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Corley lives dream
By Richard Reeder
This document was published online on Wednesday, December 26, 2007
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| Drew (left) and Quentin Gwynn recently completed a dirt bike race across the Baja of Mexico. The Cody siblings finished 11th in their class. |
Competing in the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas is every cowboy's dream.
But cowboys aren't the only people who work hard all year to get there.
Timers, judges and secretaries log many hours during the year to gain a spot in Las Vegas.
Former Cody cowgirl Amanda Corley recently returned from a second trip as a timer to the NFR.
“It's an exhausting 15 days,” said Corley, 31. “But it was wonderful and a great rodeo.
“Wyoming was well-represented,” she added. “That was great to see.”
Corley worked as a timer this year, like she did in 2005. To be a chosen as a timer, a person must work eight PRCA sanctioned rodeos throughout the year.
“This was my second as a timer,” Corley said. “But it wasn't my first time to the NFR.”
She worked for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco for many years.
“I hauled scoreboards around the country for them,” she said. “I went to the NFR for them several times.”
Corley said being a timer involves more than just pressing a button on a stopwatch.
“We help the secretaries post times and do other things,” she said. “And we run the stopwatch during the scored events, making sure the buzzer goes off at the right time.
“We keep time with a stopwatch in case the electronic system fails,” she added. “And we help with the draw for the rough stock events the night before.”
Corley began working as a timer and doing other tasks during the Cody Nite Rodeo.
“I started out at the Nite Rodeo,” she said. “And then I went to work for Ike Sankey during other rodeos for which he was providing stock.
“That experience helped get me to where I am,” she added. “That's such a great rodeo and you can work so much.”
Working for Sankey helped open doors for Corley.
“He's so respected in rodeo circles,” she said. “I had the chance to do some things I might not have otherwise.”
And she has a rich family connection to rodeo as well.
Her father Bob works full-time as a rodeo announcer. He has won 10 “Announcer of the Year” awards.
“Dad did the Nite Rodeo, too,” she said. “But that was many years ago.
“He helped open some doors for me, too,” she added. “He travels and works full-time doing that, so he's on the road quite a bit.”
The father-daughter team has worked several rodeos together this year, including San Antonio and Las Vegas, but it's not a true family reunion.
“We share a hug and a kiss,” she said. “And we had lunch together one day.
“But we are going in so many different directions even though we're at some of the same shows,” she added. “We enjoy it so much. We wave at each other from across the arena.”
Corley moved to Laramie last January and opened a coffee kiosk business, Cowboy Coffee To Go.
“I worked at the Mudd Huts in Cody,” she said. “The Westbrooks helped me move and get set up.
“I'm not quite sure why I ended up in Laramie,” she added. “But things are going really well.”
While she grows her business, Corley may not attend as many rodeos.
“Right now I'm really business-oriented,” she said. “Rodeo is still part of what I want to do though.
“I'll stay involved a little,” she said. “Then I can still go back and do more later.”
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