Why We Give
November brings with it a season of giving. In that spirit, we took the opportunity to speak with a few friends of Western Sports Foundation (WSF) about why they support our mission—and why you should, too.
Sage Kimzey
Seven-time PRCA World Champion bull rider Sage Kimzey knows the realities of life on the rodeo road. Despite his incredible success, he's familiar with the challenges that many athletes face.
Photo by Kaycie Timm
“A lot of us come from humble beginnings,” Sage shares. “Without stewards of the sport, it can be a rough learning process. Western Sports Foundation provides avenues to make that road a little smoother.”
As a veteran bull rider, Sage appreciates the invaluable support WSF offers athletes.
“Whenever you nod your head on a bull, life can change in the blink of an eye,” he continues. “To have resources out there to figure out how to take care of your finances, your body, and your mind, and be ready for life after this great sport is special. It’s a resource that we've never had in Western sports.”
Professional cowboys and cowgirls fund their careers independently—without the team of doctors, therapists, and nutritionists that most pro athletes have.
“If you look at most professional sports, when you come out of high school or college, you sign a contract and join organizations designed to help you succeed,” Sage explains. “That's where WSF is really trying to bridge the gap for Western sports. For the first time ever, we have an entity stepping in to fill the role of a support system that so many cowboys and cowgirls need.”
Photo courtesy of Alexis Kimzey
While this support is essential during their careers, the need doesn’t stop there. In fact, many athletes find the transition to life post-rodeo more challenging than the sport itself.
“You see so many cowboys struggling after rodeo,” Sage shares. “That’s the number one thing that WSF can really provide—not just support on the road, but equipping people in the Western world to have a fulfilling life after their sport is done.”
Linsay Rosser Sumter
Linsay Rosser Sumpter wears a lot of hats. Not only is she an athlete herself, she’s also a wife, a mother, a collegiate rodeo coach, the Commissioner of Women's Rodeo World Championship, and so much more. Those roles have given Linsay a front-row seat to see both the glory and the challenges of the Western industry.
Photo courtesy of Linsay Rosser Sumpter
“Knowledge is power,” Linsay shares. “It does not matter if it's with your taxes, social media, physical health, mental health, or in the arena. Western Sports Foundation helps athletes with all those things.”
For Linsay, education is the first step toward health. By seeking out insight from professionals like WSF’s team of providers, athletes can prepare for injuries and avoid future issues.
“If you don't know that first and secondary concussions can do a lot of damage, and if you don't give yourself the right hydration and nutrition, you might not know that those factors can lead to anxiety, depression, and other debilitating diseases later on in life,” she explains.
That’s where WSF comes in to support athletes in every area of life.
“My favorite part about Western Sports Foundation is that they help athletes as a whole,” Linsay reveals. “It’s a helping hand and support for every athlete from the bottom of their career all the way to the gold buckle at the top.”
Photo courtesy of Linsay Rosser Sumpter
However, Linsay knows WSF can’t provide those essential services without support from generous patrons with a desire to give back.
“Western Sports Foundation is huge to the athletes, but it does need support,” she says. “That support has to come from partners that believe in what we're doing.”
Each individual gift helps build a community of support for cowboys and cowgirls everywhere.
“If there's not a community for us to keep our Western heritage alive, then it's not sustainable,” Linsay reflects. “The only way we can do that is if we all work together to keep this industry going.”
Justin McKee
Cowboy Channel host and renowned rodeo announcer Justin McKee has spent his entire life and career in Western sports. Along the way, he’s witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly, from World Champions being crowned to cowboys leaving the arena on a gurney.
“I like to see good people come together in a bad situation to lift up those who have been knocked down and offer a support system that will be there during the roughest times,” Justin explains. “That's what the Western Sports Foundation is all about. It's giving back when people need it the most and becoming a community.”
Photo courtesy of the Austin Gamblers
For Justin, any organization that fosters camaraderie and uplifts his community is worthy of support.
“The Western Sports Foundation is making a difference in my world, for the people that need it the most,” he explains. “And it's not just the people that get knocked down that benefit; it's also the people that give. When we give our time and our finances to other people, we get great rewards.”
This philosophy is evident in Justin’s life, as he prioritizes giving back and encourages others to do the same.
“WSF is a great group with a big heart and a strong vision that is correct and upright,” Justin shares. “That vision is bringing resources to help people. And when you do that, everybody wins—the recipients of those resources as well as those who give.”
Caring for each other is the cowboy way, and WSF offers an avenue for everyone to embrace that value system.
“It's the cowboy attitude,” Justin concludes. “It's not about you—it's about what you can do to help others.”