Vold Breaks the Mold

By Wrangler Network contributor Charlie Coon

You better have your running shoes on if you want to keep up with Kirsten Vold. Standing still is not part of her repertoire. Her father Harry is more than an institution in the sport of rodeo. At 91 years old the “Duke of the Chutes” still attends the big shows that carry his name as the main livestock contractor but he leaves the heavy lifting to Kirsten, and has since 1997.

Harry Vold Rodeo Co. based in Colorado is handling the major part of the College National Finals Rodeo concluding this weekend in Casper, Wyoming. The back of chutes where animals are sorted and placed by order of appearance out front is where Kirsten Vold and her crew excel. She also raises bucking horses loving and nurturing them as though they were her children.

Kirsten let us tag along for all that prep work in addition to sections of bareback and saddle bronc riding at the biggest show in college rodeo. As you can easily see, and hear, during the next three minutes those who maintain rodeo is a man’s world don’t know Kirsten Vold.

Travels with Charlie’ is a series of features by Charlie Coon produced exclusively for the Wrangler Network. Using the penname Curtis Scott, Mr. Coon has provided stories for the past 20 years to such outlets as The History Channel Magazine, American Heritage and the Denver Post. He is based in Cheyenne, Wyo., where he serves as coordinator for the state of Wyoming’s cowboy marketing program. Coon and cameraman Mike McCrimmon put together news, sports, and human interest features on a semi-regular basis for TV stations in Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.