This Ain’t Ty’s First Rodeo

By Christopher Miller

At only 9 years old, Ty Bodle of Mill Hall, is a local Junior Rodeo star.
“The Keystone Junior Rodeo Association operates all over the state, but mostly in Benton,” Josh Bodle, Ty’s father, explained to The Record in an interview last week. “People were coming from all over – New York, Connecticut, Vermont – to participate because of the pandemic.”

North central Pennsylvania is not a region of the country that is well-known for rodeo or western sports, but the area has produced a few recognized names in the worldwide rodeo network.

Locals such as Tyler Waltz, a Jersey Shore native and World Champion Bareback Rider, Jeff Askey, a Beech Creek native and 4-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Qualifier, and the late Coy Lutz, a bareback rider from Howard who passed away in 2016, are well known rodeo personalities in these parts of the state. In due time you may also be able to add the name “Ty Bodle” to that lineup of local rodeo stars.

If you ask Ty what his favorite rodeo event is he ultimately replies with bull riding. “It’s a challenge to ride 8 seconds,” Ty said. While only a ride of 6 seconds is required for his age group, he goes all in (like any goodhearted, adrenaline-fed rodeo cowboy would) for the full 8 second ride.

Aside from bull riding, Ty also enjoys barrel racing which requires the rider to race around 3 barrels in a 3-leaf clover pattern for the best time, poles which requires the rider on the horse to weave a path around poles planted in the ground, goat tying (which requires almost no explanation), bull riding, and breakaway roping where when a calf is released from the chute the rider has to throw a lasso around the calf’s neck…while riding horseback and chasing the calf around the arena.

Now perhaps it should have been mentioned earlier that the bulls Ty rides are not the big, mean, nasty bulls you may see on televised events. The bull is a calf, which still provides an excellent ride and challenge for the rider.

Ty got his big start at a benefit rodeo in memory of Coy Lutz. Since then he has amassed a small treasure trove of prizes and awards. As Ryaan Bodle, Ty’s mother, explained, he has received 3 buckles, 1 saddle, blankets (for horse and rider), a halter, backpack, all of which are among Ty’s most precious possessions.

For Ty Bodle, the name “Tyler Waltz” plays huge in his mind. When asked about Ty’s role model, the answer was a 100% certain central figure in his life: Tyler Waltz. “Because we are friends…he helps me bull ride,” Ty replied.

Waltz is the instructor helping to train the upcoming generation of rodeo sportsmen and women. Because of this expert training, young Ty has won in many categories including All Around Cowboy for the 2020 Rodeo Season, Keystone Junior Rodeo Association 2020 Boys Age Division, Barrels, and Goat Tying. Let’s just say that this young man’s resume is growing quite extensive!

When speaking to Ty, you are talking to a young champion. He is a gentleman who enjoys his sport and his animals. “I practice a lot, I ride horse 3 to 4 times a week, go to roping lessons and bull riding lessons,” Ty explained. The equipment needed to ride and practice include things such as ropes, saddle, practice (bull) dummy, helmet, and of course – a good instructor.

Now Ty doesn’t just ride any horse that is found in the stables, or trotting in the arena; he rides Scout – a 15 year old, 13.3 hands high, black and white paint pony who has an appetite for junk food! “Cookies, potato chips, and peppermints are Scout’s favorite,” Ty explained.

The first thing that came to mind when writing this piece was the song, “Momma’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys.” When you ask Ryaan Bodle about this song and what it means to her, she says that, “cowboys aren’t bad – I do not mind the whole cowboy and rodeo, it’s the bull riding that bothers me – he is really good at it, with great instructors and I know he is in good hands and learning correctly, that is when I decided to let him do it.”

You may see Ty Bodle and the other rodeo sports athletes at any of the events held by the Keystone Junior Rodeo Association primarily in Benton. The Association keeps and maintains a Facebook Page under the name “Keystone Junior Rodeo Association (KJRA) @pakjra which is a nonprofit organization.

Ty would like to thank his sponsors: Dave and Tyle Waltz, The Kar Lot in Mill Hall, Dotterer Equipment, Grammy and Pappy Brungard, Grammy and Pappy Bodle, and his new roping instructors for the 2021 season Jake and Ashley Wenrich.