For one Creek family, it's all about the rodeo

HENRYETTA, Okla. – A horse is at the door.
It’s Moped; Jay Howard Edmundson’s horse. Mingling around the front porch with Moped is a handful of other horses that are part of the Edmundson family; a family that competes and wins at many rodeos.
“I guess it was just destiny,” Edmundson said about being in rodeos. “It’s something that brought out the best in me … I guess it was just written in the stars.”
Edmundson, Muscogee Creek, lives on a working farm in Henryetta, Okla. with his wife Susan and sons Bryton Wayne, 11, and Nolan Ryan, 8. He is a world champion steer wrestler and has qualified 15 times for the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) in calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling.  He is also a roping director for the Northeast Junior Rodeo Association (NJRA). Steer wrestling is his favorite. “There’s just something about it,” he said.
Susan is a part-time barrel racer and NJRA president. Sixth grader Bryton started his rodeo career when he was 7, and third grader Nolan began his at 4.
“I like to rope and ride bulls,” Bryton said. He wants to become a professional bull rider and said he was both excited and scared the first time he rode a bull. “It felt like getting on a big rock.”
Bryton competes in ribbon roping, team roping, breakaway roping, tiedown roping and steer riding. He landed in the top 20 in the nation for steer riding and made the Youth Bull Riding (YBR) world finals. His horse is named Suckerrod.
“I’d like to thank my mom and dad for hauling me to all the rodeos and paying my entry fees,” Bryton said.
Nolan enjoys calf riding, and would like to become the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.  He competes in calf riding, breakaway roping, ribbon roping, barrels and poles. He finished in the top 15 in the nation for the YBR world finals in mutton bustin. His horse is named Chico.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Nolan said about rodeo life.
Both boys have earned All Around Champion saddles since 2006 in addition to winning a handful of trophies and a treasure chest of more than 64 buckles.
Edmundson said he tries to raise his sons to be real and know that in order to have a dream, like rodeo, it’s hard work and they have to put forth the effort. He likes to base his teachings on the Bible and tells them not to have any doubt or fear in seeing whether or not they can or can’t do something, because they “can do all things through Jesus Christ.”
“Those boys, they mean the world to me,” Edmundson said. “They’re not arrogant. They’re down to earth, soft-hearted. No matter what … they still give 100 percent.”
Edmundson said he has seen his boys hit the ground and tells them, “It only hurts if you think about it.”  He has a reputation for being tough and never quitting. He also believes in telling the truth.
“When you stand up, I’m going to tell you what you did wrong,” Edmundson said.
He doesn’t want to automatically say “good job,” and condone someone to accept a bad job as “good enough.” Practice doesn’t make perfect, he said. Instead, it’s about a perfect practice.
Shirley Martin, Edmundson’s sister, doesn’t want the boys to be pampered either. “You don’t hold anything back in them,” she said, “don’t walk in blind if this is where you want to be.”
Edmundson tells his boys, “All you got to do is do what you know how to do.” If they’re scared he says to take four or five deep breaths and just walk into it. He practices with them at least twice a week and whether he’s riding or his sons are, he never shows worry.
“I never did let my kids see fear in me … I’m the one supposed to be protecting them,” he said. “I thank God everyday for those kids.”
Martin thinks of her nephews as her own kids and is continually encouraging them. She said whatever Edmundson teaches Bryton; Bryton turns around and teaches Nolan.
“I won’t ever tell them to quit,” Edmundson said. Rather, he tells them whatever it is in their lifetime they want to do, he’ll support them, but at some point they’re going to have to get something and stick with it.
For the boys, it’s not always about being a cowboy because there’s football, basketball, baseball, skateboarding and four-wheeling too. For Edmundson, that’s just fine.
“Boots and hats don’t make the cowboy,” Edmundson said. “Cowboy is in your heart. It’s not your outer appearance; it’s what’s inside you.” 
Martin said her brother can always been seen playing ball with his sons and their friends out on the farm.
Edmundson and his sons all qualified to be in the 35th annual INFR from Nov. 9 to 13 in Las Vegas, Nev.
“This is history,” Martin said, because it’s the first time for juniors to participate.
Martin is the director of advertising and promotions for the Arrington-McSpadden All Indian Rodeo Association (AMAIRA), and is getting ready for the Region 8 Membership Rodeo at 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Okemah Round Up Club in Okemah, Okla.
She said seven area boys have qualified to go to Las Vegas and she is working to raise money so all seven can attend. Anyone interested in helping support the trip to INFR in Las Vegas can contact Martin at (918) 894-3854 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There will be a food bingo fundraiser  Oct. 23 at the Indian Community Center in Dewar, Okla. 
“When we go, we go as a family,” Martin said. “Rodeo is like one big family.”