job as he gets more experienced and gets a little older. He is fast and has an amazing stop and is athletic and loves his job.”
Taylor credits the support of her parents, brother, grandparents and extended family — as well as her rodeo family — for reaching this stage in her career.
“Rodeo isn’t just a sport; it’s a family adventure,” Taylor said of the bonds that are strengthened going down the road together. “You also gain a rodeo family, consisting of other members and their families that help and support one another in any situation.”
Taylor isn’t setting any particular goals heading into her first college season, instead just concentrating on learning from a high-level coach and competing hard.
Taylor is also adjusting to life as a college student-athlete, with days beginning with 5 a.m. workouts, classes and practice every day, and being away from home.
“Of course I am going to miss my family and friends here, but it makes it easy to look forward to starting this next chapter when they are all so happy and excited for me. Fort Macleod is always going to be my home, and it’s nice knowing that it will be here when I get back.”
